Would you read it?

SC Harrison · Oct 16, 2005

I have been working on a stand-alone sequel to my first book for way too long, and I have decided to conclude the story soon, because it is begging me to. Due to the short length (32,000 words), I am going to add several short stories to the latter part of the book, bringing to about 70,000 or so. Some of these shorts will be related to the first two, and some will not. I've thought about alternating them, so the reader keeps coming back to the same setting. One of these non-related shorts is on my website.

I've read a few books written like this, and they didn't totally tick me off. Bad idea, good idea, what? Thanks.

Steve

Sage · Oct 16, 2005

If I had read your first book & loved it & wanted to continue reading about the characters or the world because I had invested my emotions in them in the first book, I'd probably read it, but at the same time, I'd also probably be annoyed at the fact that the sequel was less than half the book. I've never seen this done in novels, but I know that when I'm reading a manga series & I pay $10 to continue the story & a section of that book is not related to the series I paid for, I get a little annoyed, even if the added story is really good. To me, it wouldn't seem so bad if it wasn't a sequel, although if it's stand-alone, it will at least be more open for new people to read it before reading the first novel. My guess would be that it would be okay for new readers, but the people coming for a sequel will be glad that it was written, but disappointed that there wasn't more of the actual sequel.

If you are going to do it, though, I would suggest keeping the stories that are part of the same world together, & then adding a section that is clearly marked as being in a different 'verse. Otherwise, your readers will have to keep guessing which 'verse they're in & even if you tell them clearly at the beginning of each short story, they're still bound to forget if you keep bouncing back & forth.

Celia Cyanide · Oct 16, 2005

One of my favorite books, Trainspotting, was written that way, except that Irvine Welsh interspersed the other unrelated stories into the other chapters. So you have interludes here and there. I think it might be jarring of this is a sequel to another book, but I could see it working.

SC Harrison · Oct 16, 2005

The first book took place when the protagonist was fourteen (back in the eighties), and the second is current day. The first ended completely, with no reference to a pending sequel. The title of the second book will have "...and other stories" tagged on, so I hope it will be evident to a prospective buyer that it is a collection.

Thanks for the feedback!

Steve

Jamesaritchie · Oct 16, 2005

SC Harrison said:
I have been working on a stand-alone sequel to my first book for way too long, and I have decided to conclude the story soon, because it is begging me to. Due to the short length (32,000 words), I am going to add several short stories to the latter part of the book, bringing to about 70,000 or so. Some of these shorts will be related to the first two, and some will not. I've thought about alternating them, so the reader keeps coming back to the same setting. One of these non-related shorts is on my website.

I've read a few books written like this, and they didn't totally tick me off. Bad idea, good idea, what? Thanks.

Steve

To be honest, no, I wouldn't read it, and if I cbought it and found it was this way, I'd never buy anotehr book from teh same writer.

Instead of adding short stories, why not just write the book at the proper length?

Kasey Mackenzie · Oct 17, 2005

Something to keep in mind is that short story collections (or even a novella mixed with shorts) are a VERY hard sell as a previously unpublished author. Most readers (no, not all, but most) prefer novel-length stories when they're buying a novel. I know that I do. There are occasions when I'll shell out for anthologies, but it doesn't happen very often.

AdamH · Oct 17, 2005

I'm not sure if I'd read it either if it's from an unknown author. It would have to have a lot of good buzz to make me think otherwise. Might be an okay idea after you get a foot in the door with a full length published novel under your belt.

I've seen a few examples of a novella coupled with short stories but rarely do I even consider picking one up unless the author blew me away with a novel I read, or a short story that I found in an anthology somewhere.

batgirl · Oct 17, 2005

Hi SC,
I don't know if you're published or not, so excuse if this is inappropriate, but my suspicion is that the collection-with-novella-backbone book, if it is related to another book, would sell better if that first book were published and doing well (including doing well only within its genre).
That is, once there are readers who are eager for more about that world and those characters, they'll buy the book for that. If there aren't (yet) any such readers, I believe single-author collections are a hard sell.
Don't know if that's any help, but that's my take on it.
-Barbara

Would you read it?

SC Harrison

Dances With Hamsters

Sage

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Celia Cyanide

Joker Groupie

SC Harrison

Dances With Hamsters

Jamesaritchie

Kasey Mackenzie

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AdamH

Pumped Up Kicks

batgirl

Writting broad