Too late for sequels?

[Wark2002]

Although I did write one multi-chaptered story, I really haven’t touched the idea of writing sequels. I considered it one point and then just let the idea slip away. But I recently just kind of did a review of my old stories and I saw two or three with settings, situation, and characters that I would like to revisit. However, some of the stories are up to two years old. Do do you guys have any kind of expiration date on your own stories?How long have you gone between a story and its follow up?

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I cannot see that there’s an expiry date on a theme, society or people. Go for it.

 

[SimonDoom]

There is no expiration date, but as a practical matter there's a good chance that if enough years pass many of the people who read and liked your original story won't be around here to read the sequel.

I waited five years to publish a third installment of the Late Night mom-son series. The story has done OK, but the numbers are nowhere close to the first chapter, nor are they as good as a standalone mom-son story I published a little over a month before that one. My general attitude about sequels: unless you feel especially motivated and inspired, don't do it. Move on to a new story instead. It probably will do better, and it will be more creatively satisfying.

 

[Carnevil9]

I would recommend that if you do it, don't publish it as a "Part II," but publish it as a standalone story, maybe with a similar title. Maybe put an author's note at the top that it continues characters and situations from the previous story, but that it stands on its own. That way you won't alienate people who don't remember or never heard of the first one, and if they like it, they might even go back and read the previous one.

 

[SouthernCrossfire]

I would recommend that if you do it, don't publish it as a "Part II," but publish it as a standalone story, maybe with a similar title. Maybe put an author's note at the top that it continues characters and situations from the previous story, but that it stands on its own. That way you won't alienate people who don't remember or never heard of the first one, and if they like it, they might even go back and read the previous one.

Well said, Carnevil9, exactly what I was going to recommend except you might put the note about the previous story in an end note after the story to avoid scaring anyone off who might not believe the "this stands on its own" part. "For their earlier adventures, see...."

 

[gunhilltrain]

There is no expiration date, but as a practical matter there's a good chance that if enough years pass many of the people who read and liked your original story won't be around here to read the sequel.

I waited five years to publish a third installment of the Late Night mom-son series. The story has done OK, but the numbers are nowhere close to the first chapter, nor are they as good as a standalone mom-son story I published a little over a month before that one. My general attitude about sequels: unless you feel especially motivated and inspired, don't do it. Move on to a new story instead. It probably will do better, and it will be more creatively satisfying.

Link it to the first one; then it's up to them if they wish to read that or not. I've even written sequels to series - I mean, it's a stand-alone story set at least a couple of years later. I link that too. If it's a good character or premise, might as well use it. Updike did it all the time; I think many of Zola's novels are connected in various ways. If it was good enough for him, then it's good enough for me.

How many times did Arthur Conan Doyle go back to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson?

 

[BiscuitHammer]

I promised more chapters to my story 'Love You, Daddy', and that was back in 2015 or 2016. There have been no follow-up chapters as yet, and I STILL get grief about it from readers. Maybe I deserve it.

They don't let you forget. The readers are like really horny elephants with a selective memory.

There is no time limit, and it can go a long way to boosting a story's popularity. Go for it.

 

[tenyari]

The Hobbit - 1937
The Lord of the Rings - 1954

If you think you're being too slow on that sequel because of 2 years, go talk to Tolkien's estate...

 

[Mal_Bey]

The Hobbit - 1937
The Lord of the Rings - 1954

If you think you're being too slow on that sequel because of 2 years, go talk to Tolkien's estate...

Or GRR Martin's. They started the 8 season Game of Thrones series 15 years after Martin, and beat him to the end in what will likely be 15 years before him.

 

[storyteller19]

If you are motivated to write it I say go for it. I made the mistake when I was first submitting stories of doing too many part ones to stories and never adding more. My readers rightfully asked for me to continue the stories. I was nervous about continuing stories at first, but now that I am working on some of my first ones again I am enjoying it. Already having all of the ground work done allows me to experiment more and be able to have fun while getting better at writing.