A number of readers are saying that I should start finishing off Changes as it appears to be coming to a natural end, as certain threads are closing or have closed. Others have said that I should go into book 2 or some sort of sequel as there are a lot of things unfinished.
I tried the book 2 methods for Working Girl and Home Alone and while they were appreciated, I always felt that the edge had been knocked off the readers appetite.
I wonder if it's due to the fact that readers forget what has happened before in book 1 or new readers do not want to wade through the whole of book 1 to understand what is happening in the new book.
It is popular to do sequels in films, some are good, some indifferent but most are worse than the original. Good ones in my opinion being The Godfather Part 2 and The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers
Although I do not intend finishing Changes yet, there will be a time when it does finish sooner or later. What do you think, to sequel or not to sequel?
Hugs
Sue
Comments
there's sequels, and then there are sequels.
a sequel should be able to stand on it's own feet. in other words: it should be it's own story, without the need to read the other story first, or too many recaps to make the story work. More or less a closed story based on the same characters and places. but that doesn't mean that there can't be some storylines that are continued in the sequel.
in the case of "changes", there's just too much unfinished business to just end it there. would continueing the story be better or starting a sequel? that depends on how you want to handle it. both could work.
Not the Lord of the Rings
That was actually part of a huge book which was originally divided (internally) into six parts. For the film treatment, the story was broken into three just-about manageable sections, each way longer than most average films. They still had to chop lots of story out. So you can't really call LotR 2 or 3 sequels in the accepted sense of the word.
As for sequels generally, I think it's usually taken for granted that anyone who reads part 2 etc. has read the preceding part, so just a small explanation of who's what and why at the front, to refresh the reader's memory, should be sufficient.
I personally think the decision as to whether or not to start a sequel or just carry on is the time factor. If the action just carries on from the end of the previous story, then in most cases it's just a new chapter of the story. If some time passes between the events at the end of the previous part and the beginning of the new one, then it should be a sequel.
Penny
A matter of time? Not always
While I think your "time factor" is a decent rule-of-thumb, it's a rule that can and should be broken at times. For some reason, the "Back to the Future" movies come to mind as an example.... ;)
What is a sequel?
There are two types of sequels.
The first is really a continuation of the story - where the actual overall plot was simply broken into parts with natural break points. The Lord of the Rings was a trilogy that was actually one long continuing story that had a definite end. Star Wars was a six part story.And there are a number of examples here also. The 'sequels' succeed because the story is a coherent whole that takes the reader to a satisfying conclusion.
The second is a series of self-contained stories that contain the same characters but each story stands completely on its own. The Raider of the Lost Ark and its successors are an example.
In both cases the key to success lies in the maintenance of the characters's style and a continuity of actions that is consistent with their characters. The most successful 'sequels' are the ones that come from the same author's pen and that were planned.
Usually the flops come when an author tries to recreate the magic on demand because the fans call for it. Then the 'sequel's' success can be very hit and miss. It especially happens in Hollywood because if a film succeeds Hollywood wants to capitalize on that success and tries to rush another into production. the result is often a disaster because the author hadn't planned for it - or even worse another author is brought in to write it because the original author was smart enough not to try.
Commentator
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If you go the Sequel route
Why not kept it in the cove but make it Sarah or Abby's story? Sort of like what SaraUK did with "You Have It All Wrong", I think that you have created so many wonderful characters in this little cove it would be a pity not to read more about them.I know I would like to.
Huggs
Sam
Pleas don't...
I have heard some, ask that Changes end. But you won't hear that from me.... Samantha has become as a sister to me and many of your readers, And Dotty, Abby, Jacasta and the rest are like family to us. We haven't even heard from Samanthas sister and her family. And what about poor little Heather, after all that she has gone through, do we abondon her now? This village and it's people, have become to me, the very best the world can be, a place where you can be accepted for who you are...not who you were. Othe great stories have made the mistake in ending too soon, such as "A Winters Tale" and "Becoming Christina Chase" just seemed to disssappear just as the flower was just budding, not realizing the fruit to follow. Abby's cats get nine lives, this has only been "Changes" first, what about the other eight. A very loyal reader...Mary.
