It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.
The awesome co-hosts for the December 4 posting of the IWSG are Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia, Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine!
December 4 question - Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?
I do not write cliffhangers. All of my books are one complete story line and arc. As a reader, cliffhangers are annoying. Enough so that I just might not pick up the next book to find the answers. I also like my movies to end without cliffhangers. (Although it’s okay if there is a part two to the film, just not more than one year away. I’m talking to you, Dune and Fast and Furious!)
Television series are different. I can handle a cliffhanger from one season to the next. Just be sure there is a next season! (Curses to those who cancelled Outer Range on a cliffhanger.)
I want to mention special prayers for IWSG admin Juneta Key. She's been going through a terrible ordeal and is right now in a terrifying place. If you know her, please contact her and give her some encouragement. She needs a miracle in her life.
We need co-hosts for January, February, and March! Leave a comment or send me an email.
And note that the next IWSG post date is January 8!!! We are not posting on January 1, New Year’s Day.
December Movie Preview
Here are the theatrical releases for December. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.
6 –
Werewolves
Director: Steven C. Miller
Stars: Frank Grillo, Lou Diamond Phillips, Katrina Law
Two scientists try to stop a mutation that turns people into werewolves after being touched by a super-moon the year before.
Like the movie poster says, illegal to turn – meaning impossible to turn this into something good.
12 –
Kraven the Hunter
Director: JC Chandor
Stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe, Christoper Abbott
Kraven 's complex relationship with his ruthless father, Nikolai Kravinoff, starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.
I think they are releasing this close to the end of the year because it’s an Oscar contender…?
13 –
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
Director: Kenji Kamiyama
Stars: Brian Cox, Miranda Otto, Lorraine Ashbourne
A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg.
Somehow they took Middle Earth and moved it to Tokyo…
20 –
Mufasa: The Lion King
Director: Barry Jenkins
Stars: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner
Simba, having become king of the Pride Lands, is determined for his cub to follow in his paw prints while the origins of his late father Mufasa are explored.
It’s no longer the circle of life but the circle of cash.
25 –
Nosferatu
Director: Robert Eggers
Stars: Bill Skarsgård, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin
A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman, and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her causing untold horror in its wake.
Kraven the Hunter versus Pennywise!
29 –
Alien Wars: Judgement Day
Director: Jeffery Schneider
Stars: Donna Hamblin, Nick Dent, Luc Bernier
After an alien catastrophe, a few remaining human souls try to hold on to their sanity and their reality as humanity slowly slips into darkness.
There’s only in theaters, only on NetFilx, and only with RiffTrax. Guess which one this is?
How do you feel about cliffhangers? Can you co-host next year? Any of those movies look interesting?
Remember, the next IWSG day is January 8!!!
Remember, the next IWSG day is January 8!!!
I will be offline for most of the second half of December. Everyone have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
53 comments:
Totally! Cliffhangers can be handled if part 2 is coming. Netflix had a series called Lockwood and Co. It had a disturbing cliffhanger. It was adapted from the books. Netflix cancels it and I've been too annoyed to read the books and find out what happens.
A cliffhanger at the end of a streaming series I can handle, IF the series will be returning. I've watched many that were cancelled leaving me up in the air. :( I feel the same with books. Have a Blessed Merry Christmas!!
I feel about the same way you do about cliffhangers. Alex, you should already have me co-hosting for January. You can plug me in for March too.
I'm okay with cliffhangers. You can add me as a co-host whenever you need to. I think I'm up in January. Can you email me Juanita's email address so I can reach out to her. I don't know what's going on with her, but it sounds dire and I'd like to support her.
I love a cliffhanger in a book, not if you've gotta wait a year for the next book to come out though!
Some movies there I'd like to see, Nosferatu sounds good, not sure my wife would agree though?
I agree about feeling annoyed by most cliffhangers--I didn't think about movie cliffhangers when I wrote my post. It does suck when a favorite TV show ends on a cliffhanger without being renewed!
Happy IWSG Wednesday, Alex. Thanks for the reviews. Add me to your volunteer list any time.
No movies that I care to see. I just feel the industry has been a let down. As far as cliffhangers, I feel it is a complete waste of my time if it isn’t followed up within a reasonable amount of time. It is like watching a whole series and then have no closure after I invested time in it.
