The Story Behind the Story: Four Writer Tools by Stella Atrium

The Story Behind the Story: Four Writer Tools by Stella Atrium

How to open the second e book in a sequence? I puzzled with this query for very long time whereas writing THE BODY POLITIC which is Book II in my sequence.  

Elements to contemplate embody:

How a lot time has handed since the first e book was revealed?  

My thought was that if the launch time between books is brief, then the author can proceed the story with little exposition to reorient the reader to earlier occasions. But if the second e book comes out greater than a yr later, then some assist is required for the reader to recollect earlier occasions. 

This consideration is just for the revealed dates, although. When a reader begins a sequence after a number of books are revealed, then they purchase e book two (or not) after they end the first story. 

How a lot time has handed for the characters between two tales?

If the author chooses to leap ahead by a decade in the course of occasions, then some effort is required to assist the reader discover the thread for every character.  

In the latest Netflix sequence The Crown, for instance, actors had been switched out for the a long time of Queen Elizabeth’s journey as a royal. The new actors for every position had been properly tucked into the stream of occasions with a “soft entrance” for every.  

The viewer/reader is anticipating to see Princess Margaret (sister to the queen) as a result of her arrival is introduced. We settle for the substitute of an older actress. 

Is a recap of previous occasions needed to assist the reader discover the story threads?

The want for a recap relies on the story, in fact, however typically the exposition turns into tedious for readers who simply completed the first e book.  Present an lively inciting incident as a substitute, one which includes readers in at the moment’s drawback. 

Reminders of previous relations could be added in the dialogue. “You haven’t changed one bit since we served together in Africa!”

How to handle particular phrases or a vocabulary that labored in Book One? 

Science fiction or fantasy genres could be stuffed with particular names, places, phrases, or perhaps a full language like Elfin. Writers provide family tree charts, maps, or a glossary of phrases to ascertain the sequence virtually like add-ons for a online game. Many readers recognize the additions. Other readers skip the appendix and attempt to make sense of the motion by studying. 

One author device is including an apprentice or incidental traveler who’s new to the group.  This apprentice can ask the apparent query. “What does he mean when he says chi cylay?” The established characters can relate the time period to a earlier motion, this fashion the reader will get an outlined time period and a reminder of how characters used it beforehand. 

Of course, this incidental character should have a stake in at the moment’s drawback as nicely, not simply functioning as a foil. 

One caveat, although.

Writers have a tendency to fret about readers who interact with the subsequent e book after a niche in studying time. My expertise is that the reader begins the subsequent story whereas the first one continues to be recent, studying an entire sequence earlier than they flip to a different author. 

I do know science fiction readers who received’t begin a sequence till the first two trilogies can be found, simply in order that they don’t have to attend for the subsequent e book to be revealed. 

At least that’s how our habits grew throughout the pandemic. Maybe now that we are able to all get out extra, the dedication can be much less.

THE BUSH CLINIC and THE BODY POLITIC can be found now! Check out this BookLife assessment for THE BODY POLITIC to see what readers are saying.

Book III in The Tribal Wars, titled HOME RULE will, come out in May 2023, persevering with the story of how tribes on Dolvia overcome prejudice and bind collectively as a nation-state.