My Sequel Policy · 6:09pm Mar 16th, 2013
If you saw this pop up in your feed: this post isn't a response to anything in particular. I'm putting this here so that I can link folks to it later, as it does crop up occasionally. Think of it as my FAQ, except there's only one question that people frequently ask. That question is "will you write a sequel to this story?"
If you're here because I linked you to this post later: howdy. Make yourself comfortable.
(If you clicked the link in hopes of reading a post about databases: sorry to disappoint.)
First of all, it's always great when people ask me this. "I want more of that thing you did" is one of the highest compliments I can imagine my work receiving. So thanks!
Second, the answer to your question is "probably not." I ended the story where I did for a reason, and if I thought it needed to go on longer, I would've written it that way. Left to my own devices, I'm gonna move on to other stories rather than expand upon the ones I already posted.
If you really want a sequel, then write one!* I certainly don't have any grounds to complain if you do. (In fact I'd be thrilled, but if I did get angry, then I would be a pretty terrible hypocrite. It's not as though I asked M. A. Larson's permission before I started writing this stuff.)
Third, did you notice the "left to my own devices" bit, up above? That is an important caveat. I do commissions if you donate to effective charities. A mosquito net can save a child's life. Ten dollars buys two of them, and will also get you that story.
*A lot of you will say "but I'm not a good enough writer." If you want to become a good enough writer, the way to do that is to try something harder than you think you're capable of, fail, learn why you failed, and then go back and do it right. Sometimes this will take eight tries, sometimes you'll get it on the first shot, but regardless, the way to do it is to go do it.
If that sounds like a tremendous amount of work... well, "I don't actually care that much" is in fact a really good reason not to do something.
Hear, hear!
I wish you could give thumbs-up to blog posts.
I guess I may have to write that equal someday. It probably wont happen, but maybe.