Writing a sequel

[Toney]

I have started my sequel to "Petals in the Hail," and I am finding the writing process to feel different. The personalities of the main characters are established, so the sequel feels easier. The writing is going faster.

I am not complaining.

Has anyone else had this experience of faster productivity with their sequel(s)? If not, was the writing of your sequel different in any way from your first volume?

[Helen]

I'm not sure if my experience counts as I only have a sequel because my book was so large I had to split it or it would have looked stupid on the shelf in A5 size! The second book is slightly shorter than the first, but I am tackling it in exactly the same way. I have found making a character map earlier on - which characters are in each scene - a great help this time around, initially to make a cast list as the first book takes place over 11 years and in multiple locations. I guess because I have already done one book like this I am finding it easier to continue in the same style - with locations and dates/times as headers for each scene as necessary, and giving the chapters titles as well as numbering them. But it's the same painstaking cross-referencing and careful writing and checking for continuity as any other book. So possibly not what confirms your experience, Toney. Good luck, anyway! <3

[[deleted user]]

I have written many sequels and prequels as part of the fiction series I have written and, yes, sequels feel easier and more free-flowing to write than the initial story, for one major reason: your previous world building and character development is already done and you can now use that work to write another story. For me, researching the relevant material is always an important prerequisite to writing a novel and I spend easily as much time on research as on writing proper.

[Helen]

Me too, Michel. It does help that I have a degree in Geology and Planetary Science - not so much in knowing everything, but in knowing how and where to look.

[Andres]

No. It doesn't feel easier for me at all. In the first book a lot of world and character building help me to grow the book. In my mind, especially in fantasy, I can look around and imagine my world which helps it grow. In a sequel, much of that has already been established and I feel as though the plot must be stronger than the first.

[N.A.]

One thing I did find was that I had to find ways to recap a bit of the first book and describe the world a little, for the sake of people who might not have read the first book - or who read it a while ago. I did this by introducing a new character and having the established characters show him around. Plus, I had a couple of the main characters remember incidents from the first book - just in passing. I hope it's sufficient!

[Toney]

N.A. wrote: "One thing I did find was that I had to find ways to recap a bit of the first book and describe the world a little, for the sake of people who might not have read the first book - or who read it a w..."

Yeah, this is a problem. How much recap is too much recap? Not enough recap?

I introduce new characters early, though, so they are serving as "recap excuses." Somebody has to tell them what the hell is going on. =)

[Toney]

Andres wrote: "No. It doesn't feel easier for me at all. In the first book a lot of world and character building help me to grow the book. In my mind, especially in fantasy, I can look around and imagine my world..."

With all that pesky world-building out of the way, there is more focus on plot. It has led me to think I can write a two-book series and tell a complete story instead of a trilogy.

[Toney]

Helen wrote: "I'm not sure if my experience counts as I only have a sequel because my book was so large I had to split it or it would have looked stupid on the shelf in A5 size! The second book is slightly short..."

Yes, I have done some checking back on volume one. I have never used a character map, though. I sorta feel my way though a given scene. I am a silly intuitive, personality type "SINV." =)

[Toney]

Michel wrote: "I have written many sequels and prequels as part of the fiction series I have written and, yes, sequels feel easier and more free-flowing to write than the initial story, for one major reason: your..."

Agreed.

[Larry]

The hardest thing I've found about sequels is bringing the reader into the story in the second or third book. There is a certain amount of info you need to give the new reader without overwhelming them with backstory. Like a chef preparing a fine sauce-everything needs to be spiced to perfection.

[[deleted user]]

Larry wrote: "The hardest thing I've found about sequels is bringing the reader into the story in the second or third book. There is a certain amount of info you need to give the new reader without overwhelming ..."

I like your analogy between writing a book and cooking a recipe. The same kind of love of creation and accomplishment is found in both.

[Greg]

Hi,

I never thought I would write any sequels, save for some shorter works early on. But then came the Barton Villa books and somehow they just flowed. I never intended the first work to be more than a stand alone, but for some reason the three that followed just flowed straight from my fingers. The only reason I can think of for this happening is that I fell in love with the world I'd created. I don't think the sequels were any harder or easier than the rest. They were all just examples of being caught in the world I was writing.

Cheers, Greg.

[Toney]

Greg wrote: "Hi,

I never thought I would write any sequels, save for some shorter works early on. But then came the Barton Villa books and somehow they just flowed. I never intended the first work to be more t..."

Yes, I like my story, too; I've internalized it. That may be the root cause.

[Jim]

I had written the first 60 pages of the sequel to my first and only published novel intendiing to submit it to the publisher if the aforementioned novel had achieved commercial success. The words flowed much faster and easily than during my previous experience.

During the 5 1/2 years of commercial availability, the original novel only sold 1,029 units, so I filed the 60 pages of the intended sequel away, deciding that my first attempt at wrting a novel would also be the last. No regrets!

[Toney]

Jim wrote: "I had written the first 60 pages of the sequel to my first and only published novel intendiing to submit it to the publisher if the aforementioned novel had achieved commercial success. The words f..."

If writing stopped making you happy, it was good to stop.

Not everybody has that clarity of mind, so, good on you, mate!