How do YOU write a sequel?

[JugheadJane]

Hello!

I had my first story published here last week, and I’m thrilled by the positive response it has received so far. I hadn’t thought to make it a series, and perhaps I shouldn’t, but perhaps the readers would like a follow up.

How did you know whether to turn your story in to a series?

If you do write a sequel, does it need to be/should it be in the same category as the first?

 

[yukonnights]

Here's a couple of links to past discussions about this. I'm sure you will find the answer in these.

Creating a Series -> http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=1467235

How to create/submit different series? -> http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=1467084

 

[JugheadJane]

Thanks so much! I’m still learning my way around this site and couldn’t find a way to search topics.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Hello!

I had my first story published here last week, and I’m thrilled by the positive response it has received so far. I hadn’t thought to make it a series, and perhaps I shouldn’t, but perhaps the readers would like a follow up.

How did you know whether to turn your story in to a series?

If you do write a sequel, does it need to be/should it be in the same category as the first?

1) be careful you don't start write what you "think" readers want - always write what YOU want to write.
2) I tend to write stand-alone "Parts" with the same characters within an overall theme; that way I avoid the demands to "continue the story" and can come back to that series whenever I choose - sometimes I've written sequels in response to reader feedback, other times because I really like my own characters.
3) No, doesn't always have to be the same category.

 

[JugheadJane]

That’s really helpful, electricblue66. Thank you. Really valid points.

 

[Voboy]

1) be careful you don't start write what you "think" readers want - always write what YOU want to write.
2) I tend to write stand-alone "Parts" with the same characters within an overall theme; that way I avoid the demands to "continue the story" and can come back to that series whenever I choose - sometimes I've written sequels in response to reader feedback, other times because I really like my own characters.
3) No, doesn't always have to be the same category.

This.

It can be a trap. Remember that the vocal few who might want and love the sequel are likely to be drowned out by the silent many who couldn’t care less. So don’t be surprised if the sequel suffers a drop-off in scores and interest, and don’t be frustrated if it does.

My stories are all connected to each other, with many being sequels or partial prequels simultaneously. I know this annoys some of my readers, but it’s how I want to write. And almost none of the stories are formally constructed as “series” pieces.

 

[lovecraft68]

I guess I'll be the slightly negative voice here.

Don't let the 'more' go to your head. Readers always want more, always.

I wrote a 40 part series here and wrapped up every story line and gave an ending that left nothing left to explore "more more more"

Readers always want more because they're reading for free and want their steady flow of entertainment to keep coming. People read here for different reasons, but this is an erotica site, they don't care if more is this:

Chapter 2 so and so have sex in a pool

Chapter 3 so and so invite the maid in

Chapter 4 so and so try anal.

Having said all that what it really comes down to is do YOU want to write more? When I ask that I don't mean could you push yourself to add to it, I mean do you really want to add to it?

If you really feel there is more to the story write it, but if you felt once you typed the last words that it was done, then move into a new story.

IN other words if you're writing it for you then carry on. If you're writing it for readers you're no longer creatively writing you're pandering and ass kissing readers who at the end of the day will forget you in week if you don't post another story here.

 

[oggbashan]

How do I write a sequel?

With difficulty. I try to write most of my stories as complete entities. In the past I had abandoned some stories without completing them. I posted what I had written so far as an incentive for me to finish the story. It didn't work.

Over the last couple of years I have tried to finish my incomplete stories posted on Literotica. My most difficult one was Christmas Fairy. At the end of chapter two I thought I had got the characters into an impossible situation. It took me years to find an idea to complete the story with part 3.

At present I have only one incomplete chaptered story - Fiona. I know the outline of the last part and the conclusion but I might have to edit the first two chapters to make that work.

I have been asked repeatedly to continue Miranda the Witch and Jeanie the Genie. Whether I can? I don't know. What I find most challenging is that I have changed as an author. Going back to an older story to complete it or to write a sequel means thinking as the author I was then.

 

[My I]

I don't do sequels. I wrote the story the way I did for a reason and I ended it the way I did for a reason. If the reader wants more, I'm sorry but there isn't any.

