Second Book Curse

Hedgetrimmer · Mar 28, 2010

Here's something that's been on my mind, and maybe some of you guys can offer your own take on it. Let's say you've completed two novels targeting the same audience. The first book is good, even publishable, but the second book is better. A publisher is interested in both books. If you had any say in the matter, which would you prefer debut?

Release the weaker book and then the stronger book, thus showing an improvement in the writing but maybe risk losing some readers who didn't think the first book was good enough for them to come back for seconds?

Or release the stronger book, hoping to secure a nice audience and a better chance they'll come back for seconds, but then risk disappointing them because the second book may be viewed as a step backward?

I hope this doesn't sound too convoluted.

Caitlin Black · Mar 28, 2010

Release the second book and then write a third.

seun · Mar 28, 2010

Are you asking because this is your situation? Do you have one book you think is stronger than the other? If you do, the best thing to do is get BOTH books as close to perfect as you can. It doesn't matter if one is weaker than the other. An agent or publisher won't reject it because of the comparison. They'll reject it based on its own.

Hedgetrimmer · Mar 28, 2010

seun said:
Are you asking because this is your situation? Do you have one book you think is stronger than the other? If you do, the best thing to do is get BOTH books as close to perfect as you can. It doesn't matter if one is weaker than the other. An agent or publisher won't reject it because of the comparison. They'll reject it based on its own.

It's almost my situation. The first book landed me an agent and is currently under submission. I'm almost done with another book in the same genre, only a different style and vision, but in my opinion works on more levels and is simply a better book. Which I hope it would be, considering I expect my craft to improve. As much as I love the first book (my agent does too), I can't help but consider the above scenarios.

Phaeal · Mar 28, 2010

If your agent loves the book, and you trust your agent's opinion, I'd say let the first book go out first.

The first book still has to run the publisher gauntlet. If it's not good enough or not marketable enough at the moment or needs more work, my bet is the publishers will let you know.

Hedgetrimmer · Mar 28, 2010

Phaeal said:
If your agent loves the book, and you trust your agent's opinion, I'd say let the first book go out first.

The first book still has to run the publisher gauntlet. If it's not good enough or not marketable enough at the moment or needs more work, my bet is the publishers will let you know.

That's what I'm hoping. My agent has read the first chapter of my WIP but really doesn't know what it's about. He already has two of my books on submission, one MG and another YA. The WIP is another MG. Hopefully by the time it's complete, we will have heard back from editors and have a better idea where we stand.

kellion92 · Mar 28, 2010

I'd publish the book that sells first! If you sell your two MGs in a two-book deal and they are both ready at the same time, Hedge, your publisher will decide which to put out first.

Hedgetrimmer · Mar 28, 2010

kellion92 said:
I'd publish the book that sells first! If you sell your two MGs in a two-book deal and they are both ready at the same time, Hedge, your publisher will decide which to put out first.

Yeah, that's what I figured, which is why as I near the completion of my WIP, I'm getting a little anxious about seeing what the first book does. I would love to go ahead and have my agent secure a deal on that book and then follow that up with something even better. But I certainly feel what you're saying. First order of business is to get somebody on board with book one.

kaitie · Mar 28, 2010

I'd without a doubt rather put out the weaker one first. I actually was telling someone this just the other day. If I had a choice (and it was considered publishable by oh...anyone), I'd much rather put out my last story than the one I'm currently writing. While there are some things about the last one that I think are better (the MC for one, and I do prefer the originality of the plot in the last one), but overall the current story is probably the better of the two. My reasoning is exactly what you mentioned. I don't want to put out the better one, then have people come back and read the second and be disappointed. You also always hear about how hard it is to get book deals for later books because you have to have sales to back them up, and in theory, the better book would have better sales, ne? Just my logic. I still have nothing to show either of the two are even any good yet, but if they were this would be my take.

Hedgetrimmer · Mar 28, 2010

Kaitie, that's my thinking exactly. I've always heard how the sophomore book is really the deal maker or breaker. The public wants to see if the success of the first book was simply a fluke. It's definitely something I'll discuss with my agent when I feel the time is right.

Diana W. · Mar 28, 2010

Hedge are the two books part of a series or completely separate stories?

JackinElgin · Mar 28, 2010

Hedgetrimmer said:
It's almost my situation. The first book landed me an agent and is currently under submission. I'm almost done with another book in the same genre, only a different style and vision, but in my opinion works on more levels and is simply a better book. Which I hope it would be, considering I expect my craft to improve. As much as I love the first book (my agent does too), I can't help but consider the above scenarios.

Maybe you're perspective is a little eschewed because you're just finishing up the second story. Of course you thinks its much much better than the first right now. Maybe you should shelf it for a week after you're done then judge he merits of the story in comparison to the first.

backslashbaby · Mar 28, 2010

Would it be absolutely crazy to use a pseudonym for the weaker book, and then pick which name to pursue based on sales or better quality of one name?

