Twist endings

[juan]

A while back, I came across a book on writing novels. It proved useful and had some interesting info on twist endings. As we know, they are endings that turn things upside down, something surprising happens, we find that it hasn't ended but that its only just begun, etc.

The advice is simple. When weriting and you decide to do a twist ending, make sure its genuinely surprising but that its not totally unexpected. Though seemingly paradoxical, its best served as "Wow! I don't believe this cool ending... but now that I think about it, it makes sense."

In my own Godzilla the Monster Wars, we see that King Ghidorah destroyed the world of the dinosaurs and seemingly killed Anguirus. However, I purposely made it so that his death was never confirmed, thus leaving readers ponder it. At the end, as Godzilla hovers between life and death, the Great Dragon, in an off hand remark that Anguirus is not there in the land of the dead with them because he is not dead. Despite our surprise, it recieves no more than a passing mention and its quickly forgetten with the final battle between Godzilla and King Ghidorah.

After it, its time fora new adventure as Godzilla looks for his sleeping friend.

[EternalMothra]

I sometimes use twist endings too. In my upcoming story 'Modra II: The Fate of Earth' it has a twist ending. I'm not giving out any details because it would be giving some of the story away. They are very handy in ending the story because it surprises the reader.

[biohazard85]

I would have to say there is a time when Endings with a Twist are needed and when they are not.

For example, if the climax is very strong, you would want the emphasis on it and not a twist in the plot workings, because if you get too much going, the readers will become confused, which can cause vomiting. Though, if the climax is a little on the feeble side, than an Ending with a Twist or Turn can refill that void.



I really think a twist should be used only when the plot is thin, it just makes for a better punch.



Also not everything is twistable.:)

[Mecha74]

In Kaiju Wars the Undertaker trilogy, Godzilla is the epitimy of an unstoppable juggernaut. Having absorbed the radiation of the original Goji's near meltdown he is easily twice as strong and has insane regen. He proves this as he smashes his way through GINO, the original Ultraman, Heisei Gamera and eventually the Undertaker and Kane as well. As Godzilla stands over the battered and beaten body of the Undertaker all hope seems lost when a sudden cry is heard nearby.

Standing on a lonely rooftop is Azuza Gojo, the scientist who was there when this Goji first hatched. After incredible battles and amazing attacks that failed to halt the kaiju king's path of destruction it is the kind and pleading words of Azuza, the human that this Goji loved as if she were his own mother that finally brings his warring to an end as she persuades him to leave Japan in peace once and for all.

At no point during the story did I even hint at that, leading readers to believe that Godzilla's rampage was going to end in a bloody battle that could have well resulted in the destruction of Japan. But instead there was a happier ending and the possibility of hope for the future as well.

[Bruticus]

Twist endings are fun to use, I agree. It annoys the hell out of the reader, but at the same time, it makes them want to read the next installment. Like, as soon as everything is being restored after Godzilla has been destroyed, somebody sees Grand King Ghidorah overhead. There is nothing more ironic than a twist ending, for the most part.

[Figment]

I think I'll end up with not twist endings, but rather twisted endings. Such as having the end of an alien invasion story I'm planning involves defeating the Xilians in the same exact way as in Captain EO(the Michael Jackson 3D movie that used to be at Disneyland when he was still black and cool) with a highly choreographed dance number with rock and roll defeating the Xilian Supreme Leader on Planet X and ending the invasion once and for all. Sorry I basically spoiled that part, but I couldn't help it.

[Godzilla guy]

A brilliant twist ending is making the reader think there is going to be a huge twist at the end, and then dumping the incredibly forseeable ending.