evolution of a series

[mizkit]

So back when I started THE QUEEN’S BASTARD, I knew it was going to be a big book. I was guessing around 175K. My editor said, “Glack!” and we cut the book at a place which I actually am *really* pleased with; it allowed me to do a shift for THE PRETENDER’S CROWN that wouldn’t have worked nearly as well if the book had ended where I initially

Comments

[suricattus]

*rueful laughter*

Oh yeah.

[mizkit]

*laughs*

*laughs lots*

*shares sympathy*

*laughs more* :)

[suricattus]

"Why did you write six books in the series?"
"Because I did not want to write seven."

(although there is a glimmer of an idea for book 7, somewhere buried deep under my need for a vacation...)

[mizkit]

Vacate first. Glimmer later. :)

[natural20]

You are Robert Jordan and I claim my five pounds!

This is just the sort of cynical attempt to get more money out of your reading public that we should have expected!

Or, more seriously, yay, more books! :)

[mizkit]

Didn't I *give* you TQB? :)

*laughs* Well, I haven't heard back from my editor yet, so I don't know what the end decision will be, but I do suspect it'll be more rather than, er, fewer. Or something. :)

[natural20]

No, you gave me HOC, I had to go all the way up to Parnell Street to get TQB! :p Remember the photo?

[mizkit]

Oh, oh right, I remember! :)

[fiction_theory]

I have myself complained bitterly about writers who can’t seem to end a series, and therefore feel a bit sheepish at the idea that one of my own series is expanding beyond what I initially expected it to be.

I feel you. It wasn't until I really began to become a writer that I understood how ideas just up and r-u-n-n-o-f-t and don't care whether you have to swallow past words because of it.

But, in your possible defense, some of this is less about your writing and more about the fact that publishers have limits on how long the book can be. If left to your own devices, there might be fewer books that are just...way longer.

All this having been said, I can't see how you coming out with *more* books is a bad thing. At all. I mean, more books from you is like getting extra gravy on the taters.

If you're willing to write six books, I'm definitely up for reading them :)

[mizkit]

I'm seriously considering emailing all the "if you want to write six books I'll buy/read them" comments to my editor... :)

[ceosanna]

You should!

Seriously, if you wrote them, I would buy them (and recommend my friends to do the same).

[fiction_theory]

I definitely think you should. It can't hurt to show your editor that there are people who very vocally (can you be vocal on the interwebs, one wonders) want more books from you.

I would also definitely recommend your books to friends, especially those who want something that isn't just run of the mill.

[wedschilde]

wooot! :::grins:::

[beshter]

ROBERT JORDAN! Not only did he carry out a series that could have been done in six books to infinity, but then he didn't get the last one done before, (very tragically), he passed away. My friend, who is a huge fan of that series, about died himself of frustration.

Thankfully I think his estate is coming out with something.

[mela_lyn]

Brandon Sanderson is actually going to be completing the series. Robert Jordan's wife was his editor and together they worked to put together as many notes as possible and write large snippets together. Brandon also worked with Jordan when he himself was becoming published.

Read Elantris and you will see that Brandon is a spectacular writer! And he is working hard to keep the series with the same tone and style as Robert Jordan. If you go to his LJ (mistborn, I think... he's in my friends list), he has updates all the time on his works and the Jordan project.

I too have a friend who about choked when Jordan passed and the series was on the last book. She keeps telling me to read it, but I'm waiting til the last book is out. :)

[beshter]

LOL I've gotten through book one. That's about it. But I will let my friend know, I felt bad for him because he has been in love with this series since he was a kid, and to not have it finished was jusst a lot for him.

[mela_lyn]

Brandon is seriously one of the best fantasy writers out there IMHO. Elantris is a stand alone, so it will give him an idea of how he writes... and he's just amazing.