Writerly Ways
May. 17th, 2020 10:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessI'm feeling a little depressed. Social media can really be so hateful some days, but I did want to actually DO a writerly ways.
This time it's more of a question, one I've probably asked before. I ran across an article a week or so ago just after the Prodigal Son finale. It wasn't a very good article mind you so I didn't save it. However, it said something that got me thinking. It stated something along the lines of 'well there wasn't any P.S. cliffhanger so why would they have a reason to tune in next season?'
My first thought was there are at least three cliffhangers (Malcolm's, Ainsley's and Gil's, heck four if you consider we left Martin mid-riot) so whatever blog author. BUT my second thought was really? You NEED a cliffhanger to tune back in.
Sure that's the whole purpose of a cliffhanger since their earliest use. Let's get people to come back to the theater every week. To me, however, I find them to be emotional blackmail. If I love the story and the characters I don't need a cliffhanger. I'll be back.
I'm wondering, however, if that's because of my favorite reading genre: mysteries. Most books are in a series, true but each mystery is wrapped up by the end. You don't have to get book #2 to find out who the killer is. I'm pretty sure if you tried that in a mystery, you'd not get anyone buying book #2. While I read little romance, I would imagine that would be the same there. If the pair isn't together by the end of the book the audience would feel betrayed.
On the other hand, SF/F/UF, I tend to see the cliffhanger. Don't get me wrong. I don't need every thread tied up by the end of a book. I do, however, prefer to have the main storyline resolved. If a book ends on a cliffhanger or just sort of ambles to a not really an ending, I lose interest. I feel like my arm is being twisted to follow more rather than trusting me to continue on.
In many ways it has the opposite affect. I've abandoned many a series (or switched from buying to library only) If I didn't like the TV show that much a cliffhanger isn't going to lure me in to watching more. How do you feel about them? Do they work for you? Do they not?
Have some links
From around the web:
How To Chronicle A Crisis
How Can You Become A Better Writer?
My 20-Step Plan to Writing a Book: Part 1 (Steps 1-10)
Your Book Needs Editing, Design, and Marketing (even if CreateSpace no longer offers these author services)
If you don’t pay for book editing, it’s going to cost you
What is an info dump?
Turning Real Life into a Convincing Mystery
On Revision: Reframing the House, Painting, and Applying the Finishing Touches
From Betty
The Contagonist
Creating a Story-Worthy Problem That Will Captivate an Audience
What We Can Do in the Wait
Momentum and Pace—Giving Readers a Satisfying Ride
hooks for the opening chapter
Our Limited Limitless Writing Life
Find What You Control, and Take Action
How to Get Back on Track When All Your Planning Fails
No, “Art” Doesn’t Entitle You to Spread Harmful Messages
This time it's more of a question, one I've probably asked before. I ran across an article a week or so ago just after the Prodigal Son finale. It wasn't a very good article mind you so I didn't save it. However, it said something that got me thinking. It stated something along the lines of 'well there wasn't any P.S. cliffhanger so why would they have a reason to tune in next season?'
My first thought was there are at least three cliffhangers (Malcolm's, Ainsley's and Gil's, heck four if you consider we left Martin mid-riot) so whatever blog author. BUT my second thought was really? You NEED a cliffhanger to tune back in.
Sure that's the whole purpose of a cliffhanger since their earliest use. Let's get people to come back to the theater every week. To me, however, I find them to be emotional blackmail. If I love the story and the characters I don't need a cliffhanger. I'll be back.
I'm wondering, however, if that's because of my favorite reading genre: mysteries. Most books are in a series, true but each mystery is wrapped up by the end. You don't have to get book #2 to find out who the killer is. I'm pretty sure if you tried that in a mystery, you'd not get anyone buying book #2. While I read little romance, I would imagine that would be the same there. If the pair isn't together by the end of the book the audience would feel betrayed.
On the other hand, SF/F/UF, I tend to see the cliffhanger. Don't get me wrong. I don't need every thread tied up by the end of a book. I do, however, prefer to have the main storyline resolved. If a book ends on a cliffhanger or just sort of ambles to a not really an ending, I lose interest. I feel like my arm is being twisted to follow more rather than trusting me to continue on.
In many ways it has the opposite affect. I've abandoned many a series (or switched from buying to library only) If I didn't like the TV show that much a cliffhanger isn't going to lure me in to watching more. How do you feel about them? Do they work for you? Do they not?
Have some links
From around the web:
How To Chronicle A Crisis
How Can You Become A Better Writer?
My 20-Step Plan to Writing a Book: Part 1 (Steps 1-10)
Your Book Needs Editing, Design, and Marketing (even if CreateSpace no longer offers these author services)
If you don’t pay for book editing, it’s going to cost you
What is an info dump?
Turning Real Life into a Convincing Mystery
On Revision: Reframing the House, Painting, and Applying the Finishing Touches
From Betty
The Contagonist
Creating a Story-Worthy Problem That Will Captivate an Audience
What We Can Do in the Wait
Momentum and Pace—Giving Readers a Satisfying Ride
hooks for the opening chapter
Our Limited Limitless Writing Life
Find What You Control, and Take Action
How to Get Back on Track When All Your Planning Fails
No, “Art” Doesn’t Entitle You to Spread Harmful Messages
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no subject
Date: 2020-05-18 05:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-05-18 05:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-05-18 05:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-05-18 10:12 pm (UTC)A good example of a cliffhanger is the Buffy one between Season 2 and 3. The main arc of Season Two is nicely resolved but Buffy's run away. I did feel that Season 3 wrapped it up too quickly and I think it may have been interesting if we had more stories about what happened when Buffy was gone but I digress.
What I am trying to stay is that I feel TV shows, books, etc ending on a cliffhanger has become a lazy tactic for writers to make sure that readers/viewers "tune in" for the next installment. I don't think it's warranted or needed most of the time it's used. I have no problem with writers hinting what's going to happen next but I do like it when the main arc of the book/season is nicely resolved instead of having to wait the summer months out to know what's going to happen next.
no subject
Date: 2020-05-19 01:43 am (UTC)I find them lazy and emotionally blackmailing. I could do without them.
You're right about the Buffy ones and the Prodigal Son one is a lot like that. THe main action is concluded but not everything is in a bow. on the other hand we don't have half the team being blown up etc