Suzette Johnson asked Jennifer A. Nielsen:

The plot twist in the False Prince was really brilliant, and I wanted to ask, how do you foreshadow to a point where it's not obvious? I've been having trouble with that in my writing lately. Thank you!

Jennifer A. Nielsen Thank you, Suzette! Foreshadowing a plot twist is very delicate. To find the balance, you need to get into the mind of your reader, anticipating what their reaction will be at each key moment. The way I did this in The False Prince is to create a table. Each column was labeled: What Sage knows, What Conner knows, What Mott knows, What Other Characters know, and - most importantly - what the reader knows. Then each scene got its own line. If I felt the reader would know something too early, I pulled it back.

For starters, pay attention to your own suspicions as you read a book or watch a movie with a surprise ending. If you're able to guess the ending early - why? What gave it away? Or if you're fooled, then what worked?

I know this is tricky, but keep at it - you'll find that balance!

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