Jump to content

Libby Drew

Classic Author
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,291

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by Libby Drew

  1. Libby Drew

    Look, it's a blog post. Crazy.

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    Writing:
    New rule: don’t start posting a new book in the fall right before the busiest season for retail. Just don’t. There will be tears. Mine, specifically. 
    New rule #2: Listen to your heart when it tells you that a story you’ve written is best read in a single go. Or, at least, that it should be available in its entirety from day one for those to wish to absorb it that way. 
    Keeper of the Rituals was never meant to be posted a chapter at a time. I think I mentioned that at the beginning? I can’t remember now. I’m old and that was months ago. I know many people enjoy serialized fiction, and in fact, some stories lend themselves to it. In retrospect, though, I don’t feel this was one of them. I should’ve just dumped the whole book as quickly as GA rules allowed. That’s the kind of story it is. I kind of hope those who have followed along these past several months may someday go back and read Keeper again in one giant bite, and then reflect on the differences between bingeing and snacking.
    Three chapters left to post. I’m excited, not gonna lie.
    Life:
    Check out this little angel. Some asshole person threw her out of a car window. She landed on her face, had to have surgery to reattach her lip, and lost part of her tongue. She also lost her left back leg. 
    We named her Daisy. 
     

  2. Libby Drew

    Indecision. And puppies.

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    I can’t believe how long it’s been since I've done this. Just another indication of how my job has eaten my life. I’ve always found blogging therapeutic, though, so I will make time this morning. 
    Life:
    One of my kids is a scientist. Like an honest-to-God, in the lab, with the white coat, type of scientist. I love him more than life itself, but when he starts talking about work, I absorb maybe one word in three, though I do my best to remain engaged and make the appropriate positive noises. I finally figured out last night that he knows this and teases me with it on purpose. 
    My husband:   I figured that out years ago.
    Me:   You could’ve clued me in. 
    My husband:   What fun would that be?
    Me:   I suppose you have a point.
     
    Writing:
    With Keeper of the Rituals finished, I need to decide which long project to tackle next. I know which I should focus on, but it’s not technically under contract, so I don’t think I will. How’s that for passive aggressive? I’ve had a fun idea for a companion story to Marc and Sawyer’s tale that takes place in the Great Restorations universe. I could start that. But I also have a fully fleshed-out concept and outline for a YA trilogy that’s been beating in my brain for, oh, I don’t know… two years? So there’s that.
    It’s been a while since I’ve had the freedom to choose. I’ve been playing catch-up since before COVID. It’s liberating not having a backlog. It’s so liberating, I’ve exercised my non-decision-making skills for nearly a month now. And that can’t go on. 
    My dad, God rest his soul, would've said S*** or get off the pot, kid. Always spoke his mind, that man. But he wouldn't be wrong. 
    Time to commit.
     
    Service Puppies!
     

  3. Libby Drew

    Moving on.

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    Life:
    I start a new job on Monday. I haven’t had a new job in ten years, mostly because I was happy at my old one. Good hours, good money, good people… Yeah, pretty content. Not gonna lie.
    But then another opportunity came up, and I thought, “Hey, why not?” The new job still has all the things: schedule, pay, autonomy, etc. 
    You know what’s shocking? All the people -- at the old company -- flabbergasted at my decision. Why would I leave if nothing was wrong? Am I not scared?
    I mean… of what? Change is healthy. Change is growth. Risk is good, and I’m game. 

    Writing:
    I finished a novel today. First one since my parents died. I feel accomplished and am celebrating with an Argentinian Malbec. My goal is to have this baby polished and the first chapter posted here by September 1st. It’s a tight deadline, I’ll admit. I might have to send my editor friend some of that prosecco she likes. 
    This post is full of alcohol. (Probably because I am too at the moment. Don’t judge.)

     
  4. Libby Drew

    Gonna Write Me A Book

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    Life:
    Had a conversation with my sister-in-law last week at our 4th of July picnic. It went like this:
    Cass: I’ve got the most amazing idea for a book.
    Me: Nice. 
    Cass: How would I go about getting it published?
    Me: First step?
    Cass: Yeah.
    Me: You have to write it. 
    Cass: Oh, well…yeah.
    Cart before the horse, much?