Another reason for a sequel
There is another reason for a sequel that I see often in fantasy writing. When a body of work simply grows too large to be convenient in one volume, the author begins to split the work into manageable sections, deeming them "novels", hopefully at natural breakpoints. This may be due to hard copy publishing limitations, more than dramatic necessity, but I find that looking at a truly massive tome to be somewhat daunting. I've read novels that exceeded 1000 pages, but not many.
Even here with online works, I have discovered a reluctance to begin Angarad's Easy as Falling Off a Bike epic. When I joined BC I think that the story was somewhere in the 700 chapter realm, and now it is over 800. I can't say that I would start the work if it were broken into, say, 100-chapter novels, but I might. As it is, I have a mental block that I simply cannot surmount. Some of that reluctance may be due merely to the astounding overall length of the project, but I happily ordered Jenny Walker's 2 No Half Measures volumes, each about 400 pages, from Lulu.
There is a sense of "do-ability" with a novel-length work,a belief that one can read it and perhaps not go on if not that entranced. Yet there is also the sense of anticipation when the story is truly engrossing, that waiting for the next novel in the series to come out. It is definitely not as palpable online, at least when the next novel begins right away with Chapter One, weeks after the ending of the last book. Still, I would not advocate that an author hold off publishing until they have completed their next novel, unless that is their writing style.
Anyway, those are my two cents' worth.
SuZie
SuZie
bike installments
Bike is available in 50 chapter installments in the archive section, up to 700 or 750.
Not quite there yet
Apologies for straying off-topic a little...;)
If you follow the link which is mentioned in the pre-page of Bike, then you get to the 50-part installments, but only up to part 600...
Grtz, John
Why would anyone want to write a sequel?
The important point about the sequels you mention is that the initial stories were incredibly popular, and needed no introduction to most of the population. The sequels got coverage in the press and TV which generated their own publicity.
Most writers on this site unfortunately do not have the same advantage.
That means the starting point for potential readers is a proportion of readers of the original story.
So the question I ask is "Why would anyone want to write a sequel, when there are an infinite number of potential new stories out there?"
For one thing, some people
For one thing, some people won't read a story until it is complete. So finishing up the first story at a logical conclusion can bring in readers that would otherwise not read your work.
For another, it gives an opportunity to take a fresh start ... while you can't change the characters there are things you can do, like introducing new themes into the overall story.
The key as has been mentioned is that each must be self contained. The story should have enough at the beginning to give new readers a general idea of what happened before, without being burdonsome to existing readers. If a new reader likes the new story they can go back and read the original.
And that does bring more readers to the overall work.
Hugs,
Kristy
Sequel or Continuation?
Generally, a sequel is a new story using characters from a previous work in a new situation, the previous work having concluded its story line. Larger works, like the Lord of the Rings, are broken up into groups (most commonly trilogies) because the entire work was too big for a single printed volume. The story is continuous over the individual books.
Which raises a question. If the work is intended to be in electronic form and read over the web, is there any purpose in breaking it into individual sections since the size of a printed book is no longer a consideration?
A good question
I have to say that for most of my time publishing on this site, and FM before, I took exactly the same view, that there was no point in splitting a long story into smaller parts. However, I have now come to feel there is a problem with stories that are longer than can be comfortably read in one session - scrolling through to find out where I got to - indeed, even remembering the title is sometimes a challenge if I haven't bothered to put it in my favourites.
So with my last publication of a complete story, I took the decision to split it into six chapters, and published a chapter a day.
The Benefits: I received a lot more feedback than normal - there were even readers who said they couldn't wait for the next chapter. Because of that, I got much more of a buzz than normal from the feedback.
