Writing Recaps

[Lafayette]

Since I decided to split my massive book into two volumes I've discovered that a recap is needed for volume two. A friend of mine is informing me that it should be short and written to tease the reader into buying volume one.

Are there any guidelines for writing a recap for a 400 page plus book?

 

[Cathbad]

Yes - don't emulate Jordan!!!

 

[Karn's Return]

That's just good advice in general, Cathbad.

But also, don't emulate Williams either.

 

[tinkerdan]

Yes: But what about Williams and Jordan are so bad. If it is that bad I'm thinking that the bad should be somewhat definable. I've not read either of those mentioned.

It seems as with info dump that less is more. With that in mind you might consider writing a stunning synopsis of the first book and then dissect that to figure out what a new reader needs to know right away as opposed to what you could trickle into the story as you go. Those who read book one will not need it all right away; however it probably will help them recall things, if the release date between books is long.

After you put that together then set is aside and start writing the beginning of the story just the way you wrote the first book and as you go you might see where you can edit in a trickle here and a dab there. The trick is to bring everyone up to date without creating a feeling that something is missing, because this is book two--and to cull anything that isn't necessary to either type of reader at that point in the story.

If it's done well, you could try fitting it into the first chapter.

However, if that gets in the way of the action of that chapter, you might want to hold some of the recap for later--as you go.

Go for whatever makes the first chapter stunning to you and the reader.

I've done it both ways; I'd love to claim to be expert at it, however I'd have no proof for that.

ADDED::
It might seem like a 400 page book would have a lot of meat to cover.
400 pages can be anything from 120k word to 160k words--depending on how many lines you have on each page.

However, consider that agents and publishers often look for a short synopsis; without much thought about how many pages you have for them.

Go for the bullet points
or if you do the three act structure look for things around these points

• Beginning
• Inciting incident
• Second thoughts
• Climax of act one
• Obstacle
• Obstacle
• Midpoint or twist
• Obstacle
• Disaster
• Crisis
• Climax of act two
• Climax of act three
• Obstacle
• Denouement (wrap-up)
• End

Writing well is the best tease for getting a reader to read your other books.

 

[Cathbad]

But what about Williams and Jordan are so bad.

Jordan's prologues were about 99 pages long.

 

[Karn's Return]

But what about Williams and Jordan are so bad.

And Tad Williams in general likes to hop around more than a frog on speed.

 

[Lafayette]

Thanks, guys, but I don't read Jordan (he lost me with his first book) and Williams it's been too long to remember.

Something is telling me you would add Donaldson to this list. Are my inst

 

[Lafayette]

ARRRGG!! That sounds like writing the whole book again.

Would it be considered kosher if I got someone else to write the recap?

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Er...


This topic was one of the first queries I had when I signed up to this God forsaken place

Book length - Is this a worrying new trend

Basically, how big it this beast of a book.

I realise things have changed, what with all that new fangled electronic reader stuff but even when I visited my local museum themed book shop, the shelves were straining under the weight of 1000 page books.

Obviously, I can see the advantage of splitting a book, from the extra "filthy lucre" you can earn by selling two books rather than one. Especially with the trend toward trilogies etc..

(which is one of the reasons I never understood why books got so thick before)

However, to address your question.

There shouldn't be any need to recap IMO. I've read many series of books and I would think the following is the case.

You look at a book and then:-

a. You read the blurb on the back (or even the front) - Book three in the Faughtwart series.

Thinks "Oh, so what's the first one called - Ah there it is, best start at the front I always say."

b. You read the blurb…

Thinks “Oh yes, I remember I liked this book. What's number two called. Ah there it….

c. You read the blurb…

Thinks “Mm, looks good, I’ll give it a try and if I like it I’ll read book one (this ones an idiot).

d. You read the blurb…

Thinks. “Stuff that, I can’t be aresed starting a serial, and anyway they don’t have book one”

e. And so on

The point is, the blurb on the back should tell the potential reader that this not the first book and give a brief synopsis of where we left our heor/ine in the last book and that ‘should’ be enough.

If they can’t remember what happened in the last book (having read it) then they probably don’t know what day it is anyway, so let them donate to your favourite charity (you for clarification) and leave them to it.

If they haven’t read and are still considering buying the book, then obviously, they don’t give a damn and let them get on with it. By adding a Tin Tin recap

Dun da dun da dun der dun dun der dahhh der dara dun.

“Faughtwart, having slayed the mighty Glungeglob and sacked the Druid council continues his quest to rescue the fair Princess GawpGiddle. With the help of his friends Gill, Jockstrap, and Gumpty they must descend into the pits and force the mighty magician Bill to give them the secret password.

Now reader, read on…

Lest we forget - and this is devils advocate stuff obviously :-

The other side of the argument is, how many people will you put off buying the second book by you reminding them what a lousey plot it was and who will thank you forbecause they swore they would never read another book you ever write.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Are there any guidelines for writing a recap for a 400 page plus book?

Bryan Wigmore does a pretty decent one in The Empyreus Proof - you could look at that for guidance.

