Last week while visiting my daughter I read a thriller by a first time novelist. I enjoyed it but once I finished it, I concluded that it had a surfeit of cliffhangers. I don’t have it at hand at the moment, but at least from the mid point on, I doubt there was a chapter that didn’t end with a shotgun being pumped, a man clutching to a beach cliff while his attacker sought him (a real cliff hanger!) or another suspenseful moment. Please, don’t make me stay up ALL night. Give me a chance to catch my breath, to take a potty break.
Nothing wrong with cliffhangers, but like any literary device, and like seasoning, they need to be used with a light hand and with thought to the impact you want to have. Too many, and people begin to expect them, rather than be surprised or held in suspense.
What’s your take on cliffhangers?
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Nothing wrong with cliffhangers, but like any literary device, and like seasoning, they need to be used with a light hand and with thought to the impact you want to have. Too many, and people begin to expect them, rather than be surprised or held in suspense.
What’s your take on cliffhangers?
P.S. If you like the suspense of online auctions and the satisfying feeling of contributing to a good cause, check out http://auction.greatoldbroads.org/. Yeah, yeah, I'm a great old broad and proud of it!
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6 comments:
Maybe a few chapters could end not in a physical cliffhanger, but an internal one, or a question, or something to keep you reading, but not leave you literally hanging.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Good point, Helen. I love to read books where I worry about the characters and wonder what's coming, whether it is a physical or an emotional risk they face.
I like what Helen said about "internal cliffhangers." It reminds me of what Donald Maass said about ending each chapter with something new.
But I agree, the regular kind of cliffhanger gets silly if used too much.
I think subtlety is called for, so readers don't realize why they've stayed up so long.
I'm aiming for that, hoping I'll get better with practice and with critical reading of good writing.
Kathy:
IN general, I like cliffhangers. But They must be real cliffhanbgers not just ricks to get me to read the next chapter.
I admit that I use teasers in my short stories, but I try to be frugal. Too much chocolate will ruin any tastebud.
Happy trails.
Hi, Swu.
You do use teasers to keep us reading, and I enjoy them. I also keep reading. Often your titles are the teasers that make me want to know what's going to happen.
So they work for you, and aren't tricks.
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