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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/26407
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/26407
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I've been doing some research into twists, and after not knowing how to create one, I'm starting to get a handle on them. Unfortunately, now I'm at the other end of the spectrum, and wondering if I can have too _many_ twists.

**Background:** To understand where I'm coming from, you have to know that I plan and develop my novels _extensively_ before writing a single word. I know every little turn of the plot, every scene down to the dialogue said. _Then_ I write it.

Creating novels this way allows me to look at the whole plot at once. Mark Baker's answer on [this question](https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/25921/how-can-i-get-in-the-habit-of-writing-with-twists) has introduced me to the concept of drifting off course so that I can _twist_ back to the story. This means I just look at what I need for the story, then find a way to drift away from it so that I can twist to it. Yes! Twists abound!

I'm now realizing that doing that is going to yield a _lot_ of twists, and I'm wondering if there is any problem with that. I want very much to simply say that the more twists the better, and here's why:

I recently finished reading the _SYLO Chronicles_, by D. J. MacHale. Excellent books, if a little lacking in the area of character development. What made them so great though was the unending twists. The entire setting was a mystery, and every chapter something changes, either making less sense, or making more sense in the wrong direction. Even the final chapter, after the main conflict was all over, was a twist simply through the writing (you'll have to read it; I won't spoil it).

The point is, I loved those books. Nothing was certain, there were twists everywhere, and I loved it. However, I realize that might not apply to all people.

**Question:** Is there anything wrong with including a large number of twists? I realize twists aren't for everybody. I know that. What I'm wondering is if there are any actual red flags concerning the number of twists to include.

Original score: 5