Chance of a sequel or spin-off

[GaryK]

School absolutely should take priority over writing. If it's school that's holding you back from doing more writing then I'll just have to be more patient.

[Benji]

School absolutely should take priority over writing. If it's school that's holding you back from doing more writing then I'll just have to be more patient.

 

 

............A sequel to LTMP? Somehow I think Scar will mysteriously dissapear in the current saga to only re-appear in this sequel. So the title of the sequel will be Forrest

Jerry Clump.

[Drewbie]

QUOTE (W.L. @ May 27 2008, 09:43 AM) *

I also feel like you could explore the band dynamic wise; The Shadows could be explored a little more, too; including the relationship of Wilde and Steve. Here is a plea from not just one fan, please give Eric a relationship with someone, preferably Cody, and tons of Tequilla for his wild adventures!

 

thats all I have to say

 

 

Eric qualifies as somebody no? as far as things being qualified as abandoned... I doubt six weeks qualifies as being abandoned. Six months I would capitulate to that statement. Fear not though. the chapter is 95% finished and should be off to beta and all that good stuff by tomorrow night ( sorry folks maths problem sets come first!)

 

Steve

 

Think most of us understand school comes first.

 

Maybe Eric will snatch cody off his feet.

 

since we now know there will be a sequel now we just have to wait

Edited May 27, 2008 by Drewbie

[Graeme]

Question; is two weeks between chapters too much?

 

CJ, yes, two weeks between chapters is way too long. It's hard enough to go one week between chapters.

While I appreciate Gary's comment, I think I have to disagree. Unless you have the story completed and just waiting to roll out, a chapter a week is a very high strain on an author and editor -- especially for a story that goes for 30+ chapters. It is basically saying you're committing to working on the story every week for over six months. If the story, like LTMP, is 40+ chapters, you're talking about a year. A year without breaks....

 

Authors need breaks. They need to have their own lives. They need to have time to do other things -- even if it's just writing on something different (eg. anthologies).

 

Readers need consistency. They need to have the interval short enough that they haven't forgotten what's happened before.

 

A two week posting cycle is a good compromise. Weekly is better, if it's not too much of a strain (eg. if the chapters are prepared in advance and just rolled out), but if you are still working on the story, I think weekly is too much if you want to have a life outside of writing.

Edited May 27, 2008 by Graeme

[Tiger]

While I appreciate Gary's comment, I think I have to disagree. Unless you have the story completed and just waiting to roll out, a chapter a week is a very high strain on an author and editor -- especially for a story that goes for 30+ chapters. It is basically saying you're committing to working on the story every week for over six months. If the story, like LTMP, is 40+ chapters, you're talking about a year. A year without breaks....

 

Authors need breaks. They need to have their own lives. They need to have time to do other things -- even if it's just writing on something different (eg. anthologies).

 

Readers need consistency. They need to have the interval short enough that they haven't forgotten what's happened before.

 

A two week posting cycle is a good compromise. Weekly is better, if it's not too much of a strain (eg. if the chapters are prepared in advance and just rolled out), but if you are still working on the story, I think weekly is too much if you want to have a life outside of writing.

Graeme, you pretty well summed it up. Burn out is the death knell to a story. I do not know everything about it, but I seem to remember a certain author who may be burned out. At that point, creativity is low or maybe even non-existent. Couple that with CJ's work, everything else he does here, and his personal life, there is only so much he can write. That goes for all authors really. If I get into a rush about writing, I simply cannot write. Write for your own enjoyment. Your fans will appreciate it.

[GaryK]

Both Graeme's and Tim's comments are exactly why I suggested CJ take a break from writing for a little while.

 

Do what Jack Scribe is doing and enjoy some downtime. Then write your entire story before you start to release it. At that point a chapter a week is reasonable.

 

Please don't push yourself to get all these great ideas ve swirling around in your head into coherent stories all at once.

 

I'd rather go for a few months with nothing new from you than risk you getting burned out and maybe even lose the desire to write.

[TalonRider]

Graeme makes a valid point about posting bi-weekly. Several authors do that. I could always look forward to new chapter from him. The following week, I could look forward to a new chapter of 'The Scrolls of Icaria', by Jamie. So when you have a couple of favorite authors at one site, you have something to look forward to each week. That is until one story ends or the other runs out of chapters to post.

[W_L]

The guys are right; although as a reader, I know the selfish desire to read new stories, too. CJ take a good break and if you feel like it afterward start to create a new story or do a sequel. Just remember us readers will keep on rocking and rolling for you with strange ideas and concepts.

