The Difficult Third Album

[Nick]

So, there's a cliché in music about the "difficult third album". Acts come onto the scene with their first album, refine their sound with their second album, and then have a decision to make with the third. Do they produce more of the same, and get criticised for it? Do they strike out in a new direction, and risk criticism for that? Or do they run away with their egos and produce a album of pretentious, self-indulgent guff?

What has this to do with writing, I hear you (impatiently) cry? Well, I'm currently working on my third full novel and it's proving - guess what - difficult. It's the third in a series, and I seem to be spending as much time checking back to ensure continuity as actually writing, and making sure that all the plot threads fit together is becoming a chore. I rattled through the second book in six months, but the rate I'm going I'll finish book three on the day Satan takes the snowmobile to work.

So I've been wondering - is the "difficult third book" an actual thing, or is it just me who's had this problem?

[Tabitha]

I haven't written my novels in a series, but as separate entities, so that may have made #3 easier. Novel #4 has been slower going, if that's any consolation; you're not alone.

I'm glad you brought up this question though, b/c it's been on my mind, too. Like, does "struggling" through the writing of a book automatically mean it's going to suck?

And I don't even know if struggling is the right word. For my previous three, the stories just-bang!-came to me and I was a writing machine. I had all parts clearly mapped in my head. #4 has been more of a create-it-as-it-goes venture; uncertain territory.

On the bright side, some authors take years to finish one novel. I think for indies, there is often this push to produce, produce, produce, but not necessarily to focus on quality. So maybe going slow is not a bad thing.

[Nick]

It took me about four years to finish my first novel, though I was working on it on an "on-again, off-again" basis and often went months without doing anything much.

I've got a very clear idea of the plot for book three, I'm just finding it difficult to get it down on paper, so to speak. It's frustrating. I'm pretty pleased with what I've written so far, so hopefully the finished article won't suck; I suppose the issue is that I just assumed I'd get it done as quickly as I did book two, and I'm not.

[Lily]

Best thing I can offer from my own experience, take it or leave it, is that I ignore everything I've written previously. I put 100% trust into the characters to remind me of anything from a previous book, if needed.

Granted, in all fairness, I write stand alones. Each story complete within itself. It's what I prefer to both write and read, with a few expections here and there. So I don't know if my experience is helpful or not.

[Anne]

I feel your pain. I'm trying to finish the third book for my first series, and it's just not coming to me. I was never one for outlining. My stories just come to me as I'm writing. Don't get me wrong; I know how I want them to end, but the middle is up in the air until I start typing. I'm determined, though.

[Nick]

I don't have any problem keeping the details in my head for the book I'm working on. It's just referring back to small, mostly irrelevant details in the previous books that's making my brain leak out of my ears.

*slumps across keyboard, sobbing pitifully*

[Amanda]

I have the same problem. I have to have a couple of notebooks with me so I can jot down things to try and avoid continuity with the story and with the characters. Sometimes I have problems remembering hair colors or ages. To other people my notebooks probably look like gibberish but they make sense to me.

[Mark]

I suggest combining Lily and Sarah's approach. Make notes about the absolutely crucial continuity points and then just write the story. If there is a problem, you'll catch it during editing. Trust yourself.

[Tabitha]

Anne wrote: "I know how I want them to end, but the middle is up in the air until I start typing. I'm determined, though...."

Man, the middle is always the tough part for me, too. Happily, though, I find that the best ideas are the ones that are created while writing whatever comes to you, when the characters take charge of themselves. It's almost like acting as a medium sometimes; neat and a little scary :0)

[Aaron]

Since this book is in a series, stay true to the series. But when you're done with the series, don't be afraid to try something new with your next book.

[Virginia]

Nick wrote: "I don't have any problem keeping the details in my head for the book I'm working on. It's just referring back to small, mostly irrelevant details in the previous books that's making my brain leak o..."

If they don't affect the plot then don't worry and get them in the first edit. Just concentrate on getting the whole first draft down without losing your love for the series. And good luck!

[Nick]

Well tonight I've managed to finish the chapter I've been stuck on for over a week, so some combination of my having a moan about it and the advice from you fine people seems to have worked. Cheers!

I'm roughly halfway in now, so hopefully travelling downhill (so to speak) will make things easier for the second half...

[Lily]

Venting. It works like a charm :)

[Virginia]

Nick wrote: "Well tonight I've managed to finish the chapter I've been stuck on for over a week, so some combination of my having a moan about it and the advice from you fine people seems to have worked. Cheers..."

Yay!

[Justin]

I've never heard the saying but it does prove interesting and makes me think. I just recently wrote my third book and I never thought it would be the hardest to sell. I would say after you've written two it comes easy to promote but that would be a lie. The best thing to do when on your third book or any book after is to remember what worked for you with the previous two and what didn't work. In fact sometimes maybe what did not work for you the first two times may in fact work this time.

I know this is about writing that third book but since my third book is poetry I thought I would look at it in the promoting sense. I didn't really need to buckle down when writing it but the whole getting it together and arranging and organizing was stressful, I don't think that truly ever gets better. 3rd book, 4th book there's always that difficulty of making sure it's just right.