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How long is too long between books?
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Well, I think fans of Game of Thrones are still waiting for the second book, right?If you're only releasing it in the hopes of earning enough royalties to make it worth your while, then you might be disappointed, but if you want to give your characters the conclusion they deserve, then you should go for it.
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You have two choices, I guess. Publish the sequel or don't. If you publish, there is a good chance it will sell and maybe boost some new life into the first. There is also a good chance it won't sell at all. Now, if you choose not to publish, then you are guaranteed it won't sell. Me? I'd take the risk and put it out there.
Go ahead! People may not have even read book 1 yet, and you can try offering that for free to entice them to buy book 2 (when it's released).Poo to nay-sayers!
Thanks. I am thinking of doing a hardcover rerelease of book 1 while working on book 2.But yeah, I appreciate the kind words.
I don't think there's such a thing as too long. Isaac Asimov took 28 years between publishing The Naked Sun and Robots of Dawn (the 3rd and 4th book in his Robot series). If you, the author, are still interested in writing the next book, I think you should go for it. There's always new readers you can market the books to.
Tee hee; how long was the wait between the old testament and the new testament?? ;-P (sorry for my naughtiness)
Though my second upcoming novel is not part of a series, it's been a little more than 8 years since the first publication. Ironically, I've gotten a few more sales for the first while marketing the second - because I also publicize other "shorts" I've written. Links beget other links to drive traffic to my novel. It's a chance we take. Best wishes with your sequel. I'm hedging it will spark more interest in the first as well.
I'd say there's no such thing as a hard and fast rule here. You write what you feel is the best it can be. Then you publish it.The rest isn't really in your hands. You can promote and you can advertise, but in the end it's down to,people liking your book.
So publish when you are ready and ignore the prophets of doom.
Do not listen to anyone that is trying to discourage you. Write. Take however long you need to but finish. Enjoy the creation of it.Finish things.
There are no rules in writing. Period. Just do what suits your story and time. And enjoy it :)
I'd say finish it and publish it when it is done. Yes, people read new releases and then have to wait. But nobody is reading ONLY new releases. I imagine plenty of people will have found your first book recently, or right now, or find it in the future. For them the long wait is no issue.
After all, people now are still reading Asimov or Dickens, or Tolkien, and most certainly did not get the books when first released and then lost interest in the second. No, they're reading them now, and it no longer matters how long the wait between books was back then.
I'm currently reading Dune. This isn't a new release, it was written in 65. Does that bother me though, as a reader? Absolutely not!
Ahmed wrote: "I published my first novel in 2013. I'm still working on the sequel/conclusion. Recently, someone told me that I shouldn't bother with it anymore because I've taken too long and anyone who read the..."I agree with the others who replied...keep going, and don't look back!
For readers who enjoyed the first book, release of book 2 will be exciting. They might even re-read book 1 to prepare for the sequel. For those who didn't read book 1, buzz about book 2 might prompt them to do so. I do have a suggestion, though. Maybe try to find time for some promo of Book 1 to reignite interest. You could space out a couple of new blog posts, set up a few tweets with teaser lines or memes from the book, hold an Amazon giveaway to garner attention and get people to sign up - anything to stir the pot a bit before you start promo for Book 2. It might bring more/new readers to the series. Will there be a book 3? If so, maybe post some teasers about that - just a couple - so readers see more is coming.
Good luck!
Exceeding the half-life of a proton is probably too long. Otherwise, no. Go for it!
While very well known and popular, To Kill A Mocking Bird didn't have a sequel for years. So to answer your question, no there is no time on sequels, write it when you feel and release it when your ready.
Hi Ahmed, I think my response should be below your comment, but it won't let me type there. So, anyway, I too am working on a sequel to my first book I published Feb 2016. Because of my heavy schedule, I can't work as fast as I would like, but I hope to get it out there by Feb or March of 2017. I'm doing the sequel at the request of most of my readers offline and on. My plan is to combine the books for sale at first and also offer signed copies of both if purchased together. Another idea brought to my attention is to have a contest for offers to create the cover for the sequel, and the winner gets both books free. Just a few ideas to help you. Don't give up though. If people like your first book enough, they will re-read it to refresh their memories before reading your sequel. Good luck. Ahmed wrote: "I published my first novel in 2013. I'm still working on the sequel/conclusion. Recently, someone told me that I shouldn't bother with it anymore because I've taken too long and anyone who read the..."
Ahmed wrote: "I published my first novel in 2013. I'm still working on the sequel/conclusion. Recently, someone told me that I shouldn't bother with it anymore because I've taken too long and anyone who read the..."
C.C. wrote: "Well, I think fans of Game of Thrones are still waiting for the second book, right?If you're only releasing it in the hopes of earning enough royalties to make it worth your while, then you might..."
GOT fans are waiting for the 6th & 7th books
Ahmed wrote: "I published my first novel in 2013. I'm still working on the sequel/conclusion. Recently, someone told me that I shouldn't bother with it anymore because I've taken too long and anyone who read the..."I would write the story as you see fit, taking the time you need, an publish it when it's the best it can be. But I'd definitely publish it. Readers will be more pissed off that they never got a conclusion than getting one later than they may have expected.
Ahmed wrote: "I published my first novel in 2013. I'm still working on the sequel/conclusion. Recently, someone told me that I shouldn't bother with it anymore because I've taken too long and anyone who read the..."I'm a ASoIaF fan. I'm pretty annoyed with George Martin for taking so long to release book 6, but I'm still definitely going to read it when it comes out. What may happen, however, is that a fan who isn't so die-hard can forget about the series and move on to other things. But with enough promotion and spreading word about the book ("long awaited sequel is finally out!"), former readers can be won back ("ah yes, Ahmed - I remember I read his book in 2013. It was pretty good. Hmm, I wonder what happens next!"). So definitely don't give up on your series.
I wouldn't say there are any rules saying how long is too long. I think a few years between books isn't that long a wait really. If I am enjoying a series I will keep an eye out for the next book no matter how much time between releases and I think a lot of other readers do that too.
I think they would be more angry if you rushed & published something sub standard rather than taking time to make sure the wait is worth it.
Traditionally published writers have a lot more hoops to jump through than indie authors, so they do tend to take longer. I found with my own work, that waiting almost 8 months between books 1 and 2 did me no good with my first trilogy. People who claimed to be huge fans didn't even seem interested in books 2 and 3, whereas the trilogy I published in a couple of months has done FAR better. That might just be me though, because I suck at marketing. There don't seem to be any hard and fast rules. If you're good at marketing, I don't think it matters when you publish. So long as you complete your series. Good luck, BTW! 8-)
It all boils down to publicity. Give the first book away for free the week you release the second book. You may stir up interest. New readers could get hooked. Books don't get stale like day old bread, get a few blogs to feature it and do a few interviews letting people know that the sequel is being released. New readers should be eager, old readers may revisit the book. On Facebook do quotes from the older book, highlight reviews, do a contest, then do a cover reveal on the new book to build anticipation. Ask people who were the favorite characters and why- do an interview from the main character's point of view on Facebook- in other words, do a publicity campaign for the first book that will trail into the second one.Hope this helps.
So, should I persevere and finish and release the conclusion? Has any series ever failed for taking time between books?