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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/44986
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/44986
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I'm writing a novel focusing on a single character POV. For many aspects, it can be considered a **coming of age** story; along with the usual tropes of the hero's journey, my protagonist gradually learn something of the world she lives in, acquires more confidence, agency, and the respect of her peers. In other words, she grows a lot in the course of the novel.

Now, my setting is ripe with interesting thing to be explored and the plot does not end with the current novel. A major arc is resolved, but many themes are left open for a potential sequel.

Yet, the sequels wouldn't have the same characteristics. Surely my main character hasn't finished growing (after all, good characters never stop developing), but she cannot be considered a wide-eyed, insecure girl anymore. Moreover, I don't want my second novel following the same theme of the first.

**Hence the question. What happens after the classical coming of age story? Can you rule out the "growing character" aspect without losing and alienating a part of your audience?**

In my understanding, people purchasing book 2 of a series do that because they're happy to read the follow up to book 1. Yet, leaving behind the "coming of age" theme can be considered as breaking a premise.

Note that the scope of the question is not limited to the Young Adult genre, even if a lot of "coming of age" related stories are aimed at that audience.

**Related:**

- [Fantasy Series - YA or Adult protagonist?](https://writing.stackexchange.com/questions/32226/fantasy-series-ya-or-adult-protagonist)

Original score: 16