*Breaks down your door.*
*Flips your computer/ phone off/out of your lap/ desk/ hands.*
*Picks you up out of your chair/ bed.*
*Pins you against the wall.*
*Leans in real close.*
*Smirks.*
"Do I have your attention now?"
I hope I do.
Because that's todays lesson.
Surprise someone! Surprise me! Surprise everyone!
Start your story off with someone getting shot.
Have someone fall in love with your main character, and then the main character do something completely unexpected. Like kill them or sacrifice them or something.
I don't know what your surprise will be, but whatever it is, make it big! Make it memorable!
Whatever. Whenever. Wherever. Whoever. However.
I don't care!
Well I might if I ever read your work and then something bad happens. Then I'll probably hate myself.
But you know what?
That surprise, or heart break, or emotional roller coaster that you put everyone who reads your work, will remember everything.
They will remember that story for so long, and how it was surprising to them, about what you said, and what you told.
All because, of a single surprise.