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Jul 2022

I am coming to the end of my novel. It is book 1 in a series. Book 2, I have outlined what I want to happen. However I wonder if I should have book 1 focus on the getting all the relics and help to open the In-Between and in book 2 they try to open it and dealing with the aftermath. My other idea is to have them open the in-between and end it right there. Then book 2 will pick up with the characters there and dealing with the aftermath.

Yes it’s a subtle change. However I am torn which is better.

What have you decided when writing a series? As a reader which would you prefer?

Thank you for sharing your views and ideas.

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    Jul '22
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    Aug '22
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My complete unprofessional opinion:

I am big against big cliffhangers at the end of books.
Personally, as a reader, I find it frustrating.
Leaving questions unanswered is good. Leaving the characters journey unfinished is good.
BUT
I firmly believe leaving the reader waiting for the metaphorical "other foot to drop" just builds frustration and is an unsatisfying conclusion to all the time spent reading the book.
Such large cliffhangers are okay between regularly updated chapters. So if the wait for the resolution of something climatic will only be like a week or so then I think it is fine. but if the reader is waiting a LONG time for the next book- it feels bad. And I am personally less inclined to wait around and care about the next novel.

The big climax and/or story arc of the first novel should be resolved in my opinion but there should definitely be questions that linger in the air to keep a reader interested for the next installment.
So that being said I think it depends on how big a cliffhanger you are thinking about leaving book 1 at.

TL;DR
As a reader, I think leaving some things unresolved is good an interesting but Big cliffhangers are frustrating and leave me feeling bad.

I don't know about others, but I think ending a whole book on a big cliffhanger is a bad move :sweat_smile: Since you know how many authors don't actually continue writing what they started... Also you have to wait for a long time for another book being produced. A book (or a season) should be more or less self-contained, some things can be left open to unfold later and readers think them over, but it shouldn't be a straight-up cliffhanger.

Here's my theory. End the book rapping up all the story elements of that book. Give the audience a sense of they read it for a reason. But (always a but), leave a new little tip bit to make them want to read the next book. I know the MCU as movies get shit on lately but they were masters of this at their peak. Those ending credit scenes made you wonder what's next.

Thank You so much for all your perspectives. I am going to go with wrapping up the plot in this volume and not leave a big cliff hanger.

I really appreciate your input.

1 month later

closed Aug 12, '22

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