Rewrite, or post new?

[LWulf]

One of my more popular stories has been a thorn in my side. I didn't like the whole premise of what I wrote. I've knuckled down and rewrote the story (or attempted to rewrite it, several times) and finally got it written how I feel it should have been written.

However, it's almost so different as to be an almost different story, but based on the same series of events.

Part of me doesn't want to disappoint the readers who read it and liked the story for what it is, but I really want to post the "new" story.

People will be disappointed either way, which I'm okay with, but I'd prefer to piss off the least amount of readers (and reduce Laurel's headaches).

So, should I post a new story which is titled similar to one of my existing stories, and leave the old story intact, or re-post the new story into the old story and piss off the people who favorited the original story?

 

[ElectricBlue]

Post it as a new story with an introductory note. The old story is what it is, and the new version is new. To be brutal, will anyone really care?

 

[Emirus]

Different title, new story.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Post it as a new story with an introductory note. The old story is what it is, and the new version is new. To be brutal, will anyone really care?

This is the way to go, although I'm giving myself a once-every-ten-years exception (if even that frequent).

Even the introductory note is optional. At best, "This is loosely based on an earlier story, although it has been heavily revised," or something like that. Don't even mention the original title. It would take a very sharp-eyed or obsessive reader to figure out what that one was, and if somebody does, who cares?

Meanwhile the original group of readers will be happy, but even they too will drift away over time.

 

[davion2308]

Reboot

They rebooted all the movies we loved as kids, why not run this back? I say new post, new story, disclaimer it, say it's from an alternate perspective, whatever you have to do to distance yourself from the old story.

Post it. Keep the old one. Take pride in what you did in the past and how you've developed as a writer. IT's fun to see yourself getting better.

POST!

 

[Voboy]

Different title, new story.

This.

Don't be George Lucas. It's done and published; move on.

 

[SimonDoom]

Just publish it as a completely new story -- new location, new characters. Ditch the disclaimer -- all it will do is dissuade some from reading it.

Many stories on this site are repackaged versions of previously written stories. Readers are accustomed to that. You have nothing to feel reluctant about.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Just publish it as a completely new story -- new location, new characters. Ditch the disclaimer -- all it will do is dissuade some from reading it.

Many stories on this site are repackaged versions of previously written stories. Readers are accustomed to that. You have nothing to feel reluctant about.

Even better advice. I'm going to follow this myself.

 

[Brutal_One]

Just publish it as a completely new story -- new location, new characters. Ditch the disclaimer -- all it will do is dissuade some from reading it.

Many stories on this site are repackaged versions of previously written stories. Readers are accustomed to that. You have nothing to feel reluctant about.

I’d echo Simon’s sentiment on that. Publish as is. You know as the author it’s not identical and the latest version deserves to be shared and read as much as the original did! Arguably even more so. Brutal One

 

[WoodmanStark]

Post it as a new story with an introductory note. The old story is what it is, and the new version is new. To be brutal, will anyone really care?

Completely agree. When I rewrite "Jennifer" I'm going to leave the original up for the handful of readers who like it as it is.

 

[Abbafan]

I'd just post it as a second story even if there are some similarities to the original. People liked the first, after all.