Writing a sequel

[RiverRun]

I have a question nagging at the back of my mind, so I thought I'd ask and see if anyone can help me sort it out. I have young kids so I write slow. A book every few years seems to be the best I can do and I'm good with that. Since I can't approach this as a full time job I do not expect full time results, but I do try to consider some of the advice around here in hope's of getting the most out of my efforts. One lesson I have finally grasped is that its worthwhile to write a series rather than standalone novels.

I self-pubbed a historical mystery that I felt would be a good start to a series. I still think it is. I've got the second book all planned out and I've written 2,000 words or so. But I find myself, for various reasons, stalling.

One of my reasons is that I feel like the first book isn't destined to be a big seller, and I dread the thought of pouring my meager time into at least two more books to follow up a first in series that won't sell anyway. Likewise, I don't want to promote a book that has no sequel to go with it, as we all know I'm not likely to make much that way. So its hard to know if the book is likely to do better with promotion. I know that most books don't sell and I'm not expecting wonders.

I was able to take advantage of a free giveaway through Fussy Librarian in February. I had something like 1200 free downloads, and got a few positive reviews that way. The book continued to get random buys and KU reads, a few each month, but that has tapered to nil now, as one would expect from a single promotion.

For a book that hasn't been promoted, would you consider that a decent showing? Worth following up on? I like the sequel ideas, but I have a lot of other fun ideas to write about too. I could go either way for myself, but I'm losing confidence in my series idea. (And when it takes a long time to write a book, my confidence in my own project is about all I've got.) I put a mention on my blog that I was thinking of continuing it as a series if people wanted more. My blog does not get many views if at all, but one Amazon reviewer said that she would like to read more. So that's encouraging. But some of my reviews are in the vein of, 'good read, kept me reading to the end' rather than, 'I loved this book and couldn't put it down.' I have five reviews and five stars, but I don't know that this first in series is going to wow anybody.

So how do you decide whether to hang in there with a series or start all over again? Starting over sounds more fun, but sticking with the series might be a better long term investment of my time. Terrible to be so indecisive...how do you decide?

ETA - I meant to put this in the publishing area instead of marketing. Probably close enough though.

[PJ Post]

From a literary/artistic perspective, you write the sequel if you have something more to say.

From a business perspective, you do it because the demand/sales are there.

[VanessaC]

I'm not sure I can or would advise you to take any particular path, but rather to work out what's possible, and what you ultimately want from your writing, and go from there.

Personally, with almost 2 series completed, I get momentum on a series when I reach book 3 - that way, when I run promos on book 1, there's read through and follow on to consider.  It can really help build a following and find people who like your world, and style. It also gives you options for box sets, etc, in the future.

However, I am lucky in many ways that I can dedicate time to writing and can produce about four books a year, so working in a series makes sense, and there's a momentum to that. My brain also likes writing in series, and having the big series plot arc, and the individual book arcs, and exploring different aspects of my characters, so series writing suits me.

I do find that later books in a series are a little quicker to write, too, because I know the world and the characters - so there's that.

Not sure any of that is helpful - best of luck, whatever you decide.

[idontknowyet]

I'm not sure I can or would advise you to take any particular path, but rather to work out what's possible, and what you ultimately want from your writing, and go from there.

Personally, with almost 2 series completed, I get momentum on a series when I reach book 3 - that way, when I run promos on book 1, there's read through and follow on to consider.  It can really help build a following and find people who like your world, and style. It also gives you options for box sets, etc, in the future.

However, I am lucky in many ways that I can dedicate time to writing and can produce about four books a year, so working in a series makes sense, and there's a momentum to that. My brain also likes writing in series, and having the big series plot arc, and the individual book arcs, and exploring different aspects of my characters, so series writing suits me.

I do find that later books in a series are a little quicker to write, too, because I know the world and the characters - so there's that.

Not sure any of that is helpful - best of luck, whatever you decide.

This is what i read over and over again. You really don't start getting sales on a series until book 3 is out.

[Crystal]

I would never write a straight sequel. I would write a second standalone in a series or a duet or trilogy (or longer), but I would not continue the same story over multiple books without strong cliffhangers.

Straight sequels only appeal to people who've already read book one and that will always be a much smaller audience that all readers in your genre who like the kind of thing you do.

