I see writers commit this problem all too often.

They resolve a story earlier than they should. The story could be a chapter long or just a scene, but they give away what they should hold back.

What if, at the beginning of The Sixth Sense (spoiler alert), Cole tells his psychologist, “I see dead people—and you’re dead”?

The pervasive tension of the film would have died too.

What pulls you through the movie like a tractor beam is your desire to unravel what’s going on. The much-lauded twist is so satisfying because it reveals the mystery. If you figured it out early, you probably experienced an even greater amount of satisfaction.

No matter what you’re writing, you can benefit from following that structure.

Don’t give it all away.

Let the tension sit.

Trust your reader.

And leverage the fact that you know your story and your audience doesn’t.

Here’s how this plays out in some of the nonfiction I help develop.

The author writes a chapter or an anecdote and places the most shocking, surprising, or life-changing moment toward the beginning. They provide a little context and zoom to the most compelling part.

That’s because the author fears (maybe only subconsciously) that the reader just won’t get it. They won’t understand how essential this moment is. So the author wants the reader to understand their story ASAP. But “rare is the person who will watch a sporting event after hearing the final score.”

Rather, leverage the power of storytelling.

If you give away the best part too soon, you’ve resolved the tension. You’ve given the reader no motivation to keep reading.

Instead, give them breadcrumbs—just enough. Then lead them on an interesting journey. And make sure the end is a satisfying destination.

If you find a story, scene, or chapter lacking in vitality, consider whether you’ve given away too much too soon.

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Recommended reads

• ​Ghostwriter, book coach, or editor: Who should you work with?, Greenleaf Book Group
• ​Understanding Show, Don't Tell: And Really Getting It, Janice Hardy
• ​How M. Night Shyamalan Came Back from the Dead, David Sims

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