tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post7708241832841068412..comments2024-03-20T02:49:17.606-07:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: To Sequel? Or Not To Sequel?Natalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-55782804865577152722011-08-12T18:03:17.443-07:002011-08-12T18:03:17.443-07:00First of all...love your blog. 2nd: I love that y...First of all...love your blog. 2nd: I love that you want to be in the stand alone group. I think YA could use more stand alone. Series seem too author interchangeable (if that makes sense)Kimberlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06187940973442646552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-76867996832547547962011-08-10T18:37:58.193-07:002011-08-10T18:37:58.193-07:00I agree. :) All the WiPs I have are standalone boo...I agree. :) All the WiPs I have are standalone books. I'm not against sequels at all but I prefer to write a standalone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-841203770841647642011-08-10T16:26:04.155-07:002011-08-10T16:26:04.155-07:00Seabrooke - Thanks for the recommendations. I thin...Seabrooke - Thanks for the recommendations. I think I will definately have to check out Sunshine now!<br /><br />MelissaMelissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09988954845179582752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-9055986046393691142011-08-10T09:15:55.380-07:002011-08-10T09:15:55.380-07:00I love series...es?
But... I'll also watch the...I love series...es?<br />But... I'll also watch the same movie seven times in a row.Valerie Riekerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00652302930308235322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-33934369575397950052011-08-10T08:50:13.935-07:002011-08-10T08:50:13.935-07:00I would love to see more stand alones. And I was g...I would love to see more stand alones. And I was going to bring up Robin McKinley too, because she has a ton of great stand alones. So Natalie, I applaude the fact that your book is a stand alone.<br /><br />I'm a fan of the companion book. Look at Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore. Fire isn't a sequel to Graceling. Instead it is a companion book set in the same world. So both essentially are stand alones.LinWashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13041832821260168483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-25824348603797564632011-08-10T06:49:03.254-07:002011-08-10T06:49:03.254-07:00kllamp - I heard that about the rambling story in ...kllamp - I heard that about the rambling story in Pegasus, too, though that is a bit her style. The Hero and The Crown is her best-known work, and was good, but I highly recommend Sunshine (ignore the fact that it has vampires - these are proper vampires, not YA vampires), which is perhaps one of my top-5 favourite books right now. It's the one she gets asked most often if she's ever going to write a sequel for. (Her answer has always been no, of course.)Seabrookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09400079400485962650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-85631558961642855782011-08-10T01:02:25.637-07:002011-08-10T01:02:25.637-07:00AH, YES. I love a sequel every now and again, but ...AH, YES. I love a sequel every now and again, but there are so many series where I'll never read the sequels.And I'm totally okay with that. I am a HUGE fan of the standalone. HUGE.Jadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444920778218867295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-80038633785361588732011-08-09T21:58:38.579-07:002011-08-09T21:58:38.579-07:00Seabrooke - I have read Pegasus, read it as part o...Seabrooke - I have read Pegasus, read it as part of my book club last month, and quite enjoyed it. All of us in our book club did agree that the story felt like it could have been condensed, so there may have been an opportunity that it could have been a stand alone novel. Having said that though, I don't know what the whole arc of the story is, how much of it is left to tell. I will, however, be looking forward to reading the rest of the story in Pegasus II. <br /><br />I haven't had the opportunity to read any of her other books yet, so I really can't compare Pegasus with what she has written previously. I think that is something that I will definately do in the near future though!<br /><br />MelissaMelissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09988954845179582752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-82814303221477892572011-08-09T20:25:31.069-07:002011-08-09T20:25:31.069-07:00Oh, YES to more standalones! Or at least series co...Oh, YES to more standalones! Or at least series composed of standalone companion novels rather than one story stretched over several installments. I hate cliffhanger/unresolved endings -- they tend to make me get annoyed at the author rather than want to pick up the next book, haha.lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16524291742541007382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-2465224909525263282011-08-09T18:54:24.187-07:002011-08-09T18:54:24.187-07:00P.S. I'm sure I've said this before, but I...P.S. I'm sure I've said this before, but I LOVE that picture of you. And love your shoes!!!Aubreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01993824625567055858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-26107228904053269592011-08-09T18:53:52.494-07:002011-08-09T18:53:52.494-07:00I say do what feels right to you. You can always ...I say do what feels right to you. You can always write a sequel or a companion novel after something else comes out too.<br /><br />I like both stand-alones and series books. Mostly, I just like it when authors I love to read their books keep writing, cause I want more from them!Aubreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01993824625567055858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-55766655130561346672011-08-09T17:56:04.716-07:002011-08-09T17:56:04.716-07:00Oh, so your publisher gets to decide? That's i...Oh, so your publisher gets to decide? That's interesting. Do all options work that way? And what about a companion novel? In a way I could see that technically satisfying either request ("sequel" or "not a sequel"). :PKristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-69884604232438851702011-08-09T17:24:57.526-07:002011-08-09T17:24:57.526-07:00kllamp - McKinley repeatedly emphasizes on her blo...kllamp - McKinley repeatedly emphasizes on her blog that Pegasus II is not a sequel; she gets pretty defensive when someone tries to imply that it is. She keeps saying it's just all one story that she eventually had to decide to hack in half because she needed her paycheque and the publishers didn't want to have to publish a tome. But, I suppose, I guess that's what a proper, functional series/sequel is, isn't it? Just all one story sliced into digestable pieces. (Have you read Pegasus I? I haven't, but I gather that the point she decided to chop it off at is a bit of a frustrating cliffhanger for readers...)Seabrookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09400079400485962650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-80709847826043088052011-08-09T16:06:15.464-07:002011-08-09T16:06:15.464-07:00I enjoy both sequels and standalones. I'm kind...I enjoy both sequels and standalones. I'm kind of like you, though-- I have so many new ideas, I might be in the standalone circle. Many of my new ideas work great as standalones, and it's nice to read and write books that are complete just as they are.Shalleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09907680428735740943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-53795190196607413222011-08-09T14:59:59.534-07:002011-08-09T14:59:59.534-07:00I do think there are too many sequels/series in YA...I do think there are too many sequels/series in YA/MG than there needs to be, there definately needs to more standalones to balance it out. It's starting to get really tricky picking a good book to read for bookclub without them turning into a series!