I’m faced with a potential conundrum, one of my own making, and I’d be curious to know what the collective writer/reader wisdom around here might think.
A couple of years ago, I published a contemporary YA novel. It is a story that isn’t necessarily finished and I planned on writing another volume in the tale at some point. And maybe even a third. The story about these characters could go on for some time, if I wanted to let it.
But there are other stories and characters I want to spend my time with. There is, however, an open storyline from what I published a couple of years ago that I want to provide closure to. I’ve now started writing what comes next. Which leads to my question.
The published book consists of three parts that are each in the 25,000-30,000 word range. If I do what I am planning, I’ll be writing a fourth part of comparable length. (There is a slim chance that I’ll end up writing more as I get back into the story, but for sake of this question, assume that I’m just writing one more part equal in length to the first three parts.)
How do I go about publishing that? Do I tack it on to the end of the first book and publish the entire thing? (What does that mean for the people who have already purchased and read the first three parts? I’m assuming they won’t really want to pay for what is essentially 75% something they’ve already read before.) Do I publish the fourth part separately? (If I hit 30,000 words, it can be a stand alone ebook and a slim paperback. But then how do I market it to make clear that potential readers should buy the novel first.) Do I do both? Or maybe none of the above? Or … do I suck it up and write a full novel-length sequel to the thing?
Writers Supporting Writers 
Running various reader scenarios in my mind, I think your safest bet from a reader perspective (and for simplicity’s sake in marketing and promotion) would be to suck it up and write a short novel-length sequel to the first book.
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That is the safest option. I agree. I’ll need to see how things go as I get into this.
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You’ll keep us posted? I’d be interested in hearing what you decide.
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I will. Likely months from now at the rate I write these days.
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This would be my vote too.
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A full novel-length sequel would be the best option, but only if there’s enough story and enthusiasm on your part to sustain it. Once you get into writing it, ideas and subplots will likely emerge.
If the sequel is only 30-50K words, it would still be enough to stand alone. Completing the story is important.
Once you publish the sequel, it would be an idea to promote it and the original book together, with price reductions for both, or making the first one free, if that works.
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Thank you, Audrey. I know I could write many more parts to this story. It’s just a question of whether I want to. 😉
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I’d publish it as an ebook as a sequel novella but incorporate it into the print version either as a combined edition listing both titles, or as a revised and expanded edition,. As long as you’re up front with what is going on, no one can complain. Then, if you want, publish the expanded ebook edition a year later and pull the novella.
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Being upfront is the key.
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Yes, first I was thinking about a revised and completed version, one volume. But at 30+ thousand words, it could also be a small novel in its own (there are mini-novels in this world, even if it is not so customary, mentioning Great Gatsby among them) good also for those who had bought the first volume. And yes, promoting them together afterwards.
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Thank you.
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Not sure if this helps but I’ve just had a quick rummage through the ebooks I’ve churned out over the years. Far too many freebies it has to be said. I’ve done full sized one off stand alone books, also complete long ones as stand alone efforts but in a series following the characters. Short novellas as stand alone ones in a serial. However, I’ve also done a serial (Davron), not to be confused with a series. Each episode about 10k words deliberately with a cliff hanger ending, as a freebie but continuously downloaded on Smash via apple. It keeps my Apple readers happy and interested in my other stuff. If I had a dollar value on all my stuff downloaded I’d have done very nicely out of it. Such is life.
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Thank you for that info.
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As a reader, I would enjoy a full length novel the most. Have fun with it and good luck whatever you decide to do!
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I know what I would do, but then I’m very long-winded and I write things that never end. I would write a complete sequel volume, publish it separately, and then do a boxed set on the two volumes if you feel that’s a good idea. Why fool around with little bitty pieces?
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If I can produce a longer piece, I will definitely do that.
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Re-release the first 3 as independent parts, fully independent, of a never ending series. You’re just continuing the series now.
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That is one of the options I’ve considered. Very seriously. That way, instead of having to come up with a novel-length sequel, I can just keep adding “parts” as they come to me.
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