Sequels, Like Weights On My Shoulders

[AsylumSeeker]

I have written a number of stories that I had intended to be stand-alone, but at reader request I turned into chapters. The dilemma I have is that I hate to start new stories, in particular stories that have potetial to become chapters, when there are still so many that remain unfinished.

Now some of them I think are forgotten, as nobody mentions sequels any more. Perhaps those readers have given up. I just wonder if I am alone in this or if this is an artistic trait that is common with many writers.

I experience a sense of guilt starting a new story and leaving others unfinished, but my need to write outweighs the guilt. Is there an answer?

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

That's common enough. I just make sure to catch up later. I do the new stories and new chapters in turns, as it were, with one followed ASAP by the other. This allows me to follow up without getting bored or losing great ideas.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I have written a number of stories that I had intended to be stand-alone, but at reader request I turned into chapters. The dilemma I have is that I hate to start new stories, in particular stories that have potetial to become chapters, when there are still so many that remain unfinished.

Now some of them I think are forgotten, as nobody mentions sequels any more. Perhaps those readers have given up. I just wonder if I am alone in this or if this is an artistic trait that is common with many writers.

I experience a sense of guilt starting a new story and leaving others unfinished, but my need to write outweighs the guilt. Is there an answer?

it's a guilt-juggling act! We'll all stand by and applaud...
I have two stories that I must write new chapters for. My preference is for stand-alones. Or.. I find myself re-combining characters, that can be interesting, and can satisfy the sequel seekers...

 

[JamesSD]

I have written a number of stories that I had intended to be stand-alone, but at reader request I turned into chapters. The dilemma I have is that I hate to start new stories, in particular stories that have potetial to become chapters, when there are still so many that remain unfinished.

Readers frequently request sequels. It's nice, because it means they liked the original.

I've written "open" stories - those I intended to follow-up assuming they weren't hated. I've written semi-open stories, that are mostly closed, won't leave anyone feeling like the tale was unfinished, but I still left myself wiggle room if I wanted to continue them. And I've written "closed" stories, that in my mind are complete in their form.

Generally I'd rather start a new story than continue an old one. That said, there is something to be said for being able to continue a story and assume the reader knows the character backgrounds.

 

[rgraham666]

Mixed myself.

Most stories I start, I intend to be stand alone and finished when I write FIN at the end.

But my brain won't shut off. And as a result almost every long story I've written I am at least plotting a continuance of, if not actually writing them.

My short pieces of smut will not have continuances. They're done.

 

[silverwhisper]

the only work i've got here is 2 series, but both were always intended to be so. that said, all the characters in my contemporary fiction reside within the same "world". perhaps it's just artistic laziness, but i find the prospect of being able to combine characters from the different works a fun one.

ed

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Or perhaps it's just the only kind of world that interests you at the moment. Something tells me that will change with time.

 

[silverwhisper]

severus: well, i prefer writing about real--or at least, realistic--people, so in a sense, i don't see that ever changing. :>

ed

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

severus: well, i prefer writing about real--or at least, realistic--people, so in a sense, i don't see that ever changing. :>

ed

Ah, I thought that you meant the same neighborhood or something like that.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I feel your pain.
I actually wrote a sequel to my most popular story, at readers' persistent request.
I never was real happy with it. I mean, it's strong enough to stand alone, but the first story was not written with a sequel in mind, therefore, I could never shake the feeling that the second story was too contrived.

~lucky

 

[Stella_Omega]

the only work i've got here is 2 series, but both were always intended to be so. that said, all the characters in my contemporary fiction reside within the same "world". perhaps it's just artistic laziness, but i find the prospect of being able to combine characters from the different works a fun one.

ed

Yes, me too! And like you, I wonder if it's artistic laziness...

 

[JamesSD]

the only work i've got here is 2 series, but both were always intended to be so. that said, all the characters in my contemporary fiction reside within the same "world". perhaps it's just artistic laziness, but i find the prospect of being able to combine characters from the different works a fun one.

ed

Oh, I've definitely kicked around the idea of having some of my characters from different stories meet up with each other. If I did it I would keep the name the same and physical description, but I wouldn't be blunt about the fact - sort of an "easter egg" for my LEGIONS* of loyal fans.

