From a hundred and one Inventive Writing Workouts: Potter Wars
by Brilliant in Writing Exercises 0
one hundred and one Artistic Writing Exercises will take you on an adventure through the world of inventive writing. It’s jam-filled with fun and practical writing exercises. You’ll study helpful writing methods whereas gathering ideas and inspiration for all of your artistic writing projects.
Experiment with fiction, poetry, freewriting, journaling, memoir, and article writing.
In the present day, I’d like to share an train from “Chapter Five: Fiction.” This creative writing exercise is titled “Potter Wars.” Take pleasure in!
Potter Wars
A whole lot of artists struggle with the will to write down authentic material. Of course we all wish to be authentic, however is that even attainable?
Some say there are not any new tales, simply remixed and rehashed variations of tales we’re all familiar with. When we say an article is authentic, a detailed examination will reveal that it has roots in artistic works that preceded it.
Most of us writers have had ideas that we shunned as a result of we thought they had been too similar to other stories. However just because your story concept is much like one other story, perhaps a well-known one, do you have to quit on it?
Take a look at this manner: all the pieces already exists. The ideas, plots, and characters-they’re already out there in another person’s story. Originality isn’t a matter of coming up with one thing new, it’s a matter of using your imagination to take previous ideas and put them collectively in new ways.
To check this concept, see if you can guess the next famous story:
A younger orphan who's being raised by his aunt and uncle receives a mysterious message from a stranger. This leads him on a series of nice adventures. Early on, he receives coaching to be taught superhuman skills. Alongside the best way, he befriends loyal helpers, particularly a guy and a gal who find yourself falling for every other. Our hero can also be helped by numerous non-human creatures. His adventures lead him to a dark and evil villain who's terrorizing everyone and all the pieces that our hero knows and loves.
Should you guessed that this synopsis outlines Harry Potter, you then guessed right. But when you guessed that it was Star Wars, you’re also right.
This reveals how two stories which are extraordinarily completely different from each other can share many similarities, together with fundamental plot construction and character relationships, and it proves that writing ideas will manifest in several methods when executed by completely different writers.
If it’s true that originality is nothing greater than placing together outdated ideas in new methods, then as an alternative of giving up on a project that you just assume has been finished earlier than, you must merely attempt to make it your individual by giving it a brand new twist.
The Exercise
Use the synopsis above to put in writing your individual quick story. Nonetheless, don't write an area opera or a story about wizards.
Ideas: One of the key differences between Star Wars and Harry Potter is the setting. One is ready in a galaxy far, far-off; the other in a magical college for wizards. One is science fiction; the other is fantasy. Start by choosing a totally completely different style and setting and you’ll be off to an excellent start. For instance, you might write a western or a romance.
Variations: As a substitute of writing a brief story, write an in depth define for a novel or novella.
Purposes: This exercise is designed to demonstrate the following:
* It’s commonplace for 2 writers to give you related ideas.
* A imprecise premise or idea might be executed otherwise by different writers.
As an alternative of worrying about unique characters and plots, concentrate on combining well-known parts in new ways.
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Good luck, and maintain writing!
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From 101 Creative Writing Exercises: Reduce-and-Paste Poetry
Posted by Melissa Donovan on June 26, 2012 ·
artistic writing workout routines minimize and paste poetry
From one zero one Creative Writing Exercises: Minimize-and-Paste Poetry
A few months ago, I printed one hundred and one Artistic Writing Workouts, a e book that takes you on an adventure by means of the world of inventive writing.
The book is packed with fun and sensible workouts that impart helpful writing methods whereas inspiring you with plenty of ideas for brand spanking new and in-progress projects.
Experiment with fiction, poetry, freewriting, journaling, memoir, and article writing.
As we speak, I’d wish to share an train from “Chapter Eight: Free Verse.” This artistic writing train is titled “Reduce-and-Paste Poetry.” Get pleasure from!
Cut-and-Paste Poetry
Most artistic writing workouts are designed to help you concentrate on one specific space, equivalent to rhyme, alliteration, or imagery. This one works on several levels.
