Fully Booked EP170: Crafting Hooks and Cliffhangers That Keep Pages Turning

In today’s episode of Fully Booked, we’re exploring how to build momentum in your fiction and make sure readers have a hard time putting your book down. Author and workshop leader Natasha Blandford, who writes as N.L. Blandford, joins Craig and Roland to discuss how to write compelling hooks and cliffhangers that keep readers engaged from the first page to the last. Drawing on her experience writing dark psychological thrillers and leading community workshops, Blandford shares her techniques on how to open strong, end stronger, and maintain narrative tension throughout your story.

As Natasha explains, elements like genre, pacing, and point of view all shape how (and when) hooks and cliffhangers should be used. From opening lines that spark instant intrigue to chapter endings that demand “just one more page,” she offers a wide range of strategies to keep your readers captivated. Whether you're a plotter, a discovery writer (pantser), or somewhere in between, this conversation is packed with insights to help craft stories that leave readers always wanting more.

 

N.L. Blandford

https://www.nlblandford.com/

 

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