Quote:
Originally Posted by I, Brian  Secrets are only secrets if the POV characters really don't know - or are really suprressing it IMO.
If it's easy for a reader to figure, then the characters look dumb and not worth reading. |
Hence why you have to be a good writer, who hides the clues in such a way that in retrospect you recognise them, but at the time they're not obvious.
Anyone can throw in a reveal that comes out of left field. There's zero cleverness in that, and frankly as a reader or audience member it's the sort of thing I despise. Too many "twist films" do this, and it's condescending towards the audience.
"Hah, you didn't see this coming!"
"Of course I didn't you didn't foreshadow it, you tool!"
Foreshadowing is an artform in itself.