[RiverRun]

The first is a standalone mystery, so my original plan was to continue writing standalone mysteries with the same amateur detective.

I've read a few different mysteries in a series without reading the first book, so I can see the logic in that.

[notthatamanda]

I would never write a straight sequel. I would write a second standalone in a series or a duet or trilogy (or longer), but I would not continue the same story over multiple books without strong cliffhangers.

Straight sequels only appeal to people who've already read book one and that will always be a much smaller audience that all readers in your genre who like the kind of thing you do.

Oh dear, that's exactly what I'm doing. Following the family, first book centered around WWII now post war and what's happening in their lives. I've got plans for them for the next 30 years. People will either love the characters enough to continue, or not. Good thing this is a hobby for me.

RiverRun - wish I had some words of wisdom for you, but I write whatever is the most compelling story in my head at the time. Whatever you do, pick one and see it through. One finished book may get you some sales. Ten unfinished books will get you nothing.

[TimothyEllis]

The first is a standalone mystery, so my original plan was to continue writing standalone mysteries with the same amateur detective.

Nothing wrong with doing that.

Just make sure each book is completely stand alone, isn't referencing any past book, doesn't end with any sort of cliffhanger, and completely satisfies the reader. Then you should be fine. The Jack Reacher series is basically like this.

It's only when you start writing serial, where there is direct continuity between books, that writing a slow release series will cause problems.

A series of stand alones featuring the same character or same location, don't have the same issues as serials do.

Obviously if you get fans, they will want faster books, but as long as you stick to the same basic schedule, they should accept that.

Check how long you can put a pre-order out for. If you have one there, it gives you a date to aim at, and thus motivation to get the writing done, and at the same time, keeps the book active in a series page while you write it.

[alhawke]

I think whether you focus on a sequel depends on your goal. A series brings in more money and helps with branding.

There are advantages to a non-series standalone book. Standalones are easier to promote, advertise, and garner reviews. So, in this sense, readers prefer a standalone. But I think you draw more fans to your authorship with sequels.

If you do a series, try to make each book a standalone so you keep interest in readers interests in later books.

This is all marketing advice. If you're asking artistically, you can do whatever you want--of course.

[JRTomlin]

I have a question nagging at the back of my mind, so I thought I'd ask and see if anyone can help me sort it out. I have young kids so I write slow. A book every few years seems to be the best I can do and I'm good with that. Since I can't approach this as a full time job I do not expect full time results, but I do try to consider some of the advice around here in hope's of getting the most out of my efforts. One lesson I have finally grasped is that its worthwhile to write a series rather than standalone novels.

I self-pubbed a historical mystery that I felt would be a good start to a series. I still think it is. I've got the second book all planned out and I've written 2,000 words or so. But I find myself, for various reasons, stalling.

One of my reasons is that I feel like the first book isn't destined to be a big seller, and I dread the thought of pouring my meager time into at least two more books to follow up a first in series that won't sell anyway. Likewise, I don't want to promote a book that has no sequel to go with it, as we all know I'm not likely to make much that way. So its hard to know if the book is likely to do better with promotion. I know that most books don't sell and I'm not expecting wonders.

I was able to take advantage of a free giveaway through Fussy Librarian in February. I had something like 1200 free downloads, and got a few positive reviews that way. The book continued to get random buys and KU reads, a few each month, but that has tapered to nil now, as one would expect from a single promotion.

For a book that hasn't been promoted, would you consider that a decent showing? Worth following up on? I like the sequel ideas, but I have a lot of other fun ideas to write about too. I could go either way for myself, but I'm losing confidence in my series idea. (And when it takes a long time to write a book, my confidence in my own project is about all I've got.) I put a mention on my blog that I was thinking of continuing it as a series if people wanted more. My blog does not get many views if at all, but one Amazon reviewer said that she would like to read more. So that's encouraging. But some of my reviews are in the vein of, 'good read, kept me reading to the end' rather than, 'I loved this book and couldn't put it down.' I have five reviews and five stars, but I don't know that this first in series is going to wow anybody.

So how do you decide whether to hang in there with a series or start all over again? Starting over sounds more fun, but sticking with the series might be a better long term investment of my time. Terrible to be so indecisive...how do you decide?

