I'm so completely shot for blog ideas this week that I'm writing a sequel to a previous entry, and this entry is itself about writing a sequel. It's like I already work in Hollywood.
So, yes, this is a continuation of last week's entry. Because despite my best efforts, I'm still unable to pull my head out of this one book and work on other things. Some of that is because I'm getting feedback from a beta reader, which has been awesome and helpful and will lead to a slightly updated version of the book going out to another two beta readers this weekend. (Seriously, I'm so happy to have this many people reading the book. And two of them have never read anything of mine before.) That's the good part. The part that felt good at first but now doesn't seem that way is that I've been working on the sequel to The Book of Lost Runes.
Is there a word for something that feels good and productive but at the same time could also be a colossal waste of time and effort? Because that's kind of what working on a sequel to this book feels like.
As good as I feel about BoLR, I know that it has a very high chance of ending up like every single other book I've written: stuffed into a folder deep on my hard drive, with nothing more coming of it than a learning experience and another number to add when I tell people how many books I've written*. I'm usually an optimist, but I need to be realistic about this or else the whole publishing attempt process will end with me sitting here alone and crying, and I've already done that once this year. So taking down notes for a sequel feels like the worst kind of wheel-spinning - like I'm wasting time working on something that has even less chance of turning into a book than most of my plots.
I think that's what gets me the most. Here I am, trying to get all these ideas in my head to form themselves into workable plots and characters and settings and everything else, and the only stuff I can make work is for places and people and things I've already established. It's like my brain is tired and only wants easy work. I do not like having a lazy brain. >_<
Now, I know that, if a miracle occurs and BoLR gets published, I'll be glad I took the time to scribble down every idea I've had for the sequel. From what I've heard and read and picked up along the way, if the publisher wants a sequel, I'll be on deadline for that right away, and it will only help if I already have the plot done so I can get started as soon as possible. But I've been at this too long to count on that happening.
I've been at this too long to count on anything happening, but that's mostly just me being tired and bitter. :P
Bottom line: as usual, I don't know what the hell I'm doing. I have a book that I love, one that's only getting better with the feedback I get. I have a story I really want to tell, one that's growing in the telling and showing me things I never would have guessed when I first started writing down ideas. But writing a sequel to a book when I have no idea if that book will ever get published feels like an enormous waste of time. And I'm having a hell of a time getting myself to work on anything else.
Is this why writers drink?
*To those people who hear that I've written over a dozen books and yet I'm not a famous author, and proceed to ask me stupid questions about it: I hate you so much. Maybe not forever, but in that moment? Yeah, serious loathing.
I had that experience with my series that's now out. I did actually write about 30K of book 2 before book 1 ever landed a contract. (Wish I'd gotten that far with book 3 before book 2 released.)
ReplyDeleteI have heard of people writing two or even three books in a series before getting them published. I just don't know if it's the right thing for me to do, and I'd really like to be able to work on other things. >_<
DeleteYes, it is why writers drink.
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd had a plan for sequels when my first book got picked up. I didn't even start writing the second one until after the first one was published. Unless you're just hating the sequel at the moment, good idea to get a little bit ahead.
Fair point. It started out as me writing stuff down so I didn't forget it, as always, and somewhere along the way I realized I had a list of all the things that needed to happen in the book. I just need to put them in order and see what the story still needs.
DeleteI'm staring at this from a different perspective because I'm self-published, but when I wrote my first two books, a duet (as opposed to a trilogy, and still stuffed in a digital folder), there was a lot of science and some paranormal stuff, not to mention the bad guys from different countries, etc. I decided to at least get the sequel plotted and partially written in case I needed to tweak something where plausibility was concerned. I didn't want to lock myself in to a 'canon' only to discover something wasn't going to fly when I wrote book two.
ReplyDeleteI say get it plotted at least.
That's a good point. I'd like to make any changes to the first book that the second book makes necessary, as long as that doesn't screw anything up.
