A betrayal is a very traumatic event, so it can be difficult to write, especially if you don't have firsthand experience. When writing about betrayal there is a lot you need to keep in mind including the motivation behind the traitor and the emotional response of the character who was betrayed. Before actually writing the betrayal scene, define how important the betrayal is to your novel. Will the betrayal be a minor plot point or a complete plot twist? Once you begin writing the scene of the betrayal, keep in mind these five tips for crafting the perfect betrayal scene.
Include a Subtle Set-Up
It is important to set up the betrayal for readers, so it flows realistically. You don't have to have a super obvious lead-up to the story, but you should include some type of set-up. There are many ways to subtly establish betrayal in your novel, from something as simple as a few lines of dialogue to clues. Before writing the scene of betrayal in your novel, make sure that you set it up. Think about what you want the reader to be feeling during the betrayal and consider how shocked you want them to be. Some ways to set up the betrayal include: leaving clues for the reader, foreshadowing the scene, utilizing body language, and leaving red herrings. Including a set-up is a great way to make sure your story is coherent, while also being slightly surprising.
Identify who was the Betrayer
Before writing about the betrayal scene, you need to determine who they are grieving. Again, consider your character's personality and how they would respond to the betrayal of the person. For example, a character may sob for hours when betrayed by their sister, but they may try to kill their best friend if they were the traitor. Your characters will probably respond differently to different people, so it is important to consider who is the betrayer and what their relationship is with the protagonist. Also, make sure you make it clear to readers, who the main character was betrayed by and why they feel the emotions that they feel.
Make Sure the Reader is Invested
You need to guarantee that your readers are invested in your characters and therefore your novel. If your readers are engaged in your novel, the betrayal will especially impact them. If the readers don't care about the protagonist or the betrayer, they won’t be interested in the betrayal when it occurs. You want your readers to feel the betrayal and experience the visceral emotions of the betrayal, so there should be at least one character that a reader can relate to.
Ensure the Protagonist is Affected
The betrayal must have an effect on your protagonist because typically the betrayer is someone close to the protagonist. The closer the betrayer is to the protagonist, the more it should emotionally affect the main character. Showing the impact the betrayal has on your characters is an efficient way to display information about your characters. How does the protagonist deal with the betrayal and the loss? For example, character A may seek revenge, whereas character B may stop communicating with people. Also relating to the previous point, if the betrayal doesn’t upset the protagonist, readers won't care about the betrayal either. While writing the betrayal make certain that the protagonist is impacted and that you display the protagonist's response to the reader.
Consider the Betrayer's Motivation
Before writing the betrayal, consider the motivation of the traitor. The betrayer needs to have a reason for betraying the protagonist, they shouldn't just mislead them for no reason. If the betrayer were to betray the main character for no reason your story may feel jumbled, confusing, and unrealistic. By identifying the traitor's backstory you are sure to understand what scares them and what would motivate them to betray the protagonist. For example, your character may be shaped and motivated by a tragic event that occurred in their childhood. Whatever aspect of their past it may be, get to know the betrayer's backstory and history. Make sure you know your characters and that you about their past and the experiences they have endured.
In conclusion, when writing a betrayal scene guarantee that you establish the relationships between characters and that you set up the betrayal. Though writing about betrayal is difficult, it won't be impossible, as long as you follow these tips. These tips are sure to help you write an engrossing and effective betrayal.