I would be afraid of tarnishing my debut with a book I didn't think was strong. But if people want it, I'll sell it, sure

Hedgetrimmer · Mar 28, 2010

Mrwrite -- The books are separate. The only similarities are the voice and the target audience.

Jack -- I never considered this. I plan to complete it next week and set it aside for a while, but I really can tell the difference. Still, like you say, others may disagree.

BSB -- Nayyy, the only reason I would consider a pen name is if I begin writing something completely different than my current work. As for my first book, I have no problem debuting with it. It's actually the book I'm most fond of. I'm just seeing a noticeable difference in my writing since having started and nearly completed book two.

timewaster · Mar 28, 2010

Hedgetrimmer said:
Here's something that's been on my mind, and maybe some of you guys can offer your own take on it. Let's say you've completed two novels targeting the same audience. The first book is good, even publishable, but the second book is better. A publisher is interested in both books. If you had any say in the matter, which would you prefer debut?

Release the weaker book and then the stronger book, thus showing an improvement in the writing but maybe risk losing some readers who didn't think the first book was good enough for them to come back for seconds?

Or release the stronger book, hoping to secure a nice audience and a better chance they'll come back for seconds, but then risk disappointing them because the second book may be viewed as a step backward?

I hope this doesn't sound too convoluted.

'Weaker' and 'Stronger' are very subjective. I think the writer is rarely the best judge, least of all when they are still writing. In this market sell whichever you can and remember that there will be plenty of time to sort out any flaws with both books when you work with an editor. If you have a buyer for the first one - great - don't turn down a sale and work on it to make it stronger. The elements that you value may not be the ones that have caught a publishers eye. You don't necessarily get 'better' with each book.

blacbird · Mar 28, 2010

All my books are cursed.

caw

Hedgetrimmer · Mar 28, 2010

timewaster said:
'Weaker' and 'Stronger' are very subjective. I think the writer is rarely the best judge, least of all when they are still writing. In this market sell whichever you can and remember that there will be plenty of time to sort out any flaws with both books when you work with an editor. If you have a buyer for the first one - great - don't turn down a sale and work on it to make it stronger. The elements that you value may not be the ones that have caught a publishers eye. You don't necessarily get 'better' with each book.

I hear you. Good advice.

shaldna · Mar 29, 2010

I would rework the weaker book unti it was no longer weak.

Because even if it's published first or second, if it's weak it will always be weak,

seun · Mar 29, 2010

Hedgetrimmer said:
It's almost my situation. The first book landed me an agent and is currently under submission. I'm almost done with another book in the same genre, only a different style and vision, but in my opinion works on more levels and is simply a better book. Which I hope it would be, considering I expect my craft to improve. As much as I love the first book (my agent does too), I can't help but consider the above scenarios.

I'd keep your first book with your agent and see what they say about book 2 when the time comes. Sounds like you're in a good position as things are.

Hedgetrimmer · Mar 29, 2010

shaldna said:
I would rework the weaker book unti it was no longer weak.

Because even if it's published first or second, if it's weak it will always be weak,

No one so far has said it's weak. My agent said it's "nearly flawless." I'm simply making the point that my work since then has improved considerably, so much so that it's raising questions in my head regarding the order and timing of possible releases.

Hedgetrimmer · Mar 29, 2010

seun said:
I'd keep your first book with your agent and see what they say about book 2 when the time comes. Sounds like you're in a good position as things are.

Yeah, that's the course I've decided to take for now.

happywritermom · Mar 29, 2010

I think I know what you mean Hedgetrimmer. My first novel is out on submission and I'm about eight chapters in to my WIP. My first reaction would be to decribe my WIP as stronger, but, if I think about it, it's just more saleable. That doesn't make it any better than the first book as a piece of literature.

lucidzfl · Mar 29, 2010

Its interesting you bring this up. Its actually precisely the reason I plan on having 10 salable novels written before I start to submit.

Hedgetrimmer · Mar 29, 2010

HWM -- Good luck with your submission!

Lucid -- I'm curious. Why write so many? Ten novels are a lot to have sitting around. How will know they're publishable until you try to get them published?

Claudia Gray · Mar 29, 2010

Talk to your agent. But keep in mind -- hopefully, your writing ability is going to continue to develop and grow. Which means if you keep waiting to publish the very best thing you could ever write, you could conceivably wait forever. If that first book is as good as it can be, and your agent likes it, I'd say trust it.

Second Book Curse

What happened, just there?

Wild one

Horror Man

What happened, just there?

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

What happened, just there?

A cat may not look at a king

What happened, just there?

With great power comes

What happened, just there?

I'm evolving

back for more

~~~~*~~~~

What happened, just there?

present

What happened, just there?

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

Horror Man

What happened, just there?

What happened, just there?

Back from the dead

What happened, just there?

*