ETA - I meant to put this in the publishing area instead of marketing. Probably close enough though.

A historical mystery series can be a very steady seller without being a 'big seller'. I think sometimes put too much emphasis on everything being a 'big seller'. To answer your question, on Fussy Librarian for an author with little following, I consider that decent results. I have a mystery series that is a constant seller which is a good thing.

IF I were going to advise you, I'd say get at least three novels out (mystery fans tend to only buy a series), get out of KU, make the first perma free and promote the perma free. I would suggest trying to get a Bookbub promo - but only once you are at that point.  I know BB promos are expensive, but if at all possible I'd save up for one. Well worth the money once you have a series. If it is absolutely impossible to afford a BB promo or you simply have no luck in getting one, then stacked smaller promos do work if with generally smaller results.

Probably more advice than you wanted but let me emphasise that yes, a historical mystery series can make nice money for you whether it is a big seller or not.

[LilyBLily]

I'll be a contrarian here. Write the next book you'd like to write and to heck with the series. When you're doing this very part time over a long stretch of time there is no reason to approach writing as work. It should be fun and should satisfy your creative impulses.

Occasional advertising with discounting can keep your first book out there garnering sales and reads. Or inexpensive advertising on Facebook and Amazon without discounting. BookBub accepts less than 20% of the books submitted and the cost of a featured deal is in the many hundreds of dollars and the book must be drastically discounted. There is no reason to do a BookBub featured deal unless you have another book ready to sell at full price. If you want more visibility, dabble in the less expensive ad possibilites.

Write the best book you can and then write the next book and make it even better. By the time you've written another couple of novels you'll probably want to revise your first one somewhat based on everything you've learned in the interim.

As a mystery reader, I go for locales and settings, such as a romance writers' convention in Texas (made that up), and not so much for seeing the same detective again and again. Once you have another book to sell in the same subgenre, advertise the first whether they're stand alones or not. All readers do not buy for exactly the same reasons.   

[RiverRun]

This is kinda' nice to get lots of opinions.

Just wanted to mention that this is my fourth novel I'm pondering about. I've already written three, that were written without any concern for the market. I love them and learned a ton from writing them. They are also in a different genre, (Christian Romance). I think they are a bit too rough around the edges for any investment in promotion, and not quite genre enough to earn much anyway even if I reworked them.

So, I already wrote my books for love. I like the mystery too but I always hoped it might be a little more of a commercial attempt than the previous books.

I am, however, considering writing a quick and messy rough draft of the novel that's calling me, and deciding after which I want to focus on.

[idontknowyet]

This is kinda' nice to get lots of opinions.

Just wanted to mention that this is my fourth novel I'm pondering about. I've already written three, that were written without any concern for the market. I love them and learned a ton from writing them. They are also in a different genre, (Christian Romance). I think they are a bit too rough around the edges for any investment in promotion, and not quite genre enough to earn much anyway even if I reworked them.

So, I already wrote my books for love. I like the mystery too but I always hoped it might be a little more of a commercial attempt than the previous books.

I am, however, considering writing a quick and messy rough draft of the novel that's calling me, and deciding after which I want to focus on.

always write the story your soul is calling you to. forcing yourself to write something youre not going to enjoy never ends up well. ive read way to many accounts of what happened i wrote exactly what i should have but i didnt make money.

readers can tell the difference between books written from passion and books written because this is the right thing to do. it's when passion and practicality collide that you have a masterpiece.

[JRTomlin]

This is kinda' nice to get lots of opinions.

Just wanted to mention that this is my fourth novel I'm pondering about. I've already written three, that were written without any concern for the market. I love them and learned a ton from writing them. They are also in a different genre, (Christian Romance). I think they are a bit too rough around the edges for any investment in promotion, and not quite genre enough to earn much anyway even if I reworked them.

So, I already wrote my books for love. I like the mystery too but I always hoped it might be a little more of a commercial attempt than the previous books.

I am, however, considering writing a quick and messy rough draft of the novel that's calling me, and deciding after which I want to focus on.

always write the story your soul is calling you to. forcing yourself to write something youre not going to enjoy never ends up well. ive read way to many accounts of what happened i wrote exactly what i should have but i didnt make money.

readers can tell the difference between books written from passion and books written because this is the right thing to do. it's when passion and practicality collide that you have a masterpiece.

