The Second Book Syndrome

The Second Book Syndrome The second book is a nail-biting endeavor. One would think that the first one would be the one to make you break out in hives, but trust me, that follow-up is an experience all its own. Most readers wait to read an author until the author has multiple books out. That means three, four, or more. Stand-alones have to lead with some pretty incredible buzz to be read. The first book in a series is also a difficult sell. But an author releasing the second book is in this crazy limbo place: not yet proven as an author or as a series worth investing in. Heres the Second Book Syndrome from the eyes of the reader: 1) Is book two as good as book one? 2) Is the author a one-hit wonder (e.g. Harper Lee)? 3) Is all the excitement expended in the first book? 4) No point reading book two until after reading book one. 5) Why does this author have two books when I never heard of the first one? 6) Ill wait until there are three or four books. Two books isnt a series. The author knows all this, because authors are readers before they are writers. Lets look at the Second Book Syndrome through the eyes of the author: 1) Is book two as good as book one? Im too close to really tell. 2) Do I have another book in me? The first one was a feat in itself. 3) Did I invest so much into book one that Im fighting for traction in book two? 4) How do I make people want to read this book when book one is still trying to sell? 5) Do I have enough credibility to make people read more than one book? 6) Two books dont feel like a series. I wish I could write faster and get to book five. These thoughts are amazingly similar. Book two is that difficult book. In most series, authors and publishers will tell you that the second book often tanks or proves to be the hardest sell. The author poured himself into developing a voice in the first one, but is that skill tapped dry? Is the second story as special as the inaugural one? Is the magic gone? Was the first one a fluke? As both author and reader, cut the second book some slack. In reality, it should be the more mature book where the author has more stable footing and can dare to step up their game. A writer daring to tackle that second book is hungry and aiming to please. It might be THE BOOK of the seriesthe one where the author is fighting harder to prove himself. Whether reader or author, give it a whirl!