Give your readers a sneak peek/flash-forward!

Let reader preview the payoff before they commit to it.

Why it works: Giving readers an enticing glimpse into the Gem Choice branch helps them visualize what the payoff will look like, building a sense of excitement and anticipation.

How to do it: Using a “flash-forward” filter (e.g. blurred, vintage, sepia-tinted), whet readers’ appetite for the Gem Choice payoff with a montage of the rewards they can expect from the gem branch.

Tips:

• Use this technique when the payoff is too complicated or difficult to telegraph in the seconds leading up to the choice moment. 
• Make sure you’re teasing the payoff only, not giving them the whole scene! The flash-forward should imply a general direction, but also promise that it’ll lead to something more...
• Aim for short and sweet; the montage should be no longer than 5 seconds.

The flash-forward lets me see what my outfit will look like before I actually commit to it.

The flash-forward montage gives me a taste of what I’ll get out of the gem branch.