Dear Authors... Sequels

[@Hello-og7os]

Dear Authors... Comic relief characters?

[@fangirlalltheway3627]

YES!!!

[@texman89]

I model all my comic relief characters off of Jar Jar Binks: the best part of Star Wars

[@tomascanas9143]

@@texman89 Oh yes... the sarcasm.

[@texman89]

@@tomascanas9143 right... sarcasm

[@amyalcorn2032]

Yass!!

[@mariapazgonzalezlesme]

*Dear Authors.* + Supportive / Secondary characters. + Antagonists. Not villians. + Fight scenes. + Overlooked stuff from Worldbuilding. Such as food, fashion and population's personalities. + Prequels!

[@1perspective286]

Personally I have yet to find a prequel series that I actually like.

[@zephyr-117sdropzone8]

@@1perspective286 In my opinion, there should be no such thing as "prequel series." It should just be a kind of long book. That's it. That's also what I'll be doing. A 1-book prequel.

[@RaptorRocka]

Fight scenes are the thing I want. I am terrible at writing those in stories and describing them in D&D.

[@JessWest118]

The author needs to make me believe that the second book was the intention all along, that the author had always planned for their to be a sequel. It wasn't just a sudden after thought due to popularity, fan demand or money.

[@Alias_Anybody]

It's usually easy to tell though. If the big bad is destroyed in book one (without properly setting up a bigger threat at least), all characters who contribute to the story are introduced in book one and their arcs are done etc. you can be sure that the sequels were only made because the first book was selling. Artificial conflict and new pointless characters don't make a good sequel.

[@jakerockznoodles]

@@Alias_Anybody That's why a lot of authors don't resolve everything in one book, just in case it becomes popular enough for a sequel.

[@AuthorGuy1]

A properly written story has a logic to it, which will continue past the first book. The author should be able to pick up that thread of logic and keep going.

[@vittovioletcreeper]

jakerockznoodles I think to be a good writer, and this depends on the story, I am talking in this case, you have to end and resolve completely the plot, but write the sequel in a way it is certified it was always planned.

[@thegremlinduke2190]

I chose Fan Demand weren't for your fans you will be out of work. I hate authors, companies treat their fans like shit. Hey, Dumb asses your fans helped you grow and they buy your stuff duh.

[@kat_the_ot]

"Don't change the personality of the love interest to make them a jerk." Sarah J. Mass has left the chat EDIT: I should probably say that I have never read the books that I'm referring to but I watched Cindy's videos on them so I pretty much know what happens.

[@tutdunsthemouse]

yesssss

[@glomar9982]

YESSSSSSSSS!!! I'm dying from what she did to Chaol (tears)

[@Sara-rj5gi]

kat_the_ot THE HUNGER GAMES GALE’S CHARACTER CHANGE GOT ME SO MAD

[@FionaA17]

Tamlin

[@HuigbertsGamed]

Gives me transformer vibes

[@avapaull3814]

These “Dear Authors” videos should be part of required training for writers.

[@schuylergeery-zink1923]

Yes these are such helpful reminders to write a good book for readers! I’m trying to make my sequel better than the first book. That’s what should be :)

[@thesamuraiman]

That's exactly why I love watching them. Haha

[@logangreen6107]

As a writer, that's what I use it for. 😂

[@sunflower9310]

That’s why I’m watching it. To decide if mine will be a standalone or trilogy.

[@AuthorGuy1]

I don't think I made any of the mistakes she talks about in these, but i completely agree.

[@samkathryn4825]

Avatar did a fantastic job with the middle “book”!

[@BoundByWords]

Sam Kathryn it very much did!

[@neoshenlong]

However, Avatar was written from the beginning as a whole story, which is different to sequels that spawn after the original story is over. Avatar's true sequel wasn't... that... great.

[@ransherman1611]

@@neoshenlong no idea what you are talking about. legend of korra was and is great. not being as good as the original series doesn't make it less great. i advice you watch it again, you may find it is better than you remembered.

[@neoshenlong]

@@ransherman1611 I just watched it again, I found out it was worse than I remembered. I actually thought it wasn't that bad before rewatching.

[@pretendtheresaname9213]

@@ransherman1611 It is far from great. Lack of development of the main cast, a fractured plot overall, plot holes and conveniences, some bad or underdeveloped villains, shallow exploration of the ideas presented and more problems. It does have some great things but saying it's great it's an overstatement.

