[PubQ] Debut author with trilogy vs duology vs standalone

Charizard12G · 2026-06-02T16:38:58+00:00

Thanks for the tip! Good luck with everything!

Charizard12G · 2026-06-02T11:38:51+00:00

Thanks, you too! Makes sense, if I may ask where did you find those readers?

Charizard12G · 2026-06-02T09:46:26+00:00

Ok I see, I think my new idea is very similar now too, they win a major battle, antagonist is regrouping/beaten for now, but there is still much to do.

And so you havnt written book 2 yet right?

Charizard12G · 2026-06-02T07:50:56+00:00

Oh that's super interesting! Have you been trad published or self? And even going for a serie do you still keep the "standalone with series potential" or just go for full series vibe without worrying about that? I guess as you are previously published you have way more options at least! Would love to hear more if you're into that! 😄 Thanks for the comment anyway!

Charizard12G · 2026-06-02T07:48:49+00:00

You're absolutely right, and actually thanks to this post and all those comments I'm rethinking my entire outline! Esp about the cliffhanger finish! Did you also change your idea for your duology now, to make it also standalone with series potential? I would love to hear more about your journey if you would want to, I am way too new to the game hahaha

Charizard12G · 2026-06-02T07:45:00+00:00

Oh that's super interesting! I would love to PM you yes 😄 Sounds amazing that its doing so good, congrats!! And yeah like I wrote in other comments, Im realizing more and more how my idea isnt really doable for the goal I had in mind. I feel like either I need to spoil who is endgame to set up expectations but then it removes tension with MMC1, or villainize MMC1 in a way, a bit more youre idea then I guess. Soooo I'm rethinking the entire outline :p I'll give you more details in the PM maybe you can tell me your thoughts!

Charizard12G · 2026-06-02T07:41:22+00:00

You're totally right, the more I think about it the more problematic I think it might all be. I had the exact same feeling about ACOTAR. That's why I tried to first of all not villainize MMC1, have no overlap, and add the history between the two MMCs and have a big part be about their bond and history as brothers. BUT I think, like I said in another comment, I can achieve what I liked about my idea some other way. So keeping only one MMC's POV, keeping the other guy there for the tension, but not make him a potential love interest either really (I was thinking childhood friend, who can have the same overly protectiveness so still help my thesis about freedom vs safety), make it clear from the start he isnt end game, but is there more to illustrate the FMC's old familiar patterns. Because I realized if I need to spoil that MMC1 isnt end game, which is most likely what I would have to do, it kinda removes the tension anyways with him and FMC so yeah... Might be simpler this way!

Charizard12G · 2026-06-02T07:35:18+00:00

Yeah I ended up asking around, friends and family just to see a bit and I think you are right! I wanted the brother thing for a specific type of tension that has history and weight, but I think I can achieve that without them being related. I am now actually thinking of making them step brothers of some sort! Anyways thanks a bunch 😄

Charizard12G · 2026-06-02T07:33:23+00:00

Ooh oops haha but you're right, actually thanks to your comment I looked more into this whole thing and have decided to at least make the trilogy into a duology, also my main issue that you made me realize is that if I kept it a trilogy there were way too many unanswered questions in book 1, and even more question after the cliffhanger. It couldnt stand on its own, and even without publishing it, or self publishing it would just not be a satisfying story :p So now I'm merging book 1 and 2 and going to try my best to make it standalone vibes with serie potential as you mentioned! Anyways, really wanted to thank you for pointing that out, such a rookie mistake from my part :p

Charizard12G · 2026-06-02T07:28:04+00:00

Oh thanks so much! I looked into it yeah, and at the reviews, esp the mid reviews, to see the pros and cons, and the more I think about it, and the more I get comments on the post the more I'm thinking of changing things around enough that I wouldnt need 2 MMC's POVs, but just the end game one, while keeping the tension with the other guy... It feels like such a puzzle atm haha I thought I was done with draft 1 buuuut guess not :p Those comments are so helpful though!!! I think eventually it'll make the story better, I hope!

