Which story should I tell?

[pjthompson]

If you can read this, your on my Charged with Folly list, those of you who have actually read some of this sucker and know what I'm talking about—or have foolishly offered to do so.

I've reached a creative crossroads and I'm kind of stuck. I pivot one way to tell one story, pivot the next to tell something completely different. I've laid the groundwork in chapters 1-7 for both stories, but at 8 I need to get onto the onramp and head out on the highway. And it wasn't until I got to the left hand turn lane that I realized I really can't tell both of these stories in one novel. They are two complete books in themselves.

I always sandbag myself like this, but at least this time I realized it early in the process. Well, okay, I realized it with Night Warrior, too, but I didn't listen. I thought I could make it work—and somehow I thought I could squeeze two books into 120k. Har! The good thing here is that I recognized I couldn't do that with Charged with Folly unless I wanted another Night Warrior debacle—and I don't think anyone is ready for that! The horror!

So I'm asking ya'll, in your considered writers' opinion, which story I should tell (no spoilers):

ETA I guess I'm not really asking you what book I should write, but whether it would be dunderheaded (commercially) to choose one over the other.

☛ The action-adventure tale which deals with the Movement's earthly foes and which offers clues to Rye's wheel-within-wheels visions but leaves that mystery unresolved for the next book (but has lots of sex); ETA i.e., the war with the gangs, or

☛ The action-adventure quest northwards to find the final solution to the wheel-within-wheel vision and a big fight with the congregations and Heavenly Realm (with some sex and some philosophy) ETA: solving the central mystery around which this story revolves?

Clearly, the first plot could be a first book, the second its follow-up, with possibly a third book out there in the ether dealings with the aftermath. I'd like to write both, but I suppose if I was asked to choose, could only write one, I most want to write the second story. That's the heart of why I wanted to write this idea in the first place. But there's all this other stuff I'm probably going to have to jettison if I do that, stuff that has also stoked my imagination.

I really do not want to write a trilogy. But my imagination seems to run towards them in scope. Are trilogies even selling these days?

Comments

[makoiyi.livejournal.com]

Personally I think I would be satisfied with the first one, provided I wasn't left up in the air rather than, as you say, left with a lot of clues.

It's a very diffiuclt call to make without the plot arc in front of me. I don't think either would be 'wrong', but the heart of the matter is what you really want to write, isn't it? That silly old question of who are you writing it for? Could you write a book that maybe you thought was commercially viable without stalling or getting stuck again because it wasn't really what you wanted to write? It's a thought as you're asking yourself the question.

Not sure if that helps but it was what came to mind after I read this.

[pjthompson]

Yes, it helps. I guess I'm not really asking people to decide for me, but to get convinced that it's not dunderheaded to write the second book.

[pjthompson]

Check out the ETA stuff and see if that clarifies. Or tell me to make up my own damned mind. That works, too. ;-)

[makoiyi.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'll go do that while the garlic spud is cooking. But I'm like you, sometimes I have to ask. It isn't 'taking control' as we are all supposed to do, but with me it sparks a train of thought that I don't always see myself because I'm too damned close to something. I 'can' do it alone a lot of the time, but sometimes that's damned lonely. I'd rather thrash it out, and even if I have thought of the solution five minutes after I've asked the question. If I hadn't asked the question in the first place I would never have got the solution.

[pjthompson]

Yeah, that's it. Talking about it, even if nobody's making my mind up for me...helps me make up my mind. :-/

[makoiyi.livejournal.com]

I don't think, even with those added characters, it's going to alter my perception of the novel as a whole up to this point. You'd already foreshadowed the uplifted devils, so H came as no surprise. The other two I could see might complicate the plot of who is doing what to whom and why. There are a couple of folk I don't trust and one does wonder how clever those clever dick mortals are in the scheme of things. They know far too much. Watching from afar, or much much closer? I can see politics in the heavenly realm as ambitious as it is below. A touch like Greek mythology where the gods manipulate the players, but who is manipulating the gods?

My thought would be to write it how you want. You may be able to do it in one book without losing any integrity at all. The thing is that you know where it's going and what it has to achieve. If that can't be cut back without compromising what you do want to include, then go for two. There are always exceptions to the rules if an editor loves something enough. You could have one book of 140,00 or two of 80,00. Which would achieve your aim?

