I recently came across this idea of vagueness and ambiguity in stories through September C. Fawkes, and I was so impressed by it that I searched for more information on the topic. To my surprise, there was none. It’s not a topic most writers are discussing. So, I’m adding this post to highlight a concept that I think will help writers create satisfying plot twists and reveals.
Now, when I refer to these terms, I am not talking about word choice. Saying something is “large” is vague, and “bark” can mean a dog’s bark or a tree’s bark. Using vague or ambiguous words in your book is not usually a good thing. However, putting vague or ambiguous elements in your story can be useful, and that is what I am discussing today.
Vagueness
Vagueness is when something is unclear. It’s when you purposefully withhold information from the reader. Think of it like a blurry picture. You can see general shapes, but you have no clue what is really in the photo. As a general rule, ambiguity is preferred over being vague, but there is a place for vagueness when done well and in small amounts.
In stories, vagueness works best for setting up plot reveals. If you make an element of the story vague, the reader will feel curious about it but won’t be able to understand it. It’s the art of holding back one detail that will make the whole picture snap into focus. Notice, I only said one detail. If too much in your story is vague, the reader won’t be able to follow it. To keep the reader from being frustrated, you have to bury the vague story element in other relevant and specific details of the plot.
Being vague is about withholding information, but you don’t want to hold back things the readers need to know to understand the story as it unfolds. A good rule is: if the POV character knows something, the reader should know it too. If the POV character doesn’t know what’s happening, then neither should the reader. Be careful though. Too little clarity will make the story confusing and the protagonist annoying. Only hold back one detail that you plan to reveal at the end to give the reader an “Ah ha, I get it now!” moment.
Example
A good example of being vague is the movie The Prestige. (If you don’t want spoilers, you may want to skip down to the ambiguity section.) In this movie, two magicians compete to upstage each other over who can do the ultimate trick. Borden creates an act where he teleports from one place to another, and Angier is confused about how Borden does it. We watch Angier on his journey to discover Borden’s methods and mimic the trick. All the while, we see Borden live his life with his wife, have an affair, and do everything he can to keep the trick a secret.
At the end, we learn that Borden has an identical twin. “Ah ha, I get it now!” We couldn’t deduce the plot reveal as the story unfolded, but looking back it all makes sense. How Borden can teleport, why he has a wife and a lover, his mood swings, etc. Never once in that movie do we feel like we don’t know what’s happening because the rest of the plot is crystal clear.
Ambiguity
Ambiguity is when something is clear but can be interpreted in more than one way. Think of it like an optical illusion photo like the one in the picture above. Some see a vase; others see two profiles. That’s ambiguity. You are presented with facts, and you have options on how you interpret them.
In a story, ambiguity is a great way to create tension and deliver plot twists. When writing, you want to present something in such a way that two or more interpretations are possible. Then you plant evidence throughout the story to support both options. Your readers will know there is a mystery and have clear reasons for what they think is correct. At the end of the story when you reveal the plot twist, the reader will either say “I knew it!” or “I can’t believe I missed it!”
Example
One of the best examples of ambiguity is in the Harry Potter series. (Again, if you don’t want spoilers, skip this section.) The great debate throughout the books is whether or not Snape is with Dumbledore (on the good side) or Voldemort (on the evil side). There is evidence to support both theories throughout the series. Snape hates Harry and his father, and he’s a member of Voldemort’s followers. On the other hand, Snape loved Harry’s mother, and he works at the school under Dumbledore. At the end, we learn where his real allegiances lie, but both possibilities seem plausible up until the end.
Final Thoughts
Like all things, vagueness and ambiguity need to be used in moderation. Too much of either will confuse the readers and muddy the plot. However, they are excellent tools for crafting good plot reveals and twists. They encourage readers’ curiosity and make them want to read more for the answers. If you want to learn more on the topic, here is a link to September’s original post.
Thanks for reading!
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