How to write a sequel....
...when you hadn't really intended to do one :0/ I originally wrote my first book, SKY, as a one-off story. I had two more ideas in the pipeline and was keen to start writing. Mind you, I hadn't prepared myself for the comments of my beta readers and first 'real' readers! Okay, admittedly I did end SKY in a way that could be interpreted in several ways - but it seems that wasn't enough.
So after dozens of emails (well almost two dozen to be honest) saying that I couldn't leave them guessing, I decided to get started on a sequel. Initially, I was at a loss of where to take the story - seeing as I'd gone for broke with the first with all my best ideas. But after a weekend with my iPod, laptop, notepad and pencil I suddenly had plenty of plot ideas, several new characters and the basic bones of a story plan.
Now I'm going to admit to a bit of a cheat here. To successfully write a half-decent sequel, there was one small thing I needed to change in Sky - eek. Luckily, this was before I'd finished formatting the paperback edition, and only a few had downloaded the kindle version.
So with only a tiny bit of guilt, I tweaked one of the later scenes, setting up my sequel. It's only a small change, and I doubt if the majority reading the previous edition would really notice if they go on to read the sequel - but there's always those readers far smarter than me out there, who would spot the 'glaring plot howler' - so I didn't want to take the risk.
So now onto the sequel. I guess it's easier because I've set up the story and covered the back story in the first book. All the main characters have completed their 'arcs' by facing their fears and challenges, so now they can hit the ground running and face new situations. It also allows me to bring out more of the back story to take the plot to new levels.
After spending almost two years with the original characters, I feel quite at home and familiar with their ways. But... seeing how it ended for Carly in SKY , has given me an opportunity to take her to different places in her mind and add something more to the story.
So what about the title? Based on a rather clever revelation (if I say so myself) I've called it Stargazers . I can hear my cover designer groan already. After a three letter title for the first, she's now got to fit a longer one-word title into the design :0)
I'm currently 15,000 words into the first draft (I estimate 65, 70,000 in total). If you want to be kept informed of my progress, you can sign-up for my newsletter .
Or if you've read SKY, you can read an extract of the first draft of Stargazers here - but you'll need the password given at the end of SKY.
So after dozens of emails (well almost two dozen to be honest) saying that I couldn't leave them guessing, I decided to get started on a sequel. Initially, I was at a loss of where to take the story - seeing as I'd gone for broke with the first with all my best ideas. But after a weekend with my iPod, laptop, notepad and pencil I suddenly had plenty of plot ideas, several new characters and the basic bones of a story plan.
Now I'm going to admit to a bit of a cheat here. To successfully write a half-decent sequel, there was one small thing I needed to change in Sky - eek. Luckily, this was before I'd finished formatting the paperback edition, and only a few had downloaded the kindle version.
So with only a tiny bit of guilt, I tweaked one of the later scenes, setting up my sequel. It's only a small change, and I doubt if the majority reading the previous edition would really notice if they go on to read the sequel - but there's always those readers far smarter than me out there, who would spot the 'glaring plot howler' - so I didn't want to take the risk.
So now onto the sequel. I guess it's easier because I've set up the story and covered the back story in the first book. All the main characters have completed their 'arcs' by facing their fears and challenges, so now they can hit the ground running and face new situations. It also allows me to bring out more of the back story to take the plot to new levels.
After spending almost two years with the original characters, I feel quite at home and familiar with their ways. But... seeing how it ended for Carly in SKY , has given me an opportunity to take her to different places in her mind and add something more to the story.
So what about the title? Based on a rather clever revelation (if I say so myself) I've called it Stargazers . I can hear my cover designer groan already. After a three letter title for the first, she's now got to fit a longer one-word title into the design :0)
I'm currently 15,000 words into the first draft (I estimate 65, 70,000 in total). If you want to be kept informed of my progress, you can sign-up for my newsletter .
Or if you've read SKY, you can read an extract of the first draft of Stargazers here - but you'll need the password given at the end of SKY.
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