    Writing:
    Some thoughts on editing, because this is a supportive and cohesive community and things like peer editing are a happy reality here. When you ask for help editing, it’s a good idea to know what kind of feedback you’re looking for, and then communicate those desires clearly in your request.
    Do you want developmental editing—“big-picture” feedback about structure, style, pacing and voice? This includes notes on plot, point of view and characterization. Example: “It feels like your story actually truly starts in Chapter 2, when your character loses his job.” Or, “Your protagonist comes off a bit unlikable. Here are some things you might do within the story to change that.” Often, a developmental edit is given as a separate document rather than as notes made directly on the manuscript.
    What if you don’t want “big picture”? Then perhaps ask for a line edit, where your editor will point out specific things, such as dialogue that doesn’t sound convincing or pacing problems in a given section. Like: “Why not skip the backstory here and get right into the action. It’s what readers have been waiting for.”
    Maybe you want both. That’s fine. But since developmental feedback assumes you will return to the manuscript and rewrite parts, line editing is usually held off until that rewrite has been completed. 
    Copy editing and proofreading, on the other hand, are about fixing errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, word choice and sentence structure, as well as catching continuity issues. Like a warm winter coat that magically appears when it starts to snow, even though the character wasn’t wearing one earlier. If you’re certain you don’t want any content or structure changed and you just want the writing “cleaned up,” you’re looking for copy editing only.
    No matter what level of editing you ask for, prepare yourself for feedback, criticism and direction. If what you’re secretly hoping to hear is, “This is almost perfect. All it needs is one comma to be a bestseller!” better stock up on tissues. Be honest with yourself when seeking an editor. Not only about what feedback you want, but about what feedback you can handle. 
    And finally…revision takes time. It’s normal to feel ecstatic to finally have a project “done,” but don’t shortchange the editing process. You simply can’t respond to a round of thorough developmental editing in a day. Expect that integrating feedback into a rewrite can and should take time. Even if all you ask for, and get, is a line or copy edit, then incorporate those fixes and… Put. Your. Project. Away. Reread it with fresh eyes in a week --or two (two is better) -- and edit accordingly. You will never regret this step. Promise. 
  5. Libby Drew

    Make Me Feel Good

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    Life: 
    Here’s a conversation from my vacation…
    Sister: Try this book. I loved it. 
    Me: What’s it about?
    Sis: It’s dark and screwed up. Right up your alley.
    Me: Thanks?
    Sis: It’s a two-parter. The sequel’s supposed to come out early next year. 
    Me: What if it doesn’t?
    Sis: It will. The author says it will. 
    Me: I’ll wait. So I can read it all at once. 
    Sis: Haven’t you ever heard of delayed gratification?
    Me: Never been a huge fan. 
    Sis: Oh, I realize. I’ve known you your whole life, remember?
    Me: That escalated quickly. 
    If I fall in love with a story, I want to finish it NOW. Not wait for the next book, or chapter, or installment. 
    Sorry?

    Writing:
    As authors, we have more of an opportunity than ever before to dole out our stories a tidbit at a time as we craft them. Thanks, Internet. But there are problems with this model if your goal is to publish your book. Even if you plan to self-publish. That’s a whole different discussion, though. Let’s talk about sharing fiction simply for the love of it. 
    I’m the last person to poke holes in this practice, especially on any platform where the community expects it. LiveJournal was always like that, and I lived there for ten years. GA has a wide audience who not only enjoys, but expects, serialized fiction. So this isn’t me telling anyone writing and posting one chapter at a time that they shouldn’t. 
    It’s me saying: Be cautious, serious writers, because there are pitfalls.
    The first is output. And expectation. Nothing loses readers faster than missing a scheduled update. And if you set your updates too far apart, even enthusiastic fans will lose interest. We all know how variable a process writing can be. A chapter could take an afternoon to write. It could take a month. Life can be like that. You also need time to edit and revise. You could skip this step, but I personally think it’s a huge mistake. For one, first impressions are everything, and one poorly edited chapter might be all prospective readers attempt before moving on to something else. Or someone else.
    Keeping a coherent plot is another hurdle. Even the most strongly outlined book may call for edits to early chapters as you approach the climax of the story. It sucks if you kill someone in chapter three who, you discover in chapter twenty, really needs to be alive for the story to be the best it can be. There’s no easy answer to this one. Finish the story, then post it, is about the only foolproof method. Your decision.
    The last problem I’ll mention is abandonment. I’m guilty of this. I’ve abandoned two stories (both here), which is not cool. I feel crappy about it. Sometimes abandonment can’t be helped. And sometimes we just lose the thread of one project and move on to another. It happens. No writer is immune.
    None of this is rocket science, I know. However, trust between authors and readers shouldn’t be taken lightly, so I’m putting it out there. Just as a reminder. We are all human, but readers trust us. Do your best to respect that.
     