[@shamitsharma7304]

Not a book, but the How to Train Your Dragon sequel was gold. Edit: How the hell did I miss Kung Fu Panda 2

[@ainsleyzirkle2485]

There are books of it too 😂

[@ethanpham4778]

Shamit Sharma What about Shrek?

[@ransherman1611]

it's also a book, but true. the movies is a great example how furfilling it is to see the main characters in a relationship that was build in the previous book/movie/season. loving and supportive relationships are not boring, they are wholesome.

[@shamitsharma7304]

@@ainsleyzirkle2485 I know it's a book series but they are so different that I don't even associate them with each other. Astrid doesn't even appear in the books

[@mattjshea]

Don’t forget Toy Story 2!

[@AppleCore360]

I never understood why writers couldn't just have a second book without a third in the making. There is nothing wrong with a second story and ending it. Only write the third book if you need it, not because it will sell. I've often felt the second book could have been left out because the third book continued the actual story.

[@HarryBuddhaPalm]

Yeah, I think too many people out there think they have to make a trilogy just because you have to make a trilogy and they really don't.

[@ErynBroughtaBook]

I would guess that in many cases, authors stretch their one-book idea into a trilogy because they’re facing pressure from a publisher who wants to be able to market and sell more books off of the same initial idea.

[@kanashiiookami6537]

@@ErynBroughtaBook exactly. You saved me from coming up with a good way to put this. 👍 People forget that after you publish book one, the series is usually outta your hand if the publisher doesn't like where you wanted to go.

[@AppleCore360]

@@kanashiiookami6537 I've never published a book so I couldn't say. But the way I see it you are still the writer. No one can tell your story but you. In the end you can always write a new story if a publisher wants to milk you.

[@jakerockznoodles]

@@AppleCore360 But they can put pressure on you to make or market it in a certain way. There's also the consideration that often authors don't see as much of the profits from the first book as they are in a weaker bargaining position with publishers, so when it becomes successful that's what gives them the clout to get more books published. For a newer author, however, that clout may only extend to the name recognition of that one series. Even people like JK Rowling don't command the same level of respect in works outside of the series that made them big.

[@Holly865]

I love how unified everyone is on what we want, yet most authors still manage to disappoint us at some point

[@MrShaiya96]

Everyone knows what they want in a sequel. Until they write a sequel themselves. Then, they're part of the problem.

[@katherinealexander9347]

Sometimes yes you're right, but sometimes they're under the pressure of publishing companies.

[@matiaspereyra9392]

Sometimes is a common error to make unconsciously because writing and reading is like playing a videogame and watching someone playing, sometimes some authors surround themselves with yes-people either on purpose or out of bad luck and can't see their mistakes, sometimes publishers ask for certain things and some authors try their best while others absolutely can't work with the publishers' demands so they do whatever

[@AuthorGuy1]

I invite you to read my sequels. I'd love to know if I made them strong v enough that they can stand on their own. I once read a series inside out and backwards, and all the books stood on their own.

[@deanneekstrand4128]

I HATE it when a characters entire personality changes in order to give another character a "legitimate" reason to end a romantic relationship. Dean in Gilmore Girls is one of the most horrid examples of this. He was genuinely a good guy until the writers needed the audience to make another guy look good.

[@dariaprokop6309]

I know a lot of GG fans have this opinion on Dean, but for me it actually made sense - he was always rather insecure with the tendency to try to control Rory, but for a longer time he didn't have much to be "triggered" by. Once Jess showed up and Rory had another person to hang out with other than her usual closed circle, Dean lost his ground and showed his true colors. Of course it's only my opinion, but this is how it always looked like for me.

[@kimbarbeaureads]

I'm rewatching the show now. The problem wasn't with Dean initially. It's Rory. She has no clue what she wants. Dean was good to her and she wanted a jerk. Jess is a jerk and she wants. To be treated well. Pick one already! Dean always wanted her and he had no business dating (and ultimately marrying) Lindsay and ruining her life just because Rory was unavailable.

[@deanneekstrand4128]

@@kimbarbeaureads I agree that not all the problems were on Dean's side. Rory was definitely a jerk in this situation as well. But I still maintain that his entire personality changes when Jess showed up, just because the writers wanted to make Jess look better.

[@ActiveAdvocate1]

There's this thing in psychology called the "primacy/recency effect", which states that you'll always remember the beginning and the end of a thing better than you'll remember what's in the middle. This is true of book series as well, I think.

