Spin-off or second POV?

[MiddleAgedMan]

I am just starting a new story arc, one I have plans for as a long story that evolves, in part, based on the feedback I get. I have many plans and events planned out, some conflicting, so I'll have to choose. That is not my question though, it's only backdrop.

My question is this: the main story line follows a young man with powers of mind control and his journey of discovery. The story is mainly Mind Control, with elements of exhibitionism/voyeurism, group sex, anal, bdsm, nonconsent and maybe more in time. The main supporting actor is his uncle, acting as both a teacher and moral compass. The thing is, I want to add his uncle's story, but mainly as a bdsm-oriented tangent.

My gut feeling is to make it as a separate series as a spin-off, leaving me free to write shorter, more action packed chapters, but that means wasting a lot of time explaining events and mechanics, or on the flip side, not explaining it and telling the readers to go read my main story first. (Arrogant, I know...)

The alternative is to instead introduce the uncle as a second POV in the main arc, but then I'm afraid there will be too much weird stuff for vanilla readers who just want simple mind control, as if there is such a thing...

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

 

[AlphaLyon]

My gut feeling is to make it as a separate series as a spin-off, leaving me free to write shorter, more action packed chapters, but that means wasting a lot of time explaining events and mechanics, or on the flip side, not explaining it and telling the readers to go read my main story first. (Arrogant, I know...)

Why would you have to waste time in explanation? You can hint at how the uncle had certain talents and had developed skills, and lead the actual "prequel" work to another story, no? That tease of "there's more to this story" could draw readers in to your side story, I would think.

 

[MiddleAgedMan]

Why would you have to waste time in explanation? You can hint at how the uncle had certain talents and had developed skills, and lead the actual "prequel" work to another story, no? That tease of "there's more to this story" could draw readers in to your side story, I would think.

That might work. I have just typed out a scene to this other story, be it separate series or second POV, and it really makes no sense without an in-depth explanation of the mind control system. But if it's acceptable to tell the reader that chapters 1 and 2 of the main story arc are required reading, then a separate story line is the way to go I think, unless the Mind Control crowd are fine with a healthy dose of BDSM and noncon...

 

[ElectricBlue]

I have many stand-alone "Chapters" which are obviously part of an on-going series, but category specific readers don't care, they don't all go read the earlier parts.

Don't worry about it - keep each part self-contained in terms of episode and outcome, and keep as much connectivity as you want, but don't worry what readers might think. They're clever, they'll figure it out as much as they want to.