"One of the most common mistakes among young writers...is the idea that a story gets its power from withheld information...In the final analysis, real suspense comes with moral dilemma and the courage to make and act upon choices. False suspense comes from the accidental and meaningless occurrence of one damned thing after another." - John Gardner, The Art of Becoming a Novelist

It seems awful pretentious to whip out quotes here, or probably anywhere, but I have to confess that Gardner's viewpoint is one that has influenced me since I was about 17, and has helped firm up how I feel about surprise information and plot twists. I have thought about it a lot, not that thinking about anything a lot legitimizes the conclusions that arise as a result.

Some people really want to be surprised. I don't. I generally hate it, actually. It's okay for those people to hate spoilers and for me to embrace them. Sometimes experiencing something without foreknowledge can be precious, sometimes it can be the younger sister in a fight with her older sister who shouts "I hope you die!" as the elder is wheeled off to surgery...and never returns. (Sorry, I've been watching a lot of Grey's.)

Also, as I think about it, there are very few pieces of art that I actually saw in a medium that allowed me to fully appreciate them for the first time. You know? Most of what's in the Louvre we all see for the first time in text books or shitty little 1" by 1" internet clip images.

Was the first time you saw kleinblue in person?