As a writer embarking on the journey of creating a sequel in your novel series, you’re faced with both exciting opportunities and unique challenges. A well-crafted sequel can deepen your story world, expand character arcs, and keep readers eagerly turning pages. However, it also comes with the responsibility of meeting (and hopefully exceeding) the expectations set by your first book. Here are crucial elements to keep in mind as you dive into your next installment.
If you haven’t followed along with my endeavors, I am in the midst of just that! I am working on the 2nd novel in my novel series starting with Soul Collector. While it is exciting to continue with these characters and their stories, there are several things I am trying to keep in mind to ensure I strike that perfect of balance of familiarity of the characters but the evolvement of the story. Below you’ll find ways that I am trying to do just that.
1. Keep Consistency While Evolving
One of the most critical aspects of writing a sequel is striking the right balance between consistency and growth. Your readers have formed attachments to your characters, setting, and overall tone. While it’s essential to provide familiar elements, your sequel should also offer something new and exciting.
Tips to Maintain Consistency:
- Reread your first book, taking detailed notes on character traits, relationships, and key plot points.
- Create a series overview that outlines important details about your world, characters, and overarching plot.
- Consider having a trusted beta reader who’s familiar with your first book review your sequel for consistency.
Tips to Evolve Your Story:
- Deepen character development by presenting new challenges and growth opportunities.
- Expand your world-building, introducing new locations or aspects of your setting.
- Explore different themes or examine previous themes from new angles.
My Experience: This is a tough but crucial part of developing a sequel. For the readers that are following your story, you don’t want to scare them with a new writing style. For example, my Soul Collector novel, I have 3rd POV Limited, and it jumps from a couple different perspectives. Having this aspect consistent is important to my readers. As I keep that formatting in place, I also consider how I can use that to evolve the story. My biggest evolving of the story is how the characters view the world, and I attempt to demonstrate how that changes.
2. Address Loose Plot Threads
Your first novel likely left some questions unanswered or plot threads dangling. A sequel is your chance to revisit these elements, providing resolution or further developing them.
Tips to Tie Up Loose Plot Threads:
- Make a list of all open plot threads from your first book.
- Decide which ones are crucial to address in this sequel and which can be saved for later installments.
- Weave the resolution of these plot threads naturally into your new story arc.
Remember, you don’t need to tie up every loose end. Some mystery can keep readers engaged and curious about future books in the series.
My Experience: This is the whole reason why there is a sequel! I intentionally left a cliffhanger in my first novel to jump off from in the second. However, as I am starting off with this story, I didn’t automatically start with that cliffhanger. I am leaving it out for a little bit to remind my readers of the mystery. But I am conscious not to do it too long to lose the interest of my readers.
3. Introduce Fresh Conflict and Stakes
While it’s important to continue storylines from your first book, your sequel needs its own central conflict and raised stakes to keep readers invested.
Ideas for New Conflicts
- Introduce a new antagonist or elevate a minor villain from the first book.
- Present internal conflicts for your characters, challenging their beliefs or relationships.
- Create larger-scale problems that affect your entire story world.
Ensure that the stakes are higher than in your first book. Your characters should face more significant challenges or potential losses.
My Experience: In my sequel, I haven’t gotten so far as to start new conflicts and stakes, but I have some in mind. I think this is important to any book, whether that is a sequel or stand alone, you should have some conflicts and stakes in mind as you are writing.
4. Deepen Character Development
Your sequel is an opportunity to show how your characters have grown since the first book and to continue their development arcs.
Character Development Strategies:
- Reflect on how the events of the first book have affected each character.
- Challenge your characters’ beliefs, relationships, or core values.
- Reveal new layers to your characters’ personalities or backstories.
- Consider how secondary characters from the first book might play larger roles.
Remember that character growth should feel organic and earned. Avoid drastic personality changes without proper motivation or build-up.
My Experience: The characters are the whole reason why I am writing the story, so I am need to show how they develop. In my writing, I have challenged my character’s beliefs significantly, and for another character I have been revealing new layers. While those components will continue with my sequel, I think I’ll somewhat swap those aspects for my two main characters.
5. Expand Your World Building
A sequel allows you to delve deeper into the world you’ve created, adding richness and complexity to your setting.
World-Building Expansion Ideas:
- Introduce new locations within your story world.
- Explore the history or mythology of your setting in greater depth.