First, this exercise offers a pleasant, zen-like break from your each day routine as a result of it involves greater than sitting down and writing. You’ll get to search by clippings and perform a little cutting and pasting (the old school cut and paste with scissors and glue, not the computer-based cut and paste).
Second, this exercise supplies a wonderful alternative to recycling these growing stacks of outdated magazines, newspapers, and brochures that are sitting round collecting dust.
You'll be able to come again to this train time and again for future poetry writing sessions.
You’ll want some provides and a few time. Try to set aside an hour or two (and observe that you would be able to break this exercise up over several days and even longer).
What You’ll Want (Provides)
Outdated printed materials: magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, ads, photocopies, junk mail, etc.
* A small box, basket, jar, or other container
* A pair of scissors
* A glue stick or a roll of clear tape
* A piece of blank paper (construction paper works effectively; you too can use a bit of cardboard or a page in your pocket book)
* Highlighter (optionally available)
The Train
Step One: Go through outdated magazines, pamphlets, printouts, and photocopies. Any printed material will do. Scan via the textual content to search out words and phrases that are attention-grabbing and seize your attention and imagination. You possibly can spotlight the textual content that you just like, or move straight ahead to step two.
Step Two: Cut out the phrases you’ve chosen and place them in your container.
Step Three: When you could have a pleasant pile of clippings, pull some out and unfold them across a flat work surface. Sift by the phrases, pairing completely different clippings collectively to see how the phrasing sounds. Place those you want finest on a piece of paper, arrange them into a poem, and use glue or tape to stick them.
Suggestions: Look for phrases and images that pop. While you’re all carried out, save the leftover clippings so you'll be able to repeat this train again later.
Variations: When you find it troublesome to cobble together a whole poem from your clippings, then use a pen or pencil so as to add additional phrases and phrases with the intention to full your poem. You too can clip some pictures, and incorporate them to create a multimedia poetry collage that can also be a piece of art.
Purposes: This poetry writing exercise reminds you to focus on phrase selection and language. It encourages you to go outside your self for inspiration by piecing components from different sources collectively to make one thing new.
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From a hundred and one Inventive Writing Workout routines: Moral Dilemmas
Posted by Melissa Donovan on Might 15, 2012 ·
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Creative writing workout routines: Moral dilemmas
At this time’s artistic writing train comes from a hundred and one Inventive Writing Workouts, my just lately printed e-book on the craft of writing.
This guide guides writers via an adventure in writing. You’ll discover different types and genres of writing, including freewriting, journaling, memoir, fiction, storytelling, poetry, and article or blog writing.
one zero one Creative Writing Exercises imparts confirmed writing strategies whereas offering writing observe and inventive inspiration.
As we speak, I’d wish to share an train from “Chapter 9: Philosophy, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving.” This artistic writing exercise is titled “Ethical Dilemmas.” Enjoy!
Moral Dilemmas (a Artistic Writing Train)
We each have our personal private philosophies and values. Our values come from our families, religions, and cultures. They form our morals and the decisions we make.
People are complex. What we consider is correct or unsuitable adjustments after we discover ourselves in actual situations. Contemplate an honorable character who believes that one’s highest loyalty is to his or her family. Then, that character learns his brother is a serial killer. Does he turn him in? Testify towards him? Stories get attention-grabbing when characters’ morals are put to the test.
Everyone knows the knight in shining armor should risk his life to save the damsel in distress. If he doesn’t, then he loses his status as hero and becomes a coward. What if the knight is forced to make a tougher choice? What if his real love and his beloved sister are both in distress but he only has time to save one in every of them?
The Train
For this exercise you will put a personality’s morals to the test. Under, you’ll discover a short checklist of ethical dilemmas. Write a scene in which a character faces considered one of these ethical dilemmas and has to make an agonizing decision.
* Within the novel Sophie’s Alternative, a young Polish mom and her two youngsters are taken to a focus camp. Upon arrival, she is forced to decide on one baby to live and one to die. If she doesn’t select, they both die. Write a scene wherein your character must choose between the lives of two cherished ones.
* A single lady is shut mates with the couple subsequent door and has secret romantic feelings for the husband. She discovers that his wife is having an affair. Normally, this woman minds her own business but now she sees an opportunity to get closer to the person she wants.
