There is definitely something to be said about cliff hanging. EEEEKKKKK......
Cliff Hanger Saturday is a place where you can post your favorite "cliff hangers" of all time or just good writing at the end of the scene. (if not your own work, please give credit to the author and the book.) We all know, a scene should not end with anyone going to sleep. YAWN. But sometimes we see this. If the characters go to sleep, so do we.
So share favorites or write one here.
Highland Honor by Christine Young, Allana Angel.
"He would have her one day, he vowed.
Indeed, he would have her within his power."
I think my favorite cliff hanger is when the characters have spent the last three pages skulking through a dark, creepy house and finally come to the room where they've been headed. They open the door and... the chapter ends. AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!
ReplyDeletePersonally, when I was writing Dragons Among Us, the characters took over the last chapter. I had every intention of ending the story with the characters leaving to go home but Chinese master, Ao Shun, took hold of the story.
I received some complaints from reviewers and readers alike about the feel of the story not ending. Obviously, the character's intent was to let me know I wasn't done with his story. Here's the last page to show you.
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Dragons Among Us [excerpt]
By C. L. Kraemer
Talons shuffled, dragons coughed and the undertone of whispering filled the cavern. On the dais, the Masters sat minus one. Chin of the South raised a talon to get everyone’s attention.
“The High Council has faced some difficult decisions in the past thirty-six hours. We’ve discussed the shifting problem and have several members whose suggestions will be taken into consideration.
“We’ve also mulled over a very unusual suggestion regarding our situation with the two-leggeds I believe can be put into action. We’ll get back to you on those decisions in more detail at a later date. Check your IDN email in-boxes. Thank you for coming.
“I believe we owe our host a round of applause.”
The dragons politely clapped their talons and waited for the word to leave.
“Good night everyone. Ancients be with you.”
The clans headed to the landing ledge. Those living the farthest away were given first opportunity to depart. The debarking of several hundred visitors took several hours. When the last dragon had parted and the landing ledge had been swept, the dragon in charge dragged his tired talons to his room. Thankfully, it would be another five years before he’d have to go through this madness again.
Shun, wrapped in herbal bandages, rose from behind his desk and visually tracked the final group of dragons winging away from his citadel.
“You may think you won this one, Master Li, but this is just beginning.”
Ooooh, I love cliff-hangers at the end of scenes and chapters, where I know I'll find out what happened later in the book.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of books or a TV series, it's a bit more unnerving. As Sable heard from her readers, there's a sense of "no ending." I like things wrapped up neat and tidy. At least, I used to...
Now I'm writing a series that is more interconnected that anything I've done previously, I find myself on a tight rope of wrapping up the short-term goals of the main characters so there's a satisying ending for the immediate situation, BUT leaving clues and possibilities hanging to be resolved in later books of the series.
This has been a real adjustment for me!
However, for this Saturday, I'm going to offer a scene cliff-hanger that, yes, is wrapped up by the end of the book. This is a scene ending fairly close to the beginning of my book, THE ROCK STAR, when the two main characters are still very much dancing around each other, deciding if they want to take a chance on getting involved again.
Excerpt from THE ROCK STAR © Genie Gabriel:
Geoff straightened from under the hood and walked to Shannon's window. She stared at him, seemed to consider something, then simply said, "Thank you."
Disappointed, Geoff watched her drive away. Well, hell, he thought as she turned the corner. Three strikes and you're out. She was still running from him. He should be glad she was gone.
Two steps later, the rumble of an old eight-cylinder engine stopped beside him and a sultry female voice called out, "Have you ever done any remodeling?"