What is set up and pay off?

• James Frey: Foreshadowing (set-up) is a promise for the reader.
• The pay-off is when the author makes good on that promise.
• You need BOTH SIDES of the equation.

Creating Suspense

• Ask story questions to keep readers turning pages.
• Should always be something you leave readers wondering about.
• Can be big questions or small questions.
• Resist the urge to explain.

Plot Elements

• Fulfill your promises by the end of the story.
• Set up as early as possible.
• Weave the set up into the fabric of the story.
• A good pay off won’t stop the story in its tracks.

Setting up characters

• Set ‘em up right!
  • Make sure your characters’ actions and reactions match how you have set them up.
• Use set up and pay off to avoid slowing the pace in key scenes.
  • Don’t clutter the story up with unnecessary explanations!

Maximising Emotion

• Use set up and pay off to deal powerful emotional blows to your characters.
• Two is better than one!
• Don’t accidentally undermine your set up.

Believable love plots

• Use set up and pay off to create a believable romance.
• Keep it subtle.
• On some deep level, these two people ‘get’ each other.

Satisfying Endings

• Pay off enough to make the ending satisfying.
• Ending scenes: round things off.
• Use set up and pay off to find that right line to end on.

© Fiona Harper