* Some international locations have strict laws relating to drug possession. A family has traveled to one such nation for vacation. Upon arrival (or departure), one of many youngsters’ luggage is sniffed out by a dog. The bag is opened, the medicine are identified, and the guard asks whose bag it is. Each parents are considering claiming ownership. Everyone within the household is aware of the sentence would be death.
* Your character gets to travel by means of time and face this traditional ethical dilemma: the character finds himself or herself holding a loaded gun, alone in a room, with a two-year-previous baby Hitler.
* A aircraft crashes into the sea. Many of the passengers escape with inflatable lifeboats but they do not board them correctly. Your character ends up on a lifeboat that holds eight people however there are twelve people on it, and it’s sinking. Your character can either throw four people overboard and eight will survive or they will all die except your character, who will get rescued after the others drown.
In the course of the scene, the character should agonize over the decision and reveal his or her causes for the choice that she or he makes.
Suggestions: Search online for “lists of moral dilemmas” to get more scenarios.
Variations: In the event you don’t want to write a scene, challenge your self to come up with a number of ethical dilemmas of your own.
Applications: These ethical dilemmas additionally work as story prompts. They drive you to put your characters in conditions which might be deeply distressing, thus creating battle and tension.
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From one zero one Creative Writing Workouts: Your Gang
Posted by Melissa Donovan on April 5, 2012 ·
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From one zero one Creative Writing Workout routines: Your Gang.
Immediately’s writing exercise comes from my guide, one hundred and one Creative Writing Exercises.
This e book takes you on an adventure by the world of writing. You’ll discover completely different types and genres while learning sensible writing techniques. You’ll also get loads of writing expertise and concepts for publishable projects.
Each chapter focuses on a distinct type or writing concept: freewriting, journaling, memoirs, fiction, storytelling, kind poetry, free verse, characters, dialogue, creativity, and article and blog writing are all covered.
Today, we’ll take a peek at “Chapter Three: Folks and Characters” with an exercise referred to as “Your Gang.” Get pleasure from!
Your Gang
Writing about one or two people in a story or piece of nonfiction isn’t too hard. Even a scene with three or 4 characters can be effectively executed by a beginning writer. When you start approaching casts and ensembles with seven, eight, 9 major characters, you danger turning your story right into a riot. Everyone will get out of control.
Ensemble tales in fiction tend to be epics; they span lengthy periods of time (generally a number of generations). Usually in these tales, there are various principal characters but only some are in focus at any given time. You’re more likely to find a good ensemble on television or in a film than in a novel. However in all mediums, there are great stories about teams and families.
Writing a true ensemble piece requires appreciable mastery in writing. As the creator, you need to always maintain all of your characters in play, rotating them and managing their complex personalities. You'll be able to’t neglect about any of your characters and you'll’t let any of them hog the spotlight. It’s a balancing act.
The Train
Choose an current ensemble from a book, movie, or TV present and write a long scene or a short story featuring all the characters. Don’t retell some story about the characters from the supply material. Take the existing characters and make up your individual story or scene for them.
As an added problem, relocate the characters to a distinct setting. For example, take the forged from a ebook and put them in the setting of a movie.
The minimal number of characters it's best to work with for this train is six. Intention for eight.
Ideas: You possibly can write large scenes with all characters present. You can even put the characters in different places and write a series of scenes that take place in these varied locations. One example could be an enormous family gathering for a holiday weekend. The characters will disperse to different rooms. It's important to move by way of the house showing the reader what everyone is doing, and all of it has to tie together in a significant way.
Variations: Provide you with your own ensemble. Write a sequence of quick character sketches and establish a setting through which these characters could be thrown together. They might be family, coworkers, passengers on a subway, or students in a classroom. You too can attempt this exercise with actual people and write either a scene from a real-life experience or make up a scene featuring your friends and family (a vacation gathering, school field trip, or work meeting). Be sure to give all of the characters equal weight. Bear in mind, it’s an ensemble.
Purposes: When you can write an ensemble scene, you could be suited to television writing!
