16 Comments

I’ve only published one duology but agree it was far harder than my trilogy. In fact, my duology’s book two nearly killed me. There was a lot of hair pulling and crying involved. 🙈

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I *knew* I wasn't alone in this! (But IMMUNITY was very good, so you absolutely pulled it off.)

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Thank you. Phew! 😅

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Currently plotting my sequel on my first ever duology and yes, despair. The structure is so hard to nail down!

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Oh my gosh. Sending hugs. Support. And let me know if you need to vent about it sometime, especially if that means I get to read the first one sooner.

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That sounds like a deal to me! 🤓

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yes! book 2 for my duologywas so much despair - haha i think it shows in how dark the story gets. Love your perspective in the structure of a duology!

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SO much despair! It seems like everyone experiences this?? I wonder if there's anyone who thinks the second book of a duo is smooth sailing.

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I have yet to write a series, either trilogy or duology, but this makes sense! It seems very difficult in terms of structure and I love me a structure. I wonder if either will be difficult for me in the future, since I see books in a 4 act structure rather than 3.

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Having a structure you like is good!

I actually think about books with four parts, too, particularly duology sequels. For me, it's part of having a strong midpoint that turns the plot and characters in some way. But that can take a little more explaining than "beginning, middle, and end." :D

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I just turned in the first draft for book 2 of my first duology and am cry-laughing at how accurate this is. My email was literally a lengthy apology and I begged my agent to not even open the file. At least I'm not alone?? But also, considering I just sold another duology, YOU'RE TELLING ME I HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN?!

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Oooooh Rebecca!! I'm sorry but also congratulations but also I'm sorry.

Seriously, though, I do think the second duology was sliiightly easier, but mostly because I understood the structure and what I needed to do. But yeah. Still really freaking hard.

My only advice is to know the second book as well as you possibly can before you finish writing the first one.

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I happened across Orphan Queen on Google play a few days ago and proceeded to binge the series - twice - in the space of about three days. It's somehow a relief to see that you had as much of a breakdown writing The Mirror King as I had reading it the first time 🤣

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I loled in real life. We all suffer that book together. :D

(I'm so proud of how it turned out. It got my very first starred trade review, too!)

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I'm glad I gave you a laugh! And even gladder that you were proud of the book, it definitely deserved it. Something about the series just grabbed me so hard, and I'm literally reading it over again just to take notes and try to decipher exactly what got me so attached to the characters and the world so I can learn from it!

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Oh wow! I'm honored!

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