 

[CharleyH]

I have written a number of stories that I had intended to be stand-alone, but at reader request I turned into chapters. The dilemma I have is that I hate to start new stories, in particular stories that have potetial to become chapters ...

Every story is unfinished to certain readers. Why not leave them imagining and in fantasy? Are you a passive writer or an author?

 

[Stella_Omega]

Oh, I've definitely kicked around the idea of having some of my characters from different stories meet up with each other. If I did it I would keep the name the same and physical description, but I wouldn't be blunt about the fact - sort of an "easter egg" for my LEGIONS* of loyal fans.

It's fun to re-introduce a character from another angle. What seems admirable in one setting can be turned around in the next POV, and your hero in one story is a nebbish in the next. The story I'm working on right now, the original was told from her POV. In this second story, you see her from the outside.

 

[Guest]

 

[J.Q. Hack]

Sequels

Many of my stories I wrote with no sequel in mind. I felt the story was fine the way it ended -- usually with future sex implied between the characters. What happened after that usually was a reader would want to see a sequel or suggest 2 characters they would like to see together or perhaps a new setting of somesort. That usually got me thinking and before too long I'd have a sequel.

I think its interesting to bring other characters in from other stories or have two meet. I haven't done that yet, but the closest I've come is writing a new story with a character from an earlier submittal.

I don't know often this has been done but I'd like to see other authors (with the original author's permission of course) use characters developed by another author altogether. Does anybody know of any examples on here?

J.Q.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Many of my stories I wrote with no sequel in mind. I felt the story was fine the way it ended -- usually with future sex implied between the characters. What happened after that usually was a reader would want to see a sequel or suggest 2 characters they would like to see together or perhaps a new setting of somesort. That usually got me thinking and before too long I'd have a sequel.

I think its interesting to bring other characters in from other stories or have two meet. I haven't done that yet, but the closest I've come is writing a new story with a character from an earlier submittal.

I don't know often this has been done but I'd like to see other authors (with the original author's permission of course) use characters developed by another author altogether. Does anybody know of any examples on here?

J.Q.

Misstress Jett has invited one of my couples to her couple's wedding- and into the sack with them for a foursome She wrote them, and sent the manuscript to me just to check that the characters were accurate. I will probably put her characters in as invitees to a BDSM party at some point. And her character Rusty- I want to use him in something someday...

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

VERY cool to hear, Stella!

 

[My Erotic Trail]

I have written a number of stories that I had intended to be stand-alone, but at reader request I turned into chapters. The dilemma I have is that I hate to start new stories, in particular stories that have potetial to become chapters, when there are still so many that remain unfinished.

Now some of them I think are forgotten, as nobody mentions sequels any more. Perhaps those readers have given up. I just wonder if I am alone in this or if this is an artistic trait that is common with many writers.

I experience a sense of guilt starting a new story and leaving others unfinished, but my need to write outweighs the guilt. Is there an answer?

I have a list of stories and it seems to help when I push them to the side and work on another tale, something always seems to pop up to make it better after awhile, I have a pile of maybes but the actual written stories are like you say sequels / extended writes, alexis661 is doing the entire survivor contest under one story in all catagories that is a sequel to watch for <grin...

your not alone in this line of thinking <grin..The Portal to the Vixen Planet started as a poem, turned into a short story then published as a book with ten chapters, well that wasn't enough <grin they wanted MORE...so "Return to the Portal to the Vixen Planet" and "The Vixen Vortex" were born as an extension to the original story <grin...it just grows and grows <smile.

 

[oggbashan]

I have three major sequels stalled that are essential to complete the story set.

The one that irritates me most is my Swift pastiche Brobdingnag. I know the outline of what I need to write to complete it. I just can't get back into Jonathan Swift mode.

My major series, Silverbridge, is also stalled. Several of the earlier stories need major revision and there are at least 12 additional stories that are in plot and outline form.

They all sit at the edge of my consciousness when I'm writing, like a rough place on a tooth that your tongue keeps finding.

There are so many new stories waiting to be written that completing or rounding off the older stories slips further down the priority list.

Most of my new stories generate ideas for further stories so the problem gets worse. I promise myself that I will complete an old story for every new one I write - then I write TWO new ones and increase the load of guilt.

The only way I can tackle the outstanding pile is to revise a partly completed story to fit into a competition. Candice, last year's Valentine's Day story, had been nearly completed for about 2 years before I turned it into a competition entry.

