Here is the quote of the day for me: "In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins not by strength but by perseverance." - H. Jackson Brown
I’ve needed that quote this week to persevere and get some writing done. It’s been a little bit of a struggle, but I managed to get the final edits on Ribbon of Darkness done and that one’s off to press, and I got about 1000 words done on Grace and Connor’s story. So, all in all, not a bad week.
Here’s my dilemma, though. Things are going great on Grace and Connor’s story. I love it. But the two main characters in Ribbon of Darkness, Ethan and Kennedy, have a sequel that’s been calling to me. If you know my work, you know I never do sequels, usually because by the time the story ends I’m sick of the characters and am ready to write something with new characters.
This time, however, Kennedy and Ethan have another story for me to write, which is sort of exciting, but nerve-wracking at the same time. Do people even like sequels? (Sometimes they’re sort of like a Cars 2 or a Cinderella 2, never as good as the original, you know?) So I wonder if anyone would even want to read another story about Kennedy and Ethan. Should I spend the time to finish the sequel or keep going with Grace and Connor? Decisions, decisions. If you have any thoughts on this, (even though you haven't read Ribbon of Darkness yet) please share.
And tell us how your word count went this week!
I'm an award-winning romantic suspense novelist, but in my free time I love to review books and my fave TV shows, as well as pass along great book deals, and eat Canadian chocolate---not necessarily in that order.
7 comments:
As regards a sequel, I think you should follow your heart. If you're of the opinion that your characters have another story to tell, and you find yourself thinking about it to the (almost) exclusion of everything else, then you should probably go for it. At least, that's the way it worked for me. I was trying to write one particular story and this big bad other idea just shouldered that poor little plot bunny out of the way and forced me to write it instead. I literally could not stop thinking about it. And although the story is like nothing I've ever written before, and therefore might not be all that good, it's been a great learning experience for me. I'm getting close to the end now, and I hope I can get back to my original story again soon.
I like sequels in books more than I do in movies. Well, I like book series, that is. Is that the same thing? More or less? Well, I like them anyway. If I've had fun with one set of characters in one book, why shouldn't I enjoy their next adventures in another book?
So I say, go for it. :-)
I think some sequels are made basically because someone thinks "hey, I know how I can make more money, let's make a sequel." And sometimes those sequels are duds. But I think that if there is a good idea for a sequel and money isn't the first thought in doing it, it has potential to be good.
I personally like series. I like books that are stand-alones, but the different characters live in the same area and all know each other. If it is well written (and relatively clean), then it is worth a read.
Ditto everything Melanie and Anna said. Love those sequels.
Total word count as of today - 51,000 (including two pages of outlines)
Toy Story 2? Empire Strikes Back?
Star Trek 2 : the Wrath of Khan?
I think I prefer series books to standalones. You already feel comfortable with the characters or with the setting. I'm thinking about the Raymond E Feist books that are all set in the same universe, but have different groups of characters. Or, I just can't wait to see what's happening with Myron Bolitar and Windsor Lockwood III.
If you have an idea and it's calling you, maybe you should see where it leads?
Twilight and Harry Potter - great examples if successful sequels!! - tell the story that is in your heart and mind to tell and you will never look back with questions or regret!!
I actually like sequels, I fall in love with characters and I just can't let them go!
S.B. Niccum
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Thanks for the feedback everyone. Sounds like I should do one more Kennedy and Ethan!
And Deb, congrats on that word count! You're a machine!
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