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Why we hate when you ask for sequels
15 years ago
*Orvayn spends four days writing a story that is a sequel to nothing. He posts said story and gets a few comments that say little more than, "Sequel!"*
I don't let it on, but I don't like this.
"WHY," ask thou? It's a genuine question, because I think a lot of people honestly think asking for a sequel is a compliment. But it's not! Why?
1.) Writers are always writing something. Writing "sequel plz" feels like you're implying that I have nothing else to write but a sequel. But the time I spend writing a sequel would be time I could spend on writing another story you could yell "sequel" to, you know.
2.) In a similar fashion, it's as if you question my judgment. It's as if you're saying, "Yo Orvayn, I'm really happy you got all those ideas, and I'mma let you finish, but "Perils" was one of the best stories of all time, and you should really be writing a sequel."
3.) I know my own story. If it would benefit from a sequel, I would write it--or better yet, I would've ended the story where it deserved to end and not cut it off so that it requires a sequel for completion.
4.) Sometimes a story is done. Just because you like the story doesn't mean you would like a sequel (again, if I knew a sequel would work, I would write it). If I posted a story online, the story is its own unit and I usually can't continue it, because most of the time I really have nothing left to say.
5.) It makes me feel like I'm not appreciated. What if I bought you a drink, and instead of appreciating it, you just asked for more? It's like saying, "This isn't good enough as it is. It needs more." It's fine if you think that, but if what you're really trying to say is that you liked the story, say that, and not that you want more of it.
Hearing "sequel" doesn't make me mad, but it doesn't make me particularly happy, either. If you have genuine suggestions for something that I could do in the future, feel free to tell me. I won't inflict any bodily harm on you and I won't say anything negative to you if you do ask for a sequel; just know that it's less of a compliment and more of a demand.
(Also, all the comments to my last journal were lost, along with my ability to respond to them.)
I don't let it on, but I don't like this.
"WHY," ask thou? It's a genuine question, because I think a lot of people honestly think asking for a sequel is a compliment. But it's not! Why?
1.) Writers are always writing something. Writing "sequel plz" feels like you're implying that I have nothing else to write but a sequel. But the time I spend writing a sequel would be time I could spend on writing another story you could yell "sequel" to, you know.
2.) In a similar fashion, it's as if you question my judgment. It's as if you're saying, "Yo Orvayn, I'm really happy you got all those ideas, and I'mma let you finish, but "Perils" was one of the best stories of all time, and you should really be writing a sequel."
3.) I know my own story. If it would benefit from a sequel, I would write it--or better yet, I would've ended the story where it deserved to end and not cut it off so that it requires a sequel for completion.
4.) Sometimes a story is done. Just because you like the story doesn't mean you would like a sequel (again, if I knew a sequel would work, I would write it). If I posted a story online, the story is its own unit and I usually can't continue it, because most of the time I really have nothing left to say.
5.) It makes me feel like I'm not appreciated. What if I bought you a drink, and instead of appreciating it, you just asked for more? It's like saying, "This isn't good enough as it is. It needs more." It's fine if you think that, but if what you're really trying to say is that you liked the story, say that, and not that you want more of it.
Hearing "sequel" doesn't make me mad, but it doesn't make me particularly happy, either. If you have genuine suggestions for something that I could do in the future, feel free to tell me. I won't inflict any bodily harm on you and I won't say anything negative to you if you do ask for a sequel; just know that it's less of a compliment and more of a demand.
(Also, all the comments to my last journal were lost, along with my ability to respond to them.)
seht
~seht
Well said, sir.
Orvayn
~orvayn
OP
Thanks! I'm just hoping this doesn't come across as an attack on said "sequel"ers.
