First in a Series

[Fade]

I have already written the first book in a series that could be a stand alone. Now I'm editing and I'm writing the sequel. In the sequel, I've come across a scene that will reference something that happened in the first book, though it didn't make sense when it happened (now it does). But I have a dillema: Do I remove the scene so that if I can only sell the first book, it makes more sense (than leaving the scene in), or do I keep it so that if I can sell both, everything fits together well?

[MumblingSage]

It depends a bit on the scene. When you wrote it, did you have the sequel in mind? Or is it something that 'just happened'?

How long is it? Cutting it and making the book more of a stand-alone might pare down your word count, which is generally a good thing.

On the other hand, is there a way to rewrite it so that it makes some more sense even if the book remains a stand alone? Or could you put the information and action of that scene into other scenes in the book that DO work? Or could you have what happens in that scene happen between the first book and the sequel, or even in the sequel, if you do decide to write one?

I can't really offer a guarentted perscription, and even if I could, I don't think I have enough information right off to give much good advice, but there are some questions to think about, at least.

[Robert E. Keller]

It would depend on how long it is and how much it distracts from the story. If it's a paragraph or two, it might not be a problem. You might even find a way to make it fit both books. But if it's a page or more, now you're looking at something that be viewed as clutter. In that case, I'd suggest cutting it.

Robert E. Keller
http://www.scrollsofatlantis.com

[FennelGiraffe]

You're talking about a form of foreshadowing. Foreshadowing always has to make sense in the context of where it occurs; it's just that later it turns out to mean more than was originally apparent.

That scene has to at least seem to make sense in the first book. This has nothing to do with whether the sequel ever gets published.

[Danthia]

Depends on how it affects book one's story. You don't want anything that's going to trip up your reader. If the story reads smoothly with it, keep it if you want. If not, cut it for now.

If you sell the first book, it's very likely it'll go through multiple rounds of revisions before it goes to press. You'll be tweaking both books to reflect whatever changes you make in book one anyway, and if you sell both books, you'll be adjusting both. There are things I'm adding in book two of mine, and I'm going back to book one to tweak so it flows better now.

Selling the first book is what matters most, so make sure that one is the best story it can be.

[cwfgal]

Depends on how it affects book one's story. You don't want anything that's going to trip up your reader. If the story reads smoothly with it, keep it if you want. If not, cut it for now.

If you sell the first book, it's very likely it'll go through multiple rounds of revisions before it goes to press. You'll be tweaking both books to reflect whatever changes you make in book one anyway, and if you sell both books, you'll be adjusting both. There are things I'm adding in book two of mine, and I'm going back to book one to tweak so it flows better now.

Selling the first book is what matters most, so make sure that one is the best story it can be.

I agree. Take it out of the first book if it makes no sense, but save it in a separate file. If you sell the first book and they also want a sequel, you will have opportunities to put the scene back in later on.

Beth