End it, or make it a series?

jennifer75 · Jan 30, 2007

When did you decide you wanted to write a part 2? Did you go into part 1 knowing you'd leave the readers hanging or with an ending that would pick up in a book to follow, or did you decide years later, or did your story just work out so that a part two was completely appropriate?

Kind of a dumb thread I know, but I was curious.

TheIT · Jan 30, 2007

I'm working on a fantasy novel, but there's plenty of room in this universe to tell several stories. My intent is to write self contained stories set in the same universe using some of the same characters. No cliffhangers.

Robyn · Jan 30, 2007

Honestly I love series. I have too much in my head to end it in one book. Now my books do not contain the same characters per say. I have 2 series i'm working with at the moment. There is my Wolf/Raven series and then my new baby Crimson Legend series. I love them. I can and do write stand alones, but i tend to find I like followups as well. Then again, I prefere to read series as well.

MidnightMuse · Jan 30, 2007

I tend to look at characters and worlds as having potential for more stories, but I think it's best to always end each story with the idea that it'll never be expanded on, ever.

After all, writing a series might be fun, but having the whole thing (or even one sequel) published is quite another. The chances of #1 selling are slim enough as it is, so never plan on #2.

aadams73 · Jan 30, 2007

I think it was Janet Evanovich who said, "Don't hold anything back for the next one."

Good advice in my opinion. Write the first one. If it's published and the numbers are good enough, you might get a chance to write more. But don't count on it.

The_Grand_Duchess · Jan 30, 2007

I had the idea for one story and started it. While I was working on it another story popped in my head and I wrote down the basics of it so I wouldn't forget. Looking back over the outline I had made I relized that it was actully a part of the story I had started before and I couldn't reach and end without telling both chars tales.

If that makes sense

TheIT · Jan 30, 2007

The_Grand_Duchess said:
I had the idea for one story and started it. While I was working on it another story popped in my head and I wrote down the basics of it so I wouldn't forget. Looking back over the outline I had made I relized that it was actully a part of the story I had started before and I couldn't reach and end without telling both chars tales.

If that makes sense

Perfectly. Same thing happened to me on my current novel attempt. At first I thought my new MC was going to be completely separate from what I'd been working on before, then I had the "what if?" epiphany of asking myself "What if she became my other MC's teacher?" Melding the two together gave my fantasy universe a much greater depth than it had before.

Regarding series vs. cliffhangers: as a reader, I like series, but not cliffhangers. I can't stand waiting for the next book to come out in order to find out the ending of the story. Also, as an unpublished author, the chances are a lot greater to get one standalone book published than a cliffhanger.

The_Grand_Duchess · Jan 30, 2007

TheIT said:
Regarding series vs. cliffhangers: as a reader, I like series, but not cliffhangers. I can't stand waiting for the next book to come out in order to find out the ending of the story. Also, as an unpublished author, the chances are a lot greater to get one standalone book published than a cliffhanger.

That is true. The way its written right now it does have a sort of cliffhanger ending but you could also read it and never pick up the next book. Of course you won't really know what happened to poor Simon if you did that.

I don't know, I have a couple of projects floating around right now and I don't think my series is going to be the first thing I shop around.

Yuallica · Jan 30, 2007

I knew when I started my novel that it would be a series, but I only recently decided how many there would be, and what would be in each one. There's no cliffhanger at the end of the first one though, it could be a standalone, although it would leave some hints at things without explaining them, but nothing major.

I only have one cliffhanger in my series, in the middle where there are some big changes happening. Generally, I'm not a big fan of cliffhangers between books, they annoy me too much as a reader waiting for the next one to come out.

Del · Jan 30, 2007

I've developed independent story ideas over the years. I've finished my first novel. I've laid out an order to write the other 6. The last one is a paranormal thriller. The finished one has a MC with a single paranormal gift. She wasn't originally going to surface again. She is a strong character that begs to live. I've decided to bring her back to life as a secondary character in the sixth book. Does this make it a series even though if I took her out of book six there would be no relation between the two books?

Just curious.

IMO: a book should complete. It should stand on its own; be independent even if it is part of a serial. If not, your serial is just a long book published in parts; which is actually the definition of serial, but then, what would that make the other?

Manat · Jan 30, 2007

I ended my paranormal wih the mc making a choice between two men. The choice involves stepping into the unkown. It seemed like the right ending and my beta readers have said the story lead to the choice, and the choice was emotionally satisfying, but it left them wondering and wanting to know what happens next. It left me feeling that way too, so I've decided to continue the story, but that wasn't my intention when I started.

ChaosTitan · Jan 30, 2007

Interesting thread. It makes me think about a random story idea that blossomed into a shared universe with a hundred-odd years of history behind it. But that's an even longer post that will go off on many a tangent.

So to the topic at hand:

That random story idea generated into two-hour pilot script (don't ask, I was obsessed with screenwriting at the time). I had a notebook full of potential story ideas and character arcs. When I gave up the TV idea and adapted it into novel form, I took those character arcs and lengthened the story. A lot. First draft clocked in...um, long. So I split it, added, subtracted, and after a few years of fiddling, I now have a standalone, and a ready sequel. In this case, the sequel lended itself immediately to the first story. The first book can standalone with a few dangling threads, but the sequel completes the characters' story.

In the series I am co-writing, we intended a trilogy (it's going to be a lot more). Again, the first book is a complete story, but it leaves so many doors open for future adventures.

For my latest WIP, I am trying so hard to keep that puppy as a single novel. Can she do it? Stay tuned....

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 30, 2007

I decided it would be a series a long time before I even started writing the first book. However, the first book is standalone. The main plot gets resolved. There are a few subplots about the MC's love life that are sort of unresolved. But overall, I'm not planning a part 2 out of necessity, I'm planning more stories because I like the character and think he's interesting enough to support a series.

