Story Arc Question

[scfirenice]

Okay. So I am writing the third novel in a series and in this novel the main story arc is the apparent death of one of the MCs (in reality he has been kidnapped, but only one person believes this.) So the main arc is my other MC trying to find him. Do I have to resolve this in this book? I wasn't planning on "finding" him until the next book. There is plenty of other stuff going on. I know the book has to have an ending that leaves the reader satisifed, but do I have to resolve this issue thus completing the arc? Help.

[katiemac]

Okay. So I am writing the third novel in a series and in this novel the main story arc is the apparent death of one of the MCs (in reality he has been kidnapped, but only one person believes this.) So the main arc is my other MC trying to find him. Do I have to resolve this in this book? I wasn't planning on "finding" him until the next book. There is plenty of other stuff going on. I know the book has to have an ending that leaves the reader satisifed, but do I have to resolve this issue thus completing the arc? Help.

It's hard to say without reading the novel. It depends on the "plenty of other stuff going on," and how much the kidnapping plot takes a backseat to these issues. If the kidnapping plot is the main plotline rather than just a subplot, I can sense a problem.

For example, I'd be much more satisfied with an ending where the characters, who have believed all along so-and-so is dead suddenly proclaim, "He's alive!" I have a clear idea where the next book is going.

If, however, the MC has been searching the entire novel for another missing character and they never meet up, I might be upset. It's all dependent, though, on how many clues are laid out, how it affects the other plots, and what it means to the story as a whole if/when the character is found, and how far into the search the characters are.

[NeuroFizz]

Write it, and get a good set of readers to give it a going-over. Don't tip them off about your quandry, if it still is a problem. See what they say.

In the meantime, never gyp the reader. If the reader thinks this book was written to set up the next, he/she may close the wallet.

[Celia Cyanide]

Okay. So I am writing the third novel in a series and in this novel the main story arc is the apparent death of one of the MCs (in reality he has been kidnapped, but only one person believes this.) So the main arc is my other MC trying to find him.

If this is a main story arc, I would guess that it might be better if you resolved it in this book. Like Katiemac said, I would have to read it to be sure, but if the novel were primarily about this other dude looking for him, it would feel like an unresolved conflict. MC #2 would not have changed or learned anything new by the end, he would still be in the same place.

How badly do you want/need this to be the main plot? Could the kidnapping take a back seat to something else until the next book? Or how badly do you need to wait until the next book to show that MC #1 is alive? There would still be a lot to deal with after the fact, and would probably make me excited for the next one.

[scfirenice]

I could find MC 2 in this book no problem, or maybe almost find him by giving MC 1 the key and setting her on the road. But The issues once he comes home are HUGE alot of stuff has happened, most of it bad. I am afraid that finding him without resolving some of those issues is going to leave a bad taste. Maybe I can pen it so the joy of finding his is the end..."I won't think about that now, I'll think about that tomorrow."

[katiemac]

I am afraid that finding him without resolving some of those issues is going to leave a bad taste.

Again, haven't read what you have, so everything is up in the air. I feel like it would be fine to leave that up in the air. Book #3 is about bringing him home. Book #4 is about what actually happened to him. That key could be the reader's draw into the continuation. (Especially if it's dark. I always draw into the dark.)

[Jaycinth]

I could find MC 2 in this book no problem, or maybe almost find him by giving MC 1 the key and setting her on the road.

I think if you did this with an introspective ending, it would be effective without bothering the reader


But The issues once he comes home are HUGE alot of stuff has happened, most of it bad. I am afraid that finding him without resolving some of those issues is going to leave a bad taste. Maybe I can pen it so the joy of finding his is the end..."I won't think about that now, I'll think about that tomorrow."

Wouldn't the issues he has to deal with once he's home be a great hook for the next book? A reader new to your series would go "Wow, I have to see how he gets out of that!" and an established reader would go "Wow,I knew he'd have to deal with some s*** and I can't wait to see how he gets out of this one.:D