     
  6. Libby Drew

    Home, Sweet Home

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    Life:
    We arrived home last night after a two-week vacation. It was a working vacation, but still. I feel that two weeks is too long to be away. I missed my dogs, my bed, my morning coffee on the back deck… all the things. I don’t mind travel, even for work, but I’m always happy to come home. I didn’t always feel this way. I used to wander all over the place and was famous for taking off for faraway places without a passing thought to an itinerary. So I guess people do change. 
     
    Writing:
    What is it about the last 10-15 thousand words of a novel that is so freaking hard? It should be the easiest. Plot momentum is strong. The turning point is imminent. Tension is through the roof. Why can’t I nail the climax? It’s the most frustrating kind of writer’s block, because it’s not a question of direction. I know where the story’s going. I know it down to the last detail. I simply can’t write it to my satisfaction. 
    Every. Single. Time.
     
    Favorite breakfast on vacation!

     

  7. Libby Drew

    You know what you know.

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    Writing:
    When I started writing fiction, I figured the places where I grew up, studied, worked and lived weren’t interesting enough to inspire readers. So I wrote about places that had never been home or that I hadn’t even visited. And I would keep the scale of those locations small or familiar to the masses. Settings that needed very little information to imagine.
     It took me a while to get over this. 
    Fiction is often a reflection of what is real, and what better way to convey that than with the very real things in your own life? The things you've lived, breathed, seen, heard and smelled through the years. The moment I started incorporating details of these experiences into my writing, the better my stories became.
    Embrace this. Fill your fiction with what you know, with the tangible reality you experience every day. This won’t turn your story into a memoir—it simply makes it more believable, gives your characters more depth and purpose, and makes your narrative stronger.
    Stumped on your setting? Step outside and look around.

    Life:
    This is a tough one. 
    Today is the anniversary of my parents’ death. After four years, I expected some… muffling of my emotional reaction to the date. Nope. Still agonizing. Grief is insidious that way. 
    Love and miss you, mom and dad. Even if you did dress me like this:
     

  8. Libby Drew
    Writing: 
    This was a hard one to teach my kids, because the desire to want to please and belong is partly innate. But living your life for others is neither fun nor healthy.
    Writing is the same. For each person you worry about pleasing, deduct 1% in quality from your writing. Don’t worry. No one stays at 100%. These days, I usually deduct 5-10% right off the top. (It used to be much higher. Thank you, formulaic fiction industry.) So who am I worried about now? All sorts of folks. People I don’t want to offend. People I want to please. Internet trolls. The list changes depending on the topic.
    I suppose that puts my recent writing projects at about 90% of the quality they could be. But I believe most people write at something around 40-50% quality. They’re concerned with saying what they think the world wants to hear. At having their characters do what’s proper and expected. At having their stories move in directions their audience approves of. 
    So, this is my two cents for Sunday’s blog post: Stop doing that. Your friends, family, fans, clients, coworkers, etc. will love you more if you’re honest with them. Just as they would in life. Write what your brain and heart demand. Stand behind it. Know you can’t please everyone, nor should you try. 
    Create your truth. 
    Life:
    You know you’ve married your soulmate when you see a sign like this, and he offers to go down to the boutique, buy a bikini, and wear it to the restaurant, just to challenge some BS prejudiced convention this funny rule.
    Love you, babe. 
     

     

  9. Libby Drew

    Writing and Life. In that order.

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    Writing: Get in and get out.
    I write novels because they’re in demand. But my favorite writing project is a short story. It’s not often I get asked for them. Certainly not as often as I’d like, and I understand that. People want novels.  
    But a good short story… chef’s kiss. To read is fun, but to create is divine. I encourage the site’s authors to give the short story form a try, if they haven’t. “Experts” say many of the same writing rules apply, whether penning novels or short form fiction. Meh. Maybe. I hate rules. I’m not sure I can advocate for them without feeling like a hypocrite. But here’s one thing I am always thinking about when I want to keep word count down: 
    Enter late, exit early. 
    Start the narrative at the latest possible moment. End it as soon as you can. How do you know when that is? Determine what is critical and include it. Don’t add what would be nice to know. Only incorporate the most vital elements. Be economical with your language. Minimum words for maximum impact. This is a great way to stretch your writing skills. Good luck! 
     
