Tony Tips Tuesdays™: Crafting Cliffhangers

There’s a reason some readers lose sleep over a good book—cliffhangers. These masterfully timed narrative pauses are what keep people turning pages long past bedtime, whispering, “Just one more chapter.” As writers, our job isn’t just to tell a story—it’s to make it impossible for readers to walk away.

🎬 Just like filmmakers did with the Back to the Future trilogy. The final moments of the first film flipped everything on its head: just as Marty settles back into normal life, Doc Brown returns with the unforgettable warning—“You’ve gotta come back with me! Back to the future!” In that moment, the hook was set. Cliffhangers like this don’t just drive sequels—they create legacy. In fact, the end of Part II launches us straight into Part III, making the Back to the Future films a masterclass in narrative momentum and audience engagement.

In today’s Tony Tips Tuesdays™ and in honor of Back to the Future Day, we’re exploring how to craft cliffhangers that hook, haunt, and hold your readers captive from chapter to chapter.

🧠 What Is a Cliffhanger?

A cliffhanger is a narrative device that ends a scene, chapter, or story on a moment of heightened suspense, unresolved conflict, or emotional uncertainty. It’s not always about explosions or action—it’s about unanswered questions, high stakes, and compelling momentum.

Whether it’s a shocking twist, a haunting line of dialogue, or a door left mysteriously ajar, cliffhangers compel readers to keep going.

🎯 The Power of Unanswered Questions

The most effective cliffhangers tap into the reader’s need for resolution. Humans are wired to seek closure. So when a chapter ends with a question, threat, or emotional pull, we chase the answer.

• "Who opened the door?"

  
  

• "Was she telling the truth?"

  
  

• "What’s in the box?"

  
  

• "Did he make it in time?"

These moments create emotional friction. The reader must know what happens next.

🔥 Types of Cliffhangers (And How to Use Them)

Here are several types of cliffhangers you can sprinkle throughout your novel:

1. Physical Danger Cliffhanger

The character is in immediate peril.

“And then, the floor gave way beneath her.”

2. Emotional Revelation Cliffhanger

A truth is revealed that changes everything.

“I’m not your real sister.”

3. Decision Cliffhanger

A choice must be made—but the answer is withheld.

“He reached for the phone, but paused when he saw who was calling.”

4. Discovery Cliffhanger

A character finds something shocking, but the details are delayed.

“Buried in the garden was something that should’ve stayed hidden.”

5. Twist Cliffhanger

Something flips the reader’s understanding upside down.

“The killer… was standing in the room the whole time.”

6. Reunion or Separation Cliffhanger

A character arrives—or vanishes.

“He turned the corner and froze. She was back.”

7. Internal Conflict Cliffhanger

A character is left emotionally reeling.

“He loved her. And now, he had to destroy her.”

8. Misdirection Cliffhanger

The reader is led to believe one thing… until the final sentence.

“She smiled, unaware the real danger stood behind her.”

9. Prophetic Cliffhanger

A foreboding statement or vision about what’s to come.

“Before the week ended, two of them would be dead.”

10. Genre-Driven Cliffhanger

Tailored for your genre (see next section!).

📚 Cliffhangers by Genre

💘 Romance:

• "He leaned in… but then pulled away."

  
  

• A proposal interrupted.

  
  

• A text left unanswered.

  
  

• A kiss seen by the wrong person.

🔍 Mystery / Thriller:

• A body found, but no identity.

  
  

• Evidence planted—or removed.

  
  

• A confession interrupted.

  
  

• Surveillance footage that cuts out mid-reveal.

🧙🏾 Fantasy:

• A magical artifact activates… with unforeseen consequences.

  
  

• A spell goes wrong—or unexpectedly right.

  
  

• An ancient prophecy reveals a traitor.

👽 Sci-Fi:

• Contact from another world… but the signal breaks.

  
  

• A character disappears mid-teleport.

  
  

• Time travel reveals an unexpected paradox.

👻 Horror:

• The lights go out—and something breathes.

  
  

• A scream heard off-page.

  
  

• A dream turns out to be real.

  
  

• Something once dead… moves.

💀 Author Pitfalls: What to Avoid

Cliffhangers are thrilling—but they can backfire if misused.

❌ Cheap Tricks

Avoid shocking endings that have no real meaning or resolution.

Example: “It was all a dream.”

❌ Overuse

If every chapter ends on a scream, readers may become numb. Solution: Vary intensity. Use soft hooks as well.

❌ No Payoff

Cliffhangers must be followed by satisfying follow-through. Readers will only trust you if you deliver.

❌ Character Contradiction

Don’t force a character to act out-of-character just to create suspense. Stay true to your arc.

❌ Ambiguity Overload

Too many open questions can confuse readers. Cliffhangers should compel, not confound.

✍🏾 Writing Tips for Better Cliffhangers

• Build tension gradually – The cliffhanger should feel earned.

  
  

• Know what comes next – Never write yourself into a corner. Plant seeds.

  
  

• Don’t be predictable – Subvert expectations. Make readers gasp.

  
  

• Let the reader imagine – Sometimes what’s implied is more powerful than what’s shown.

  
  

• Match the genre – A horror cliffhanger might end with a creaking door. A romance might end with a text left on read.

  
  

• Use character emotion – Internal conflict can be just as gripping as external danger.

  
  

• Tease consequences – “He had no idea what he’d just set in motion.”

  
  

• Use time pressure – “She had sixty seconds before the truth would destroy everything.”

✨ Famous Cliffhangers in Action

• “Who shot J.R.?” – Dallas held the world in suspense.

  
  

• Harry hears a whisper – Philosopher’s Stone plants seeds for later books.

  
  

• Avengers: Infinity War – The snap heard around the world left audiences devastated.

  
  

• The Walking Dead Season 6 Finale – Who met Lucille? Fans speculated for months.

  
  

• The Empire Strikes Back – “I am your father.” A reveal that redefined a saga.

  
  

• Stranger Things – Nearly every season ends with a haunting image or unresolved danger.

  
  

• Breaking Bad – Walter’s double life constantly teeters on being revealed.

🎤 Writing Prompts to Spark Cliffhangers

• A character receives a letter, opens it… and gasps.

  
  

• Someone screams. The lights go out. Silence.

  
  

• A voicemail plays. The voice isn’t who they expected.

  
  

• Two characters kiss—and then one pulls away.

  
  

• A journal entry ends mid-sentence.

  
  

• A gun goes off. Who pulled the trigger?

  
  

• A child vanishes from a locked room.

  
  

• A villain reveals themselves at a funeral.

  
  

• A flashback ends with a secret.

  
  

• A countdown begins—with no explanation.

💬 Tony Tip:

“A great cliffhanger doesn’t just end a chapter. It launches the next one in the reader’s mind.”

Cliffhangers aren’t just tricks. They’re promises. They say: What’s next matters. Use them with purpose. Use them with craft. And use them to keep your readers riding the wave of your story all the way to the final page.

Even better? Use cliffhangers to deepen character arcs, raise emotional stakes, and deliver truths no one saw coming.

📚 Want to read stories packed with powerful emotional hooks, suspense, and unforgettable scenes?

👉🏾 Grab an autographed copy of my novels now at www.tyronetonyreedjr.com/the-shop

Let your story linger. Let it grip. And always leave them wanting more.