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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/31954
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/31954
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I think I would wait on a sequel, and try another novel first, set in another world. You got published by not taking an easy way out. It is entirely possible the stuff you did not publish was useful but did not belong in the first book and doesn't belong in another book!

I think one danger of a sequel, especially as you describe it, is that fans of the first book will expect a second meal of the same quality, and get served a plate of leftovers from your first book. It may not be as novel and surprising and fun to read, all the fun stuff was described and happened.

A second danger of a sequel is that if it is successful, it defines your career: You'll do another in the same place, then another. Maybe that is what you want, but before you marry that world for life, or beat the horse to death, you might try doing again what you did the first time: Come up with a good story with stakes as high as possible and a new MC and sidekicks, and see if you can do it again.

Many authors stick to the same detective for story after story, but the stakes are always the same. Many more authors that publish dozens of books stick only to their genre: SciFi, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, etc. Their characters and world can be different every time, and although that is more work, it can also be freeing. I'd at least try that route before taking the risks and shortcut of writing a sequel that may not measure up to the first book.

Original score: 1