Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click here to learn more or sign up.
Optional Monthly Question: Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?
I do not write cliffhangers because I don’t like them. Since it seems that so many people do like them, I’ve learned to tolerate them, but I won’t write them myself. I have, and probably will again, rated a book lower due to an abrupt or cliffhanger ending in situations where I feel like the author is just dragging their story out to sell more books. If your book is less than 300 pages, do you really need a cliffhanger?
****
And now, on to the personal updates…
I have plenty to say, but I’m not yet ready, so nothing to update at the moment.
****
How do you feel about cliffhangers?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will eventually stop by your blog.
****
After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Ronel,
Deniz,
Pat Garcia,
Olga Godim,
and Cathrina Constantine!
****
Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #25).
Did you know you can join my community for FREE over at Patreon to receive a monthly update on the creative projects I’m working on? I tell you the truth, it’s better than a newsletter!
Thank you for making it this far down the virtual page. Kudos to you! I’d love to know what you thought of this post in the comments below. Stay safe and be blessed.
22 replies on “#IWSG Dec. 2024- Cliffhangers”
I don’t mind cliffhangers if it’s a series. I think they’re expected in some genres, such as fantasy and mysteries. But a lot of people in this group don’t like them.
I expect them now, but still prefer some kind of resolution at the end of a book.
I agree, I don’t like cliffhangers either!
It’s funny. I don’t mind cliffhangers in comics, but that’s a different medium. Plus, serials seem to have that built into the structure.
I fell that same way about cliffhangers.
Yeah, I think cliffhangers are better suited for other mediums such as comics or TV.
A normal story should be wrapped up in one book.
Yes, I agree.
I’m not a fan of cliffhangers either. I’m more likely to buy your next book if you prove to me that you know how to write a satisfying ending. If you’re doing a series, you can leave some loose threads or give me hints about what’s coming next. That’s fine. But the main plot of the current book better have an actual ending.
I totally agree. You don’t have to leave things in complete disarray just to get people to read the next book in your series. You said it perfectly.
Something like the Shadowspell Academy books I read this year thrived on cliffhangers, I think they were published close together and each one had a satisfying story that just seemed to continue into the next with a short breath in-between. But if I have to wait longer than opening the next book for a big cliffhanger, I’m not reading it as the tension will just become too much for me. Much like the extremely long and ridiculous wait between Wednesday season 1 and 2 (still no airing date) which means I’ll just not watch it — it won’t be as good as I’d imagined it and I’m over gothic academy stories as there were a lot of books to read in the meantime.
So I guess I’m saying cliffhangers are okay as long as I don’t have to wait for them to be resolved. LOL.
Happy holidays!
Ronel visiting for IWSG day Over and Done With. An Author’s Year in Review 2024
Yeah, Natalie (I think) mentioned on her blog that cliffhangers go over better when it’s the second book in the series, and I think there is some truth to that.
I expect a certain level of cliffhangers in a series. As long as they don’t end mid-scene, I’m all right. 🙂
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
Yes, that’s where I’m able to tolerate them, but I’ve read too many books that end mid-scene and now I won’t read those authors anymore.
Tolerate – interesting choice of words.
I hope I don’t sound too harsh, but I am being honest.
I agree with you about cliffhangers. I can handle a cliffhanger if it is done well AND if I know it’s coming…but I make sure it’s a completed series first. If it comes across like a cheap trick to grab for more cash, I would be disgusted as well.
Yes. It’s very jarring to read something that simply stops in the middle of a scene and the whole book is only 250 pages. That’s just not necessary.
I’m another who doesn’t like cliffhangers. I mean, a true serial gets to have them; that’s sort of the point. But I see no reason for a full-length novel to do that, and unless the follow-up is published at the same time, I think it’s cruel and unusual punishment to make people wait for the resolution.
Yes. You said it nicely.
I agree, I write HEAs not cliffhangers! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by. Nothing wrong with a good happily ever after.