Hola readers!

I've been very absent. I apologize for that. College is just a land mine of time consumption.

Anyway, to the chapter!

How to End Your Chapters: Cliffies and More

Okay, some of you need some advice on how to end your chapters.

You begin with this amazing chapter, we assume, about Max, and Fang, and whoever, interacting, discussing something interesting. Let's re-enter the scene where the author is ending:

Ella looks at me, a questioning gaze on her face. I guess I was spacing out longer than I thought.

"Are you okay, Max?" she asks quietly.

I give her the most convincing facial expression I can. "Of course, El," I reply.

I take a bite of my apple.

End chapter.

…What? You ended the chapter in the middle of a scene? With a cliffhanger of eating an apple? The theoretical author didn't even bother to say "and then the bell rang, ending lunch" or "And that's when the roof caved in."

Note, I did make that bit up. However, this is an example of what I've read countless times.

Please, END this madness.

There are two main types of endings that will serve as a suitable and effective manner for completing your chapters.

1. Cliffhangers.

2. End the scene.

Let's start with the cliffhangers, shall we?

Cliffhangers – An ending to an episode that leaves the audience in suspense.

Basically, you are writing a scene – let's say it's about the Flock is flying through the sky – and you want the Flock to be interrupted with the sudden emergence of Erasers. You plan a battle to happen, but for length or time's sake, you want to wait to write the battle until next chapter. So, in order to end the chapter you are on now, you use a cliffhanger.

Example:

Iggy snorts at Gazzy's humor, even though Gazzy has said that same joke ten times already.

"Gazzy, that wasn't even funny the first time," I scold, rolling my eyes.

"Come on, Max," Fang chides, smirking, "Where's your eight-year-old sense of humor?"

"Right up your –"

I stop mid-sentence as my eyes connect with a dark cloud up ahead.

"I didn't think there were storms in the weather forecast," I drawl slowly, hoping that cloud is not what I think it is.

Fang gives me a strange look. "No…no storms were foreshadowed."

My eyes widen as the dark cloud suddenly focuses into a large number of smaller, steadily approaching dark things.

"Well, then, " I say in my best leader voice., "guys, it's time to get into battle position."

The Flock's faces turn from surprised to serious in two seconds. I experience a momentary flash of pride.

"Erasers?" Angel asks, her fists curling into balls.

"No, worse," Fang says, and I turn to see him squinting at the dark cloud intensely. "Flyboys."

And…end chapter.

Admittedly, not my best cliffie, but it's a pretty decent example (and common – JP loves cliffhangers (hence the super short chapters) like I love Nutella.

And I love Nutella a lot.

Cliffhangers are terrific chapter endings when used:

1. right before a battle scene

2. when ending a scene mid-conversation (aka, the last line is some dramatic statement that floors the reader, like "Luke, I am your father.")

3. right before someone passes out (aka, the last line is the person going, "and then it all went black.")

There are others, but I won't sit here and list all the possibilities.

Where not to use cliffhangers:

1. In the middle of a battle (unless that character passes out)

2. In the middle of a conversation, when nothing life-altering has been said (aka, "I bit into my apple." It's not dramatic, interesting, or suspenseful).

3. In the middle of an action (as in, Max is walking down the hallway with Ella, chatting. She opens her locker, and you end the chapter)

Again, other alternatives exist, but I am not going to spend the time contemplating them all and scribing them to this guide.

Get the jist?

Cliffhangers only work when they create suspense. If you are trying to end the chapter in a cliffhanger, and the last line/action is not suspenseful, it's not a cliffhanger. It's just a bad ending.

An effective cliffie leaves me on the edge of my seat, demanding you to update as soon as possible.

An ineffective cliffie leaves me slightly disappointed and not antsy about an update. I'm not driven to follow the story.

Cliffhangers can make readers or break them. Use them successfully and wisely.

Now, onto the other chapter ending: Ending the scene.

Gasp. What? Actually finish the scene?

Yes.

If you can't cliffhanger it, I suggest you finish the scene.

For example:

Fang and I sat on the swings, slowly swaying in a comfortable silence.

"Fang?" I ask shyly. "You won't ever stop being my friend, will you?"

Fang stares at me, searching deep inside me for some answer. I look away, blushing profusely.

"Max," Fang says, and I glance over to see his face so very, very open. "Max, I'll always be your friend. Forever."

I smile, and Fang reciprocates, lighting up my immediate vicinity.

And there, swinging with Fang and watching the sun slowly descent, I realize I have never felt so happy.

End chapter.

Here, the scene could continue, but it serves also as an end of the scene.

Usually, when you end a scene, you have what I'll call a conclusion sentence. This line serves as a one-liner that somehow sums up the mood, sums up the activity that occurred in the chapter, or sums up a revelation or thought that the main character(s) had. It can also be a thought that leaves the reader something to think about, like an abstract concept or a change in mood that the character had previously failed to express.

Chapter endings can take a variety of formats for a variety of story types; let your creativity shine. Cliffhangers and ending a scene are only the two most common ways to end a story. If you can create a unique, effective ending, go for it.

I warn against only two points, in summary:

1. Don't use cliffhangers if they are not suspenseful.

2. Don't end a chapter in the middle of scene if you are not using a cliffhanger.

That's all, folks, for this chapter, and I'm sorry for my absence! (Engineering is a trap of projects and time-consuming work! Beware, incoming college kids!)

As always, if you have a topic you are just infuriated with, leave me a review! (Even if you have no inputs, a review is always nice)

Rock on.

Sincerely,

~Dancing On My Toes~