Ways to create the effect
of a cliffhanger:
Using character dialogue
Using unanswered
questions
Descriptive scene /
creating an atmosphere
Cliffhangers act as
bait to lead the readers from one part of the text to another with more
interest than before. Whether they happen between chapters, books, episodes,
series of films or movies. To end a story with a cliffhanger is difficult.
Do
|
Don’t
|
- Leave
the reader questioning about ONE specific thing
- Make
the reader desire more
|
- leave
with unknown information that is needed to understand the story
-
leave the reader with discontent
|
A cliffhanging
ending doesn’t have to be something HUGE! As long as it keeps the
reader guessing and asking themselves questions you have done your job as a
writer.
A Cliffhanger Can:
Involve SOMEONE:
a) Someone
takes an action
b) Someone
reacts to something
c) Someone
arrives
d) Someone
leaves
Involve SOMETHING:
a) Something
happens, on its own timeline or in response to something that a character did
b) Something
fails to happen
c) Something
changes
d) Something
fails to change
Include a new piece of
information:
a) The
character learns something
b) The
character notices something
c) The
character figures something out
d) The
character decides something
e) Character
remembers something OR loses memory
f) The
character feels something
Remember:
Most important thing NOT
to do if you are writing a story ending with a cliffhanger is to make sure that
the reader does not feel cheated out of a proper ending.
A cliffhanger is a
surprise or story twist that leaves the reader wanting more NOT confused.
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