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Group Questions? > How do reviews affect your sequels?

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message 1: by Katheryn (last edited Sep 30, 2015 12:49PM) (new)

Katheryn Avila (katheryn_avila) If you're a series writer, do you keep in mind any speculation/reader hopes mentioned in reviews of book one when working on it's sequels? I saw the topic about reviews triggering book edits and this question came to mind.

I know I do. I'm still working on book 2, and book 1's reviews have definitely helped me continue to mold the story. One review even made me change my mind about my original plan for book 2, triggering a rewrite. Has that ever happened to anyone else?


message 2: by Lynne (new)

Lynne Stringer | 172 comments When I wrote my trilogy, I had them all written before the first one was released, and the characters told me where to go with it, so I don't know if I would have changed it because of reader expectations. I think I probably would have left it as it was. It was fun to read people speculating about what would happen and know that they were going to be surprised by what did eventually happen! :-)


message 3: by Katheryn (new)

Katheryn Avila (katheryn_avila) Lynne wrote: "When I wrote my trilogy, I had them all written before the first one was released, and the characters told me where to go with it, so I don't know if I would have changed it because of reader expec..."

If I ever write another series, I'll probably write it all out first. I do follow what the characters tell me, so it's not so much forcing my story to go one direction or another but the reviews give me areas to flush out I hadn't thought of before.


♥️♥️ Lanae ♥️♥️  (ramboramblernae) Lynne wrote: "When I wrote my trilogy, I had them all written before the first one was released, and the characters told me where to go with it, so I don't know if I would have changed it because of reader expec..."

How long did it take to finish the first drafts of your trilogy?


message 5: by Lynne (new)

Lynne Stringer | 172 comments About three months for each. Of course, then there was months of editing on each as well.


message 6: by Ashe (new)

Ashe Armstrong (ashearmstrong) I just started the second book and one question a review asked directly influenced a plot point i'll be using in book 2 (and i'll be ggetting to it soon actually) because it was aa legit good point and the story had a nice spot for it. No idea if that will happen again though.


message 7: by Kate (new)

Kate Kulig (katekulig) | 6 comments Reviews haven't affected how I write or how I plot, but I did change editors after a few select comments.


message 8: by G.G. (new)

G.G. (ggatcheson) | 467 comments Reviews can't change the plot. Only characters' stubbornness can. :p


message 9: by Imowen (new)

Imowen Lodestone (lodestonethedawnofhope) | 9 comments Katheryn wrote: "If you're a series writer, do you keep in mind any speculation/reader hopes mentioned in reviews of book one when working on it's sequels? I saw the topic about reviews triggering book edits and th..."

Now that depends on what you tell your fans before you put out the first book. I have written two books on my series and currently on the process of putting together the third book. It's not about which book of the series is better than the other. Each book may have different situations, new problems and new enemies. In clear terms character growth from experience, which translates to the character experiencing new things.
So reviews should not rule how you want your book series to go. You can't please every reader out there.


message 10: by Imowen (new)

Imowen Lodestone (lodestonethedawnofhope) | 9 comments Katheryn wrote: "If you're a series writer, do you keep in mind any speculation/reader hopes mentioned in reviews of book one when working on it's sequels? I saw the topic about reviews triggering book edits and th..."

Now that depends on what you tell your fans before you put out the first book. I have written two books on my series and currently on the process of putting together the third book. It's not about which book of the series is better than the other. Each book may have different situations, new problems and new enemies. In clear terms character growth from experience, which translates to the character experiencing new things.
So reviews should not rule how you want your book series to go. You can't please every reader out there.


message 11: by K.P. (new)

K.P. Merriweather (kp_merriweather) | 512 comments my books are usually written far in advance (a decade or two ago) so when i publish it's only. because i decided to choose that one to send off into editing. i time my release cycles depending on what quarter a particular genre sells. so any reviews i get have no bearing on that series


♥️♥️ Lanae ♥️♥️  (ramboramblernae) K.P. wrote: "my books are usually written far in advance (a decade or two ago) so when i publish it's only. because i decided to choose that one to send off into editing. i time my release cycles depending on ..."


When you say you publish according to what quarter a genre sells what do you mean?


message 13: by K.P. (new)

K.P. Merriweather (kp_merriweather) | 512 comments did some market research last year on which genres sell best when.
sci-fi: June - august
action/adventure: April - June Romance : December - February
YA: September - October
fantasy : November - January
horror : October - December
thriller : march - may
mystery: august - October
historical : January - march
magic realism/visionary: may - July

i also read somewhere to time book releases to releases of certain film genres. meh i had moderate success (my phone bill stays paid) but its better than 0. i also try for 4 book releases a year.


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