Writer, Leave Them Hanging
By
Cindy Sproles
“It was a fast read. I couldn’t put it down.”
Nothing rings sweeter to an author’s heart than these words. The
moment a reader becomes so invested in a story that nothing is more important
than reading to the end. It’s
monumental!
We call these page turners cliffhangers. Remember “who shot
J. R.”—the 1980s season cliffhanger for Dallas that kicked off a new era for
television? More so, it kept watchers drooling to know what happened next,
assuring Dallas a knockout for the next season’s opener.
There are different schools of thought on the subject of cliffhangers,
but for me … I love them, and I practice them at the end of most chapters of a
novel. Why? It’s a challenge for me as a writer and a ring-in-the-nose for my
reader that allows me to clip on the rope and continue to pull them deeper into
the story.
Some authors insist cliffhangers are unnecessary if you write
a compelling story, but a compelling story should be filled with exhilaration
and take-your-breath realizations that drive your reader into a deeper
investment in the characters. Carefully placed cliffhangers are the icing on an
already compelling story.
The question is, exactly what is a cliffhanger and how do you
insert them into your chapter without leaving a cheesy taste for your reader?
First off, a cliffhanger is not always something earth-shattering. In fact, the
most effective cliffhangers come when the author leaves the reader holding on
to a character’s thought or motivation. It’s the “what if” factor or ratcheting
up the tension. Something unexpected happens—or fails to happen—a new thought
or change of thought process.
For example, your character makes a decision: Owen
knew the answer. He held the key in his hand all along … talk to Ericka. Just
talk to Ericka.
With a cliffhanger like this at the end of a chapter, the
reader suddenly experiences the same “ahhh” moment as the character, whetting
their desire to know what follows the decision to talk to Ericka.
Perhaps it’s a moment when the character realizes something
important.
Example: I flipped open the worn pages of his Bible
and pressed my finger against the words. I had my proof. My vindication right
in the lines of the Good Book. An eye for an eye. “How’s this Daddy? An eye for
an eye …”
A good cliffhanger acts as a lure. It proves to be just as
valuable as the opening hook in paragraph one of the first chapter. Sometimes
the perfect cliffhanger is a simple statement from a character that reinforces
the chapter’s tension.
For example: There was nothing left to say. When the
gavel hit the desk, guilty rang through the courtroom.
Equally as important as utilizing a cliffhanger is knowing not
to overuse them. Remember, when your reader is deeply invested in your story,
their heart races, they wiggle in their chair with the intensity of the scene
so there are times, very important times, that you give the reader the
opportunity for a breath. Let them relax for a second.
I loved the television show 24. But after two seasons, I began
to say, “Just how many more times can Jack Bauer save the world?” Instead of my
interest growing stronger, I felt like there was no end to the dire situations the
nation faced. I was tired and frustrated when the show ended. And poor Jack
Bauer, how could the man ever rest? This
was the result of never allowing the watcher to experience a moment of hope. Angst
is wonderful, but too much gives your reader ulcers.
As you place cliffhangers at the end of chapters, carefully
assess the intensity of the chapters prior and post. Ask yourself the question,
“Can my reader take a breath?” If not, give them one. As much as we love drama
and action, we need to experience some hope and peace. These strategically
placed sentences enrich your reader’s experience.
In a conference class under the late Ron Benrey, he shared his
thoughts on the importance of a good cliffhanger. “A good story … a really good
story, piques every sense and emotion of the reader, not once, but over and
over. Carefully placed cliffhangers bring the story to life. It’s like the
character reaches from the pages of the book, takes the reader by the wrist and
yanks them into a fictional bubble which refuses to let them escape. This, and
this alone, gives the reader an experience they long for.”
As you study your chapters, carefully assess how you can apply
a good solid cliffhanger. Decide what type of emotion you need to tweak, and
then jump on it. Learn to make your readers hunger for the next page and give
them the pleasure. When they purchase your book, read it, and close the cover,
they should have received the reading experience they deserve. Your best hope
as a writer, is an email that asks you for more.
When that happens, it’s a win-win for you and for the reader.
(Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net, marin, and Sira Anamwong.)
TWEETABLE
Cindy Sproles explains how to draw your readers into your story by strategically placed cliffhangers. via @Cindydevoted (Click to tweet.)
Cindy Sproles is the cofounder of
Christian Devotions Ministries. She’s an author, popular speaker and teacher at
conferences, and a writing mentor. Cindy serves as the Executive Editor of
ChristianDevotions.us, Inspire-A-Fire.com, and is the Managing Editor for
SonRise Books and Straight Street Books with Lighthouse Publishing of the
Carolinas. She is the author of New
Sheets–Thirty Days to Refine You Into the Woman You Can Be, Mercy’s Rain, and Liar's Winter. Visit
Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.
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