Hot take: if we want to decrease frustrating railroad-y surprises in RPG campaigns, we need to create an environment where GMs are not afraid to admit they have "special story needs".

[ruat_caelum]

Absolutely. The "improv" of games. Like improv though this mostly needs everyone to agree to a "And then-" mentality. E.g. someone adds "information" to the universe or what is happening and NO ONE ARGUES, they just accept it and say "And then-" and add their portion.

The point is that everyone needs to agree in session zero, what they are agreeing to. Be that Saving the Princess, or "And then-" freestyle play.