Little help?

WinterDusk14 · Feb 12, 2012

Been a while since my last visit, and hope this is the right board. Anyway...

I've began writing my estimated 90k word novel. It doesn't have any action, just some drama and conflict between the characters' interests. It's just a story about people, plain and simple. It's as simple as the movies, Darjeeling Limited or The Bucket List. I've got things pretty much planned all ready and we'll see how it turns out.

My problem is. I've immediately fallen in love with the two main characters. A journalism student in his final year in college and his best friend slash casual lover. Maybe I'm jumping too far here, but I've already conceptualized a possible sequel, something that introduces danger toward the characters. In other words, from being a plain fiction, it becomes a mystery/crime thriller.

I want them to be different but the two main characters are just that interesting in my mind, I cannot simply let them go just like that.

Is this a good move? Would the sequel be alienating? I asked my friend about this, and she said it 'could' work, since I have a journalism student as a protagonist, it could develop into a series following his career as a journalist. It solves my problem of not letting the duo go just as so and I actually dig that, but still...

I know I'm thinking way too hard here, but it's starting to become a hindrance for my works in progress, so any opinion should ease up my mind to get back starting again.

Thanks in advance guys.

crunchyblanket · Feb 12, 2012

Write the novel first. Then you can think about sequels.

Domino Derval · Feb 12, 2012

My advice is to quit thinking about a sequel when you've barely started the first one. If there's a killer idea you can't bear to leave out, consider revising your outline to include it in the first one. Even the most popular mystery/thriller series wouldn't have gotten to part two if part one wasn't successful in and of itself!

amschilling · Feb 12, 2012

crunchyblanket said:
Write the novel first. Then you can think about sequels.

This.

Plus if you can't get the thought of a sequel out of your head (I hear ya on that one--it happens!), make sure you have some set up for it in the first book. It would be extremely jarring to have a nice quiet piece for book one, which is basically a human nature study or the like, and then jump into a thriller in the second. Just having him be a journalist isn't enough of a setup IMO to suddenly have him running around in danger in book two, unless I see something in book one that makes it a natural progression.

TheRob1 · Feb 12, 2012

Switching genres seems like it'd be pretty difficult. I'm not an expert on this, but I'd think you'd have shop them independently rather than as one and a sequel. Not every agent or publisher handles every genre of fiction.

As far as writing them goes, that shouldn't be too much of a problem, if you know what you want to do with the story.

WinterDusk14 · Feb 12, 2012

I'm not really up for grabs for an immediate sequel. It's two different manuscripts. My issue is preserving the two main characters (I wasn't too clear on that, sorry). I tried combining the two ideas, revised my outline, and it sort of works, but it ruins the first idea of writing something simple. The best way I saw how to keep using these characters is a sequel, which puts me into doubt.

So, taking into heart about quitting the sequel. I should just either try to combine the two ideas or develop carbon copies of the two MCs for each story?

WinterDusk14 · Feb 12, 2012

So, it's best just to have them independently. I see.

This shed a lot of light, now I can start planning again with a free mind. Thanks guys, much appreciated!

underthecity · Feb 12, 2012

Yeah . . . you can't really write a book that doesn't have a story, and you can't plan a sequel to a story that doesn't exist.

Maybe I'm jumping too far here, but I've already conceptualized a possible sequel, something that introduces danger toward the characters. In other words, from being a plain fiction, it becomes a mystery/crime thriller.

I don't understand why the "danger" can't be in the first book. There's the central conflict right there. Build on that.

dangerousbill · Feb 12, 2012

WinterDusk14 said:
My problem is. I've immediately fallen in love with the two main characters. A journalism student in his final year in college and his best friend slash casual lover. Maybe I'm jumping too far here, but I've already conceptualized a possible sequel, something that introduces danger toward the characters.

If you're changing the genre between volumes 1 and 2, there's a danger your readership may be disappointed. The two volumes should have the same tone.

Perhaps, since you imply that not a lot happens in vol 1, maybe vol 2 is the novel that wants to be written? Vol 1 might end up condensed to the first chapters of vol 2.

I know about falling in love with characters. I've had a half-dozen such torrid affairs. The results have been encouraging.

leahzero · Feb 12, 2012

I can't even think of any series that change genre mid-series. Can anyone else? Especially such an extreme switch in action and tone (from quiet domestic drama to mystery/thriller).

Debbie V · Feb 13, 2012

Rename the characters and change a few details about them for the second book. But first write the first one.

Devil Ledbetter · Feb 13, 2012

Since you like the characters and haven't yet written either novel, try starting with the "sequel" story where something happens. Because a story where nothing happens isn't really a story. It's just hanging around with some characters.

JMO. Good luck with this.

allenparker · Feb 13, 2012

WinterDusk14 said:
I've began writing my estimated 90k word novel. It doesn't have any action, just some drama and conflict between the characters' interests. It's just a story about people, plain and simple. It's as simple as the movies, Darjeeling Limited or The Bucket List. I've got things pretty much planned all ready and we'll see how it turns out.

I'm probably telling you something you already know, but it will likely not hurt either of us to hear it again.

All stories must have action, choices, conflict, and consequences. In the movie The Bucket List, besides the physical actions of the characters racing cars and etc, they make decisions about how they will live out their final days. That action causes consequences they must live with and overcome the results of those actions.

It is not action as in an action film, but an action that changes the character's outlook or life.

elindsen · Feb 13, 2012

I agree that maybe you're holding onto the vol 1 idea too tightly. Maybe its meant to be a part 1 or chapter 1 through 5 kind of thing. If you're really into these characters maybe you should do what's best for them and their stories. Write what needs to be written instead of what you think you should be writing.

Buffysquirrel · Feb 13, 2012

What Debbie V said.

Little help?

WinterDusk14

Non-savvy tech writer

crunchyblanket

the Juggernaut of Imperfection

Domino Derval

FREAKING OUT!

amschilling

TheRob1

Trained by the soft master

WinterDusk14

Non-savvy tech writer

WinterDusk14

Non-savvy tech writer

underthecity

Finestkind

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

leahzero

The colors! THE COLORS!

Debbie V

Mentoring Myself and Others

Devil Ledbetter

Come on you stranger, you legend,

allenparker

Naked Futon Guy

elindsen

Zombie lovin'

Buffysquirrel