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From a hundred and one Artistic Writing Workouts: Haiku
Posted by Melissa Donovan on February 23, 2012 ·
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Haiku, from 101 Artistic Writing Exercises.
At this time’s writing exercise comes from my recently published book, one hundred and one Creative Writing Workout routines, which takes writers on an exciting journey through completely different types and genres whereas providing writing techniques, sensible expertise, and inspiration.
Every chapter focuses on a different kind or writing concept: freewriting, journaling, memoirs, fiction, storytelling, form poetry, free verse, characters, dialogue, creativity, and article and blog writing are all covered.
Immediately, we’ll take a peek at “Chapter Seven: Kind Poetry” with a poetry exercise simply known as “Haiku.” Take pleasure in!
Haiku
Though haiku appears to be one of many simplest poetry kinds, it’s actually quite complex. To really understand haiku, you'll want to know slightly bit about the Japanese language, or more specifically, some key variations between Japanese and English. Additionally, conventional haiku adhere to a few pretty strict guidelines relating to kind and content.
A haiku consists of seventeen moras or phonetic units. The word mora can loosely be translated as syllable.
A haiku is a seventeen-syllable verse. Traditionally, haiku were written on a single line, but trendy haiku occupy three lines of 5-7-5 syllables.
Haiku also use a device called kireji (slicing word). This phrase breaks the haiku into two parts, which are distinctly different however inherently connected. The kireji shouldn't be an idea utilized in English, so poets writing haiku in English typically use punctuation marks as an alternative of kireji, normally a hyphen or ellipses.
The kireji gives structure to the verse and emphasizes imagery used on both side. It might not always be simple to establish the kireji in a haiku, however if you search for a word or punctuation mark that abruptly breaks the prepare of thought and severs the haiku into two components, you’ve in all probability discovered it.
Another basic element of haiku is the kigo (season word). A real haiku is about in a specific season and is essentially involved with nature. The kigo may be an apparent word like snow (indicating winter) or it might be imprecise as with a word like leaves (which could be current in any season).
Modern Haiku
There's much debate (and a few controversy) over what technically qualifies as a haiku. Some poets merely adhere to the 5-7-5 syllabic and line construction and disrespect the kireji and kigo elements. Purists insist that a poem is not haiku if it does not meet all of the conventional requirements.
Moreover, many modern poets don't write haiku that solely concentrate on nature. Up to date haiku discover just about any subject imaginable.
The Exercise
Strive your hand at writing a couple of haiku. For this train, deal with writing a poem that's seventeen syllables on three strains with the following meter: 5-7-5.
Suggestions: Probably the most fascinating haiku are fairly beautiful and use imagery that is almost tangible. Many haiku have an element of shock or use turns of phrase that are intelligent, reminiscent of puns.
Variations: Write just a few haiku that follow stricter, extra traditional rules. These haiku are involved with nature and include the kireji (slicing phrase) and kigo (season word).
Functions: Haiku stay standard and might be found in literary and poetry journals. They are also best for social media (especially Twitter) and are enjoyable and fast to write. They promote clear, concise writing and might help you domesticate the art of utilizing vivid imagery.
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Ultimate Sneak Peek at 101 Creative Writing Workouts: Body Language
Posted by Melissa Donovan on January 26, 2012 ·
one hundred and one creative writing exercises
Remaining sneak peek at forthcoming guide, a hundred and one Inventive Writing Exercises.
one zero one Inventive Writing Workouts is slated for publication in early February.
This book of artistic writing workout routines will take writers on a journey by means of different types and genres while offering writing strategies, sensible expertise, and inspiration.
Every exercise teaches a particular concept and each chapter focuses on a unique subject or kind in writing: journaling, storytelling, fiction, poetry, article writing, and more. Every train is designed to be practical. In different phrases, you can use these workout routines to launch projects which can be destined for publication.
Before the official announcement and publication, I wanted to share yet one more sneak peek at an exercise from the book. This is from “Chapter Four: Converse Up,” which focuses on dialogue and scripts. The train known as “Body Language.” Get pleasure from!
Physique Language
Typically what people say without actually talking tells us an entire lot greater than what comes out of their mouths. Utilizing body language to communicate is natural. We all understand it intuitively-some higher than others.
