Final answer:
Authors structure stories to include elements of surprise by ending chapters with cliffhangers or perspective shifts, and organizing content to build tension. Devices like flashbacks and in media res beginnings can create vivid storytelling that engages readers and leads to unexpected plot developments.
Step-by-step explanation:
An author can structure a story to provide an element of surprise by carefully choosing where to end chapters and how to divide the text. A chapter may end with a cliffhanger, thus adding suspense and urging the reader to continue. Alternatively, an end of a chapter may provide a smooth transition to a different viewpoint, which can also result in a surprising change of perspective for the reader.
In an epistolary novel, the decision by one character to reveal information to another at a specific point can create surprise or lead to a plot twist. The organization and subdivision of a story are crucial in shaping its plot and theme, using techniques such as cliffhangers, shifts in point of view, or structural devices like in media res beginnings or flashbacks.
Additionally, authors often use dramatic structure, like the inverted Freytag's Pyramid, to create engaging and vivid storytelling. By incorporating rising action through dialogue and sensory details, the author builds tension that culminates in the story's climax. This strategic arrangement keeps readers invested and often leads to unexpected turns in the narrative.