The Art of the Cliffhanger: Mastering Suspense in Writing

In this episode, we delve into the captivating art of writing cliffhangers. Drawing parallels between the adrenaline-fueled experience of a roller coaster ride and the heart-pounding suspense of a well-written cliffhanger, we dissect the anatomy of this powerful writing device. Explore its origins, understand its significance in plot development, and learn how to craft it effectively. We'll also discuss the balance between suspense and satisfaction, ensuring your readers are hooked but not exhausted. Discover how to keep your readers turning pages late into the night, eager for the plunge that follows the suspenseful peak.

What is Writing with Craig?

Thriller author Craig A. Hart talks about the craft of writing, giving actionable tips and breaking down important aspects of the craft.

So let's talk about a roller coaster ride. That moment when you slowly, painstakingly climb to the very peak only to pause, hanging precariously on the brink, heart pounding in anticipation of the plunge that is to come. You can feel it now, right? Anybody who's been on a roller coaster I think could. This is the essence of a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger is a powerful tool in the arsenal of a writer. A cliffhanger is like that pause at the peak of the roller coaster ride, that moment of heart-stopping anticipation that keeps the reader hooked. The term cliffhanger originally comes from the serialized Victorian novels where, often quite literally, characters were left hanging on the edge of a cliff between installments and the readers would have to wait till the next issue of the newspaper to find out what happened. Well, today, a cliffhanger really is any situation in a narrative where a character is left in a perilous predicament, or the dramatic question is left unanswered. And they can be a crucial part of the rhythm of writing, marking the ebbs and flows of tension and release. They're like suspenseful question marks that we place at the end of a chapter or a scene that implores the reader to keep going, turn the page, and find out what happens next. But crafting a great cliffhanger is an art. It requires a balance between suspense and satisfaction. If every chapter ends with unrelenting suspense, the reader's going to get fatigued. But if it's too sparse, the reader may lose interest. So you need that balance. So a well-crafted cliffhanger should, first of all, be relevant. The cliffhanger should be relevant to the plot and the characters. It shouldn't feel forced or artificial, but should rise naturally, organically, from events that are taking place in the story. They should also be unexpected. Best cliffhangers are the ones that catch readers by surprise and make them gasp and think, well, I didn't see that coming. And then promise more. A cliffhanger should always promise more to come. They should leave the reader eager to find out what happens. And because they're eager to find out what happens, they should turn the page. That's the goal. While cliffhangers are traditionally associated with the end of a chapter, they can also be used in other parts of your narrative. For instance, you can use, I guess you would call it a mini-cliffhanger, at the end of a scene within a chapter to keep that pace brisk and to maintain that interest. It's also important to pay off your cliffhangers in a satisfying way. If a cliffhanger promises a dramatic confrontation, you should deliver on that confrontation, otherwise the reader is going to feel cheated. And again, as we mentioned before, don't overuse them. If every chapter ends this way, with a major crisis, it's going to get numbing to the reader and eventually going to stop caring. So in conclusion, cliffhangers are a potent device in writing. A pause at the peak of a suspense-filled ride that can leave readers breathless with anticipation. Crafted effectively, they can keep your reader hooked, turning pages late into the night. The art of the cliffhanger is a key element in the rhythm of suspense and release. A heart-stopping moment of anticipation that just makes that plunge all the more thrilling.