Another factor is the length of some of my stories. Miranda the Witch needs a sequel but the posted part is nearly 27,000 words. The planned sequel will probably be as long. Maybe I can do it for the 2006 NaNoWriMo?

Og

 

[The_Fool]

I have three major sequels stalled that are essential to complete the story set.

The one that irritates me most is my Swift pastiche Brobdingnag. I know the outline of what I need to write to complete it. I just can't get back into Jonathan Swift mode.

My major series, Silverbridge, is also stalled. Several of the earlier stories need major revision and there are at least 12 additional stories that are in plot and outline form.

They all sit at the edge of my consciousness when I'm writing, like a rough place on a tooth that your tongue keeps finding.

There are so many new stories waiting to be written that completing or rounding off the older stories slips further down the priority list.

Most of my new stories generate ideas for further stories so the problem gets worse. I promise myself that I will complete an old story for every new one I write - then I write TWO new ones and increase the load of guilt.

The only way I can tackle the outstanding pile is to revise a partly completed story to fit into a competition. Candice, last year's Valentine's Day story, had been nearly completed for about 2 years before I turned it into a competition entry.

Another factor is the length of some of my stories. Miranda the Witch needs a sequel but the posted part is nearly 27,000 words. The planned sequel will probably be as long. Maybe I can do it for the 2006 NaNoWriMo?

Og

I was wondering about the Swift set. Those were some great reads...

 

[oggbashan]

I was wondering about the Swift set. Those were some great reads...

Thank you.

Encouragement helps. Whether it helps enough? I don't know. Tonight I'm going to read 'The Battle of the Books' and 'Tale of a Tub'.

Perhaps they will get me back into Swift mode.

Og

 

[J.Q. Hack]

Sequels & time lines

I was thinking of doing a story that involved two character from previous, unrelated stories. For authors who have combined storylines or involved other characters how much do they worry about timeline sequence? Do they worry that what one character does in this story isn't accounted for in their others if they stories are out of sequence? Or shouldn't I even bother worrying about it since I have no interest in trying to create a world with a coherent time line that is going anywhere.

I look forward to see what others think.

J.Q.

 

[oggbashan]

I was thinking of doing a story that involved two character from previous, unrelated stories. For authors who have combined storylines or involved other characters how much do they worry about timeline sequence? Do they worry that what one character does in this story isn't accounted for in their others if they stories are out of sequence? Or shouldn't I even bother worrying about it since I have no interest in trying to create a world with a coherent time line that is going anywhere.

I look forward to see what others think.

J.Q.

I try to make each story internally consistent in time. Where I have overlapping stories I try to make the timeline consistent.

If in story 1 with main characters A and B, subsidiary characters E and F appear, and then E and F are main characters in their own story 2, their relationship in the first story should be consistent - if at the same time - with
that stated in story 1. If Story 2 is earlier or later in time than story 1 they could be in a different relationship.

I have been reduced to drawing up family trees of relationships past and present, and working out timelines to ensure that I am consistent. One tool I find useful is a relationship diagram for each character. For simple story plots the relationship diagram can be in my head. For complicated, interlinked stories the relationship diagram is a hard copy.

For example Character G was the boyfriend of Character F two years ago and is now the boyfriend of Character K who went to school with Character F and is still friendly with her because K was not the cause of the break with G. G is in the same football team as A, C, E...

I think it is important to try to avoid inconsistencies if possible. That doesn't prevent parallel stories at the same time e.g. while A and B are working out their relationship, E and F's story 2 can happen simultaneously even though they interact with A and B in story 1.

With my Silverbridge Chronicles I have two football teams, one of men, and one of Ladies. That is at least 30 characters including substitutes and reserves so there are a large number of relationship possibilities at the same time. Extend that to cover say 10 years and the permutations are beyond my capability to write in a reasonable time.

Og

 

[J.Q. Hack]

Thanks oggbashan, when I do set about to write that story I'll certainly keep story timelines in mind. I certainly don't have anything involving as many characters as your football teams, but nevertheless, you reminded me how important it is to keep things consistent. I think I'll stay consistent but it would be impossible to promise that some kind of inconsistency or something strange might not pop up somewhere along the line.

J.Q.