Unlock the Secrets of Cliffhangers: How Writers Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat
Look at State of Fear for a great example:
Kenner said, “Did you find a computer?”
“No,” she said. “There’s nothing there. Nothing at all. No sleeping bag, no food, no personal effects. Nothing but a bare tent. The guy’s gone.”
Kenner swore. “All right,” he said. “Now, listen carefully. Here’s what we are going to do.”
CUT!
In a subsequent chapter, when you pick up this thread again, you can either go into the details of the plan or simply take the reader along as the plan plays out.
Plot key
This kind of cliffhanger hits the spot and brings a burst of satisfaction. It occurs when a character finds a key piece of evidence or something else that moves the plot forward.
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