<br /><br />And Seabrooke, even Robin McKinley who has sworn off sequels/series, is writting a sequel to her latest book Pegasus! I'm just wondering how much pressure she was under to write it!<br /><br />MelissaMelissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09988954845179582752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-41782419672725767622011-08-09T14:37:58.832-07:002011-08-09T14:37:58.832-07:00I think a writer should let the story tell him/her...I think a writer should let the story tell him/her whether there needs to be a sequel or not. <br /><br />My first book was a stand-alone and always will be. <br /><br />I'm 50k into the WIP that I'm pantsing my way through and I know, intuitively, that there's more coming. So I imagine there will be a sequel for that. <br /><br />I'm going to wait and see. :)Cynthia Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14595677706434920552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-69271209628498220362011-08-09T14:08:45.038-07:002011-08-09T14:08:45.038-07:00I'm like Laura. I keep /trying/ to write stand...I'm like Laura. I keep /trying/ to write standalones, but I always end up with more story than will fit in one book. And I know it's not just me being excessively wordy with my writing, either - it's that way more happens between point A and point B than I'd originally anticipated when I write the first words.<br /><br />Your post made me think of Robin McKinley, a YA author who is vehmently anti-sequel. She swears she's never written a sequel and she never intends to. One could argue she's done pretty well for herself despite (because of?) this.Seabrookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09400079400485962650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-19498658248509008122011-08-09T13:34:43.387-07:002011-08-09T13:34:43.387-07:00Children ask me for sequels, so on the last three ...Children ask me for sequels, so on the last three books I've labelled them Book One! Now I HAVE to do something about it. :0)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07957545161716269528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-40807141005929381922011-08-09T13:06:26.938-07:002011-08-09T13:06:26.938-07:00I totally agree! It feels as though there are more...I totally agree! It feels as though there are more sequels than are necessary in the YA world these days, like some stories get dragged out with unnecessary angst and filler just to hit that three book word count. <br /><br />Funny thing is, it seems all the standalone books are the ones I wish had sequels. Standalones make for stronger characters and more compelling stories, I think, so while they give us great resolution, we can't help but want more.White Blank Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12174966209573770468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-20446482845462598892011-08-09T12:48:09.295-07:002011-08-09T12:48:09.295-07:00My co-author and I are already writing a series, a...My co-author and I are already writing a series, and so I became determined to write one-shots, since I'm up to my eyeballs in sequels just from our series. <br /><br />Then I started writing this book (dubbed "Rising" right now) and I got to about 100,000 words and realized I still had too much story to tell, and it wasn't going to FIT in one book. So now Rising1 is done and I'm prepping Rising2 so I can start writing that this week. BUT THAT WILL BE IT.<br /><br />I like having a story with an ending and a beginning and knowing when I'm satisfied with where it leaves off.Laura Josephsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04239501665574945313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-55197941875179129332011-08-09T12:45:58.829-07:002011-08-09T12:45:58.829-07:00As someone frequently asked for book recommendatio...As someone frequently asked for book recommendations by teens, may I vote for a standalone? It is so frustrating to look at my library shelves and see tons of books 2 and 3 but no books 1 or standalones. I end up putting a few things on hold for them, but what they really want is a killer book they can take home TODAY.<br /><br />Please, write the killer book.Nancy Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00209727822644631003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-12440483527214239122011-08-09T12:14:36.204-07:002011-08-09T12:14:36.204-07:00I love standalone books. In fact, if I know a book...I love standalone books. In fact, if I know a book is part of a series I'm always more hesitant to read it. But that could be because I'm impatient and don't have the best memory to wait for the next book and keep the excitement and love that I had for the first book alive.Nicole Settlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06205918337710478398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-50936265904360888092011-08-09T12:09:41.427-07:002011-08-09T12:09:41.427-07:00COMPLETELY agree! How cool that you can get the ch...COMPLETELY agree! How cool that you can get the chance to do a standalone book! I like standalones. Series are hard for me to read (exceptions of course...Harry Potter!) and I can't imagine writing one. I'm always ready to move on to new worlds, new people.Lisa Aldinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-34927735806155815282011-08-09T11:19:12.188-07:002011-08-09T11:19:12.188-07:00FACE ME ALONE, YOU COWARDLY, SHELF-HOGGING, YOUNG-...FACE ME ALONE, YOU COWARDLY, SHELF-HOGGING, YOUNG-ADULT COLLECTION OF FLUFF! The stand alone said to the series.Valerie Riekerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00652302930308235322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-59593193173750955002011-08-09T10:55:12.533-07:002011-08-09T10:55:12.533-07:00This is always an issue for me when I'm in the...This is always an issue for me when I'm in the bookstore searching for a new read. I always WANT a standalone, because that means I don't have to wait YEARS to know what happens.<br /><br />BUT... <br />when I'm done with standalones I always wish that they were part of a series, because I wish there was more. <br /><br />Ultimately, (i just decided) I think I end up enjoying series more, because I spend YEARS with that series rather than days. Thus I feel more connected and involved int he story.Delilah (Del)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06528842715565878674noreply@blogger.com