Is it okay to end a book on a cliffhanger?

When you write a book that’s part of a larger arc of conflict, you want to end in a way that creates closure but also spurs the reader on to the next book. A cliffhanger can certainly do this, but that approach can feel heavy-handed, particularly if the cliffhanger’s only role is to get you to the next book.

How should you end a book?

Give them what they want. The goal of a great ending is to tie everything together, neatly summarize your book, and then provide a specific call or calls to action for your reader. Don’t overcomplicate the conclusion—just let it do its job, and it’ll work great.

Can you finish a novel in a day?

“Reading an entire book in a matter of hours may seem daunting, but it all comes down to simple math. If your reading speed is right in the middle of the pack at 300 words per minute, and you’re reading a middle-of-the-pack novel at around 80,000 words, you’ll be able to knock it out in around five hours or less.”

How do you end a book one of a series?

Here are six ways to end a book in a series.

1. Make it a forgone conclusion:
2. Leave the boss villain in play:
3. Cliffhanger it:
4. Shut the door, but open a window:
5. Include the first chapter of the next book:
6. Don’t transition, create a standalone with close ties:

What percent of people finish writing a book?

Completing a book requires time, dedication, and brain power, as does any task worth doing. Did you know that 97\% of people who start to write a book never finish it? That’s a pretty staggering statistic. Out of every 1,000 people that set out to do so, only 30 actually complete the task.

What is the difference between a trilogue and a duology?

But structurally, trilogies make sense. They have beginning books, middle books, and end books. Of course, generally those books must each have a beginning, middle, and end themselves. But duologies are a bit different, what with having two books. Each book gets a beginning, middle, and end, but what about the series arc?

Do duologies have to have a beginning middle and end?

As a rule, writing is difficult. But structurally, trilogies make sense. They have beginning books, middle books, and end books. Of course, generally those books must each have a beginning, middle, and end themselves. But duologies are a bit different, what with having two books.

Is it hard to write a second book in a trilogy?

The second book in a trilogy, by most accounts, is the most difficult. Writing book two means that you’ve sold the first novel, so now there’s a schedule to consider. Even if you don’t have a multi-book deal, most readers anticipate a sequel about a year after a book is published. In other words, you’re on the clock.

How do you write a trilogy?

When writing a trilogy, you need to continue the story from book one while escalating everything—conflict, tension, and stakes—to pull readers along to the finale. Yet book two also needs to provide some satisfaction to readers. It requires a delicate balancing act because you can’t get to the big ending until book three.