- Develop the political, social, or economic systems of your world.
- If writing in a fantastical or science fiction setting, expand on the rules of magic or technology.
Be careful not to overwhelm readers with too much new information. Integrate world-building elements naturally into the story.
My Experience: Since Soul Collector is a fantasy novel, I had a lot of world building to do in my first novel. Yet, with my second, I need to remind my readers of that world. Then, I need to build on it. I plan on revealing new qualities about the world they originally learned about, then some bigger as I continue.
6. Balance Recap and New Information
One of the trickiest aspects of writing a sequel is finding the right balance between recapping previous events and diving into new material. You need to be able to remind readers what information they already know, but you also need to include new information to keep them interested in the story and world you’ve created.
The best advice that I have ever heard when it comes to writing a sequel was that it should be able to stand on its own. Meaning that if someone where to read this sequel on its own, then they can still understand the essence of the story. Having the other books just deepen it.
Tips for Effective Recapping:
- Weave important information from the first book naturally into dialogue or character thoughts.
- Use brief, engaging summaries when necessary, but avoid long expository passages.
- Consider including a “Previously in…” section at the beginning of your book for readers who might need a refresher.
Remember that your sequel should be able to stand on its own to some extent. New readers should be able to follow the story without having read the first book, even if they miss some nuances.
My Experience: Writing is all about balance. So, it is just raising the stakes for a sequel. With this, I have been adding in appositive phrases and quick paragraphs to share who or what a thing was. This enables my readers to remember what something was (if they forgot), or give a new reader the information.
7. Maintain Your Unique Voice & Style
Your writing style and voice were likely a significant factor in your first book’s success. While it’s natural for your writing to evolve, maintain the core elements that made your first book resonate with readers.
Strategies for Consistency in your voice and style:
- Reread passages from your first book to reacquaint yourself with your narrative voice.
- If you’ve taken a break between books, consider writing some short stories or scenes in your world to get back into the rhythm.
- Have beta readers familiar with your first book provide feedback on whether your sequel feels tonally consistent.
My Experience: For this I reread my Soul Collector novel. It reminded me what the characters did and want, and it put my voice and style at the forefront of my mind. Now that I am starting the sequel, I have been keeping the first novel close by to revisit my characters, my style, and my voice.
8. Plan for the Future
Even as you’re writing your sequel, keep the bigger picture of your series in mind. Consider how this book will set up future installments and contribute to the overall arc of your series.
Future Planning Considerations:
- Outline the major plot points for your entire series, even if they’re subject to change.
- Plant seeds for future conflicts or revelations.
- Think about how character arcs will develop across multiple books.
- Consider the pacing of your overall series story.
9. Manage Reader Expectations
Your first book has created certain expectations in your readers’ minds. While you don’t want to be constrained by these expectations, it’s important to be aware of them.
Ways to Handle Reader Expectations:
- Understand what elements of your first book resonated most with readers (through reviews, feedback, or social media).
- Deliver on the core promises of your series (e.g., if it’s a romance series, ensure the romantic elements remain central).
- If you’re planning significant departures from your first book’s style or content, consider how to prepare your readers for these changes.
My Experience: This part was easy for me because I am a planner at heart. When I started my first novel, I plotted an overview of all three books I wanted to write (yes, there will be three!). That gave me a clear vision of where my characters were going. Note that I have changed thing from my original outline. So, I am diligent about revisiting it to ensure my storyline makes sense.
10. Elevate Your Craft
Each book you write is an opportunity to improve your skills as a writer. Challenge yourself to elevate various aspects of your craft in your sequel.
Areas for Potential Improvement:
- Experiment with more complex plot structures.
- Refine your dialogue to make it sharper and more character-specific.
- Work on creating more vivid, immersive descriptions.
- Improve your pacing and build tension more effectively.
Consider seeking feedback from writing groups, beta readers, or a professional editor to identify areas where you can grow as a writer.
My Experience: This is part of the fun of being a writer: seeing how your craft gets better. I have read various books and articles to elevate my craft. But I have also seeked feedback from others (which is soooo hard to do). But, it is well worth it to become an author!
Conclusion
Writing a sequel is a balancing act between meeting reader expectations and pushing your story in new, exciting directions. By maintaining consistency in key areas while evolving your characters, world, and plot, you can create a sequel that not only satisfies fans of your first book but also attracts new readers to your series.
