In a number of manuscripts from new writers there seems to be a similar pattern in them: the authors tease their audience with a particular sentence or text, unaware that they are doing this. Then, they fail to follow through. These new authors are falling into a writing pitfall: the dangling teasers.

Why do Dangling Teasers Matter?

When writing, we usually assume everything we’re writing is interesting and engaging. The sentence or thought we convey at one point in the story sounds great…and intriguing. But, we may quickly go into something else, and forget we left an unfulfilled or dangling teaser behind.

Here’s a simple example:

My house sat next to Uncle Pete’s. It stood large, spacious, and old. The first day we moved in, I counted twelve rooms. Most of the rooms were large, and some of them were gloomy looking.  My room was huge and bright. It fit all my furniture with more than enough room for me to play in it with my friends.  I loved it.

I remember roaming through the rooms…searching…exploring. I knew there had to be hidden treasure and hidden passages waiting to be found. But . . . the basement frightened me . . . even the steps leading down to it frightened me.

Now, there are at least two outstanding sentences in the above text that might detract from the story and would be considered a dangling teaser, if not followed through with:

1. My house sat next to Uncle Pete’s.

Unless, Uncle Pete, or his house will be a part of the story, this information does not move the story forward and may actually detract from it. Why, you ask? Well, the reader will probably assume there’s a reason you mentioned Uncle Pete and his house. If you don’t follow through and weave this element into the story, the reader will feel a bit disappointed. This is never a good reaction for a reader to have.

2. The basement . . . even the steps leading down to it frightened me.

Again, unless this is to be elaborated on sometime in the story, or followed through immediately, you will leave your reader with the questions: What about the basement? Why are the basement and the steps so scary? What’s in the basement?

Leaving your reader with unanswered questions, or a conscious or subconscious disappointment or feeling of being cheated, is a formula for losing a reader.

So, how do you avoid this type of writing pitfall?

There are several steps you can take to catch dangling teasers, kind of a checks and balances (ah, there’s my accounting background seeping through):

1. Create a checklist sheet of the teasers you want to include. And, be sure each of them is followed through.

2. Reread your story many times, and it will be helpful to read it aloud.

3. Keep an eye out for dangling teasers.

4. Change the font and reread the story.

5. Print a copy and read it – this catches a number of errors and weak points that you glaze over while reading it on the computer.

6. Give it to your critique group to read. Yes, you absolutely need to be part of a critique group. Those extra eyes will help guide you to publication. Be sure your critique group has new and experienced/published authors in it.

7. Finally, have it edited before submitting it to publishers and/or agents. Even though you’ve take the precautions of steps 1 through 6, you will still need the eyes of an editor who is experienced in your genre. She will be able to spot things you and your critique group may have missed.

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Great Writing Tools and Programs:

Writing, Publishing, and Marketing – You Can Do It

Writing for Children One Step at a Time

The Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club with Suzanne Lieurance

Write More, Sell More, Make More Money Than EVER in 2010 Coaching Program
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Until next time,

Karen Cioffi
Author, Ghostwriter-for-hire, Freelance writer, Reviewer

Karen Cioffi Writing for Children and More
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