Hooks & Cliffhangers Readers Can’t Resist

by Darlene L. Turner

“Just one more chapter, Mom.” This is how I responded to my mother when she reminded me I had chores to finish, but Nancy Drew held me in her clutches. I couldn’t put the book down, especially when the chapter ended on a cliffhanger. Ugh!

Sound familiar?

This is how we want our readers to respond at the opening and ending of each chapter, don’t we? Ultimately, we want to keep them up all night reading our books (okay, maybe not ALL night…they need sleep), but how do we craft hooks and cliffhangers to do that?

Let’s explore the secrets to keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

Craft a strong opening hook—readers decide within seconds whether they’re going to keep reading, so starting with a powerful opening is crucial. Engage them immediately with a disturbance (i.e. a strange sound, romance break-up, a missing person, etc.). Motion rather than explanation will make the reader hold their breath from the beginning, and exhale as the scene unfolds. Introducing that mystery, threat, or problem is key because the reader wants to find out the answer. When we create a compelling emotional reaction, the reader can’t help but turn the page!

Types of chapter hooks—what hooks work best? That depends on the genre. A line of danger for suspense readers, a sensory moment for romance stories, a surprising statement or dialogue that raises a question works for any genre. Authors need to be creative and take their time to craft that hook, as we must get it right the first time. Remember what they say about first impressions. We only get one.

Craft powerful cliffhangers—while an opening hook grabs the reader’s attention from the beginning, we need to end the chapter with a cliffhanger that promises to keep the reader awake, wanting more. This doesn’t mean we have to end with physical danger. It could be a secret uncovered, a decision the character must make, and they’re struggling on which direction to take. Include an unexpected interruption: a phone call, the doorbell rings, an old flame shows up unannounced, or a shot rings out. Raise the stakes and intensify the pressure on your characters. This will guarantee the reader won’t turn that nightlight off anytime soon.

Types of cliffhangers—ending the chapter is tough. We want to keep the reader engaged, but not every ending technique should be the same. That would be boring, right? Mix it up. End using an image so powerful that the reader can’t get it out of their mind. Perhaps the heroine is hanging off the side of a building and the suspects are approaching. What does she do? Then there’s realization. Perhaps the hero discovers he has to make a choice that could cost him everything. Which does he choose? Or finish with dialogue that raises a question. To find the answer, the reader has to turn the page. Ending our chapters before the action is resolved is essential.

A strong opening will engage the reader, and a powerful cliffhanger will make them flip the page staying awake long into the night.

And that’s what we want. Just like I struggled to put down my Nancy Drew book when my mother yelled my name, we want to keep our readers reading one more chapter.

And another.

What’s the last book that kept you up past your bedtime, and what made it impossible to put down?

Darlene L. Turner is a New York Times bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com.