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Bloody plot twists. I once took a creative writing seminar, in which we all gave copies of our pieces to all the other students to read and criticise. My God, virtually every one was somehow convinced that he (or she) absolutely *must* have a surprise ending or a last-minute plot twist or some kind of unexpected zinger. Good gracious, O. Henry is not the only short-story writer out there!
Surprise is one technique in the writer's toolbox. It's by no means the only one. I never felt it wasn't worth going to see "Death of a Salesman" because the title gave away the ending. And I went ahead and read Moby Dick even though I already knew---***SPOILER ALERT*****--- the whale sinks the ship. Sheesh!
I suppose on these grounds we should chastise Shakespeare for using giveaway titles like "The Tragedy of King Lear."
Last edited by William Cloud Hicklin; 05-31-2007 at 11:46 PM.
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