Judg · Jan 30, 2007

My WIP is going to be a stand-alone. But I plan on leaving a window open that I could crawl out to find a new story in the rather unlikely event that a publisher begs me to do so. In other words, the main conflict will be resolved, but a subplot or two won't, at least not entirely.

J.S Greer · Jan 30, 2007

My WIP is the first of three, and it can stand alone as it has a logical ending point, but it's clear to anyone who reads it that there is more to come.

Im going to finish it, and if an agent/publisher doesnt want to take a chance like that with a new author(Which they very well may not) then I will write a stand alone before the story arc im writing now.

If you create a world, chances are that you have a nice bunch of stories you could potentially tell.

kristie911 · Jan 30, 2007

My first novel was written as a stand alone but when I finished, my MC's brother wouldn't shut up in my head. I just had to give him his own story. He was so charismatic and conflicted he just screamed for his one book. I cranked it out in just a month or so...when I finished, there was another brother (there's 5 boys and a girl in this family) that had a story. I'm three books into the series now. Of course, I have to sell the first one yet...

I say, if the story is there, write it!

AndreaGS · Jan 30, 2007

Oh dear. My first book is a standalone...if you're ok with the antagonist getting what she wants at the end. I didn't really intend it to be this way, but when I was doing my outline I realized that the story just couldn't be contained in one book. Yikes! It's probably going to hurt my chances of getting published, but here's hoping I find a home for it when it's done.

seun · Jan 31, 2007

I've written the first two of a series. I think the story will be done within another three books. When I started the first book, I had an idea the overall story would be too big for one book but I couldn't have told you how it was going to work out. Now I have an idea which is enough for now.

My WIP could develop into a sequel but I'm edging to a stand-alone. There's something to be said for creating a world and its characters, giving them their story and then moving on.

lfraser · Jan 31, 2007

I can't even imagine trying to do anything as ambitious as a trilogy. I'll be happy if at the end of this year I have a decent draft of a completed novel, even if I just put it away when I'm finished and forget about it. For me, right now, the goal is learning.

C.bronco · Jan 31, 2007

I was about 2/3 through my book when I figured there would be a sequel. Though it's a stand-alone novel, I wanted to address and explore the pertinent issues further. The issues the protagonist was dealing with opened up another can of worms.. I feel obligated to put the worms in their proper place in book 2. No more after that, the story will be done.

Michael Dracon · Jan 31, 2007

I always had in mind that the novel I'm now writing would hopefully turn into a series. I plan to put in an overarching plot in the series. But, I do want each novel to have it's own self-contained story. I don't like to leave people hanging in the middle of the story. I do however want people to look forward to seeing the next part of the overarching plotline.

citymouse · Jan 31, 2007

I never intended to write a novel. I began writing to kill time. After I finished I realized what I had done. After several emails, phone calls and reviews on Amazon.com hoping/asking for more I wote a sequel. Now book three is about to be launched and I've got book four in the works.

I guess I'd say I responded to a fan base. Funny how that worked out. I will say too, I no longer have to look for ways to fill my time!
C

jodiodi · Jan 31, 2007

I wrote one story and thought that was it. It was self-contained and even went into the MC's death and afterward. But other characters kept saying, "But more happened between the end of the main story in that one and the MC's death." So I wound up writing a second story with the same basic set of characters. Then a third, and a fourth, and a fifth. And there are still more books sitting out there. The same cast of thousands (my ensemble cast) populates the books with new characters coming, old characters exiting, maybe for a few scenes, maybe for a book, maybe for good. It's an entire little universe. I'm hoping if I can sell the first one, the rest will have a market (I'm on the 6th story set there right now). Of course, I'll likely never sell anything, but the stories are in my head and I have to get them out so I can make room for other stuff like ... finding a new day job that pays more so I can support my writing habit.

Robyn · Jan 31, 2007

My books that are part of my series can be read as stand alones. I prefer it as opposed to a cliff hanger. Now that doesn't mean that characters from one book won't show up in another book. As it stands I'm anticipating my Wolf/Raven series to span around 10 novels give or take. (about to start book 3 first two have already been contracted). My new Crimson Legends series will more than likely go longer due to the underlying plot that will be a part of all the books. I'm guessing close to 14 novels or so. But again each book can be read as a stand alone since there will be what happens to the hero/heroine aside from the conspiracy.

Now i have written one stand alone book Scottish Whispers which is coming however at the prompting of my editor she talked me into writing a followup detailing a romance between two of the lesser characters from that book. It was something I'd considered but wasn't sure of at first. Now I don't believe that would make this a series per say but then again I could be wrong. I have this tendancy to create underlying issues that (due to their paranormal natures) take more than 1 book to deal with. LOL

Tracey · Feb 3, 2007

Oh dear. My first book is a standalone...if you're ok with the antagonist getting what she wants at the end. I didn't really intend it to be this way, but when I was doing my outline I realized that the story just couldn't be contained in one book. Yikes! It's probably going to hurt my chances of getting published, but here's hoping I find a home for it when it's done.

This is similar to my own experience and something I'm going through right now. I'm almost finished with the first draft of a fantasy novel I'm working on and I fear that the ending will be too rushed now. It's already approaching 100,000 words so I don't want to expand the ending too much. My other option is to flesh the entire thing out and divide it into two separate books. I have enough material for two novels, but I fear this will make it harder to get published. Ideally, I would like to make the first novel end at a place where it can be a stand alone, but I don't know how feasible that is.

Is it better to fit it all into one jam packed novel, or should I expand it over two and allow the characters and story more time to develop properly?

End it, or make it a series?

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