    Life:  This is Lucy.


  10. Libby Drew

    What shapes the writer...

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    There was an article on Open Culture about a week ago that I’m just now getting around to linking because… that’s my life. My dog actually got in my lap this afternoon (plot twist: he’s not a lapdog, but a fifty-pound Brittany in his prime), probably in an effort to pin me in place for five minutes. It worked. I sent emails. Watched some YouTube videos. I even drank a cup of coffee while it was hot. Pretty epic. 
    Check this out if you never have before. Less to compare your have-read list to his and more to appreciate the wide spectrum of authors and genres he includes.
    My list would include The Witching Hour. I freaking worship that book. I remember reading it as a teenager and drawing genealogies to keep track of all the characters. Don’t even talk to me about that crap TV show that just came out. I don’t care how beautiful Alexandra Daddario is. 
    Stephen King Recommends 96 Books for Aspiring Writers to Read | Open Culture
  11. Libby Drew

    Mirror in the sky, what is love?

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    Sunday blog time.
    I was asked this question a few days ago: “What one book do you love that you believe influenced your own writing the most?” That’s a seriously hard question, folks. How could any writer, who is most likely an avid reader, choose just one single book as the most influential in their life? 
    There have been moments. Epiphanies. When I read something that, upon reflection, altered me. But pick one work above all others? That feels impossible.
    I can think of many instances of love at first read. And many when the love endured through subsequent reads, over years and decades. I will share one here, not because I expect people to agree, or even understand, why this example affected me. I’m putting it here to demonstrate that sometimes, for each of us, the smallest details, the most insignificant moments in a piece of writing, become the most beloved. You are not me, and I am not you, so the gravity of this particular connection will elude you. But hopefully the spirit of the exercise will be valuable. 
    Over a decade ago, when LiveJournal was a hub of activity for all things fiction, an author -- now known as C.S. Pacat -- was self-publishing her first novel, Captive Prince, on her blog a chapter at a time. I remember each installment as a treat. Her main protags, Damon and Laurent, sizzled together. I remember the story as meaty, smart, impeccably written, with dazzling characters and a sexy plot. (Currently available by Penguin Random House, if you’re interested.) 
    There was one chapter that began with the most perfect paragraph I’ve ever read. (Up until then!) It was commanding and adroit, like poetry. Concise. Emotive. A gut punch. I fell totally in love with it, in a literary sense. One paragraph, that’s all it was. But every word I have written from that day forward, I measure up against those ten or twelve sentences. It wasn’t the prose I wanted to recreate, but the emotions it evoked, and I strive for that still, almost fifteen years later. 
    Why does any of this matter? Because no two people take the same path on their way from writer to author. Once you embrace the highlights of your own journey and dig into what moves you, the rest will come more naturally, with less frustration and with greater satisfaction. You don’t have to believe every literary classic is a masterpiece or turn your nose up at what some might consider “trash” fiction. You don’t. Read what you love and let that experience mold you.
     Stevie Nicks penned Landslide in one sitting. It became one of the most popular songs she ever wrote. It came from her heart. You can do that too. 
     
  12. Libby Drew

    Ode to Sunday

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    Wait, I can’t do poems. Let’s call it Stream of Consciousness Sunday.
    This week felt ten weeks long. Modern medicine is a wonder, but modern travel is torture, and I often use Sundays to consider all the different ways I could avoid airplanes for the rest of my life.  
    Also, no surprise to anyone, the world is full of self-involved, self-righteous, ignorant individuals, which is also no modern phenomenon, as human nature has basically remained unchanged since the dawn of the species. Clearly, we will never overcome these things, and I’ve decided the most we can do is elevate our own behavior and hope it rubs off on other troubled souls. 
    There’s nothing quite so wonderful, after a week like the one alluded to above, as a hot cup of coffee, a sofa full of snuggly Brittanies, and a crackling fire in the hearth. And of course, a place like GA to read and connect with people who don’t make me want to smack them (not in the fun way) or tape their mouth shut. 
    Thank you, Internet. It turns out you aren’t just for porn. 
    One aspect of getting older that will never cease to amaze me is being reminded of things I’ve said or done in the past which feel uncharacteristic of me now. I’ve always subscribed to the thought that while people can change, most don’t bother to try. Yet, more and more I’m being bombarded by evidence that I am changing constantly in subtle and invisible ways. 
    Sometimes I channel my mother and think, “If I knew half then of what I know now…” I bet she would have loved that.
    I think flavored coffee is yucky. Earl Grey does not need milk -- seriously, just stop. Have a lemon and some honey. (Kidding. Love your tea as you please.)
    I can’t imagine life without meat. Not throwing shade, vegetarians, I just personally need a steak every few days, or I get twitchy. Don't judge me. I'm not making fun of your tofu. (Out loud.)
    Good thing this blog is titled Life and Writing, cause I got nothing for the Writing part today. 
    Lastly, venting is good for the soul. I feel better now. Thanks. Happy Sunday.

