Writing
How to Write a Cliffhanger: 14 Tips for Writing Page-Turning Cliffhangers With Dan Brown and R.L. Stine
Written by the MasterClass staff
Last updated: Sep 3, 2021 • 2 min read
A cliffhanger is a plot device in which a component of a story ends unresolved, usually in a suspenseful or shocking way, in order to compel audiences to turn the page or return to the story in the next installment. A cliffhanger can end a chapter of a novel, a television episode, a scene in a film, or a serialized story (book or movie).
Cliffhanger endings usually fall into two categories:
- 1. The main character comes face-to-face with a dangerous or possibly life-threatening situation.
- 2. A shocking revelation comes to light, threatening to alter the course of the narrative.
Practice your cliffhanger endings with the following tips from Dan Brown and R.L. Stine.