Happy Wednesday! Snowy and cold here
Your phrase "circle of cash" cracked me up. :)
Re-watched some older movies - the fun "The Devil Wears Prada" and the always excellent, "The Shawshank Redemption."
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas, Alex, and a wonderful New Year!
I suppose books could have a cliffhanger if the second book is out within a week or two. But still I'm like the main question answered and maybe a twinkle of something new but now the hero falling from a cliff. :)
Thanks for another great hop! Sorry to hear about Juneta. I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers. I love that all your books are standalone, even the ones in a series. Your snark is always on point. Thanks for the movie previews.
Completely agree about cliffhangers, though I get frustrated with them at the end of seasons too, for exactly the reason you mention - what if the series is canceled?
I'm so sorry to hear about Juneta!
Anastasia, that sucks.
Liza, I do, and thanks!
Natalie, will do!!
Ray, they are saying it's one of the greatest horror films ever.
Thanks, Joylene!
Truedessa, envy your snow.
Toi, thank you!
Your snarks are always funny, though I didn't see a movie that I liked. enough to pay for. Prayers for Juneta Key
Hi,
I don't care for cliffhanger either. I am still waiting for book eleven of a series I was reading and that was four years ago.
I can do February or March. 2025.
Have a Merry Christmas and thanks for your investment in IWSG.
Shalom shalom
Happy to be a co-host!
I'm looking forward to that LoTR movie, though I'll probably have lots of complaints, ha ha!
I don't mind cliffhangers in some situations. Praying for Juneta!
Not interested in seeing Mufasa at all, you're right a total cash grab!
So far, everyone I've read has not liked cliffhangers. There have been some excellent answers, too. Maybe they should be combined in a post? Just an idea. Hoping Juneta's health problems are history by 2025!
https://cleemckenziebooks.substack.com/p/the-history-ghost-part-3and
Watched a ten minute preview of Kraven. Set in Russia in the beginning, so a little interesting.
I loved your snarky comments about those movies. Thank you for the chuckle today! I am okay with cliffhangers... as long as there's something coming eventually to finish the story. And yes, sign me up to co-host in February, please.
A cliffhanger where the next story is coming soon I can handle. But a cliffhanger where there's a long wait or cancellation is a turn off. Sigh, I'm reminded of The Gifted all over again...woosah.
Thanks, as always, for the movie reviews. I saw Wicked yesterday... thank goodness it was Tuesday value day at the theater, so I didn't pay full price for the musical frivolity. The upside: I left the movie in a great mood after a helper-skelter day!
Great question this month. I write lots of short stories and they all end in cliffhangers. For me, the feel not done, like I started a story, but I don't know where to go with it, so it ends at chapter one. I never do anything with them, but share them with a few people who always suggest I should keep writing it.
And as for movies, I didn't know they made another LOTRs film . . . somewhere else.
My prayer for Juneta. Hope she is doing better.
Seems like a lot of remakes and revisions on their ways to us. I likely won't see any of them.
Thanks for giving us books that were stand alone. That's what I prefer.
Lee
Circle of cash - ha! Very good. Cliffhangers serve a purpose if we know, for sure, that the next episodes (or books) are in the works. Nowadays, nothing is a sure thing. Sigh.
My thoughts go out to Juneta. I am NOT a fan of cliffhangers. It is okish in a series but each book has to have something resolved.
I saw a promo of Nosferatu and it looked pretty creepy.
Definitely not a fan of cliffhangers in books. Or, if there has to be one, the writer needs to wrap up at least one other storyline or subplot.
Cliffhangers are definitely good for a TV series. They make you excited about the next season. I don't use them at the end of my books. I want to see Wicked. I heard it's long, though. Have a very Merry Christmas!
It seems they only make special effect movies these days: fantasy, sci-fi, horror. Nothing quiet and thoughtful. I don't think Chocolat could've been made now, and it was one of my favorite moves of all times. Makes me sad.
I'm sorry to hear that Juneta is still unwell; she'll be in my thoughts and prayers. The movie previews sound as scary and weird as my current WIP. LOL. You can sign me up to co-host next year, whenever you need me.