     
  13. Libby Drew

    Our Writing Evolution

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    Does anyone revisit older, completed stories and update them? Not in the “A Starbucks venti used to cost $2.35 and now it’s $4.00 kind of way.” More in the, “I’ve become better at ‘show, don’t tell’ since I wrote this, so I’m going to rewrite this scene and improve it.” 
    I’ve struggled with this since rereading some oldies of mine. In the end, I decided to leave well enough alone, even though some of what I wrote in the past makes me twitchy. I feel it’s a very personal decision, with no right or wrong answer. 
    There are many authors here whose personal library spans years. Anybody feel like sharing their thoughts?
    Would you edit your older stories when you believe you can make them better, based on the writer you are now?
    Or would you not? Is preserving your evolution as a writer more important?
     
  14. Libby Drew
    Happy Thursday to me! Thursday is the one weekday I have off. It’s dark, cold and rainy outside at the moment. Perfect for snuggling in front of the fire. 
    With the dogs. 
    Which is fine. I love a solid dose of unconditional adoration. 
    Who develops ideas like I do, I sometimes wonder? When a story starts as nothing more than a concept, leaving you to flesh out everything else -- characters, POV, time period etc. Many of my writer friends focus on characters. They have the perfect protagonist in their head and simply need a story for that person. But that’s not how it works for me, and here is case and point. 
    While wading through my Google folders this past weekend, I found a doc titled The one where the protag saves people. I had no memory of it before I opened the file and started reading. It’s the beginning of a story I wrote many moons before I fully fleshed out 40 Souls to Keep. I was in love with the idea of visions, predestination, saving lives and mystery -- with a side of romance. This one obviously never got off the ground, which is one problem I have with starting to write before I outline. It never goes well for me. The one where the protag saves people will never be finished, because this concept has already been realized. It is Jase, Lucas and Macy’s story. 
    But before that, it was going to be Issac, Jamie and Maddie’s story. It’s 5000 words of vision that was simply nurtured and turned out into the world in a different way. I do wonder if others share this sort of process.
    If interested, I’ve included a short excerpt of The one where the protag saves people, just to show how similar, yet different, it is from 40 Souls to Keep…
    ~*~ 
    The vision of the girl’s death hit as the tall glass doors of Toy Villa slid open, beckoning him inside with warmth and bright colors. Isaac stumbled, caught his footing, then leaned on the closest shopping cart, fingers clenched on the handle until the images in his head faded and his stomach calmed. When he was steady enough to stand, he didn’t hesitate, just turned and trudged back into the parking lot toward the shiny black Range Rover, its bleached blonde owner and her chubby-cheeked spawn. On cue, fluffy snowflakes appeared in the air, slithered under his coat collar and melted against his neck. He gulped down the adrenaline and tried to smile.
    Chances were, the girl epitomized everything he disliked about kids these days, but Isaac didn’t want her to die. Couldn’t let her die if he had the chance to prevent it. One’s conscience was a bitch like that. 
    “Ma’am,” he called, skidding across the pavement. “Ma’am!” He raised a gloved hand and waved.
    The woman had released her princess from her booster seat but was still hunched over inside the car. She wore a tight red sweater, knee high boots and (Christ Jesus, please make this fashion trend die already) ripped skinny jeans. Quite the pose. If you were into Internet porn. Which Isaac wasn’t. Mostly. Not straight porn anyway.  
    “Ma’am,” he said again, louder, when he reached the side of the car. She continued to dig through her purse. From the corner of his eye, Isaac kept watch on the kid spinning circles in the brown slush, soaking her sparkly Uggs completely through.  “Please be careful of your daughter in the parking lot. The salt trucks came through earlier, but it’s still slick.”
    She emerged and slung a handbag the size of roll-on suitcase over her shoulder. When she turned and caught him looming, her mouth drew into a frown. Isaac read the look, knew exactly what she saw. Tall, thin dude, faded khakis, snow-damp leather bomber jacket, brown hair gone over from fashionably shaggy to too damn long, and sparse goatee. Admittedly, he didn’t usually inspire women, or men, to swoon, but the implied distaste in her gaze, that bothered him. 
    Tempting as it was to say, “Hey, in about thirty seconds, a pickup truck is going to come barrelling down this row of cars and flatten your kid. That’s what you get for letting her run amuck in an icy parking lot,” he didn’t. Because, of course, when that did happen -- in about twenty-five seconds now -- he’d have some ‘splaining to do. 
    “She knows to stay close to the car.” Despite her words, the woman beckoned the child to her side. Isaac let his shoulders slump a bit in relief, but otherwise gave no sign his body was tense, his mind on alert. He sidled closer to the bumper of the Rover as well. It wouldn’t do to get killed himself, and since whatever gave him the visions -- fate, or the universe, or his mom’s prenatal pot habit -- never deigned to show him his own future, it was certainly possible. 
    “Thanks. You just never know with weather like this. And some people drive like maniacs.”
    “But--” Her laugh straddled bewildered and condescending. “It’s a toy store.”
    Struck dumb, Isaac nodded. He wondered on occasion why the whole world didn’t come apart at the seams from sheer ignorance. “It is that. Still, I watch people drive through here all the time. Most go way too fast.”
    Her eyes narrowed, speculative. Isaac cut off her line of thought before more of it transferred to her expression, or God forbid, her mouth, and he got really pissed off. “I’m not a stalker or anything. I work here. Asset Protection.” Or, in simpler terms, nab the little urchins before they made off with unpaid merchandise. Big urchins too. Those were the worst offenders.
    “Ah.” A sliver of genuine warmth touched her voice. “Well, thank you.”
    Distracted by the apparent honest sentiment, Isaac almost died himself. The rev of an engine, the shrill screech of tires, and the woman’s scream of fear happened in the span of two seconds. Which was just long enough, because Isaac was one lucky bastard, to spring away from the bumper, grab the girl who had once again wandered from her mother’s side, and dive to the ground between the Rover and the next vehicle. The pickup slid past, clipping the bumper he had just been leaning against, and careened into a Mercedes three spots over. As frigid, dirty water flooded down the back of his pants and soaked his ass, he couldn’t help but wonder why more children weren’t kept on a leash. They may not bite (well, some did), but they sure as hell had no respect for their own mortality. 
     