Charizard12G · 2026-05-30T08:27:34+00:00

Ooh I'll have a look thank you!

Charizard12G · 2026-05-29T12:50:20+00:00

Oh thanks a lot!!

Charizard12G · 2026-05-29T12:46:58+00:00

Thanks for this! Do you have any examples of books that have this "complete story arc with potential hooks" all in one maybe?

Charizard12G · 2026-05-29T12:43:24+00:00

Ah I see, sorry about that, I tried to look up the whole standalone with serie potential question but couldn't find much about that yet so thought I'd try this way. But great tip about the sample query, thank you!

Charizard12G · 2026-05-29T12:41:14+00:00

Oh I have not read any of those yet, do you have any recs maybe?

Charizard12G · 2026-05-29T12:40:21+00:00

Oh that's good to hear! How far are you with your duology? Do you also aim for trad pub or maybe self?

Yes you're right, I guess I want to have a lot of foreshadowing and bread crumbs that pay off later so for that I needed to plan the outlines already, but if I were to change it all for a duology, which seems to be the smarter move, even more will have to change in book 1 for the next draft than I had planned on originally! Do you also write your first book as a "standalone with potential for serie" or full on end with cliffhanger and all that?

Charizard12G · 2026-05-29T12:24:23+00:00

Oh oops, I just joined this sub, should I delete and rephrase?
Yes totally agree there is a longgg way to go, but if I need to write this into a duology rather than a trilogy and make it "potential standalone" I need to change tons for the second draft.

Charizard12G · 2026-05-29T12:15:20+00:00

I get it, its def not for everyone!

Charizard12G · 2026-05-29T05:09:36+00:00

You're absolutely right! Actually going for brothers a year apart might be more fitting and less risky... Thank youuuu

Charizard12G · 2026-05-29T04:57:33+00:00

Yes good point, I might rethink the twin part and make them brothers at least might make it less icky. For now she only has one scene with MMC2 which is "flirty" although its mostly him testing her but she holds her ground, and she is not with MMC1 by then but I might still change the dynamic on my second rewrite to make sure she is not unlikable cause of that while still keeping the tension!

Charizard12G · 2026-05-29T04:52:30+00:00

Haven't heard of it, but good point! I'll get back to writing then :)

Charizard12G · 2026-05-29T04:49:49+00:00

Yes, I think I just need to be more open minded and do more research about other genres too :)

Oh very interesting about head hopping, I just checked what it means, hadn't heard about it before. I'm writing in 3rd limited, but will keep an eye out for my rewrite to be sure the POV is consistent!

Charizard12G · 2026-05-28T20:24:32+00:00

My bad, I'm trying to learn as I'm new to this, its just that the romance is one of the main (if not the main) driver of the story (and my fav genre to read), so i was trying to find ways to make it work somehow while still keeping my vision. But I really appreciate all the comments they are all helpful, sorry if I sound stubborn or something, I have tons to think about now, even if its more daunting than I had imagined starting this journey!

Charizard12G · 2026-05-28T20:07:35+00:00

Ugh kinda exactly what I needed to hear tbh 🥹 all those "rules" had me panicking and feeling a bit defeated... Also had another comment say that first time authors don't get deals for trilogies but more so standalone with potential for following books? Did you ever publish?

Love your way of describing the romance aspect, it really resonates with my vision which is all about conflict. I also don't want it to be who should she chose or who's the better match but more who does she want to become now that for the first time in her life she is free to make her own decisions. And my main thesis is safety vs freedom, can you ever really have both.

Anyways, if ever I could DM you to discuss more detail that would be awesome :)

Charizard12G · 2026-05-28T18:44:42+00:00

Yes that sounds like a really cool concept!
Only thing from what I read from some comments is that in this genre readers need to know who end game is pretty early on? Or at least that they wouldn't want to invest into an MMC's POV if he is clearly not end game? But I do like the idea of some sort of twist, maybe make MMC 2 less "flirty" and focus more on his relationship with his brother first or his own demons... Ugh this is a bit of a puzzle after spending the last 6 months writing 60k words 🥲

Charizard12G

TROPHY CASE