Cliffhangers are often used in books, movies, and shows to keep readers or viewers interested so they invest time in the next installment of the series. Whether in books or other media, the cliffhanger can be an effective strategy to encourage people to look forward to consuming the next book, episode, or movie in a series. However, cliffhangers can also leave people frustrated. If you’re considering using a cliffhanger at the end of your book, you should first understand how that may affect your readers’ perception of your work.
Pros of leaving readers hanging
- Engagement – Cliffhangers often encourage discourse between readers, which can lead to anticipation for the release of your next book. When a book ends on a cliffhanger, readers often feel the need to talk about it with others, which can hype up your next book and increase sales.
- Anticipation – Many readers enjoy speculating about what will happen to their favorite characters. The mystery of not knowing what will happen until your next book is released, which is often many months or years later, leads readers to feel the need to get their hands on the new book as quickly as possible once it’s released.
Cons of not tying up loose ends
- Differing preferences – Some readers simply don’t like cliffhangers. They appreciate when a book ties up loose ends, allowing for a sequel but not necessarily requiring it. There are some readers who will avoid reading cliffhangers because they don’t like the wait.
- Pressure to write the sequel – While it’s always good to find ways to motivate yourself to write your next book, ending on a cliffhanger can cause you to feel significant pressure to finish your next work. You may be tempted to rush it and not put in your best effort, leaving your readers feeling disappointed.
Cliffhangers are used frequently in many genres to encourage readers to anticipate the sequel. However, cliffhangers can be off-putting to readers who prefer endings that are neatly tied up without requiring them to read a sequel to see what happens next. Be aware of your readers’ preferences, as well as your own ability to write a sequel in a timely manner, before deciding whether you should end your book with a cliffhanger.