It is a good idea to write the novel of your heart, but in my opinion, not all novels can be that, not if you write very many. My first four were very much the books of my heart. But I had the advantage of writing a genre that I love, so although my later novels are one I enjoy, ones that I would read if someone else wrote them, they are also novels I write (*gasp of horror*) for profit. Maybe you have dozens of novels of your soul in you, but I don't. I suspect most people don't.

One thing I do think is a dreadful idea is writing a genre that you don't enjoy or preferably love.

[RiverRun]

idontknowyet, you make a good point, but its not really as black and white as that, thankfully. I'm much too lazy to write a book I don't love. Its fairly unlikely that either book is going to be a big seller. And I think if I felt really compelled one way or another, that would probably make the decision for me.

There definitely seems to be a place, somewhere near the middle of the business of writing a novel, when it feels almost impossible to drag on and actually get to the end. I find myself looking at both theses story ideas and trying to decide if three is enough momentum here to get me past that point.

The more I write, the more I find writing to be a sort of pick up the tools and get to work thing, rather than a flash of inspiration and rush to pen and paper kind of thing. Its a different kind of experience than it was with the first book, but its still fun, and maybe even more satisfying because I have some idea what I'm trying to accomplish now. A book I love with some kind of achievable plan for what to do with it.

I'm probably just giving myself a pep talk here. Don't mind me:)

[RiverRun]

As a mystery reader, I go for locales and settings, such as a romance writers' convention in Texas (made that up), and not so much for seeing the same detective again and again. Once you have another book to sell in the same subgenre, advertise the first whether they're stand alones or not. All readers do not buy for exactly the same reasons.

I've read a lot of victorian mysteries of late, in part for inspiration and in part because I've been enjoying them, and I find myself looking for an author I love and read everything I can get hold of by that author. Which I guess is why I've been thinking about it the way I have been. In some of the series I have tried, I read one book and that was it for that author. I didn't love it enough to read more. That's a good reminder that people may not read in the same way I do.

I grew up in Vermont and every so often I try to work a story set in a bed and breakfast in Vermont because I feel sure there's an audience that would eat it up. Alas, i've never had a particularly good idea for such a locale. Maybe someday.

[alhawke]

The more I write, the more I find writing to be a sort of pick up the tools and get to work thing, rather than a flash of inspiration and rush to pen and paper kind of thing.

One way to deal with this feeling is to be experimental. Try new things. New settings, new characters, new problems, more action or description or whatever. Challenge yourself. Try to break out of your comfort zone.

For example, I always loved the weirdness in Slaughterhouse 5. There are bizarre breaks within breaks in one chapter that are disjointed and crazy. I copied this method, somewhat, in my new book. I consider my most recent book very mainstream, but I allowed myself a chapter to go weird. You really have to balance fun with reader expectations, I think. And you never know, some readers might love it.

So, back to the sequel thing, if I feel that marketing a sequel is the thing to do, I do it, but I make sure that the sequel is very different from my other books. This works for me, personally, by averting boredom and maintaining excitement.

Incidentally, my next project, after I complete my series, is a bit experimental. I may not make as many sales, but I feel like I need a break and a change to do something that, while not perfectly fitting the market, is something I love. But I can do this because I'm prolific. If one book isn't popular, I feel like I can pick it up with the next one. You might have to stay more selective, RiverRun, because you said you don't publish books quickly.

[JRTomlin]

I don't think it is a feeling to 'deal with'. It is being a professional. That is a good thing.

[alhawke]

I don't think it is a feeling to 'deal with'. It is being a professional. That is a good thing.

My bad for misinterpreting the OP. I thought RiverRun was talking about a feeling of loss of inspiration. My post was about what I do when I feel that with my writing.

[notthatamanda]

idontknowyet, you make a good point, but its not really as black and white as that, thankfully. I'm much too lazy to write a book I don't love. Its fairly unlikely that either book is going to be a big seller. And I think if I felt really compelled one way or another, that would probably make the decision for me.