[Drewbie]

Taking a brake after the finishing LMTP sounds good to me, plus can rest up.

 

Think many of us can wait a bit

[Tiger]

I agree. I would never suggest that you quit writing for a while. That is never a good thing. I try to write something everyday, even if it is just a paragraph. However, it's not a bad idea to take a breather so that one can catch up on some reading or get away for a vacation. A well-rested author is more likely to feel creative.

[wildone]

Since were talking about sequels and such....

 

The first story that I ever read from CJ was No Shirt No Problem. I always thought that it screamed to be continued on. On the other hand, I know it was CJ's first attempt at posting something, so in a way it is perfect the way it is.

 

What do y'all, ya'll, you all think?

 

Steve

 

P.S. In case you haven't read it, I recommend you do. It is here

[C James]

Thanks!!!

 

At most, I'd take a two to three week break to build up a chapter buffer. Or post every two weeks for a short while. I couldn't stop writing; I enjoy it too much.

 

To be honest, I may have spoken too soon about what is next. Let my leave that in flux for a while. I'm already working on an LTMP sequel featuring some of the LTMP characters. I can't say who just yet, as that would be a spoiler for LTMP. Just... Don';t make assumptions.

 

And yes, Shadowgod just HAD to go and point out that I originally entitled the sequel "Changing Lanes in Full Force". The title fir the plot... and I liked it, right up until I shortened it to an acronym for the first time (such as I do for LTMP). ARGH! I blame Shadowgod... It seems everything around him becomes cliff-related!

 

And thanks Wildone about No Shirt? No Problem! That indeed was my first try at posting something. It's rather rough in many ways. Also, for those who haven't read it, it's rather ironic... I'm noted for rarely using sex scenes, and not graphic ones... But NSNP makes me a hypocrite on that score. LoL

 

I do want to do a sequel... But most likely, it would be a second chapter. I have a plot in mind but I think it would work better as more of a second short story than as a serial.

[Benji]

Taking a brake after the finishing LMTP sounds good to me, plus can rest up.

 

Think many of us can wait a bit

 

 

............The patience of a Domaholic?

[W_L]

Time to bring back this dead thread to speculate on the sequel to the amazing Let the music play story.

 

We know not the fate of Scar after his death or what plans he might still have. Remember he still has $5 million dollars in the bank, so he could theoretically get back on top again.

 

Lump and the Shadows, where will they go and how can Lump deal with life post-rehab and trying to figure out how to live without fearing gay people or even more interestingly if he might indulge in it on occasion.

 

Then we have our own instinct, how changed is Helen? What ever happened to Jim? Brandon and Chase wedding plans going good? Can Jon, Eric, and Chase mend fences with the parents ever?

 

Lastly, Fans can not forget about Eric's need for Tequila and sex. Will this party animal ever calm down? Will he settle down with one guy or girl? (I know Cody may have been a one time thing, but I want Eric with him) or Will he end up like Brian from Queer as folk (US version) and love without settling down? (still am not satisfied with that ending after finishing that show a few weeks ago)

 

The future is bright and look free from nuclear explosions....................

 

PS. Please don't neuter or spade your Goats, they are warm and fun, Right CJ! :2hands:

[C James]

Time to bring back this dead thread to speculate on the sequel to the amazing Let the music play story.

 

We know not the fate of Scar after his death or what plans he might still have. Remember he still has $5 million dollars in the bank, so he could theoretically get back on top again.

 

Lump and the Shadows, where will they go and how can Lump deal with life post-rehab and trying to figure out how to live without fearing gay people or even more interestingly if he might indulge in it on occasion.

 

Then we have our own instinct, how changed is Helen? What ever happened to Jim? Brandon and Chase wedding plans going good? Can Jon, Eric, and Chase mend fences with the parents ever?

 

Lastly, Fans can not forget about Eric's need for Tequila and sex. Will this party animal ever calm down? Will he settle down with one guy or girl? (I know Cody may have been a one time thing, but I want Eric with him) or Will he end up like Brian from Queer as folk (US version) and love without settling down? (still am not satisfied with that ending after finishing that show a few weeks ago)

 

The future is bright and look free from nuclear explosions....................

 

PS. Please don't neuter or spade your Goats, they are warm and fun, Right CJ! :2hands:

 

Absolutely!

 

"Changing Lanes" will deal with many of the aforementioned things. Let The Music Play was about the nuclear plot (that's why the title line was The Scar's), so to me it just didn't seem right to continue the story after that was settled. However, there is much left to be told, so that's how the sequel got started.

