Unlock the Secrets of Cliffhangers: How Writers Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat
“Of course,” Waits said. “And they would do it gladly, I’m sure.”
“Then we understand each other. Lead the way.”
CUT!
This cliffhanger gets everyone—Mr. Waits, the POV character, Harry Bosch, and the reader—all on the same page about what’s likely to happen. It also reinforces the dire consequences of that action.
Tip to the reader
This type of cliffhanger gives readers a little something extra, a heads up about something the characters don’t know. It can heighten suspense or create dramatic irony.
Here’s an example from Clive Cussler’s Valhalla Rising.
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