No more Cliff-hangers!
[image error]I have been reading a large variety of books, and I find the most poignant difference between classics and self-published books is the use of cliff-hangers, open ending, and series hooks. I have read at least three of these kinds of endings this year alone. To be honest, I hate a book that doesn’t end. There was a time in my late teens that I even refused to read any book that was part of a series and mostly only read biographies. I know how a biography ends, the person dies.
It has become common advice online and even in some writing books for emerging writers that they should strive to never completely wrap up their story. Some even advocate cliff-hangers and open endings as a method to emotionally manipulate the reader to buy your next book. Never mind just proving yourself as a good writer with a loyal following, instead, you need to create dissonance in your reader’s emotions so they are clammoring for the next volume. For me personally, I might buy the next book to complete the story, but I will never buy another book from that author again. I read to relax, escape, and have fun. A book or series that causes me stress and manipulates my emotions in highly artificial ways is a betrayal of trust.
Perhaps, I am unusual, but I don’t think so. I have seen article after article of people wanting stand-alone books. The interest in short stories also ensures an ending to the story arc. Why is it that the vast majority of classic books are stand-alone? There are some famous series as well, but I would argue that the series ends and that each book has its own story arc that tends to end. With all generalities, there are exceptions, but I feel comfortable in saying that they are truly the exceptions.
Classic novels follow the main character into a major problem that spikes in a climax and wraps up in an ending. During the course of this dilemma, the character changes and the dilemma effects them in profound was. Anyone can create a problem or mystery to be solved, but a truly talented writer comes up with an amazing solution that makes the book satisfying to read.
The problem with a cliff-hanger ending is that many writers don’t deliver on what they promise. Either the next book isn’t written or the writer has left out everything that drew me to the next story. I also am repulsed by the complete lack of respect for the time and emotional energy it takes to read a novel. This complaint comes from a person who has read a 100,000-word novel in a single day many times. This is a full day that I have given to you as a writer that I will never get back.
So, as one who is happy to read your books and even review them, respect my time. Give me a story that you took the time to finish. I love a good story, but no more cliff-hanger, please!
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I agree completely! Great post!
I like series. I like a story that is too long to fit into one book. Just my opinion, my preference. Because I like to read that kind of story, that's the kind of story I've written. The Seven Words is four books long, topping out at approximately 548,000 words. And yes, the third book in the series (The Deceit of Darkness) ends in a cliff-hanger. It's a major turning point in the story and so it made sense to me to make the transition there. Of course I wrote the whole thing, all four books, before publishing The Sorcerer's Bane (book one). My goal is to have all four out by the end of 2018 so I don't leave anyone hanging. I too hate waiting for a sequel that never comes. That's why I was purposeful in finishing the project and then indie publishing on a tight schedule. So, anyway, I took the time to finish the story, it was just too long to fit into one book. Please don't hold it against me. I'm sticking to my schedule. The Light Arises (book two) is well on its way to releasing in May.
C.S. wrote: "I like series. I like a story that is too long to fit into one book. Just my opinion, my preference. Because I like to read that kind of story, that's the kind of story I've written. The Seven Word..."I was not criticizing Sorcerer's Bane specifically. I gave you a good review because it does resolve the central plot -he reunites with his parents. The opening up of a new set of issues at the end bothered me some and felt unnecessary, but it wasn't as bad of an open ending as many other books I have read. I recently read a book that had me flipping the pages trying to find the rest of the book. Nothing was resolved at all! I have started to read the ends of the book I review first and if it looks like a cliff-hanger, I refuse to read them. I am a fan of some very long series such as mysteries. Many of these do have a larger overarching plot that spreads out through the series such as yours. I have even stayed faithful to these series when they had an odd cliff-hanger, but these authors have earned my trust by resolving issues in each book. Of course, if you love cliff-hangers, then that is perfectly fine. We all have our own tastes, and I am glad these books have an audience.
Thanks for your response. I didn't think you were singling out The Sorcerer's Bane. I loved your review. I guess my point was, I don't hate cliff-hangers, but I do dislike when I am left hanging and then need to wait years for a resolution that sometimes never comes.
C.S. wrote: "Thanks for your response. I didn't think you were singling out The Sorcerer's Bane. I loved your review. I guess my point was, I don't hate cliff-hangers, but I do dislike when I am left hanging an..."Thanks and I do agree about not wanting to wait for the next book in a series. I am a very impatient reader! Lol!