[@Ignasimp]

This doesn't explain why the most iconic moment in Dragon ball is Gohan vs Cell. Which is more or less in the middle of Dragon ball Z. And dragon ball z is the "middle thing" of dragon ball, and it's the most known and loved.

[@BlackXSunlight]

@@Ignasimp Gohan vs. Cell and that whole arc was a much more proper end to the trilogy of arcs surrounding Goku's life as an adult and a father, his relationship with his son, and Gohan's growth as a fighter. It'd be "Saiyan Invasion Arc" as our first book, then the "Frieza Arc" with all the Namek shenanigans, and ends with the "Android Arc" when Cell wipes the floor with everybody. The Majin Buu arc had a timeskip and re-centered the series around Goku despite the implication that Gohan would be our new protagonist (and he got a downgrade tbh), it feels more like another entry in the series than an actual sequel season.

[@Ignasimp]

@@BlackXSunlight but just because it feels that way to you doesn't mean it's not a sequel season.

[@Sealwithwificonnection]

IMO it applies a bit better to the individual books. There's a reason why "saggy middle" is a phrase thrown around for books

[@BlackXSunlight]

I MP I’m not talking just about my feelings, the technical structure of the anime’s story fits a 3-act trilogy while the Majin Buu saga comes after the end of that structure. The time skip and shift in focus makes it more of an extended universe entry than a true sequel, regardless of authorial intent.

[@lostschedule51]

Sometimes the middle book is my favourite. I'm already familiar with the world and the characters and it's not that dramatic compared to the last book. Catching Fire and Heart of betrayal are the first examples that come to my mind.

[@ethanpham4778]

Lost Schedule Catching fire is my favourite too. Mockingjay I thought was horrible though.

[@penguino9291]

@@ethanpham4778 Same. Catching Fire is the best to me, and Mockingjay could've been done better

[@theon.1549]

Omg yesss! I love Catching Fire so much!

[@BlackXSunlight]

For a long while, "Empire Strikes Back" was the go-to example of a good sequel and the "middle" of a trilogy. The one thing I absolutely love in fantasy/action trilogies is the middle is usually when we get training montages and characters get a glo up, that's always a joy to read or watch.

[@ErynBroughtaBook]

One of the best lessons on plotbuilding that I’ve ever learned is this: don’t bog your characters down with random filler obstacles as they move from point A to point B. Your readers can tell when you’re adding fluff to get in between the characters and their goals, and it gets stale and boring! Instead, MOVE THE GOALPOSTS in an organic way as your story progresses. This preserves the momentum of the plot, keeps your readers guessing, and gives you lots of creativity and flexibility as a writer. An example will help to illustrate what I mean: Let’s say a character (knight) needs a Thing (sword) to defeat the Big Baddie (dragon). Instead of stretching out your story with a long journey and having them fight a ton of bad guys until they finally get to the sword and are ready to take down the dragon - great video game structure, boring story structure - instead, have them find the sword relatively quickly, but when they find the sword it’s broken, or they accidentally break it themselves! Suddenly the goalposts have shifted, and now the knight needs to find a way to fix the sword - maybe by seeking out a blacksmith, or finding information about some other magical solution. The bigger story arc/goal remains the same (slay the dragon), but the smaller goals the characters are working towards to get there are always changing. This makes everything feel fresh and purposeful. I think too many sequels get stuck in “fluff” land because the author isn’t sure how to move the goalposts in a compelling way.

[@trishareddy2570]

I really like how Gale’s arc progresses through the series. From book 1, you can tell that he’s much more okay with death and murder than Katniss, and that only increases in Book 2, which leads into Book 3

[@jordanalford2825]

Trisha Reddy he’s always been an asshole so people just didn’t wanna see it.

[@kimbarbeaureads]

He was always angry toward the Capitol and believed every citizen was culpable. He ranted about it regularly in the woods.

[@shainalusterman3703]

True, and I also don't think he "became a jerk to further a different love interest," I think he became even more jaded by war and death. It's very believable for his character to act the way he does

[@uzmajawadjawad607]

Most sequels seem unplanned. Like the author didn't have any idea that the first book is gonna be that successful. But when their book becomes popular, they write a second book which literally dissapoints. I think every author should already have a sequel in mind while writing the first book

[@surprisedchar2458]

Sequels are often pushed by Publishers. A lot of authors probably don’t want one, but get pushed into making one anyway.