There definitely seems to be a place, somewhere near the middle of the business of writing a novel, when it feels almost impossible to drag on and actually get to the end. I find myself looking at both theses story ideas and trying to decide if three is enough momentum here to get me past that point.

The more I write, the more I find writing to be a sort of pick up the tools and get to work thing, rather than a flash of inspiration and rush to pen and paper kind of thing. Its a different kind of experience than it was with the first book, but its still fun, and maybe even more satisfying because I have some idea what I'm trying to accomplish now. A book I love with some kind of achievable plan for what to do with it.

I'm probably just giving myself a pep talk here. Don't mind me:)

You could take 15 minutes to an hour and outline it. One or two sentences for both chapters. No law saying you have to follow the outline (yesterday I found out the family's son will be hospitalized for pneumonia-that was a surprise to me) but it can give you an idea. You could also just right an outline for the beginning, middle and ending to see if there is enough there to work with. Just a suggestion.

[Simon Haynes]

There definitely seems to be a place, somewhere near the middle of the business of writing a novel, when it feels almost impossible to drag on and actually get to the end. I find myself looking at both theses story ideas and trying to decide if three is enough momentum here to get me past that point.

Thinking of the novel as a whole is a sure way to kill the enthusiasm. Better to approach it like a series of hills and valleys, with a minimum word count per day. At the moment I'm happy to get 500 per day - which is roughly 12 minutes typing, if I'm honest with myself. But whether it's 500 or 4000, I'm making progress.

[RiverRun]

These are all good ideas!

I remember reading something on a writing blog, too long ago to find again, a description of how an author wrote her first draft. She would try to get down the whole book, summarizes big sections but stopping to write specific scenes whenever inspired to do so. It would be about 50 pages when she was done, then she'd go back and expand it after. I've never really tried it and don't feel any particular need to commit to it. But its stayed in my mind as something that might work for me. I know we all approach plotting in different ways. My way is to sit down and try to plot a novel, then never look at my plot outline again and forget most of what I plotted in the first place. All I really do is brainstorm ideas from time to time. It isn't really plotting. I'm a pantster who needs to learn from plotters because I can't remember what in the world I was supposed to be writing when I haven't written for a week and didn't get enough sleep:)

But there's certainly no shortcut for sitting down everyday and writing the next scene, is there?

As far as lack of inspiration goes, I'm over it. Sometimes I feel inspired and write. Sometimes I start writing and become inspired. Sometimes I lose interest for months at a time. Since I'm doing this as a hobby, I get to do all of that. Works out great.

[notthatamanda]

My outline is only a page or two and then I just start writing. It's in the front of my loose leaf notebook so if I ever get stuck for ideas I go back and look and see what I thought was important when I started. I guess I'm a panster in a plotter''s clothing.

[JRTomlin]

I always say I don't plan or outline my novels and I don't. I am always gobsmacked when people ask how long a novel will be. I'll know after I write it. On the other hand, I mostly write biographical historical fiction (with a few historical mysteries thrown in for variety) which means that the bare outlines of the story already exist, so maybe that's cheating.

[LilyBLily]

I know how long I want to make a story but I don't know how on earth I'm going to get near that word count. Will a hurricane happen? Will someone drop dead? Will a long-lost cousin show up? No clue. I just sit down and start writing. With short books I know not to go down rabbit holes. With long books I expand every promising rabbit hole.

[Simon Haynes]

If I plot a novel I get bored writing it. It's like reading a comprehensive review of a movie before going to see it - all the surprise is lost, and I feel like I'm painting by numbers.

I like to have an overall direction and some plot points, but nothing too specific.

Not to say I haven't plotted novels in the past. I just find it so much more enjoyable to let fly and see where things take me.

[Vijaya]

RiverRun, I've read this thread with interest because I'm also a slow writer when it comes to novels. But because I often think of death, I focus my attention on what's most exciting and fruitful at the time. Many people have asked for a sequel to Bound and it will be a standalone sequel. I don't do any book promotion--I have so much to learn in that dept. but you know, with a memento mori mindset, I end up writing. And I'm all over the place, writing for littles to big kids, and even grown ups once in a while. So I don't have any advice per se, but to follow your heart and gut. I agree that it's a business and you have to think about what's profitable as well, but since you have a day job, maybe it doesn't have to play into the equation.