 

[tomlitilia]

I don't do sequels. I wrote the story the way I did for a reason and I ended it the way I did for a reason. If the reader wants more, I'm sorry but there isn't any.

I'm also reluctant to do sequels. A story has its arc, and usually it's about something erotically novel hapening. A story that's just more of the same isn't as exciting as the first time, which means boundaries have to be pushed into something more outrageous, which can cause the story to lose credibility.

 

[weftandwarp]

I'm also reluctant to do sequels. A story has its arc, and usually it's about something erotically novel hapening. A story that's just more of the same isn't as exciting as the first time, which means boundaries have to be pushed into something more outrageous, which can cause the story to lose credibility.

I find it difficult to conjure the same ambience and it becomes difficult to continue with the same feeling ..I would suggest it would be better to write another story, it can be related to the first if you want and it would be more easily written without the baggage you'd need to have if it were a sequil. I find it useful to turn off the tv, radio and other distractions. A story then more easily emerges.

 

[SimonDoom]

I've written one sequel, and I wrote it partly in response to urging from readers to the first story, which received a lot of views. I think the sequel is roughly the same quality as the original, and its score currently is .01 higher. But the erotic interest drops off a lot after the first story. It's difficult to keep a story fresh in a sequel, and especially in multiple sequels. My sequel so far has received only 40% of the views the original story received.

In most cases, it's probably better just to start over with new characters and a new situation than to write a sequel to another story. The story probably will be fresher and more erotically interesting.

Of course, I may disregard my own advice and write another sequel if the inspiration comes to me. Take all advice on this subject with a grain of salt.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I've have done exactly one unplanned sequel. Every comment on the original was mostly positive and I had left if so a sequel could be written, but I didn't plan on doing one. I received several emails asking for one, so I did it.

No body liked it and it was exactly what they asked for. Just goes to show you how fickle readers can be. I pulled it and never looked at it again. In fact I think I deleted it from my machine. I'll have to go look.

 

[SolarRay]

My first attempt at a series, which wasn't long after I started writing here at all, was mostly me searching around in the dark not really knowing what I was doing. It went mostly well at first. Got good reviews and score. People wanted more, but I had planned a series anyway. After I ended it, there were still tons of requests to continue. One person wanted this, another person wanted that. Stupidly, I ended up writing an epilogue designed to make people happy. It was too long, cobbled together too many conflicting requests, and was seen as gratuitous. I learned my lesson there!

Since then I have written more series, but yes -- definitely only write one if you want to, not because someone else wants you to. If you don't conceive it that way from the start, think hard about whether it deserves to be one. Don't toss in any old plot point that someone requests. Always stay true to the central thrust of the story, and keep it faithful to the original idea. When it's done, it's done. Leave it.

I wouldn't necessarily steer anyone away from them. They can be fun, if you do it right. I'm enjoying working on one right now. But there are certainly a lot of traps and pitfalls. My Valentine's Day contest entry has already received a "more!" comment. As has been said, that's a great compliment, but I have absolutely no intention to add a part 2.

 

[PuckIt]

Honestly, I don't anymore. My current crop of crap, I go into firmly intending for it to be a "one and done" with an ending just short of Weird_Harold's "and an asteroid crashed into the planet wiping out all life."

However, back in the wayback (or at least half a decade ago or so) I found myself enamored of "the serial." And promptly learned some cold hard facts others may or may not agree with.

The primary of which is to be ultra-cautious in turning an already published piece into a serial.

Other writers might be able to do it without the slightest hiccup. For me, however, I found it was difficult to get myself back into the proper mindset associated with the already published piece in question and had difficulty matching up the broken ends. As a result, I pretty well promised myself I would never again attempt such a thing unless I already had at least the next three largely written before posting the first. But, then decided if I was going to do that, it just made more sense to finish it out to avoid a toilet seat falling out of a passing jet and smashing me to pulp to keep me from hitting submit on the next when the timer ticked down.

But, that's just me. Other readers absolutely adore the never ending monthly continuation of a series, much as kids dig comic book mags. (Those are still a thing, right?) And it sometimes feels that every writer other than me has writing sequals, trilogies, and serials down pat.

