Reviews and Cliffhangers

I knocked out another game review for DLH.net this week, which should hopefully be up soon. It was really good and I feel fortunate to have this gig. It's really exposing me to a lot of hidden gems I might not otherwise come across. 

On that same front, I've made a little progress in my writing career. Another website has taken me on as a game reviewer, meaning my published reviews are going to only grow. I just sent in my review for that game as well, so make sure you guys keep an eye out here for that one, too.

Now, on the fiction writing front, I thought I'd take a look at a writing trope that has a fair share of fans and detractors, the classic cliffhanger. Now, no matter where you stand on the issue of enjoying or despising them, you have to admit, they work fairly well to keep the interest of the reader or viewer high. Raised tension, high stakes, excitement abounding... and then nothing! It's like cutting off a druggy's fix. Well, actually, I can make a more apt metaphor, but this is a family-friendly blog, so let's stick with denying the high.

It's that denial. A calculated risk to make your consumer want the conclusion even more. Personally, I feel like it's a bit messed up. If there's not a really good reason, you should make you story stand on it's own. Even if the resolution isn't everything the reader wants, it's better than "Will they survive? Better read the next book!" Because what happens if there is no next book? I know a lot of people still hurting from the end of that classic '90s cartoon ReBoot. And trust me, The Guardian Code on Netflix isn't scratching anyone's itch. 

So what do you think? Are cliffhangers good if used appropriately? Should they be tossed aside as an archaic cliche? Let me know your thoughts.

​DFTBA