Unfortunately I still can’t reveal any of the details of the book deal I landed recently, so this post is probably going to be a little vague in places.
What I can say, though, is that I’m currently in the process of writing book two in the series. This is the first time I’ve ever tried writing a direct sequel (or next installment, in this case) to anything I’ve written, and it’s proving more difficult than I thought.
You’d think the hard work would already be done. Most of the characters have been developed. The situation is in place. It should really just be a case of sticking in the new stuff, giving it all a bit of a shake, and waiting for the completed novel to emerge, right?
Sadly not. Yes, I probably could do something along the lines of the above, but would I be doing the book and the series justice? No.
Because characters change and grow. My protagonist is not the same character at the end of book one as he is at the start of it. None of the characters are, so I need to readjust my thinking on them all. Essentially I need to relearn everything there is to know about them.
Book two also can’t just be more of the same as book one. So I have to take the premise of the series which was established in book one, and continue it in such a way that it doesn’t just feel like more of the same.
But ignoring all the technical aspects of plotting and writing for a moment, there’s something much more basic making it difficult to progress with book two: Confidence.
Book one – if I say so myself – is a good book. It’s gripping, fast-paced, and probably my proudest writing achievement so far. Because of this, I’m nervous about book two. Will it be as good? Ideally it’ll be better, as the initial set-up of the series concept will be done, and it can hit the ground running.
Honestly, though? I don’t know. Even though I think the story of this book is potentially much, much better than that of book one, I’m scared I won’t do as good a job of it.
Yes, it’s probably stupid. Yes, it’s just fear talking, but there it is.
Still, that said, after walking back from dropping my son at school today I had a fantastic idea that’ll really help energise the whole plot. I’m off to get stuck into it now. I’m making the protagonist of the series face up to his deepest, darkest fears in this book. It’s only fair that I do the same.
Twitter Updates
November 10, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Don’t let confidence be an issue – you’ve got talent coming out of your ears – and tell yourself it doesn’t matter if you don’t finish the book for 10 years (even if it does!). If you can manage to quell the unnecessary caterwauling of your own pressured expectations and listen to the quiet mischievous voice of your reliably sound inspiration I have no doubt at all you’ll come up with something that will impress and surprise even you.
Thus speaks the sage wot’s never written nuffink! However, I grew up in a house where publishing deadlines were part of everyday life so I like to think I’ve got some idea of the pressure you’re likely to be putting yourself under, and the need to take a chill pill and enjoy the process. It’ll flow.
If you don’t like the above advice, try using the force instead. That normally seems to work out well.