If you’ve been a writer for long, you’ve probably heard
whispers about the “sophomore novel.” If you haven’t, it means the sequel. And
it’s often talked about in hushed tones because it’s a scary thing to write. I
know because it scares me even as I write one. But I’m not alone, many authors
struggle with it.
In fact, I just finished reading the sequel to a novel that
very well-received and sold lots and lots of copies. The sequel was a good
book, and I enjoyed it. But not nearly as much as the first book. I’ve read a
lot of sophomore novels over the last year and asked myself why the good ones
worked and why the poor ones didn’t in hopes of learning to avoid the pitfalls.
Here’s what I’ve gleaned.
I suspect the reason that sequels are hard for most writers (at
least this is the reason it’s hard for me) is because we’ve rung every bit of punch
from the story in the first book. And this isn’t wrong. It’s what makes a great
book. By the end, the secrets are told. For example, when the reader finishes Screwing Up Time, he/she has seen what
it’s like to travel through time. You can never go back to not knowing. And the
novel’s world building is complete. You know Bodiam Castle pretty well by the
end of SUT. You don’t wonder what the halls smell like or how cold the air
feels during the winter nights. And you know the characters. You’ve seen Mark
and Miranda’s strengths and weaknesses. You’ve seen them grow.
That daunting task to a sequel writer is to find new
secrets, new worlds, and new character growth. That’s why JK Rowling’s books are/were
so amazing. She found new secrets (or secrets that kept growing). She wrote about
new worlds/places like the Ministry of Magic, the house belonging to the Order
of the Phoenix, even the nightbus (which I loved), etc. And she found new ways
for the characters to mature. Because of that, we loved Rowling and her novels.
She gave us a rare gift.
That’s the task of the author who writes a sequel, to give
the reader new secrets, new worlds, and new growth—without sacrificing the
chemistry, tension, and relationships of the first novel. Wow...that sounds
impossible. Time for some chocolate.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences, so please
comment!
