Comments demanding sequels

[TiberiusPrime]

I treat those comments the same way I do with the comments that want my characters to get pregnant: I ignore them.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

It's usually not that the story isn't wrapped up neatly, simply that they enjoyed those characters and want to see more of them.
Indiana Jones was all wrapped up after Raiders, but you knew he had more adventure in him.
Same idea.
"What else can these people get up to?"

 

[Bramblethorn]

I've done it once, because by good luck the story I'd intended as a stand-alone also worked as the beginning of a longer work. I'm happy with how that turned out but usually I think done is done, and I mentally translate those comments into "I want to read another story something like this".

 

[TheWritingGroup]

The one sequel I did complete—for two characters I really enjoyed—it just didn’t feel true to who they were, well one in particular who was the key protagonist. I even had someone else look over it, and they agreed that it didn't feel natural character progression. So it still sits on my hard drive.

If it's a good story (in your opinion) you could just rename the characters, unless it depends on the previous story?

--Annie

 

[dirk2024]

This was one of my very first comments on my very first story. I didn't know enough not to listen to them, so I gave them more than they asked for -- another 22 stories for 330K words directly in their universe. Counting every story with some crossovers, it's approaching half a million words. That will teach them for asking.

Oh really? I may have a suggestion for you.

 

[iwatchus]

Oh really? I may have a suggestion for you.

I think I’m too dense to understand your inference. What is your suggestion?

 

[SkyBubble]

I treat those comments the same way I do with the comments that want my characters to get pregnant: I ignore them.

I've never understood why commenters want characters to get pregnant.

I've had a few commenters say they want "to read more about her." I take that as a compliment. It means I crafted a character worth knowing. But usually, there's no more to tell. If there is, I'll write it. I've written a few sequels because the characters had another story to tell. Or a few.

 

[dirk2024]

I think I’m too dense to understand your inference. What is your suggestion?

I was teasing you. You took a suggestion and turned it into 22 stories. I was implying, too vaguely, that I had something for you to turn into another 22 stories.

But not really. I was just playing.

 

[LetsMisBehave]

Depends on the setup and whether it lends itself to new stories. If your protagonist enjoys one-night stands, then sequels are easy to justify. I have a series of stories about the DP Team (spoofing the A Team, which dates me). I have had comments asking me to find some more adventures for them, which pleases me, as while my characters may be deceiving themselves, they do believe that sex is about both sexes enjoying the experience.

 

[Djmac1031]

My very first story was a simple "Hot woman doctor gives a prostate exam" story called The Doctor Is In... Me.

It did so well and I had so many requests for a sequel that I wrote one, despite having no fucking clue what should happen next.

And so I wrote a story from the Doctor's point of view and what drove her to behave like that with a patient when it was a huge risk to her career.

And to my surprise most readers liked that one too (although not nearly as big an audience) but then they wanted me to get these two characters fucking and I realized it had turned into a soap opera i had no interest in continuing and so never did.

Moral of the story: only write a sequel if it appeals to you. And it's not a shit idea.

 

[WCSGarland]

I usually take the suggested plot point by commenters with a grain of salt. Most of the comments I get about wanting a next chapter or other seem to happen mostly with the stories I published and planned on adding a follow up or more. I think of them as high praise by people who enjoyed the writing.

 

[Statius]

There's something to be said for letting the reader make up their own minds on what happens to so and so after you end your story. This was a great thing about movies with great characters, you could make up your own ideas but now there's endless sequels to everything and most of them have been trash and damaged the originals because they just crap all over them.

People can and should use their imaginations more.

Besides, minutes after telling us they want a sequel they're reading another story and probably telling that author the same thing. They're like morons in a strip club "look at those boobs" until another pair walks by.

Funny. I specifically ended a story with a sentence that went something like 'what happened after is up to you dear reader, to decide.'

It was a complete nonsense totally absurd story (intentionally so) and did not warrant a sequel. Still got a request for one. Never wrote it, never even considered it. Fun story though and fun to write. I do love absurdity now and then.

 

[DeMont]

sometimes in ALL CAPS

What do you do when you think you have wrapped a story line into a nice bow but the (relatively few) commentators demand more?
What if they actually suggest plot points they want to see?

@sirhugs,
Firstly, no matter what we might think of the comment itself, it is, to one extent or another somewhat flattering and I don't care what anyone says we are all 'human' and we all have egos.

That being said, if you have written the story and you KNOW it's fully finished to your satisfaction then simply drop your own comment in and say something like, "Sorry, no sequels planned at this time." That should end the matter right then and there.

Writing in ALL CAPS is rude, that's just my opinion of course. To me it denotes aggression and bad manners.

If commenters start throwing plot points around I routinely ignore that and if I do bother to respond I'll say something like, "There you go, you've got the stuff to write your own story, good luck!"

Just my two cents worth my dear colleague.
Deepest respects,
D.