[@AuthorGuy1]

The thing that bothers me in those cases is that the story often has an obvious sequel, if there's any logic to it at all, but the author doesn't have or take the time to follow it and writes something that seems in no way a continuation of the original. It takes more than just the same characters and setting.

[@AuthorGuy1]

@@surprisedchar2458 publishers would rather exploit an existing property than go to the trouble of developing a new one. That's what franchises are for.

[@thelookingcat]

I have a lot planned lol

[@duzcat9205]

Totally disagree. You should never plan for a sequel unless you feel the story should have one. Implying we purposely stretch and milk one book ideas for the sole purpose of making money is pretty gross to be honest. Forced cliff hangers and refusing to give satisfying endings is so TV it hurts. Just get better at picking up after a completed story, or just start an entirely new property.

[@Nasser851000]

Middle books should be able to improve upon the original :)

[@nolongeractiveeee-d2j]

I love it when the middle book in a trilogy can stand on its own. It has its own story and plot that wraps up at the end with foreshadowing for the last part and minor set up.

[@zephyr-117sdropzone8]

Exactly describes my sequel lol

[@Terriblegam2r]

Catching Fire is my favorite book in The Hunger Games trilogy.

[@geektesse]

I don‘t like if it is a trilogy for „having a trilogy“s sake. Make it two books if the plot isn‘t enough. And also a glossary and/or „what previously happened“ is nice if the series expands over a larger timeframe and/or a multitude of characters are involved. Also PLEASE Merphy could you align the Austen books behind you? One book is sticking out and it is making me nervous...

[@JMcLeodKC711]

"Half Blood Prince" is the greatest middle book of all time. "Empire Strikes Back" is the greatest "middle movie" of all time.

[@melaniemagdalene1616]

Goblet Of Fire was an awesome middle book as well.

[@alenciaga21]

I love Prisoner of Askaban. It's my favorite middle book of Harry Potter. The movie as well

[@xXMr_NormalXx]

John McLeod “The Dark Knight,” “Spider-Man 2” (Toby), “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”

[@alenciaga21]

@@bluefire9147 🥰

[@hilarywyllie2983]

@@xXMr_NormalXx The Dark Knight. Full Stop.

[@Rockefellaxo]

We all know the most fabulous sequel ever. THE VERY POTTER SEQUEL

[@nokutenda4081]

Middle books aren't always bad. A good example is Empire Strikes Back, best book I've ever watched 👌

[@lordlcww6536]

Catching Fire is my favourite Hunger Games book

[@lordlcww6536]

Also Lord of Shadows in TDA

[@marvelite2354]

But ESB is a movie

[@dhruvbharija172]

Fav book you watched , uhhhh

[@suf1an658]

The dark Knight is the best in the trilogy. Kung Fu Panda too

[@ayushprasad6159]

The Middle book I live the most is The Two Towers. Helm's Deep was such a great arc. The side arc in fangorn was also amazing.

[@mishadasari]

I agree, I've never been as invested in a side arc as I was for Fangorn

[@daisyqoo3354]

Ayush Prasad Two Towers is my fave too

[@bluegreen5377]

To be fair The Lord of the Rings is not a trilogy. I think for Tolkien it came down to how he wrote. Like with Faramir, he claimed he didn't invent him. Faramir just showed up and wouldn't be shut up.

[@barrydbrick9633]

Dear Merphy... thanks for the upload

[@SereneDancer]

Overly Sarcastic Productions recently did a trope talks about this. If you're interested in the subject Red delved into it pretty well.

[@Hello-og7os]

Another OSP fan 😀

[@yeehaw69]

@@Hello-og7os Yep

[@longliveplanetawesome3223]

A lot of these "Dear Author" video topics and OSP's "Trope Talks" overlap. I like to first watch Trope Talks to get an understanding of the pros and cons of different tropes and sub-tropes, then watch the corresponding Dear Author video to see how well fans react to common tropes.

[@goszkkkka]

LoTR has an excellent second book :-)

[@RosLanta]

Best book in the trilogy in fact!

[@florentdemeyere4779]

Could we have a dear author on Friendship? We know it matters to you, as you have shared your love for the Gentlemen Bastards, and I'd love to hear the community's thoughts.

[@RB-eb9mr]

Completely agree! Sequels have to work very hard to get me to read them at this point. I wonder if one day we could manage a 'Dear Readers' and flip the series lol.