 

[HareBrain]

Bryan Wigmore does a pretty decent one in The Empyreus Proof - you could look at that for guidance.

Thanks. I've had a couple of other readers of the first book say they found it useful because they needed their memories jogging. I think these are the people it should be aimed at, rather than as a teaser to get browsers to buy the first book -- that's what the back cover blurb should do.

If it's any help to the OP, mine turned out at 750 words, to summarise a 160k book with a complex plot. I would have preferred the recap to be shorter, but in the end I thought it better to try to make sure I got in all the important points that were relevant to the second book. I also tried my best to make it a decent read in its own right. Unsurprisingly, it took many drafts.

I was surprised, though, at how few published fantasy series novels had recaps to use as models.

 

[Lafayette]

Believe or not, the thought of making an extra buck by dividing the novel never entered my mind. My thinking was creating a 6 x 9 paperback of 717 pages would be a bit unwieldy for the reader and discourage her/him from buying it.

My laziness is favoring TheEndisNigh''s suggestion and just go with the blurb. My second inclination is to improvise and expand from the blurb.

By the way, I appreciate the rest of you sharing your views.

Speaking of the blurb I'm attaching it in this message. Perhaps it may give one of you an idea you can share with me.

If one of you guys would read my book and write the recap I will give you credit and a free plug for one of your books.

 

[Karn's Return]

My thinking was creating a 6 x 9 paperback of 717 pages would be a bit unwieldy for the reader and discourage her/him from buying it.

Tell that to Terry Brooks or Stephen King...

 

[tinkerdan]

I do think my 600 plus page book is a bit of a put-off for readers--mostly because I'm new. People like Stephen King will sell no matter how bloated they get.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

I do think my 600 plus page book is a bit of a put-off for readers--mostly because I'm new. People like Stephen King will sell no matter how bloated they get.

It's a bit harsh on SK and the like though.

Despite my post above, I suspect that an agent would 'suggest' spitting it.

I have no justification for this.

Self publishing is odd though. A quick search on t'internet for a book of 500 pages gave a paperback of 500 pages with a cover at about a £0.01 per page ( £485 ish for 100 books x 500 pages size A5 including delivery). They say the spine width would be 25 mm. They don't do more than 500 pages on that site and I have no idea of the quality (toilet v gloss mag) but it's not that big a book.

Now if you want parchment or 120gsm things are going to grow obviously

 

[night_wrtr]

Jordan's prologues were about 99 pages long.

To be fair, his prologues weren't meant to be recaps

 

[paranoid marvin]

I'd not heard of a prologue being used to encourage the purchase of an earlier novel in a series. If I pick a book off the shelf because I like the sound of the title, or the cover art , and then I realise it is not the first in the series, the LAST thing I would do would be to read the prologue, as that would spoil the earlier story. Instead I would look for the earlier novel and read the summary for that one.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Also (as I'm sure you're already aware) it's not simply a case of splitting a story into two parts and thereby making two novels; you have to ensure that it is a story in and of itself, and that it ends on a note that makes the reader eager to obtain the second novel; not always easy to accomolish.

And you may put readers off buying if it's too short as the potential reader may assume that the characters aren't 'fleshed out' enough. Having been used to reading paperbacks of at least 500 pages, anything less would feel less than what ought to be. And if it is an epic tale, it needs to be of epic precautions. 2 books of 250 pages each for example would feel uneccessary; 2 books of 500-600 pages would feel justified in being divided into 2 seperate novels.

 

[Lafayette]

[QUOTE="paranoid marvin, "I'd not heard of a of a prologue being used to encourage the purchase of an earlier novel in a series. .... as that would spoil the earlier story. [/QUOTE]
I included the prologue so that the new reader and the old reader would have some idea of what the story is about and perhaps entice s/he to buy the first one. I really don't think this short prologue will spoil the first book there is a lot happening in the first book.

 

[Lafayette]

Also (as I'm sure you're already aware) it's not simply a case of splitting a story into two parts and thereby making two novels; you have to ensure that it is a story in and of itself, and that it ends on a note that makes the reader eager to obtain the second novel; not always easy to accomolish.

And you may put readers off buying if it's too short as the potential reader may assume that the characters aren't 'fleshed out' enough. Having been used to reading paperbacks of at least 500 pages, anything less would feel less than what ought to be. And if it is an epic tale, it needs to be of epic precautions. 2 books of 250 pages each for example would feel uneccessary; 2 books of 500-600 pages would feel justified in being divided into 2 seperate novels.

If I remember correctly, Donaldson ended a number of his book on cliff hangers and that is what I've done. Hopefully my plot and characters are engaging enough that the reader will buy the second book.

I have understood from various sources that good writers take chances and I want to be a good writer.

I too have read and enjoyed thick paperbacks, however most were not 6 x 9 inches. I still believe a 6 x 9 paperback of 717 pages is too unwieldy for most readers.

If I find that the second book is too short I have more material (such as songs and poems) I can add to entertain the readers with.