Ronel visiting for IWSG day Over and Done With. An Author’s Year in Review 2024
I feel the same, but I don't watch the last of a tv series if they tend to leave it as a cliffhanger. Since streaming is a thing, I'll wait until the next season begins before I bother.
Happy holiday.
Anna from elements of emaginette
Circle of cash is right!
Nosferatu and Kraven the Hunter sounds good. I do not like cliffhangers at all.
Howdy, Captain! Finally got my post up (as my head hangs in shame and stuffy-head pain). I can host in February. I don't have a problem with cliffhangers; gotta keep those pages turning and folks coming back after commercial breaks ;-)
I hadn't heard about Juneta, bless her heart. Now I'm terrified for her and I don't even know what's wrong.
Merry Christmas!
Pat, thanks!
I generally hate cliffhangers, but there are some authors I like who employ them effectively. First, they state from the outset that the story won't be finished in the book. Then, I have to be in the mood for a multi-book story. When it hits right, then I enjoy them. When I'm surprised by them, they just piss me off.
I am one for no cliffhangers. I don’t like ambiguous endings. It reminds me too much of the 70s movies that would just end…I would be thinking, “ that’s it!?” ..I hate those endings. The only film I want to see is Nosferatu but I doubt it’s as good as the brilliant 1922 film. I’m sorry to hear about your friend and hope she can find her strength through her friends like you. No matter what, have a very nice Christmas
I also go for cliffhangers in TV more than I do books.
Werewolves looks like it might be interesting with perhaps a twist on the werewolf film since it seems that mutation is the cause of the metamorphosis instead of curses. The Nosferatu remake is one that I've been waiting for since summer at least. And Alien Wars? Well, that depends if it's showing in theatres or not. If it's one of the other two then I think I'll skip it.
I'm definitely praying for Juneta Key.
Please don't go see the movie Juror #2. No resolution at the end, though the story is intense and well told. As usual, thank you, Alex, for your continued leadership. I hear your call for co-hosts. Sign me up for January, if you like! bluebethley@yahoo.com
Hi Alex - good to see your comments re the movie - never usually my sort ... but 20 years on - who knows! I do hope Juneta has some peace and recovery ... cliffhangers - not for me ... but a series does draw one in - cheers and all the best - Hilary
Birgit, early reviews say it's one of the best horror films ever.
Steven, the last one is in theaters, but watch the preview - it needs to go straight to RiffTrax.
Beth, thanks!
What's with all the Spider-Man movies without Spider-Man??? And I liked Nosferatu better when it was "Shadow of the Vampire." William Dafoe, John Malkovich, Cary Elwes? Man, that was awesome.
I do love being enticed to the next book/movie with a....and then... For me it's an adrenaline thing. But cliff hangers have also offered unintended consequencesto my family, giving us great conversation over the dinner table- with the entire family conjecturing about what will happen.
We are in agreement! And your comment on the Rohirrim film is very very frightening. Maybe I won’t look out for it after all :O
Mixed feelings about cliffhangers. I'm not totally on board with them when it comes to books, because if you're reading a series and too much time elapses between volumes, it can turn you off to pursing the rest of the series.
I can understand them for t.v. series, but only if they're handled right and if they lead to something else.
Ooo, you are right, Alex. I like the movie to have an ending, too. I understand the Part 2 of a movie, though. Like the last book of Harry Potter shown in 2 films. Merry Christmas!
I don't like cliff hangers. Are you old enough to remember the big one from my childhood (Who Shot J.R.?) and then it didn't even have a quality resolution to match it. That's back in the day of everyone gathering together in the living room to watch shows together. No streaming options to scatter everyone in their own direction. ;)
I do not know Juneta, but prayers already sent. It's nice that she has you in her corner to care and I hope things make a positive turnaround soon.
I think I've only written one cliffhanger in a series. I don't care for them as a reader so chances of them showing up in my stories are slim.
CD, that was a great film.
Victoria, shame part one wasn't as good as two.
Rosey, I remember Who Shot JR.
The circle of cash, all right. They just don't know when to quit.
My first memoir has a cliffhanger, but life is full of 'em. They're not a turn off to me.
Hope you're doing well, Alex.
I heard "Nosferatu" sucks.
I'll let myself out.
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