[@UnknownUnknown-mo7zg]

Every fanfic writer would have a comment, not to mention every Original fiction author...actually lets! Writers get so much flack from people who are either too severe, too invested that their fanon is now 'canon', or too vague.

[@DaydreamBeliever81]

I’m glad I saw this because I’m currently writing a sequel to my book. This was all great advice!

[@SageK.03]

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger does these things SO WELL!!!!!!! I highly recommend it.

[@molllykbat]

Yes I love Kotlc it's AMAZING

[@aimeelindsey9549]

So I just finished the last Mistborn last night and I think Sanderson did such a phenomenal job with the sequels in that series!

[@juliakra01]

Sanderson is a true genius

[@cassecorrea]

My comment had mentioned that I don’t like when sequels change the perspective/character POV that we’re following, especially a character we don’t know or care about after a whole book of getting to know a specific voice/cast. A balance between perspectives is needed if the author wants to add another a whole book later.

[@925263]

I find it fine to add new POVs, so long as we get to keep at least some of the old ones. If I wanted a full new cast to follow, I'd pick up a new series.

[@eporcheetahka5086]

Recommendation: it’s an anime and manga titled ascendance of a bookworm. Which I think feels very appropriate for your channel it’s of heartwarming/tugging natured story.

[@KamisamaSenpaiM4GIC]

Yes, Ascendance of a bookworm is a great anime 😊👍

[@joejoereads219]

It's originally a Light Novel

[@anicealien]

Someone sent her the first volume in the series a while ago.

[@amybremer7]

loved the anime 1st season

[@anicealien]

@@amybremer7 I feel like season one was objectively great, but I found myself tuning out near the end for some reason?? Like, near the end, I was behind three episodes when I had previously been keeping up with the series on a weekly basis. But as for season two, I'm loving it so much more!

[@bookishwriter9460]

"Don't focus mainly on the subplots" Jennifer L. Armentrout has left the chat. "Don't use a sequel solely for further developing a relationship" Jennifer L. Armentrout throws her phone against the wall because she can't leave the chat again.

[@Calliopebooks]

I have a book/series to recommend. A book series called Keeper Of The Lost Cities is incredibly smart, it’s a fantasy adventure mystery. It’s completely planned out with eight books so far and a depressing amount of heartbreak moments. And there is NO throw away dialogue cus everything comes back.

[@Audrey610]

Hi! I have a historical fiction recommendation for you. It’s Johnny Tremaine. I loved it. It’s about a boy who is training to be a silversmith and an accident occurs, so that he can’t work any more. Also, I loved the book Gregor, the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. It is so great. I highly recommend both of these books!

[@audreybeadle2880]

I loved both of these books. Gregor the Overlander is super fun and fast paced.

[@rjcarrabello6283]

I recommend that after reading the Percy Jackson series you should read the heroes of Olympus series

[@NoAmmo22]

Before They Are Hanged is a great example of a middle book done superbly!

[@Cat-oj5oj]

Catching Fire is my favourite book in the Hunger Games series; Suzanne Collins definitely did not succumb to 'middle book' syndrome 👏

[@therogueeducator8452]

The big problem is with the publishers. They need/want to make money so they compel authors to write a trilogy when a singlet or duology would have been stronger. And we keep buying the whole thing so there’s no incentive to increase quality.

[@TheQwerty841]

Dear Authors when writing a book just ask w.w.s.d. What would Sanderson do?

[@ErynBroughtaBook]

Except his romances lol. Love the guy, love his books, but he’s still figuring out how to write romantic chemistry

[@happyreadingwatching1597]

@@ErynBroughtaBook For real tho!!!!!!😂

[@AlastairReviewsIt]

I may be in the minority, but sometimes I can withstand some faults if only to spend more time with beloved characters. Only sometimes though

[@graceosaurus5466]

I just recently finished a show that I feel like struggled with the first problem. They literally repeated the same arc for five seasons. It's like the main character would gain the other character's trust and then immediately loose it by the next episode. I love these Dear Authors videos! I'm so glad I came across this channel!

[@willnuffsaid5752]

This channel makes me want to write a novel even though I know I'm not a good creative writer...

[@wariolandgoldpiramid]

The comments on your post were so repetitive, I had nothing to add at all. I agree with all of these. Although, the "new villain every season" thing can work ("Once Upon A Time", "Legend of Kora"), but you want the heroes and world to feel like one whole, and develop.

[@ransherman1611]

sometimes you don't need a trilogy, it is okay to make just a two books series.

