I've come across an odd problem which seems to be inherent to the CHYOA format. I'm not sure what, if anything, could be done about it. The problem is one which I have come to think of as "micro-spoilers". There are essentially two kinds of plot drivers: those which happen TO the protagonist (big volcano erupts, sudden windfall of money, stripper offers a free BJ); and those which happen BECAUSE of the protagonist (run for the helicopter, buy a sports car, ejaculate in her mouth). In the CHYOA format, the former can happen anytime and for any reason; but the latter, especially if it's a major turning point in the plot, should be presented as a choice to the reader. That having been said, here's a hypothetical story situation: _____ You've just had some really spectacular zero-gravity sex with a purple-skinned alien woman who otherwise looks like Kelly Hu, when suddenly the Zorgon fleet emerges from Hyperspace and advances menacingly upon the Earth. "That is my father's flagship!" the alien woman gasps. "He must have discovered that you took me from my tower room in the Star Palace; he has come to reclaim me, and then he will surely destroy your entire planet!" WHAT DO YOU DO? () Launch positron torpedoes () Open a channel to the Emperor and beg for mercy () Put your secret plan into action! _____ So, here's the problem... if the "secret plan" has already been described in advance, then it kind of spoils the resolution of this crisis; there won't really be any surprise there. But if it hasn't, then that deprives the reader of information which he really should know about, as the protagonist. As a writer, I don't want to give away clever twists too early; however, as a reader who's making choices to move the plot along, I would feel cheated if I didn't have the information up front about what my own secret plan actually is! The best I've been able to come up with is to describe how "you" and your comrades have come up with a dangerous plan which may not succeed, but it has the advantage of being unexpected! And, leave it at that. When the time comes that the plan may be put into action, just have one of the choices be pretty much what it says in the example above: "Put your secret plan into action." The main problem there is that it might as well be the only choice. Once the reader knows that there IS a Secret Plan, of course he's going to choose that option, if only to find out what it is! Anyone else ever have this difficulty?
Aww, shoot! You really found an unsolvable dilemma. Seriously though, you can't really expect to know everything about your fictional self. Every time you(as a writer) add something to your Main Character, it will be new to the reader who is identifying with him. So what you're gonna do? Start with a detailed biography? There's alway that old friend appearing from the door, an old lover long forgotten, your worst enemy just got out of (space) prison. The "secret plan" options will always feel a little as an ass pull, but it its just that to be honest. I don't see why. Maybe the other options could be a little more appealing? Like But you were right, it would choose the secret plan just to see how it unfolds. Wait ... i do that with every option.
- Only tell about that they made a "crazy plan" some days/weeks ago, which would likely the best option but note that probably one or more of his comrades will die for it. (show the risks) - Don't have a plan and "Do what you can do best: Improvise!" - Answer "Think about other options", then remembering the crazy plan, quickly realizing that it is your only chance and proceed without asking. Maybe add some lines before the decision like "I need more time to think!" - "You have to decide! NOW!", leaving the choice as a bad idea because doing nothing at all seems the worst choice - One of your comrades has an idea but no time to explain it and you could go with "Trust your comrade" (something like "I know a vulnerability) - Tell about the plan in advance and let something go wrong, improvise and finally succeed
In the actual story I’m writing, I think that maybe something along the lines of “Trust your comrade” will work. If this were a regular, linear story, I’d want the plan to be the brainchild of the protagonist himself; but there is another character in my story who could conceivably come up with it, and who even has a reason to keep the main twist a secret from the protagonist. Thanks much, gene.sis!
