Twists & Turns: Part 2

Another thing about twists and turns is that you can't see what's coming. And let's face it; who wants to see every knook and cranny before the last chapter? Not me.

This is a great place to build in red herrings in each of the plot lines so the reader thinks they know what will happen next. Something which gives them a little smugness yet completely delivers a "gotcha" on the back end.

This can be something as small as a pay off for the hero or heroine followed by the rug being pulled out from under them. The only rule I follow here is to never, ever, allow my character to get comfortable in a scene.

Today, I wrote about my heroine's need to control her emotions in order to acheive her goal of following the serial killer's trail. She's fairly certain she's convinced the DA she's innocent and he's ready to release her to go about her business. Which is exactly what happens. Sort of.

The condition of her release is that she has to take a partner. Yes, the reader knows instinctively the DA is going to insist the hero (the one who we know betrayed her by telling her secrets) be her partner. And while she's good at hiding her emotions from the DA, her ex-lover presents more of a problem. Now, she has to make a choice; take a partner or sit out the investigation in a cell.

Her head understands that sitting out the investigation would send a message to the killer that the police have who they believe is the killer; he's safe. Now she has a personal stake in finding the bad guy (can't tell you what it is). If the killer isn't caught, the DA has enough circumstantial evidence to indict her for the murders. A partner is a real problem for a woman who doesn't trust anyone but herself(for obvious reasons). There is a part of her that wants to prove herself. Should she go with her head and play it safe or lead with her heart and accept the consequences, whatever they may be?

No matter what she chooses, she's forced to reveal a part of herself to the man who betrayed her. (Can't say what that is but it's a biggee and propels the hero into his own mini-crisis).

Happy Writing :)