Three Differences Between a Cliffhanger and a Teaser

I have received quite a bit of email recently, which is always fun as a new fiction author. I do love hearing from readers. One thing struck me as odd… several said that they really liked my cliffhangers. Cool! Except, I don’t write any cliffhangers in my books, lol. It didn’t take me long to figure out that they had been talking about my teasers at the end of the books. Again, cool! I’m glad you like reading them because I like writing them.

But, I wanted to make clear to all something about my writing style: I dislike cliffhangers. But, I love to tease 😉 There are differences between the two that readers of series writing figure out pretty quickly – because once you’ve read a true cliffhanger in a book you invested your time in and you’re chompping at the bit to find out what happens and the answer is – a BIG FAT nothing! Then you’re throwing the book at the wall. They are really no fun!

Difference Between a Cliffhanger and a Teaser #1

A cliffhanger ends in the middle of the main plot, leaving the reader not knowing what happens at the end. So the reader invests their time – and emotions – to get into the story and the author leaves you unsatisfied. So, it would be like me ending the story right as the murderer walks into the room and not telling you who that person is – nope! Sorry, you have to read the next book to find out. No, I will never do that at the end of one of my cozies or any books I write.

Difference Between a Cliffhanger and a Teaser #2

Teasers give a look into the future of your main character’s arc. You get a taste of where their life is heading, but not any concrete answers. It’s the difference of ‘What could happen?‘ opposed to ‘What happened?!’. It causes readers to feel intrigued, not anger.

Difference Between a Cliffhanger and a Teaser #3

There are series arcs, there are character arcs, and there are plots – many plots in a series. Most cozy mystery series have main plots that normally involve a murder mystery, sometimes it’s kidnapping or stolen goods. Whatever it is, nothing is more important to the reader than finding out whodunit. A cliffhanger takes that away, leaving the reader, well, hanging.

Now if when the writer reveals whodunit, but in that reveal some other mystery comes to light and the writer lets that continue to the next book, that is one heck of a teaser!