[@artisticguineapig5102]

The last time I was this early Shallan wasn’t in a love triangle.

[@seabird3896]

I think I just died. Was not expecting a spoiler for Stormlight Archive here 😭😂 I'm only on Words of Radiance Part 1, but now I'm dreading Shallan's love triangle???

[@madisonvava8342]

Wait what

[@molllykbat]

Ha😂

[@savannahkrystall2698]

Harry Potter is a perfect example of a middle book that totally shines. Goblet of Fire makes the biggest changes in the series, and is given a tournament arc in order to make the plot unique and engaging.

[@elizabethlin_9879]

My mornings go like this: coffee, daniel greene video, more coffee, merphy napier video, food, more youtube...

[@lucialanczova1315]

I honestly love the idea of skipping a few years. For example: the first book could be about this 14/15/16 year old character, who's been through some teenage problems like figuring out who you are or whatever. In the end, they find themselves and this stuff - and the sequel would happen in their 1st or 2nd year of college. The sequel would either begin with the older version who's different than the character we knew in the 1st book, but the plot would be about those years and what have changed and why. OR the character would be almost exactly the same as in the end of the book (cuz people change at least a lil) but the plot would dive deeper into their 'new' personality (the one we ended up with at the end of the st book) and show us how they solve every day (or unique) problems. Excuze my grammar 😅😘

[@meganm153]

Yo! I'm pretty early for once. I love this series. I think the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series did their sequels really well. I especially noticed how Sierra didn't lose the fact that she learned how to crack a joke. One of my all time favorite books!

[@wintersnow998]

If a character is going to be added into a sequel for the purposes of love drama, I'd much rather see be a couple fell in love with this new person and work together to woo them and have the new person be confused about their intent and wonder if they're unintentionally getting in the way of the couple's relationship rather than a typical love forced triangle

[@caitlinduggan4974]

I think one of the things you can do to break free of middle book syndrome is to write from a different character's perspective. One example is Mistborn. Having not just Vin's perspective made it seem fresh and I was just excited to join the world from a different set of eyes.

[@BrandonGuimond]

IMO, The middle book syndrome can easily be resolved by just planning ahead before you write. I think many new authors write their first book and don't put much thought into any sequels, and then when they sit down to write the 2nd, they just expand on the ideas that pop up and flesh out their world in the 2nd, but not necessarily flesh out the "story". And oftentimes, it makes book one feel like a stand-alone and gives book 3 a Deus-Ex Machina feeling. Peter Bretts Demon Cycle books is a good example of this. Books 1+2 tied in nicely, but it fell off a cliff with the Skull Throne/Daylight War....complete filler books. Anyone that's read that series knows exactly what I'm talking about.

[@schuylergeery-zink1923]

Yes! This is why we (loosely) plot out the series. From book 1 I know what’s going to happen to my characters by the end of the main series and even the spinoff. I strive to make the sequels better because I’ll be a better writer with each book and the readers deserve an even better reading experience. So at least in my debut novel, there’s set up/foreshadowing for the sequel. :)

[@dianabosco3911]

I know that it can be spoilery but I really appreciate when you give examples of what you're talking about

[@thegremlinduke2190]

13:42 I love it when the villain from the first book comes back when done right. If you don't show he is back the until the end and explain in book three how he comes back from the dead if done right OMG, that's a story. If he is an undead you got my attention.

[@jamstudentCP]

Characters going through the same arc is part of why i didn't make it through wheel of time

[@cristianowey]

Not really a book (although there is a novelization), but Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back is an amazing "middle story" to the Original Trilogy of Star Wars and really is an example of how to do sequels. Everybody knows the twist "I am your father" and that movie/story was so impactful that people who have never even seen anything Star Wars related will know this twist. Truly one of the best movies of all time and imo the best Star Wars movie. So even though this is a channel about books, I think this was still worth mentioning

[@elenathegreat]

I think Catching Fire is one of the greatest middle books because it raises the stakes of THG without repeating the exact plot of the first book and is where the meat of the story is - if anything, THG was more of a setup book to Catching Fire I think!

[@stoptalking85]

Hey Murphy, loved the video. Book recommendation: The Expanse series. I know you don’t do a lot of Sci-Fi, but if you were to start these are the best books to dip your toes in with. You sometimes forget it’s Sci-Fi and are just reading about people.

