Author To Author’s Newsletter
March 26, 2014
Invisible Burden of the Trilogy
tril·o·gy
ˈtriləjē/
noun
noun: trilogy; plural noun: trilogies
- 1.a group of three related novels, plays, films, operas, or albums.
- (in ancient Greece) a series of three tragedies performed one after the other.
- a group or series of three related things.“a trilogy of cases reflected this development”
Origin
from Greek trilogia, from tri- ‘three times’ + logos ‘story.’
In the current publishing climate, I am seeing a divergent (See what I did, there?) set of perspectives regarding trilogies. On the one hand, folks like them because they are considered to be an extending of a story involving characters the reader has come to love/hate and this is pleasing. On the other hand, the story often changes or ends in a way that a reader might find unsatisfactory.
Because, let’s face it, life DOES that. If your life were a trilogy, would YOU expect to be where you are, now?
I digress.
As I am writing the final book in what is, in fact, a trilogy, I have to confront the general expectations of those who read trilogies. And I have to confront the fact that I am not and never have been a terribly conventional sort of person.
A trilogy is, as per the definition above, a group of three related novels. Related. That is, they are bound together by common theme or purpose, as well as (often) a character or two. Or more.
My trilogy has three separate books, each with its own story arc, but they are related. They are pointing to a place in history that I always intended to get to, and I’m there, just about, in my current writing. It’s a burden to shoulder, though, when I know how people sort of expect trilogies to conclude. A burden that I hadn’t fully considered when the idea originally occurred to me, once upon a time.
But still, I persevere. I am trying to balance my ideal for this final book—
—As an aside, it is highly intimidating and frustrating to write a trilogy and publish it and be unable to go back and tinker with earlier books in the series—
—with the role the final book in a trilogy should play. Because, honestly, to me a trilogy is a series of three related books. But to many, it’s a saga that should end in a certain way.So, I continue to write, adding a scene here and there, progressing forward in my ultimate design for this final Viking book. I fret, I dance, I look up dates and names, I check the weather patterns for the 9th century…
And I enjoy the process.
I hope my readers will enjoy the result. Both of this book and the entire trilogy. By A2A Member and Contributor, Sandi Layne. Originally posted on her blog March 19, 2014 http://sandyquill.com/2014/03/19/invisible-burden-of-the-trilogy/
Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members
Enter April Emerson's Giveaway
It's the last week to enter April Emerson's Good reads giveaway! Don't miss it! https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/83983-the-righteous-and-the-wickedJoin R.E. Hargrave On Tour
Sign ups are open to participate in Author R.E. Hargrave's latest blog tour! http://www.rehargrave.com/2014/03/the-divine-trilogy-mid-series-tour.html?zx=4b5db85bcb698529You can also join up with R.E. for a Facebook party this weekend here... http://www.rehargrave.com/2014/03/aint-nobodys-fool-multi-author-event.html
Join A2A Authors for Some Viking Excitement!
Lissa Bryan and Sandi Layne are watching VIKINGS on History Channel. Not only do they live-tweet the episodes (@LissaBryan & @sandyquill), they do a day-after recap/discussion. Here's the latest from episode four: http://sandyquill.com/.../eye-for-an-eye-vikings-episode-4/
Sign up for The Truth in Lies Book 2 Cover Reveal
Signups are open for Jeanne McDonald's The Certainty of Deception cover reveal on April 25th.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PAI_DiCRFcIg6vRQijoTcJNh02CiJXmLihxLiCJgdYs/viewform
