Belynda Thomas asked Raymond Cushing:

As a newly independently published author I am now working on the sequel. Did you find it easier or harder to write the sequels? I notice you are now working on book 3. Way to go. Belynda Wilson Thomas author of Secrets and Silence

Raymond Cushing Hi Belynda, Congratulations on getting that first one published. That is an accomplishment. I hope you feel great about it. You should.

For me, the second book flowed easily from the first. Some writers apparently work on a complete plot outline before they start. I begin with the characters and a general idea of where I think the plot will go. I wake up in the morning with the characters bouncing around in my brain, waiting to be released. It's a relief when I can start getting the words down on the page.

I found a book by Walter Mosley, This Year You Write Your Novel, very useful. For years, I wrote as if every word was going to be reviewed by the Nobel Committee. Mosley's book helped free me from that. His book made me realize that it's just the first draft. Get it written. Don't worry about every nuance and turn of phrase. Those can be worked on in the next draft and the one after that.

I hope writing the sequel goes smoothly for you. We are lucky to be able to do this. Have fun with it.

flag