tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847902007209931042.post2325845679912335080..comments2024-01-05T05:46:30.140-08:00Comments on Angie's Desk: CliffhangersAngiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11920578701763415331noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847902007209931042.post-54534424703185881652010-04-17T07:33:01.954-07:002010-04-17T07:33:01.954-07:00WW -- I can give writers sort of a pass on cliffha...WW -- I can give writers sort of a pass on cliffhanger endings (although I'll still grumble) if it's clear that this is a single-arc series, where the "series" is actually all one story being published in multiple volumes. There's the danger of the series never being finished, though, whether it's the author's fault or the publisher's, and then you have a riot among the readers -- and rightly so.<br /><br />When it's actually the <i>ending,</i> though, then I agree with you a hundred percent. I remember one historical romance I read as a teenager, where the book ended with the Guy sailing off in his ship, and the Girl left on the beach watching him sail away with a smile on her face as the Redcoats captured her, The End.<br /><br />WTF?? And fifteen or so years later, the author finally got around to writing a sequel, with an Author's Note at the beginning expressing how SURPRISED and gratified she was that so many of her readers had written her to say they were interested in reading more about these characters. Well hell, lady, what the bleep did you expect?? IMO she was either playing ingenuous for all she was worth, or she was unquestionably stupid, one of the two. :/<br /><br />AngieAngiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11920578701763415331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847902007209931042.post-82415766436476913442010-04-17T06:21:23.373-07:002010-04-17T06:21:23.373-07:00I loathe cliff hangar endings. Absolute loathing....I loathe cliff hangar endings. Absolute loathing. I think it's a cheat on the author's part. A book is supposed to be complete in and of itself; the main plot/main character cannot end on a cliff hanger or you haven't done what the novel promised by being a novel. However, of course sub plots or secondary characters can have threads left hanging; those are part of the fun of a series. <br /><br />I can't recall any examples of chapter endings that work that way, which means that either they don't bother me much there, or I've been lucky in my book choices! :)writtenwyrddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02280711822302493122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847902007209931042.post-86535229530291306172010-04-15T03:41:17.669-07:002010-04-15T03:41:17.669-07:00Charles -- I like "fakehangers" and will...Charles -- I like "fakehangers" and will remember that term. :) And yes, it's fine in the middle of a book, if they're real cliffhangers, done right.<br /><br />Bernita -- exactly, there needs to be <i>some</i> significant payoff after a cliffhanger. A writer who pulls fakes and then thumbs his/her nose at readers isn't going to have readers for long.<br /><br />AngieAngiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11920578701763415331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847902007209931042.post-32478823257037487482010-04-15T02:06:23.858-07:002010-04-15T02:06:23.858-07:00Fake cliff-hangers? This is an excellent point, An...Fake cliff-hangers? This is an excellent point, Angie! One expects something exciting - or at least interesting - after that sort of chapter ending.<br />I hope to God I've never pulled that stunt - it's a cheat.<br />Unless I have in my grubby little hands the next book in a series, I deplore them at the end of a book.Bernitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264585685253812090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847902007209931042.post-73790517273545582692010-04-14T08:58:13.952-07:002010-04-14T08:58:13.952-07:00I love a good cliffhanger in the middle of a book,...I love a good cliffhanger in the middle of a book, not at the end, but it has to be done right. I really have come to deplore those fakehangers.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.com