A Sandwich, a Pinball, and a Plot Twist Walk Into a Bar: Lunch Lessons from Rural Virginia
When you think of plot twists, your mind probably leaps to dramatic movie reveals or unexpected book endings. But if you’re Tim, those twists can just as easily be found in the middle of a cheese sandwich or a disappointing turkey and bacon monstrosity. His recent lunch adventures in Middleburg, Virginia, offer a culinary lesson in the unpredictability of life—something every writer should consider when crafting characters and narratives.
The Cheese That Wouldn’t Quit
Tim’s first lunch in Middleburg seemed innocent enough: a grilled cheese sandwich. Simple, comforting, and, theoretically, impossible to mess up. But this was no ordinary cheese. It was the kind that sits in your stomach like an unwelcome houseguest, overstaying its welcome long after the meal is over. The aftermath was so intense that both Tim and his significant other were left questioning their life choices—and their stomach capacities.
Here’s where the lesson for writers comes in: sometimes, the simplest elements of your story can have the most unexpected consequences. A character might make a small, seemingly inconsequential choice—like ordering a grilled cheese—that ends up having outsized implications for their journey. Don’t be afraid to let the mundane snowball into something significant. After all, it’s the heavy cheese that sticks with you.
Mayo, Mayo, Go Away
On day two, Tim encountered a more subtle twist: the hidden menace of mayonnaise. This sandwich came with a detailed description, but buried in fine print was the critical detail: “please say ‘Mayo’ or ‘No mayo’.” As someone with a deep aversion to mayo, Tim’s oversight led to a sandwich drenched in the very substance he detested. The result? Another meal ruined, another life lesson learned.
For writers, this is a reminder that sometimes, the devil really is in the details. Your characters might overlook something small, something that seems insignificant at the moment, only to have it come back and bite them later. A missed line of fine print could be the catalyst for a much larger plot twist. So, pay attention to the little things—they can turn your story upside down.
The Meanness of Thin Turkey
But it was the third day that delivered the cruelest twist of all: a turkey and bacon sandwich so stingy it bordered on offensive. One paper-thin slice of turkey and half a rasher of bacon—Middleburg’s version of a cruel joke (a disappointment unhelpfully reinforced by LeeAnna pointing out that Middleburg is where she procures plump, delicious turkeys for her Thanksgiving table). Tim’s reaction? A scathing review on Yelp that, for once, he felt compelled to write.
This is where the concept of plot twists gets personal. Sometimes, the universe hands you a situation so absurd, so far removed from your expectations, that you’re forced to respond. Whether it’s a character leaving a scathing review, making a life-altering decision, or finally snapping, these moments of unexpected meanness can push your narrative in new and exciting directions. After all, life isn’t always generous, and neither is good storytelling.
Pinball and Plot Twists
Back from Middleburg and armed with a new perspective on life’s unpredictability, Tim found himself reflecting with LeeAnna on how these twists apply to more than just lunch. Over drinks at his local bar, he learned that a seemingly trivial conversation about love had inspired a friend to propose to his girlfriend. It’s a classic case of unintended consequences, where a few words spoken over a drink led to a life-changing decision for someone else—one that Tim, as LeeAnna points out, barely remembered.
This brings us to Tim’s analogy: life is like a pinball machine. We might control the flippers, but our lives—like the metal ball—are constantly bouncing around, impacted by the sides of the pinball board, which represent other people, events, and the unpredictable world around us. (lol, not depressing). The idea that we can only control so much resonates deeply with the concept of plot twists. As LeeAnna points out, our characters might think they’re in control, but the world is always ready to throw in a surprise or two.
Writing to the Unexpected
So what does all this mean for writers? It means embracing the unexpected, both in life and in your work. Characters who understand themselves, their environment, and others around them are less likely to encounter the kinds of twists that make stories interesting. But characters who are missing one—or more—of these understandings are ripe for plot twists. They’re the ones who think they’re ordering a satisfying turkey sandwich and end up with a cruel joke on a plate.
Encourage your characters to take leaps into the unknown, even if it’s just a new lunch spot in rural Virginia. Let them misjudge situations, overlook details, and get blindsided by reality. Because in the end, it’s these twists and turns that keep your readers hooked—and keep your story from becoming just another predictable, mayo-laden disappointment.
So, writers, take a cue from Tim’s misadventures: plot twists are everywhere, even in the simplest of choices. Write to the unexpected, embrace the unpredictability of life, and remember—sometimes, the biggest twists come in the thinnest slices of turkey.
The Snark
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