Not The Usual Type Of Second Novel Problem

gothicangel · Mar 7, 2012

No jitters nothing like that.

So, all that is left is a final line edit of book one, so I've begun on book two. But I've noticed something very odd.

My trunked WIP came to around 80,000 words.

Book one came to 60,000 words at the end of the first draft, and is currently at 87,500.

Book two is currently at 44,000 words and I'm not even half-way through!

Any ideas at what the heck is going on? :Wha:

Cyia · Mar 7, 2012

My guess? You're more comfortable with the world and characters, and you're "seeing" more of them as you write, so more is coming into play.

lbender · Mar 7, 2012

Cyia said:
My guess? You're more comfortable with the world and characters, and you're "seeing" more of them as you write, so more is coming into play.

What she said...

kaitie · Mar 7, 2012

Is the plot more complicated than the last one? You might also have more going on.

Chasing the Horizon · Mar 7, 2012

It's a different story and so a different length?

Mari · Mar 7, 2012

i don't think it's that uncommon for second stories, especially in a series, to be longer than the first - especially after a quick perusal of my shelves.

gothicangel · Mar 8, 2012

Cyia said:
My guess? You're more comfortable with the world and characters, and you're "seeing" more of them as you write, so more is coming into play.

I think you could be right.

Is the plot more complicated than the last one? You might also have more going on.

That too.

*I'm going to view this as a good sign.

Orchestra · Mar 8, 2012

You have more characters this time around? More events? Your style is more descriptive? You write more scenes and summarize less? You used to underwrite but now you overwrite? Could be a bunch of reasons, none of them really problematic. Keep on trucking!

RichardGarfinkle · Mar 8, 2012

This falls into the category of, 'it's not a bug, it's an undocumented feature.'

The more your write the more you learn what needs fleshing out in your writing, and what needs reining in.

There are writers whose early works are too full of prose: endless exposition, explanation, backstories told rather than withheld and so on. They tend to end up with their later works being shorter.

There are others (me among them) who tended to leave out too much in their early works and had to learn to add what was needful to make the works live and work for their living.

It's all part of the process of learning to write as you write.

Orianna2000 · Mar 8, 2012

The same thing happened to me. My first novel finished at 85,000 words. My second novel was close to 100,000.

There's lots of reasons why the second novel might be longer. You're more experienced and more confident, so you delve into things you might have avoided the first time around. You know how to add subplots. You know how to better characterize your characters, giving them more in-depth personalities and histories. You know how to describe scenery better. And so forth, and so on.

My first novel didn't have as many subplots as the second novel. I stuck close to my main plot and was too afraid to branch out, so there's not as much going on. It's likely that I didn't fill out the characters' personalities as much as I could have, too. Plus, there are fewer locations in the first novel, so I didn't have to describe the settings as much. In the second novel, every few chapters take place someplace new, so there's a lot more description.

I'm sure there's more reasons, as well, but those are what I can think of off the top of my head.

dangerousbill · Mar 8, 2012

gothicangel said:
Any ideas at what the heck is going on?

You're either making it better, or making it worse.

elindsen · Mar 8, 2012

Cyia said:
My guess? You're more comfortable with the world and characters, and you're "seeing" more of them as you write, so more is coming into play.

Ditto.

gothicangel · Mar 8, 2012

dangerousbill said:
You're either making it better, or making it worse.

Kinda reminds me of the university residence porter, that called me a 'half-baked Scot.'

gothicangel · Mar 8, 2012

Orianna2000 said:
My first novel didn't have as many subplots as the second novel. I stuck close to my main plot and was too afraid to branch out, so there's not as much going on.

This sounds familiar.

The first book was a straight forward 'chase' plot [think 39 Steps.] This one is a more developed spy thriller, with a strong romantic sub-plot.

Phaeal · Mar 9, 2012

Sounds like you're turning into a novelist. CGs!

Not The Usual Type Of Second Novel Problem

gothicangel

Toughen up.

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

lbender

kaitie

With great power comes

Chasing the Horizon

Blowing in the Wind

Mari

that hillbilly vampire lady

gothicangel

Toughen up.

Orchestra

practical experience, GTFO

RichardGarfinkle

Second Edition and Second Laughter

Orianna2000

Freelance Writer

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

elindsen

Zombie lovin'

gothicangel

Toughen up.

gothicangel

Toughen up.

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.