 

The writing has been going very slowly lately. For me, I find the first chapters hard, because in them I need to lay the groundwork for all the follows. For example, Lump being a good for The Shadows had to go in the first few chapters of LTMP. I also sometimes write non-linearly, and I'm indulgi9ng that now by writing some parts of Changing Lanes that are about halfway through the story. I did that with chapter 36, 37, and 38 of LTMP: I wrote those back around ch 24... Anyway, long story short, I've fallen behind due to both offline life and taking a break. Sometimes, I do take a few days off of writing to think things through; I find that helps and recharges by batteries, so to speak. Anyway, the long and the short of it is, I only just finished Ch 5 a few minutes ago. I hope to have chapter one ready soon, but it might be a bit late, or, I might end up not being able to keep a weekly schedule for a while, (sometimes there might be a ten day gap, for example). At the moment, I'm also just finishing up Ch 1 of "Jake", so that's another project.

 

CJ

[BlueSoxSWJ]

I think the "proper" answer to how often an author should post is that, well, you're writing for the same reason we're reading - entertainment. If it starts to feel more like work and less like fun, slow down or take a break.

 

Wildone, if a math problem set is keeping you from writing, send it my way ... I was a math major

 

In terms of posting a story, I think it's better to hold out until the story is finished or you plan on finishing it out, rather than posting until a "break point," then leaving it for a while. The loss of momentum can really hurt or even kill a story.

[Graeme]

CJ, now is the time when you can take a break if you want to. I know you well enough that you'll put yourself under pressure as soon as you start posting. If you want to take an extra two or even four weeks out before you start posting, then take the time -- your fans will still be here. You know you won't stop once it starts, so this is the time to catch your breath.

 

Good luck!

 

Graeme

[Benji]

CJ, now is the time when you can take a break if you want to. I know you well enough that you'll put yourself under pressure as soon as you start posting. If you want to take an extra two or even four weeks out before you start posting, then take the time -- your fans will still be here. You know you won't stop once it starts, so this is the time to catch your breath.

 

Good luck!

 

Graeme

 

 

.........I agree with Graeme, CJ take a break before posting C.L.I.F.F

[TalonRider]

I predict that CJ will be taking a break.

[wildone]

<br /><br /><br />Wildone, if a math problem set is keeping you from writing, send it my way ... I was a math major <img src="https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=" " border="0" alt="tongue.gif" /><br /><br

<br /><br /><br />

 

Hey, I don't have trouble with math problems as long as they don't go higher than 21.

 

I think you were referring to Steve #1.

 

Besides I don't think you'd like what I would write.

 

Steve #2

[Tiger]

CJ, now is the time when you can take a break if you want to. I know you well enough that you'll put yourself under pressure as soon as you start posting. If you want to take an extra two or even four weeks out before you start posting, then take the time -- your fans will still be here. You know you won't stop once it starts, so this is the time to catch your breath.

 

Good luck!

 

Graeme

Bravo Graeme! The reason authors burn out and become blocked is simply because of all the pressure. It comes to you when it comes to you. When it becomes too much you stop suddenly like several authors here. I won't name names, because we all know who they are. It's better to pace yourself and focus on other parts of your life before writing becomes a chore.

[MikeL]

I agree. Take a break. Just don't pull a Dom Luka on us.

Edited July 15, 2008 by MikeL

[BlueSoxSWJ]

<br /><br /><br />

 

Hey, I don't have trouble with math problems as long as they don't go higher than 21.

 

I think you were referring to Steve #1.

 

Besides I don't think you'd like what I would write.

 

Steve #2

 

Yeah, I did. And I'm Steve too, just to confuse things some more. But yeah, I was in a hurry to get to work this morning and had to post without proofreading.

[shadowgod]

Yeah, I did. And I'm Steve too, just to confuse things some more. But yeah, I was in a hurry to get to work this morning and had to post without proofreading.

 

Suddenly that line from Steele Magnolias is making more and more sense... :wacko: you other steve's don't like track lighting do you?

 

Back on topic however, I told via email Goat, take a break, youve gone nonstop since the beginning of FTL. Chillax recharge, build up a reserve. then come back and proceed to blow us all away again

[Tiger]

Back on topic however, I told via email Goat, take a break, youve gone nonstop since the beginning of FTL. Chillax recharge, build up a reserve. then come back and proceed to blow us all away again

I'm glad you did that, Steve. Everyone needs a break from time to time. There's also the idea of building up inspiration. Sometimes we need to take a new look at the world and watch the interactions of people. That's very important author.