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Eek! Writing sequels
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kazmojazz
 03 Jan 2012, 12:22 #138422 Reply To Post
Has anyone written a sequel to their story that they're happy with?

How did you work out how much info to put in from the previous one? I'm finding it hard to judge because, of course, I already know what's gone before. Would like it to stand on its own though, ideally. Hadn't realised quite how difficult this would be.

Sooo nice to be writing again though - even if it is crap.

Grateful for any advice, as ever.

pam1234writing
 03 Jan 2012, 12:46 #138428 Reply To Post
Quote: kazmojazz, Tuesday, 3 Jan 2012 12:22
Has anyone written a sequel to their story that they're happy with?

How did you work out how much info to put in from the previous one? I'm finding it hard to judge because, of course, I already know what's gone before. Would like it to stand on its own though, ideally. Hadn't realised quite how difficult this would be.

Sooo nice to be writing again though - even if it is crap.

Grateful for any advice, as ever.



All my follow ups are sequels. They're decades apart though, spanning forty years in total so far.(I'm writing a fourth now so can no longer call 'em a trilogy) I just drip fed little bits of back story in as and where it was appropriate. I've had some good Amazon reviews saying that I dealt with the back story well and didn't bog the reader down, so I guess I must have got something right. Characters thoughts and dialogue and discussion can be helpful, reminiscences and thinking back on incidents etc. A find of old diaries conveyed a particular thread that had run though two of mine. Photographs that trigger a memory from the past. Hope that helps. If I think of anything else I used I'll come back and add it. Happy New Year and good luck with your new story. Pam.
"And, in the end, the love you take / Is equal to the love you make." Lennon and McCartney 1969

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kazmojazz
 03 Jan 2012, 13:22 #138443 Reply To Post
Thanks, Pam. I'm sure you have it down to a fine art now, so will definitely follow your advice. Off to pop a diary in there now!

Thanks for the good wishes too. Glad to see your stories are doing so well on Amazon. Must be a great feeling.

Happy New Year.

Beth
erict
 03 Jan 2012, 14:13 #138454 Reply To Post
Similar, my story is a prequel, but a long time before. As I haven't sold the first one, I'm working on the basis that the second one might be sold first. Therefore I've written them completely standalone.
papa stas
 03 Jan 2012, 15:15 #138457 Reply To Post
Quote: erict, Tuesday, 3 Jan 2012 14:13
Similar, my story is a prequel, but a long time before. As I haven't sold the first one, I'm working on the basis that the second one might be sold first. Therefore I've written them completely standalone.


If ya sell the second one -

then ya have the sequel already written.

papa
stas (thinks it's a nice way to do Biz)

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” - Albert Einstein
kazmojazz
 03 Jan 2012, 17:06 #138475 Reply To Post
Hmm . . . My problem is that the sequel follows pretty much straight on from the first book - with just eight months or so between them. Guess the only way to check it makes sense without reading the first story is to post the opening chapters on here - when I finally finish writing them, that is - and see what reviewers say.

Better get on with writing it, I suppose.
chickin
 03 Jan 2012, 17:32 #138482 Reply To Post
I'm thinking about sequels too. I'm thinking about a different story with the same characters.

It should be easier as I already know the characters. I would hope.

What sort of things should we include from the first? I can't think of anything. Am I daft?


Don't answer that.
I deleted my sig.
unclearthur
 03 Jan 2012, 19:49 #138493 Reply To Post
Pam's right. You can drip-feed info about the characters' pasts where absolutely necessary, but physical /emotional traits can be worked into the new narrative. Bernard Cornwell is notorious for describing the essential skill of loading a rifle in his 'Sharpe' series - and I've read it so many times I could probably do it myself straight off. But it's important info if you're new to the books.

There's one huge problem with sequels. They must be better. More adventure, more excitement, more...everything, in fact. I thought writing one would be easy, given the characters were already invented, but it's harder. Much harder.

Just thought I'd say.

http://cavalrytales.wordpress.com
www.cavalrytales.co.uk

'The battle that never ends is the battle of belief against disbelief'
chickin
 03 Jan 2012, 20:08 #138496 Reply To Post
Mm. I would hope to improve simply because I want my writing to improve. But I've read lots of sequels no where near as good as the first.

Or maybe I'm thinking of series not sequels.

Is there a big difference?
I deleted my sig.
unclearthur
 04 Jan 2012, 20:48 #138652 Reply To Post
Quote: chickin, Tuesday, 3 Jan 2012 20:08
Mm. I would hope to improve simply because I want my writing to improve. But I've read lots of sequels no where near as good as the first.

Or maybe I'm thinking of series not sequels.

Is there a big difference?


I always took sequel as singular and once you get past that...it's a series, I suppose.

My hope was having completed one novel, and learned from my mistakes, I wouldn't make them again; that my first draft of my second would be almost as good as the final draft of my first. Now I'm not so sure. Bummer.

Perhaps it's just that part of the psyche that continually tells me I write rubbish.

http://cavalrytales.wordpress.com
www.cavalrytales.co.uk

'The battle that never ends is the battle of belief against disbelief'
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