Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh created IWSG — because Alex understands we need a place to congregate, insecurity is part of our creative nature, and together we’re stronger.

On the first Wednesday of each month, you can write on any subject related to your writing journey or answer the month’s question. Either way, you’re in safe territory.

If this sounds good to you, sign up here.

If you haven’t anything new to report, consider answering the month’s question. It’s an optional choice.December 4 question – Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader? (Remember, answering the month’s question is optional)The awesome co-hosts for the December 4 posting of the IWSG are Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia, Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine!

As a suspense writer, I try to weave cliffhangers into my stories both subtly and dramatically. My focus is blending natural storytelling with careful crafting. I obsess over chapter endings until they flow seamlessly – which is seldom easy; I’m my worst critic. However, nothing beats getting readers’ hearts racing once they’re invested in the characters.

Over the years, most of what I’ve learned was from studying the greats. Do you know that feeling when a scene gives you goosebumps or leaves you breathless? That’s the experience I strive to create in my writing. Understanding how masterful authors build tension has helped me craft authentic turning points in my manuscripts that propel the plot forward. For me, true suspense arises from emotional investment rather than manipulated information.

The best novels capture our attention scene by scene, creating character connections that can change our perspectives. Readers should feel compelled to keep turning the pages because they genuinely care about what happens next, not simply because they’re denied closure.

If writing is what you love, and you strive to improve, I suggest studying your favourites. They’re your favourites for a reason.

Gillian Flynn’s character revelations in *Gone Girl*, Stephen King’s mounting dread in *Misery* and *The Stand*, Harlan Coben’s perspective-shifting endings, and Tana French’s psychological tension through unreliable narration in her Dublin Murder Squad series,… if you’re looking for suggestions.

I sometimes find myself not particularly fond of cliffhangers because it feels like the author could have made their point more quickly and moved on. This reaction has led me to reevaluate whether I need to include cliffhangers or not. When they come to me naturally, I feel confident about them. However, when I hear a little voice inside my head suggesting, “This is a good place for a cliffhanger,” I take a moment to reconsider. Most of the time, I pay close attention to the prose while reading my work aloud. I trust my instincts, even if I’m the only one in the room who does.

Over 40 years now, I’ve learned many valuable lessons. Some of those are: writing doesn’t always have to be easy, but it should be enjoyable; trust your instincts; read your work aloud; and never stop honing your craft.

Cliffhangers can vary greatly across different genres. What works in suspense may feel out of place in literary fiction or romance. Oh, and don’t forget that the pacing and frequency of cliffhangers can impact the rhythm of your story.

–Happy IWSG Wednesday and Feliz Navidad!

Joylene

ps. We’ve left our RV in Canada and are at our apartment in Bucerias for the winter. If you’re in the area, come for a visit.

 

The post IWSG – Dec. 2024 – Cliffhangers first appeared on Joylene Nowell Butler.

The post IWSG – Dec. 2024 – Cliffhangers appeared first on Joylene Nowell Butler.