Ending a chapter let alone the book with a cliff hanger is a powerful device especially if you are planning on writing a sequel or series like me.
I was always told by other writers and creators that they hate how I write my endings because I don’t always wrap my stories endings into a neat bow and have a happy ever after. But what is the fun in that. I love surprises and intense moments especially at the end of the stories. I like to leave my endings open for interpretation by the readers. I like those shocking twist endings. I love my cliffhangers.
Maybe it is because I have the background of a screenwriter. I like to purpose my novels like a tv script. The novel has its own arc at the end of each book there is a cliff hanger to invite the reader and get ready and get geared up for a sequel . Like a television season.
I often experiment, combining types of endings and avoid cliché ones which are usually the happy go lucky ones .
And so I want the reader to have questions but not have them be resolved so soon.
There are 3 types of cliff hangers that I have used
The unexpected loss
Usually pertains of goals that weren’t achieved or the unexpected death of a character.
When writing this type of cliffhanger the details must be vague and must be left up to the next book to get the answers or the effects of what happened.
The unanswered fate of a character.
Usually this is when the reader doesn’t know about the fate of an important character.
Writers must make sure that the character is important enough to the reader before using this cliff hanger because assures that the reader will come back for the next book.
A sense of foreboding
It is where there are hints of unseen threats. Once again the details should be vague and cryptic as possible in order to draw interest for the next book .
I usually like to mix up the cliff hangers and use more than one at the same time.
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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLIFF HANGER ?
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