The Downside: There was more than six times the effort normally involved in publishing, as you have to go through all the check boxes each time, as well as ensuring that each chapter has something meaningful in it. I usually include pictures in the text, which in most of my previous stories was usually only two or three per story. This time, it had to be two or three pictures per chapter. Time also had to be found each day to spend publishing the chapter.
Summary: A lot more hard work, but I think worth it for the extra positive feedback and sense of achievement.
BUT: The story was already complete. I didn't have the stress of trying to finish a chapter quickly in order to get it published, and then realising that I should have done something slightly differently in Chapter one. I believe stories need to mature before they are published.
To Sequel, or not to Sequel. That is the Question
As another commenter has already pointed out, in order to succeed a good sequel has to take the character somewhere else, confronted by new challenges. Simply to pick up the next day with the protagonist waking up and say, 'Well, what shall I wear/do/start today' is a prescription for disaster.
In the Newly Chronicles I took the protagonist and catapulted her ahead two years, dropping Amanda into a situation that was, needless to say, life altering. Almost all the characters from the first book, 'Tips' showed up in the second book, 'A Different Kind of Courage,' as did Amanda's gender issues. How she handled them this time were different than how she handled them the first time because Amanda was a changed person thanks to her experiences in the intervening two years. Book three of the series, on the other hand, was but a continuation of book two, but had a different emphasis to it simply because Amanda had resolved her primary issues only to be confronted with a whole new batch of issues, many of which were not of her makings.
My adventures with Jordan Wallace, ('First and Ten' or 'Dance of the Baccha'), on the other hand do not lend themselves well to a sequel, at least not one that would be as much fun for either the reader or myself. The bloom, as they say, is off Jordan's rose.
Susan G., on the other hand, is being purposely built to serve as the foundation of a series, which is different than closely connected sequels. Hence my desire to build up a strong cadre of characters that I can use as needed in subsequent stories.
Bottom line, in my humble opinion sequels can not only succeed, but actually be stronger that the lead off work. It all depends on how you lay the ground work or, in the case of the Newly Chronicles, the story you weave in book two.
Okay, time to get off me soap box and back to writing.
Till next time, stay safe and sane.
Nancy Cole
"You may be what you resolve to be."
T.J. Jackson
To sequel or not to sequel
First, thanks for the superb story.
Second, since you haven't finish with it yet (may it be in a long time), I would say "wait for it to finish" and then look IF you want to say anything more about it, the place, the peapols. Or do you want to go in a new direction.
Love t.m.f.
Continuation, not sequel
As others have said (and myself elsewhere), although one chapter in Sam's life is ending (with several loose ends still to tie up), a new one has already started - so continuation would make more sense than a sequel.
Changes so far has dealt with what you might call a transition period covering the end of life as Mark and the start of life as Sam. In strict storyline terms, from Mark walking out on Olivia to Sam attending Olivia's funeral; and in loose storyline terms, from the start of Mark and Olivia's relationship. In sub plots, we've had Olivia tell her side of the story, including a bit of an insight into Nigel's dodgy dealing - raping his daughter, running a loan shark business, getting into trouble with HMRC - and that's just what we know about. As Sam and Miles delve into Nigel's business empire, they'll probably discover more unpleasantries. We've also had Sam getting her artist career started with two commissions from Lady F (and one self-appointed commission [lifeboat]) - ideally in future episodes we'll see the gallery opening and starting to sell paintings, as well as the completion of the Lady F and lifeboat commission. What else? Oh yes - bringing Sarah out of her shell (as far as we know, she hadn't explored beyond Lady F's mansion since arriving...until now!); joining the "influential village women" social circle; Heather
One use for part of the fortune not yet discussed - finding a cat minder for Jezebel Cottage, as with the arrival of Heather (and possibly in just under a year baby 2), Abby won't be able to spend as much time catering for the cats as beforehand. Well, I suppose if the cats aren't too fussy about when their food is laid down, perhaps Sarah could earn some pocket money that way?
There's the possibility of a new sub plot - Dawn & co. moving into the Cove and renovating their new home (plus no doubt joining the social circle - if they get many more members the pub will need to reserve the gallery for their use!).
