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Question: What if book series don't become bestsellers!?
I'm an amateur writer and I'm a little worried about this question!. If, like JK Rowling's Harry Potter and Stephenie Meyer's Twilight ( which are both bestsellers) didn't become bestsellers initially ( I only mean IF, HP and Twilight fans don't get mad) then what would actually happen!?
I mean, JK Rowling and S!.Meyer spent so much time (especially the former) on creating those books!. If the books weren't huge hits around the globe like now!.!.!.wouldn't it be a waste to spend years perfecting plots and all that!?
I am starting on a book and I really, really want it to be a series like HP series and the Twilight saga (not to mention being bestsellers) but won't it be wasting the effort if not many want to read it!?
My mum says most series weren't MEANT to be series!. They were only continued because the first was a bestseller!. but that was not the case with Harry Potter (was it!?) the plot was so big!.!.!.
Please help me answer this question!. I'm almost demented thinking about it!.!.!. i know writing was meant to be enjoyable and not about the book being bestsellers or about the money, and i really, really love writing, but i would like to know what others think!. Thanks!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
You should write a book for your own purpose and enjoyment!.
If you are writing a book , just to be a bestseller and popular, you're wasting your time creating it , planning it , and writing it!.
I do not think that Stephenie Meyer and JK Rowling were expecting their books to be a huge success!.
Most important is for you to write your book and publish it!.
Afterward, it doesn't matter if your book will be a bestseller or not!.
A real writer, writes from his/her soul!. They are expressing their writing passion through creating a book!.
You shouldn't pressure yourself or except too much from yourself!.
After all , it's your first book!. Experience comes with years of writing!.
P!.S!.
Stephenie Meyer didn't plan her book!. She just had a dream of a human girl who has fallen in love with a vampire!. And started writing it!.
On the other hand , JK Rowling planned her books seven years , and then commenced with the writing!.
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Most authors that pitch a series don't have the whole series written down!. They usually have the first maybe even the second book, written and the rest of the series outlined!. It wouldn't be a waste of time, really!. An author submitting an idea for a series knows beforehand of the risks involved and a good number of authors more often than not have more than one idea running!. Getting published is a gamble, always, it doesn't matter if it's a series or not!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
JK rowling wrote the first book and it was a hit and as a result, she was prompted to write more and more!. Don't shoot your dreams down before they hatch! Aim for the stars and hope for the best!. I'd be interested in reading your book when you are done with it!. If you have aol instant messenger you can contact me there: Lotusleaves43 is my sn!. Hope to hear from you!Www@QuestionHome@Com
It's fine!. Even if you're not a bestseller, chances are you turn into a local celebrity!. I'm writing one too :) and there was a boy my age that got published and had to stop going to school for a couple days afterward, because some of the crazier 5th graders were hounding him for signatures!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
You should write because you love writing!. I doubt there are any authors who sit down and say "ok, now I'm going to write a bestsellling novel"!. They write because that's what they want to and have to do!. If your book is really good, then maybe it'll be published and maybe it'll be a bestseller!. Www@QuestionHome@Com
Most series did not start off with a best seller, and a lot of best sellers never have sequels!.
If the first book had decent sales, and there is adequate story left to be told, a publisher will consider a series (hoping that those who read the first book will buy the next one)!.
There are several books initially planned as a series that tanked because the first book did not meet projected sales!.
Sometimes it is many years before a single novel becomes a series, and that is usually after the author has generated a following with unrelated novels!.
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Harry Potter was always meant to be a series!. JK Rowling took a risk, and it paid off in the end!. Twilight, however, was originally just a standalone novel!. It became a hit, and there was a large demand for a sequel so Stephenie Meyers responded to the fans!.
The least you can do is try!. You don't know what is going to be a hit and what isn't!. It is a time consuming process, but if you're doing what you love, then it shouldn't matter if your book becomes a hit or not!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Most writers plan a back up plan if their book doesn't make it, like a side job!. I myself am an aspiring writer, and I have thought of this before!. But to me if I love my story enough and put my heart and soul into writing it I believe that if it isn't a copycat and is my best possible work I believe the reader will notice that!. And if not, then I will learn to make my next book even better and put everything I got into writing it till I write a hit!.
I love writing so to me it doesn't matter if they love it or not, it just matters if I do my best and enjoy writing it!. And if someone does love it then I did a good job and can be proud of myself for finally giving someone something they enjoy!. I believe a writer should have faith in their writing, sure your first book might not become a best seller!. But the first is only the beginning, you can always improve and make your next book a bestseller!.
But I believe you shouldn't copy another person's idea, you should make it something new and exciting and not ride on the coat tails of someone else's success when you write a book you need to make it all your own!. If it's just a copy of someone else's book it won't become famous because it's similar!. Put your heart and soul into your writing and think about something you've never seen used before so you can make it 100% your book!. Www@QuestionHome@Com
Your mother has it right in my opinion!. Writers write because that's what they are good at, that's what they like to do!. The initial Twilight book Stephenie wrote for her own enjoyment, and if not for her family pushing her to get it published, it wouldn't be what is is today!. It was also meant to stand on it's own!. The first book was sort of all 4 compiled into one!. Her publisher talked her into doing a series!.
Harry Potter on the other hand, we knew from the very first book that Hogwarts students attended school for 7 years!. So we were sort of guaranteed at least 7!.
Another thing you have to consider is films!. Both of the examples you mentioned got movie deals before the series was half over!. The first Harry Potter movie came out not to long after the second book, and the rights to the Twilight film were sold shortly after the release of the third book!. That is when the craze really started!. I myself didn't start Harry Potter until after seeing the first 2 films!.
But, as it goes with anything else, if it is good, word will spread, and it will catch on!. Www@QuestionHome@Com