DeleteHeh. I'd never thought of a series as being lazy. Then again, my writing passion lies in finishing a 4 book series, with a spin-off series of humor novellas, based on characters from that same world. I've never attempted to be a career author, and I think that's part of the reason. I want to write my four books and multiple novellas, and I won't have any regrets if I don't get past that.
ReplyDeleteI am somewhat envious of those who have and pursue multiple story ideas. I get reluctant to think of new stuff because I want to finish what I've started. I think the key difference between us is that you want to move on, where I don't. You will achieve greatness someday, I know it.
I'm interested in being a beta reader, if you're looking for a set of eyes. I'm still beta reading another's story right now, but once I'm done, I'd be happy to give a read-through with thoughts.
Thank you. ^_^ I've always had a ton of different ideas and I've plotted out more things than I will ever be able to write, even if I live to 120. Okay, maybe if I live that long. Any less makes it nigh-impossible.
DeleteAnd I'd love to have you as a beta reader, thank you. I'll get in touch with you via Twitter or something like that, and we can talk. ^_^
"Is there a word for something that feels good and productive but at the same time could also be a colossal waste of time and effort?"
ReplyDeletePublishing? *grins*
I can't tell if I'm doing the "funny because it's true" laugh or the "funny because it hurts" laugh right now. :P
DeleteLol! Sorry, I"m laughing at Carrie's comment. Spot on ;)
ReplyDeletehaven't started book two yet. Instead, I'm working on a whole different story I've been wanting to get down for over a year now--I've been so excited about this one. I do have most of the plot for book 2 already worked out in my head (that's usually how most of my book outlines are worked out. I'm a more mental organizing type) as well as some things from book 3. See where it goes, but writing is never a waste of time. Never.
Oops...just notice the first part of my sentence got hacked after the wink...
Delete'I have a book with series potential out right now but...."
There you go!
I think you've got it right there, that writing's never a waste of time. Thank you. Even if nothing comes of this, at least I got it all out and down in my plotting document, and I can make use of it elsewhere if this book goes nowhere.
DeleteI have two sequels written to a book that has never been published, that's been on a round of submissions and was rejected, and that my agent feels it is best to "shelve" for now. I couldn't help myself. I wrote the sequels anyway because I couldn't let go of the characters. If nothing else, I wrote them for me -- and I learned a lot while writing them.
ReplyDeleteRight now I'm working on a first draft of an option book -- even though I'm really only required to submit an outline and 3 sample chapters. I know my time is better spent sticking to the minimum required and then working on something else until and unless I know the option has been picked up. But a) my head is stuck in the book and b) I've never been able to produce a successful outline without a rough draft.
Yeah, I know outlining after drafting is backwards. Talk to my Muse.
I understand writing something just for yourself - the crazy dream book was like that for me, as I figured there's no chance it would ever get published but I had to write it because I knew if I didn't, I'd spend my whole life wondering if I could have made it work. There's something to be said for it, and I'm sure most if not all writers write a lot of stuff that no one ever sees. Hrm.
DeleteI think it's precisely why writers drink :) You'll never know if it was "worth it" until later and until you get your hands on that crystal ball, everything's a crap shoot. Follow your gut. It probably won't steer you wrong (unless you're drunk:) And to those people who ask you why you're not famous yet: have you been practicing your stare of three thousand deaths? It works wonders on idiots. I have mine down pat.
ReplyDeleteDespite Mr. Hemingway's famous advice, I never actually write drunk. :P But I agree, it's best to go with what feels right to write.
DeleteAnd oddly enough, some people tell me I have a natural death stare, while other people laugh like crazy when I try to use said death stare. So I'm doing something wrong and I don't know what. O_o
It sounds to me that your mind needs a bit of a refresher. If it's acting like it needs some light work, give it some light work. I'd say, write some random scenes with/about your characters and see if that doesn't spark some inspiration. It's not like you have anything to lose by doing that, right?
ReplyDelete