[@goszkkkka]

Expanse is kinda 4/10 as a series mate

[@mikepotter3251]

Just wanted to drop a note saying THANK YOU. After listening to you, I went back and revised my story so each book is a stand-alone but reference the previous book. I'm currently in negotiations with a hybrid publisher for my novella called ZIP LINE which turned into a series, four books strong, with a fifth book wrapup to be done next year. I followed your advice to the letter and made sure none of the stories falters on what you pointed out. Again, THANK YOU and your channel of followers.

[@ZevaTayler]

Thank you for bringing up Sanderson's Laws, they're so helpful and important when it comes to writing

[@peripheralzx11]

Wondering could a character in some cases have to go through the same arc twice. Hear me out, let’s say a main character has a past trauma and learns to overcome these issues from that trauma book 1, but at the end something terrible happens again that makes them think that their original mindset was right and in book 2 they learn to once again recover from their trauma and other issues caused by it?

[@AikiraBeats]

I really love it when foreshadowing is done well. I hate it when they throw in relationship when they are better at being friends

[@PsychologyandChillwMichi]

My first sequel is 5 years after the first, but they are all still dealing with the trauma from the past book at the beginning so its almost like no time has happened because they are so emotional about what happened before

[@sockosophie3132]

While you were talking about "pointless relationship conflicts" I thought about Eragon Book 2 Lol... Hated it

[@zoeholmes2134]

Catching Fire & A Court of Mist and Fury are the BEST middle books.

[@noelalcoba2869]

Thank you for making this video. I just discovered this channel today. Turns out that hearing what BUGS people about sequels (or book 2) is the perfect motivator! I'm currently penning the sequel to my novella NEMESIS, and I needed this video more than I realized. NEMESIS was originally a standalone book, but almost everyone that's read it wants to know more about the characters. The challenge I'm seeing with following up something originally meant as a standalone is that the character arcs were kind of done already. But hey, writing isn't supposed to be easy. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

[@EricMcLuen]

Agree on the first part of this. Catching Fire is literally Hunger Games with some bells and whistles. Otherlands came to mind with the third rule where the various parts seemed like Mad Libs that Williams just came up with more ideas he thought were cool and just filled in the blanks.

[@lynsiedaniels3275]

I tend to enjoy middle books more than firsts. Catching Fire, A Court of Mist and Fury, Order of the Phoenix were all my favorite books of the series!

[@BlackXSunlight]

I'd love to chat about series with more than 3 books and how the usual "3-act structure" is broken down between them. What would the "middle book" of A Series of Unfortunate Events be? Or Harry Potter? Or the Inheritance Cycle? Or even Children of the Red King?

[@schlemony]

I've been recently rereading the raven cycle and I just realised the amount of foreshadowing (given that the book is about psychics ) is crazy entire plot points are embeded in small scenes and I hadn't even noticed anything on my first read

[@izzyd3857]

For some reason I love the middle book in a series - Catching Fire, Dark Triumph, ACOMAF, Thunderhead, Siege and Storm, Uncommon Criminals, Empty Quarter... basically a lot of middle books

[@Patchy_AK]

This is so useful for me as a beginner writer thank you! For almost five years I've been planning this series and recently started to write it. I won't have the sequels\middle books fail!

[@amberflowers4]

As a writer I really enjoy these videos. Like I’m taking mental notes so my novel doesn’t end up in one of these videos one day lmaoo

[@GoterGuy]

I love how in Attack on Titan (s3/p1), they changed the focus of the plot to a more political battle instead of a physical one and develop the characters by putting them in different scenarios and situations that they otherwise wouldn’t be in.

[@potionseller2083]

I love middle books. Plot thickening without having to waste time with set up. Love it.

[@davidpaddit3169]

Hi! As an aspiring author myself, I would just like to say that your Dear Authors book tag really helped in getting into the minds of readers to see what they want and don't want out of the stories they read. This has really helped by streamlining tropes and aspects of books that I shouldn't write about, and ultimately gave me plot ideas for future reference! Love this! Thank you for doing what you do!

[@samauthor342]

Not all heroes wear capes. Some post “Dear authors...” series on their platform and are named Merphy.

[@Joe-v5o]

Weird how with movies, the middle one is usually the best

[@hannahsonnenburg7718]

So true, at least with all of the big ones.

[@jl8858]

Cars 2

[@Joe-v5o]

We don’t talk about cars 2

[@EricMcLuen]

Highlander 2 and the planet Zeist.