[pjthompson]

Thanks for reading that. Last year I wrote a book that was 180k, the year before (well, mostly in 2004) one that was 160k--so I'm really trying to encourage myself to go shorter. However, I don't think that's something I seem to be able to decide up front. Ultimately, I am going to have to write the book I write and worry about cutting it down, I suppose, but I'd so like to not write another trilogy/duology in one. I guess that's why I'm trying to short circuit the process and do one or the other. And I guess no one can really make up my mind for me. ;-)

Love the icon, btw.

[pjthompson]

You know, I'm so slow I didn't realize until just now why you read the stuff I'd added to chapter 5. Duuuh. When I said, "Read the ETA stuff," I meant the ETA stuff I'd added to this message. So, a really big thanks because I wasn't trying to make you do all that extra work.

[morewineplease.livejournal.com]

I feel bad that I critted your first three chapters and stopped. But I must say that I actually have read 4, 5 and 6 I think, because I love the story that much--and my lazy ass hasn't logged on to OWW to offer you my wisdom (hardee har har).

I'm of two minds on this ... commercially I don't think someone would give you just a one-book deal, but I don't think you necessarily have to write a trilogy either. Wasn't Jacqueline Carey's god series a duology? Me? I love the book and the world so much I would love to read as much as I could, meaning two books.

Is there a major reason why you can't fit all that into one book, even after you get through draft 1 then go back and edit?

If you want a beta reader when the whole thing is done, let me know. I work better with novels as a whole rather than piece by piece. :)

[pjthompson]

commercially I don't think someone would give you just a one-book deal, but I don't think you necessarily have to write a trilogy either.

Hmmm. I hadn't thought about that. Have more in the bank in case they want more...Gods and monsters!

I love the book and the world so much I would love to read as much as I could, meaning two books.

Thank you. I do appreciate hearing that!

Is there a major reason why you can't fit all that into one book, even after you get through draft 1 then go back and edit?

Yeah. One really long book. And I just didn't want to repeat the 180k monster I wrote last year, mainly. It was exhausting and deflating and didn't work. Well, it works as a novel and a half, but it means I'd probably have to generate another 180k or so to finish off the story. Mommy!

[mrngglry98.livejournal.com]

If *I* had to choose between those two stories, I'd also go for the second. I like the philosophy, and I want to know the answer to the mystery (from my reading, I've so far felt this is the central plot), and just a smattering of sex (as opposed to a whole bunch) is fine with me.

I'd love to see the WHOLE story told, though, so I'm with the others in saying a duology is totally an option. My story about Nohemi (The Golden Moon one) is designed as a duology...it goes well with the theme. ;) So *I*, at least, am hoping that two-book series are sellable. hehehe

And as everyone else in the writing biz always says: If you got a good story, it's sellable. It doesn't matter if it's a single, a trilogy, or an octet. So go with whatever you feel is right. Right? :)

[pjthompson]

I want to know the answer to the mystery (from my reading, I've so far felt this is the central plot), and just a smattering of sex (as opposed to a whole bunch) is fine with me.

Actually, it is. And I've been thinking the war with the gangs has to come before the resolution of this plot, but this morning I'm thinking maybe it doesn't. Because the war with the gangs could be part of the fallout that's bound to occur from the resolution of the wheel-within-wheel thingie.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Ooph. Tough call. I read Chapter Six last night (I think that was the one... your latest post) and like the heat between Carsten and Rye. That makes me lean toward book one. But... my intelectual side leans toward... ah, screw it. Write the sex. ;-)

[pjthompson]

lol--oh, there will be sex either way, my friend. You should know my work by now...

This morning, and talking it out, has straightened things out somewhat. I hope. I want to get unstuck now, please. :-)

[everyonesakitty.livejournal.com]

I'm a bad person to ask; I like books that stand alone and am terribly biased toward them. :) The second story sounds way more interesting to me. Also, seems like you could still work in the world in a sequel even though you'd resolved one big issue.

*But* you should totally follow your muse, because it has to keep inspiring you for the whole book. Write the story you love most, mebbe?

[pjthompson]

Write the story you love most, mebbe?

I think I gotta. My muse is totally confused at this point, but I think my instincts are pointing a specific way--and talking it out with ya'll has helped!

[merebrillante.livejournal.com]

The first one, and then the second one. 'Cause I want to know.

[pjthompson]

::groans::