Comments on: Writing Excuses Season 3 Episode 6: Dramatic Breaks

By: Howard Tayler

Howard Tayler — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:35:10 +0000

@Eliyanna: Yes, those are the cliffhangers of which we speak.

But yes, you can argue that Brandon uses cliffhangers of lesser “hang” all the time. Which is why when he wants to use a real cliffhanger it has to be a doozy for it to register.

By: onelowerlight

onelowerlight — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:46:14 +0000

Yeah, Brandon uses cliffhangers all the time. I love it.

By: Eliyanna

Eliyanna — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:08:47 +0000

I hear what people are saying about Hero of Ages, but it seems to me that no matter when in that book he had chosen to pause for a chapter break we would have felt some tension, it’s a pretty action-filled trilogy. I’d love to hear more from the guys on this, but it seems to me that by ‘cliffhanger’ they were speaking more of the “he opened the door and the person he least expected stood before him” [cut!], or “she lunged at him with the knife” [cut!] standard.

Pivotal action point. Implied possible consequence that radically changes everything. Cut scene.

Maybe I’m wrong.

By: DarkEyedBlues

DarkEyedBlues — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:39:18 +0000

Almost any chapter about Spook in Hero Of Ages ends with a cliffhanger.

I’m starting to think Brandon doesn’t think of them as cliffhangers, but just as “out early.” However, because we don’t hear back about the character/situation for several chapters, they at least feel like cliffhangers.

By: CM

CM — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:15:56 +0000

tsk, tsk, Brandon not being clear, he should know better. Perhaps he is still in Mistborn 3 mode. A LOT of information and no direct answers unless you figure it out on your own, which you do, then in the end you think- “Oh I know what will happen!…Oh, maybe not.”

Maybe Brandon uses cliffhangers but satisfying ones. You can consider many of the short chapters in book 3 cliffhangers in a way. They most certainly leave you wondering what will happen, but they leave you feeling satisfied too, like “Wow that was amazing” or (my favorite) “I can SO see that!”

Oh scary! I just found out that my Open Office writer is at the bottom of my Program list!
When was the last time I used it? AHHH!

By: Mike Barker

Mike Barker — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:14:36 +0000

Right. Point being that we seem to have cliffhangers, revelations, hints of revelations, and various other “tense lack of resolutions.” Now, our friend Brandon indicated that he thinks he doesn’t use cliffhangers. Two questions — what does he consider a cliffhanger, and what does he use instead?

Let’s see — I have Mistborn here.
prologue — Mennis faced with spending nights in the mist.
Chapter 1 — Vin pushes Laird
chapter 2 — Kelsier yanks an Inquisitor.
Chapter 3 — Kelsier tells Vin she’s got the power
Chapter 4 — Kelsier admits his grand plan
chapter 5 — Kelsier heads into the night
chapter 6 — Vin eavesdrops
chapter 7 — Vin Steelpushes for the first time — up a wall? A reverse cliffhanger?
Just a fast scan, but most of these I would call cliffhangers — we want to know the outcome? Not physical threats (except maybe Chapter 2, where Kelsier is teasing an Inquisitor), but definitely what happens next territory?

So I’m not sure what Brandon means.

By: AlanHorne

AlanHorne — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:47:09 +0000

But what about cliffhangers like “I’ve got a terrible, terrible secret, but I will tell it to you…in the next chapter.” That does not necessarily imply physical harm, but it is a cliffhanger.

By: Vi

Vi — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:30:38 +0000

Great episode.

As I’ve been inspired to start writing at least something every day again, I took the writing prompt.

It’s on my LJ and has been left public for now: http://vi-hart.livejournal.com/24116.html

As for cliffhanger discussion, I think there’s a difference between a cliffhanger and a revelation. “I am your father” is a revelation. Cliffhangers are more about action than information.

By: Mike Barker

Mike Barker — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:52:45 +0000

As Jin Kang suggests, it might be worthwhile to ask Brandon how he defines cliffhangers. For example, if he restricts it to the threat of physical harm, then a chapter that ends with “I am your father, Duke” isn’t a cliffhanger. Or “I don’t want to rule the kingdom?”

By: Steven

Steven — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:53:09 +0000

Welcome back from Independence Day, gents! Very intelligent addition. ^_^