#209: Unpredictable: 4 Ways To Keep Readers Guessing Artwork

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Writer Unleashed

#209: Unpredictable: 4 Ways To Keep Readers Guessing

November 05, 2024 • Nanci Panuccio • Season 5

Predictability may keep us feeling certain and safe in real life.

But it's fatal in story.

You never want the reader to see what's coming next. Once the reader can predict how the plot will unfold - when there's nothing to wonder about, worry about, guess, or infer - there's no reason to read any further.

So you want to stay one step ahead of your reader, and in most cases, one step ahead of your characters. You know what's going to happen to your characters. You know what the outcome of the story will be. But your characters don't, and neither should your readers.

So in this episode, you'll learn 4 ways to create and sustain uncertainty in your story and keep readers guessing.

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