As a author, you possibly can intently observe individuals’s body language and learn the way people speak without words so you may convey unstated communication into your writing.
Think about two characters, a person and woman, who are full strangers. They're in a bookstore. Their eyes meet across the room. You wouldn’t write “Their eyes locked. They have been instantly attracted to every other.” That may be boring and unimaginative. As a substitute, you'd let the scene unfold and describe it to the reader-how their eyes met, how he gulped and she blushed, how they both instantly felt heat, how the 2 of them slowly worked their method toward the center of the shop until they finally met in the horror section.
The Exercise
Write a scene between two (or more) characters wherein there isn't a dialogue however the characters are speaking with one another through physique language. You can even write a nonfiction piece. Surely you could have experienced nonverbal communication. Take that experience and describe it on the page.
Your scene could be a lead-in to 2 characters meeting or conversing. The scene ought to comprise a minimum of two pages of non-dialogue interplay with two or extra characters. Here are just a few scene starters:
* A cop, detective, or non-public investigator is tailing a suspect by way of a small town, a big city, a mall, amusement park, or different public area.
* Strangers are at all times good for physique language exercises. Take into consideration the place strangers are brought together: public transportation, classes, elevators, and formal meetings.
* Children in a classroom aren’t supposed to be talking whereas a instructor is giving a lecture but they all the time discover ways to communicate.
Tips: What if one character misinterprets one other character’s physique language? That might lead to humor or disaster. Possibly the characters are alleged to be doing something else (like in a classroom the place they’re alleged to be listening to the instructor) but instead, they’re making faces and gestures at each other. One useful approach is likely to be to go contained in the characters’ heads, but don’t get too carried away with he thought and he or she puzzled as these constructs are principally inner dialogue.
Variations: Instead, write a scene wherein one character speaks and one doesn’t: an adult and a baby, a human and an animal.
Applications: There are depictions of nonverbal communication in virtually all forms of storytelling from journalism and biography to memoir and fiction.
Search for one zero one Artistic Writing Workout routines early next month!
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Creative Writing Exercises: Report It
Posted by Melissa Donovan on November 1, 2011 ·
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Report It from a hundred and one Inventive Writing Exercises
Today, I’m sharing one other sneak peek into my forthcoming ebook, 101 Inventive Writing Exercises. Writing this ebook has taught me rather a lot about publishing usually and self-publishing extra specifically. The ultimate proof is on my desk now, and as soon as I give it a very good, stable polish, publication will be proper across the corner.
This exercise comes from “Chapter Two: It’s Personal.” The inventive writing workouts in this chapter give attention to writing of a private nature: personal essay, memoir, and journal writing. I selected this exercise because it’s difficult and fun. It asks you to have a look at your personal life from a recent perspective and make yourself the subject of a information report.
Give it a strive! Then, come again and inform us what you realized and the way this train labored for you.
Report It
Is your life newsworthy? Have you ever ever witnessed, committed, or been the sufferer of a crime? Have you ever participated in a protest or a efficiency? Have you ever had an odd or uncommon (paranormal or supernatural) expertise?
Conventional and professional journalism is concise and factual. It adheres to a set of journalistic ethics, specializing in the info and particulars of the story and presenting those information totally and honestly. True journalism is objective. The ethical journalist doesn't inject his or her emotions or opinions.
However journalists are human. The information media usually is increasingly accused of using a wide range of creative tactics to spin the information in favor of their own religious, political, or philosophical beliefs. For instance, in a report, a journalist should not badmouth a suspected prison however that journalist can include a quote from a witness who has badmouthed the felony while intentionally not together with a positive quote from some other witness.
Journalists can pick and select quotes, facts, and even which tales to report.
When you consider the truth that journalists and reporters are chargeable for feeding us information about what’s occurring on the planet after which consider that they're mere human beings, flawed, emotional, and opinionated just like the remainder of us, you'll be able to solely begin to imagine and surprise just how spun all the news really is.
The Train
Your problem is to revisit your past and write a information report about something you skilled firsthand.
