How Do You Deal With Cliffhangers?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Let your feelings out.
  2. Seek solace in the people around you.
  3. Prepare for, but don't obsess over, the next book.
  4. Find ways to distract yourself.
  5. Re-read your favorite books.
  6. Share your survival stories.

Why do we hate cliffhangers?

Many viewers and hate cliffhangers because

they have built up their anticipation throughout the story

that all will be explained and made clear, and then when they do not get their emotional hit and resolution at the end, they feel ripped off.

Are cliffhangers annoying?

Perhaps the difference between good and bad cliffhangers isn't so much the cliffhanger itself (although

some cliffhangers can be annoying because

they feel too contrived to blatantly manipulate the readers emotions), but rather the more important issue is whether the reader had some resolution as well.

Are cliffhangers good or bad?

Cliffhangers also

bring out emotional reactions which is good

. Though the reaction might be anger, the reader is involved to a large degree. You want that. If a reader gets to the end and shrugs their shoulders, then the book wasn't for them.

How do you stop cliffhanger?

  1. Let your feelings out.
  2. Seek solace in the people around you.
  3. Prepare for, but don't obsess over, the next book.
  4. Find ways to distract yourself.
  5. Re-read your favorite books.
  6. Share your survival stories.

Why are cliffhangers good?

They're no substitute for vivid character development and a compelling overall story, but they do complement those features of your writing. Cliffhangers

build suspense and convey a sense of urgency

, reinforcing the audience's investment in the story.

Why do we call it a cliffhanger?

Etymology. The term “cliffhanger” is considered to have

originated with the serialised

Can a bad ending ruin a story Reddit?

A bad ending

can 100% ruin the entire story

, and completely destroy any influence it previously had.

Should you end your book on a cliffhanger?

When you write a book that's part of a larger arc of conflict, you want

to

end in a way that creates closure but also spurs the reader on to the next book. A cliffhanger can certainly do this, but that approach can feel heavy-handed, particularly if the cliffhanger's only role is to get you to the next book.

How do you end a first book in a series?

  1. Make it a forgone conclusion: …
  2. Leave the boss villain in play: …
  3. Cliffhanger it: …
  4. Shut the door, but open a window: …
  5. Include the first chapter of the next book: …
  6. Don't transition, create a standalone with close ties:

How many chapters do most novels have?

Most novels have

between 10 to 12 chapters

, but that's not set in stone. You can have two chapters or 200 — it all depends on how comfortable you are with experimenting. Consider your dear reader. Will the chapter breaks make sense to that reader or will it be a disruption from the story?

What are some good cliffhangers?

  • An Unanswered Question. This is the most common cliffhanger. …
  • A Loss. The loss can be physical or emotional. …
  • Dangle A Carrot. …
  • A Glimmer Of Hope. …
  • A Physical Threat. …
  • A Sense Of Foreboding. …
  • A Ticking Clock. …
  • An Accident.

How do you end a story example?

  • Take Them by Surprise.
  • (Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None)
  • Play on Their Sentiments with an Elegiac Fade Out.
  • (The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera)
  • Throw Them a Punchline.
  • (Animal Farm, George Orwell)
  • Leave Open Questions and Create Suspense.

Does the family end on a cliffhanger?

“The Family” had more than a few twists and turns in its 12 episodes — the finale was no different. … The finale set up two

big cliffhangers

back in 2016. First, that the real Adam, who had been presumed dead, was actually alive and well (and understandably angry at Ben).

Why did The Italian Job end like that?

Royal Society of Chemistry Chief Executive Richard Pike said the competition to find an ending to the movie that preserves both the gold and the men was aimed at “

promoting science and chemistry to a wider audience in an entertaining way

,” adding that some 2,000 people had tried their hand at extricating Croker's gang.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.