As for your second question, if Wm_Sexspear didn't hit most of the thirty-five categories in his Magnum Opus, it certainly wasn't for lack of trying!

 

[yukonnights]

Hello!

I had my first story published here last week, and I’m thrilled by the positive response it has received so far. I hadn’t thought to make it a series, and perhaps I shouldn’t, but perhaps the readers would like a follow up.

How did you know whether to turn your story in to a series?

If you do write a sequel, does it need to be/should it be in the same category as the first?

Ha-Ha, well you did ask

All great advice above. I'll add one different take that I didn't see in this thread (although, it may well be in the other threads about the question).

I had never done a sequel, until I did one. But for me, I dislike reading eight page stories on a computer screen. That said, I also do not like a one page attempt that is poorly executed. Therefore, for me; The series is a completed story, it's just broken up into manageable bites. Thus, the story arc builds as it should, etc. These do not have to be stand alone stories strung together. So, it's been said many times: If you are going to do a series, be sure to complete the entire "X" number of chapters and submit the entire work in one lump. Nothing worse than a series that died mid-story.

 

[SimonDoom]

If you do write a sequel, does it need to be/should it be in the same category as the first?

You do not have to do this. But if chapter 2 is published in a different category it is likely you will lose readers, because many readers are particular about the categories of stories they do and do not want to read. So the better practice probably is to find the category that is the best fit for the story as a whole and stick with it. If you are interested in a sequel but want to try a different category, I'd probably recommend just writing it to be a new story.

 

[ElectricBlue]

In most cases, it's probably better just to start over with new characters and a new situation than to write a sequel to another story. The story probably will be fresher and more erotically interesting.

Of course, I may disregard my own advice and write another sequel if the inspiration comes to me. Take all advice on this subject with a grain of salt.

Salt shaker here - the bonus about using the same character in a different circumstance with a different leading lady or man, is both you and your fan readers know that character well, and over several stories you can give him or her more complexity. He/she also becomes easier to write.

I've done that in my Floating World series with Adam, placing him in different stories, different categories. It's working well for me, to the extent that my collab writer currently has Adam out on loan for one of his own stories.

 

[SimonDoom]

Salt shaker here - the bonus about using the same character in a different circumstance with a different leading lady or man, is both you and your fan readers know that character well, and over several stories you can give him or her more complexity. He/she also becomes easier to write.

I've done that in my Floating World series with Adam, placing him in different stories, different categories. It's working well for me, to the extent that my collab writer currently has Adam out on loan for one of his own stories.

Makes sense to me. If you, as the author, really like the character, why not keep working with him/her? Most of the stories on this site have characters that easily could be reworked into new ones. But if that's not the case, go for it.

It's always good to keep the salt shaker handy.

 

[JugheadJane]

Really interesting. Thank you, everyone. I set out for my story to be a stand alone piece, and I think I’ll leave it as that. You’re all correct- if I were to write a follow up piece I’d just be stringing words together to appease the readers. I like how my story ended, and I don’t think it’s needs any further exploration. I do like the idea of taking a character I love and placing them in a new environment, and in a new storyline. That may be something I’ll do down the track.

 

[Kantarii]

Sequels are best written and received probably better if the chapter preceding it was set up with an interesting cliffhanger that pulls/plays in the readers emotions, but that’s my experienceKant

 

[ElectricBlue]

Makes sense to me. If you, as the author, really like the character, why not keep working with him/her? Most of the stories on this site have characters that easily could be reworked into new ones. But if that's not the case, go for it.

It's always good to keep the salt shaker handy.

By coincidence (nothing more) I had a salt cellar fall on the floor in a cafe, when one of my recurring characters (Alex) meets up with one of my collaborator's characters (Lucy), and we both thought, hey, let's see what happens when those two get together.

That gets to be interesting, when two writers' established worlds start to collide. Opens up endless possibilities for both of us (especially if we share writing in a story, with neither of us knowing where the other will go).

 

[ChloeTzang]

A lot of my stories are written as one-offs but quite often I'll have a bigger story arc in mind so that I can continue them if I want to. I didn't think to far ahead when I first started writing and those ones floundered a bit when I tried to continue them.