The foundations are simple: straight journalism. What does that mean? True journalists are usually not allowed to incorporate private emotion or opinion in their writing. Be as goal as possible. Don’t take sides!
Write concerning the event or incident as in case you are a journalist wanting in on your own story from the outside. Be sure to embody a headline that will attract readers’ attention.
Tips: To get a feeling for the way journalism is written (its tone and style), visit a reputable news site and browse a number of articles.
Variations: As an alternative of reporting on a narrative, write a paparazzi piece. Have been you noticed whereas out on a sizzling date? If you’re at a loss for subject material, get artistic and write a fictional information story; make up one thing or change one thing from your past or higher but, write a news story from your future (possibly you win the Pulitzer Prize in ten years).
Functions: The obvious utility is that you may, sometime, change into a journalist. Journalism normally is an objective type of writing (at the very least, it’s presupposed to be), and this is a fashion that's difficult to achieve. This train encourages you to jot down about something you care about however to chorus from together with your feelings or private views.
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Sneak Peek at 101 Creative Writing Exercises
Posted by Melissa Donovan on September 13, 2011 ·
sneak peek inventive writing exercises guide
Sneak peek at forthcoming guide: a hundred and one Inventive Writing Workouts
I’m putting the ultimate touches on my forthcoming book, which is titled 101 Artistic Writing Exercises.
These exercises take writers on a journey through completely different varieties and genres.
Each train teaches a selected idea and each chapter focuses on a unique topic or type: journaling, storytelling, fiction writing, poetry, article writing, and more. All of the workouts are designed to be practical. In other phrases, you need to use these workout routines to launch tasks which are destined for publication.
At present, I’d like to current one of the exercises to offer you a taste of what to anticipate from the book. I hope you prefer it! From “Chapter Six: Storytelling,” this exercise is known as “Oh No He Didn’t!”
Oh No He Didn’t! (from a hundred and one Artistic Writing Workout routines)
Plot twists, cliffhangers, and page-turners. Oh my! These are the sneaky methods writers use to maintain readers captivated. And we’ve all been there: It’s late, and I’m tired. After this chapter, the lights are going out. Then there’s a cliffhanger, a shocking improvement in the story. Overlook sleep! I have to find out what happens next.
Some writers are criticized for overusing these devices or for planting twists that are contrived or forced. But a great plot twist or cliffhanger is natural to the story and doesn’t really feel like the author strategically labored it in.
Some tales function major twists in the course of chapters. It’s placing such a twist on the end of chapter that turns it right into a cliffhanger. Soap operas and tv dramas are recognized, cherished, and loathed for his or her application of these devices. It’s how they hook viewers, and it’s a means you'll be able to hook readers.
Every writer has to determine whether or not to use these strategies in storytelling. You would possibly think they’re too formulaic or rob your story of its artfulness. Or, perhaps you just like the exciting edge that a good twist or cliffhanger brings to a story.
The Exercise
Write an overview for a chapter that ends on a cliffhanger. You may also use a TV episode as your model or a serialized quick story. Approach the cliffhanger by constructing pressure to the moment:
Bad guys are chasing the nice guys. The unhealthy guys are gaining on them. They’re getting nearer! One in all unhealthy guys attracts his gun, lifts it, cocks it, and aims proper at our hero. He pulls the trigger. See you next week!
You too can plant a cliffhanger that comes out of nowhere. The chapter is winding down, every part is transferring along as anticipated and all of a sudden a character walks into a room and tells her ex-lover that she’s pregnant and he’s the father. Uh oh!
Each forms of cliffhangers work equally well.
Suggestions The very best cliffhangers go away large questions hanging in the air. Who did it? What just occurred? Will they survive? How is that potential? What is going to happen next?
Variations: You'll be able to develop on this exercise by writing out a scene that ends on a cliffhanger. To develop further, write the comply with-up scene and fulfill readers’ curiosity by answering the large questions raised by your cliffhanger.
Applications: If you wish to be a commercially profitable creator, you'll probably find that mastering the cliffhanger is a huge asset to your writing skills. The cliffhanger is sort of obligatory in horror and mystery genres, so if that’s what you need to write, you’ll want to have the ability to execute a good clincher.