And if things are swimming along too nicely, bring one of Nigel's goons out of the woodwork (in a similar manner to the Russian Mafia's occasional intrusions into Cathy Watts' life)
There's probably not enough life in the story to sustain it to anywhere near "Bike" proportions, but another dozen (or few dozen) chapters are a distinct possibility...
-oOo-
Meanwhile, this scenario would probably never happen, but it's fun to speculate:
The accountant's called Miles Cameron - if he's any relation to the Camerons in "Bike", perhaps he could recommend (via Simon) that Cathy & co. have a well-earned holiday in the Cove... that would be fun :)
--Ben
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
JUST KEEP IT GOING
RAMI
Sue
JUST KEEP THE STORY COMING.
RAMI
RAMI
Changes Two: Heather Has Two Mommies
I think why so many have called for a wrap up of CHANGES is because the two deaths seemed like such a climactic moment in the story. And many of us have been taught that a story shouldn't drag on after the big finale. I'm one of those people who feel that way...
But I don't think any of us don't want to see more of these delightful characters, just the formality of an official ending. A new title as the story resumes. Don't know why this is, and maybe it's silly but it feels that way to me.
A successful sequel needs a plot of its own, and something to distinguish it. I was very skeptical that Anistasia Allread's PRINCESS & THE PLAGUE would be as good as CAMP KOMONI, but I was amazed at how good it is. Erika's subterfuge at school, her decision that she's serious about being a girl, the difficulty with her parents- all strong points and all new. Maybe I'm a philistine, but I thought ALIENS was one of the best sequels ever made. Instead of one monster there was a jillion of them, and this really ramped up the excitement. So if a whole bunch of aliens were to invade Pennmarris-
No, okay. Nevermind that. But a new conflict of some sort. Two strong possibilities that could possibly work in tandem: The problems with Nigel's estate, his quasi-criminal businesses and his partners, one could be a very strong villian. I don't mean gun play and kidnappings amd stuff, but just making it hell on Sam, blocking her every move. But what would REALLY be a serious conflict is if somebody tried to take Heather away from her "unfit" "deviant" etc etc new parents; and had enough clout that Lady F couldn't simply brush them aside. That would be really, really really, really scary for we who have come to love Sam & Abbie.
Just some random blather here. I'll keep reading no matter how you chose to do this.
I just want to see more of Samantha, Abby, Heather, Jacosta, Her Snootiness etc...
~~~hugs, laika
Well shit, I guess it really CAN happen here..,
.
Alphabet Soup (of enemies)
Sue already has another group 'bearing down' on Samanatha, with the capability to make her life difficult. Sue has already mentioned CPS in respect of Nigel's murder - but with the level of his activities perhaps SFO will also want to get involved in the unwinding of Nigel's affairs. Mittfh dragged in HMRC who will certainly want their cut of Nigel's gains, ill-gotten or otherwise. Laika is suggesting SS.
But there's another acronym waiting in the wings - HFEA. Olivia - through the connivance of a dodgy medic - misused Tom's sample. Although there is allegedly some material left, no honest doctor is going to touch it, even with the proverbial bargepole, until the HFEA have cleared it for use in insemination. Although the material was his in the first place, because it was not taken specifically for the purposes of insemination, it is in limbo. In fact, if it was taken for a sperm count, then it should have been destroyed once that was done. Sensible or not, them's the rules.
Incidentally, having met the current HFEA chair a few times, I think it likely that it would all fall into place with some knuckles (but not Samantha's) being severely rapped. But it isn't going to be as straightforward as might be hinted at in Chapter 54
Xi
CPS - Criminal Prosecution Service (closest US analogue DA's office)
SFO - Serious Fraud Office (the Feds?)
HMRC - Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (IRS)
SS - Social Services
HFEA - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (no US equivalent at all)
http://blog.bioethics.net/2005/09/another-full-frontal-attac... is helpful for context