  15. Libby Drew

    To Sequel or Not to Sequel

    By Libby Drew,


    Life and Writing
    Should I or shouldn’t I? This has always been a relatively easy question for me because I have the attention span of a kitten. Rarely have I felt my characters need more once I’m done with them. Of course, they could always have more adventures. I’m just ready to move on. Again, kitten on catnip.
    When I type “The End” (or “Finis” if I’m feeling bougie) and readers clamor for more, then I feel successful. Yet the idea of writing a sequel makes me twitchy. I’ve noticed that when authors do provide sequels, readers sometimes complain (possibly on the DL) about the follow-ups not meeting their expectations. Maybe not so much on a free platform, but I know for sure this phenomenon exists in the publishing world, when money changes hands and readers feel entitled to the same thrill they got the first time. 
    But when I take that element out of the equation, I wonder… What does a story truly need to benefit from having one or various sequels? An “open ending” to allow further plot development? An engaging and well-defined world? Memorable characters? All of the above?
    And, if my original concept has been written and told, does tacking on a sequel accomplish anything meaningful?
    Catnip for thought…

  16. Libby Drew
    I logged on to GA on Christmas Eve to show my kid which book I was posting. This happened:
     
    Him: I remember when you wrote this. My favorite part was that chapter when [spoiler]. 
    Me: *stares blankly*
    Him: You seriously don’t remember writing that part?
    Me: Sort of? Yes?
    Him: Wild. Well, you are getting older.
    Me: Screw you, son. *checks to make sure my socks match*
    My point, I guess my question, actually, is… is it just me? Have any of you authors out there ever opened a story you wrote a long time ago and remember how it started, how it ended, but not what happened in the middle?
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    It is just me, isn’t it?
    Guh. I’m gonna go hug my dog. 
     
×
×
  • Create New...