On Cliffhangers
What are your thoughts, as engaged writers and readers, on cliffhangers? Are they good writing, or bad writing?
I suppose, like anything in art, they can be done well. But, if you’re a good enough writer, can’t you engage the reader without a cliffhanger?
I remember always getting annoyed when I came across a chapter that ended in a cliffhanger, because I couldn’t put the book down and had to keep reading. Goosebumps comes to mind. Also, the Wheel of Time series. Really great, really maddening cliffhangers.
Why did they make me so frustrated? How do you all feel when you come upon a cliffhanger in a book? Good? Thrilled? Annoyed?
I’m working on a sequel to my fantasy novel. Hooray for motivation and good time management! If working on your novel until 3am counts as good time management, heh. But I feel more like a human being after spending my time writing than I do after spending my time on social media or TV.
I’ve also started submitting short stories and poetry to publishers again! Let those rejections come rolling in!
Putting this little commission I painted here, because art.
Sarah D. Silvey 
Cliffhangers and clangers
Writing can be frustrating
Submission rejections are exasperating … 🌏📘💙
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Ivor! Thanks for the commiseration. I told myself I would get 100 rejections! I’m at 15, I think. 😀
YOU are already published, as I recall. ❤
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Hi Sarah, yes, I have written 3 self-published books (poetry collections), and I hope to finish my 4th one by the end of the year
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First of all, Sarah, your art! I am in awe! Thank you for sharing that.
Now as far as cliffhangers, I have to give the most noncommittal answer — it depends. I have read some books using this construction and found it irritating, even lazy on the part of the author. Yet in others it seemed like the perfect thing to do. Fiction mirrors life, and sometimes we get the neat package, and sometimes we stare open-mouthed, incredulous at the turn of events, and are left wondering how that story can or might continue. For me the most annoying use of it is when it seems construed just to get me to turn the page or buy the next book. There’s a clever(er) way to do most anything, and I have no doubt that if you, in your new book, leave us hanging, it will be for good reason and it will be well crafted. No pressure!
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Yay, thank you sweet friend!
You’re right about the noncommittal “it depends.” I’m there with you. But you have a really interesting point about whether it feels construed or not. If you’re forcing in a cliffhanger to try to keep the interest, vs if you are building to a natural climax, and want to put a break after a cliffhanger. Hmm…
Thanks for your valuable input, as always 🙂
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