[@Joe-v5o]

I said usually you guys 😭

[@HarryBuddhaPalm]

Something I absolutely hate about movie sequels is when they immediately discard the Love Interest that the protagonist "won" in the first movie so that he can win over a new one in the sequel because Hollywood thinks that every movie has to have a love plot in it. See: Kick Ass 2, The Karate Kid 2, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, every James Bond movie ever

[@magicalgirl4]

Indiana Jones as well

[@kayagerlag]

I think catching fire in the hunger games series is like the best

[@charkelley]

I adore your videos! As an avid reader and new writer, they give me so many ideas and guidelines for both my projects and my library. You're amazing!

[@nadnadnadnad7133]

Neal Shusterman excels at middle books, they're usually the best books in each of his series!

[@danaswift906]

Thank you for making this series. It's my favorite thing on BookTube! Writing my sequel now and this video made my day! So many good points made!

[@Matthew_Murray]

An issue I have with sequels, and this can be said for series as a whole, is how it can cheapen the threat of the main overarching villain. Example Voldemort, it’s hard to take him seriously as this super dark and powerful wizard when he is beaten by the same 12 year-old 2 years in a row. By book 7 it’s like “Oh, hi Tom”

[@schuylergeery-zink1923]

Thanks! As a writer, these vids are fantastic reminders to keep the reader always in mind. :) It really helps to plot out the series and outline the sequel while writing the first so you know what to foreshadow and set up for the next book + deliver on arcs and plot consequences from the previous book.

[@savannahatkins1488]

Not a book, but I always point to Toy Story 2 as a great example of sequel writing done well. It doesn't rehash the main conflict of the first one (Woody vs Buzz) but starts delving into questions about the characters origins and the world as a whole. The new characters introduced are likable, but the old cast still gets developed and is interesting. There is so much more I could say about it, but there are lots of videos on KZbin about this topic

[@raine791]

Dear authors, Prologues or Epilogues

[@elrilmoonweaver4723]

OMG! The "changing of the personality of the love interest in the sequel" comment. I have an entire discussion on advocating against the vilifying of Tamlin in Goodread's A Court of Frost and Starlight discussion thread and why I think the author did that character SO DIRTY.

[@imielvaultzwalthamnotetake2458]

What you have said, I would have yet to deny. And wouldn't dare! Would not.. dare!

[@littleripper312]

Simply knowing that there are stories and progression that can happen beyond waiting for the first kiss or confession in a romantic relationship.

[@BoundByWords]

That first one is something I’ve never been able to put into words! But yes it’s like deja vu.

[@jonathanmurray834]

Halfway through my second book rn and this made me feel really good about my progress 😂 glad I’m avoiding these red flags

[@WiCnet]

I always like watching your videos! I think I would like them even more with more examples. Like, what are some examples of characters whose personalities are changed so they can be written out of the story? What's an example or two of characters repeating an arc in the second installment? I love the naming of names! It helps make the subject matter come even more alive. Thanks for making the videos!

[@mishadasari]

I love this too but I think she doesn't do it to avoid spoilers. This is the sort of thing I look for in the comments lol

[@jessicagibson7585]

Ranger's Apprentice has fantastic sequels

[@jessicagibson7585]

Minus the Royal Ranger stuff

[@Raverenz06]

I think Sanderson ignored his own third rule for Starsight. He ignored the wonderful side characters he wrote in Skyward so he could do basically the same flight school story a second time with new, unrelatable characters.

[@molllykbat]

That's true but I still loved Starsight

[@Raverenz06]

molly batchelor I’m going back to reread it, as I read it in one sitting the day it came out so my initial frustration with it’s lack of Jerk Face and Quirk overshadowed the book for me. I didn’t think it was bad, but I hold Skyward as my favorite Sanderson book so it had a lot to live up to for me.

[@RageBadgerGaming]

As a DM, this gives me some calm ... as I don't think I've made too many of these.

[@bracklinnnorah6390]

overly sarcastic productions did a really good video on sequels, especially on the stuff at 9:48 about character development over time jumps

[@taylor_green_9]

This video came out on my birthday; what a lovely present! Anyway, there was a children's soap opera in my country that became famous because the main character got together with her love interest in the first season but then the guy DIED and she got together with another guy in season 2! She didn't even have a decent grief period. So, that's how you make a truly awful sequel

[@theyoungcarpenter3249]

I’m more excited for my sequels than the first one but that’s when the story starts to really dig into the main story within the series