tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post6896573766464833066..comments2024-03-11T13:52:07.302-07:00Comments on Cynthia Chapman Willis' BLOG: Do You Hang Off Cliffs?Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-79443524740945734522012-07-26T07:27:45.314-07:002012-07-26T07:27:45.314-07:00Thanks for the wonderful comments, everyone!Thanks for the wonderful comments, everyone!Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-36095069117348792922012-07-20T22:39:57.499-07:002012-07-20T22:39:57.499-07:00Maybe I don't like cliff hangers... I'm no...Maybe I don't like cliff hangers... I'm not that good at writing them. hmmmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-39318914837750392192012-07-18T14:40:37.258-07:002012-07-18T14:40:37.258-07:00I think every chapter needs to at least end on an ...I think every chapter needs to at least end on an interesting note so that the reader is propelled forward. Maybe it's the threat of danger, or a hint that a girl's first kiss is just around the corner, but if I care about the character then I'm inclined to see what happens next.Shannon Hitchcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17995777154718933415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-32451218310206141122012-07-16T21:47:53.340-07:002012-07-16T21:47:53.340-07:00I love cliffhangers. When I think about my favorit...I love cliffhangers. When I think about my favorite books, the authors used them in a wonderful, even subtle way that propelled me to turn the pages. I love not being able to put a book down after I finish reading a chapter. I might still go to bed, but I can't wait to get back to the book after work the next day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-31356678169349445872012-07-16T00:14:47.132-07:002012-07-16T00:14:47.132-07:00I definitely like to build in cliffhangers at the ...I definitely like to build in cliffhangers at the end of chapters. The only time I don't like them is at the end of a book.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-82270448653395797652012-07-15T18:15:01.996-07:002012-07-15T18:15:01.996-07:00They ARE harder than they seem, Tess. I struggle w...They ARE harder than they seem, Tess. I struggle with them more times than not. And yes, BEA was fun. I was lucky! ; )Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-9052710475711698002012-07-15T18:13:35.188-07:002012-07-15T18:13:35.188-07:00It's true, Sharon. It's all about balance....It's true, Sharon. It's all about balance.Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-1385196012157959852012-07-15T18:12:27.575-07:002012-07-15T18:12:27.575-07:00Me, too, Madeleine! : )Me, too, Madeleine! : )Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-52456740744205974122012-07-15T18:12:00.181-07:002012-07-15T18:12:00.181-07:00Ah, that's the tricky part, right, Ruth?Ah, that's the tricky part, right, Ruth?Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-55340016951827094532012-07-15T18:11:32.084-07:002012-07-15T18:11:32.084-07:00Smart, Nutschell!Smart, Nutschell!Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-17904286625737770972012-07-15T18:11:02.228-07:002012-07-15T18:11:02.228-07:00Exactly, Marcia! : )Exactly, Marcia! : )Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-19256246850525477802012-07-15T18:10:39.106-07:002012-07-15T18:10:39.106-07:00Great comment, Melissa! I like almost any techniqu...Great comment, Melissa! I like almost any technique that gets me turning pages.Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-1815050154893058552012-07-15T18:08:42.307-07:002012-07-15T18:08:42.307-07:00I'm glad you mentioned that, Leslie--I keep me...I'm glad you mentioned that, Leslie--I keep meaning to read that trilogy. : )Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-42324145191115160082012-07-15T18:07:28.664-07:002012-07-15T18:07:28.664-07:00Thanks, Victoria!Thanks, Victoria!Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-33655425548647080012012-07-15T18:07:04.131-07:002012-07-15T18:07:04.131-07:00I had not thought about fake cliffhangers, Lydia. ...I had not thought about fake cliffhangers, Lydia. Great point!Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-44150714755637530722012-07-15T18:04:53.401-07:002012-07-15T18:04:53.401-07:00You got to go to BEA? LUCKY! I could be better a...You got to go to BEA? LUCKY! I could be better at this part of our craft. I love reading them -- but have a hard time writing them authentically. It's harder than it seems!Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10014195715998913268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-68242064630105818662012-07-15T13:30:07.995-07:002012-07-15T13:30:07.995-07:00I love cliff hangers...but if you have one at the ...I love cliff hangers...but if you have one at the end of each chapter it gets a bit predictable. I think you have to have some chapters giving closure. (That way the reader can go to bed eventually.)Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-67987557455718390242012-07-14T08:06:47.007-07:002012-07-14T08:06:47.007-07:00Chapter cliffhangers create great page turners. I ...Chapter cliffhangers create great page turners. I love them!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-16190472317983389032012-07-13T07:51:48.518-07:002012-07-13T07:51:48.518-07:00Cliffhangers are great, I agree. And like anything...Cliffhangers are great, I agree. And like anything in good writing, they're best when the author makes them seem effortless.Ruth Schiffmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-18044186138233661272012-07-12T10:20:15.146-07:002012-07-12T10:20:15.146-07:00I'm a big fan of cliffhangers. I try to end my...I'm a big fan of cliffhangers. I try to end my chapters with cliffhangers that'll hopefully keep the readers wanting to read on :)<br />Nutschell<br />www.thewritingnut.comnutschellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10967710710805174781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-22726283063682206282012-07-12T08:41:26.347-07:002012-07-12T08:41:26.347-07:00I like cliffhangers, and I tend to use them. As a ...I like cliffhangers, and I tend to use them. As a reader, I know that a combination of short chapters and cliffhangers will pull me right through a book. ("One more! I can read one more! Just one more!")Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-46035773854640232732012-07-12T04:59:53.205-07:002012-07-12T04:59:53.205-07:00I'll admit this is not one of my strengths. I&...I'll admit this is not one of my strengths. I've been working on it though, and getting better at end of chapter hooks. <br /><br />One of the best 'hooks' I ever saw was when an author changed chapters right in the middle of an intense scene--just stuck a chapter break in there. I was thinking, 'Wait...no! I want to know what happens! You can do this to me!!!' I was so worried she was going to switch to a scene with some other characters (usually that's what happens when she cuts mid-scene), but she didn't. The scene continued and got even better. Some might think that was odd, but it got me to turn the page and sink into another chapter. ;)Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08516493326566981116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-76481542776918072322012-07-11T22:17:06.281-07:002012-07-11T22:17:06.281-07:00I'm a big fan of the cliffhanger if it's b...I'm a big fan of the cliffhanger if it's beating with the pulse of the story. I wanted to scream at the end of Knife of Never Letting Go the cliffhanger grabbed me so hard. Thank goodness the rest of the trilogy was already out so I could dive right in.Leslie S. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17122865337924270039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-72029324225623806762012-07-11T18:12:10.730-07:002012-07-11T18:12:10.730-07:00Cynthia - I love cliffhangers - both as a reader a...Cynthia - I love cliffhangers - both as a reader and as a writer. I do attempt to end each of my chapters with a cliffhanger - some are more successful than others. Great post!Victoria Lindstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09694066132860951997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-22497131252018912332012-07-11T17:34:56.437-07:002012-07-11T17:34:56.437-07:00I like cliffnahngers! The real ones, that is. I us...I like cliffnahngers! The real ones, that is. I used to write "fake" cliffhangers, where there wasn't any true danger behind the tension. Those are let downs, I think.Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.com