Hi,
I was planning more of my story which I will start writing on Wednesday (cannot wait!!) but yesterday I was thinking about the possible sequel as I'm confident the story could pick up from where it left off. I am hoping my main character's relationship is going to last but I want to write more about what happens behind closed doors.
Has anyone done or thought of writing a sequel? Put into consideration?
JK Rowling knew when she wrote the first Harry Potter that it was only the beginning of the story, and she knew exactly how many books she would need to write in order to tell it.
Sequels sell. Readers feel secure with a new writer whom they can follow, and if you've got the characters right, they'll want to know what happens next - or even what happened before, in the form of a prequel.
If you've got the ideas and the will to write them, do it. It's your book/series, your story - do what works for you. The important thing is to get started!
I've done a sequel, though it was never my intention when I began. Now I have a series planned.
I'm lucky insofar as my historicals can follow a set timescale of conflict which took place over seven years, so provided I can come up with stories to tie in with events which took place then. That's likely the tough part. But it also means my main characters' relationships can develop over a decent period of time, and I'm reluctant to part from them.
If you want to be a writer, a sequel is ALWAYS a good idea (Unless it's a real life story that you can fit into one book, but we're talking fiction right?).
Just because the first book is over, doesn't mean the story has too be. As long as you can write enough to fit into another book. I find trilogies are the best, but you don't have to limit yourself to three books. Heck look at J.K Rowling who write seven books just for one story. I'm sure there are others who have written more then seven books for one story, but she was the first to come to mind.
I think you should try and aim for at least three books for now, and see where your story takes you, because you never know what you're going to change as you write. I've had to change so much at the start of my first book because I didn't think it was going well, genders changes, character were drops and some characters are given new names.
Good luck with your story, hope to see it in stores when it's done.