Same Story, Different Versions

~ humoringthegoddess

The other day I did my best to explain my thoughts on the different ways to write a blog (How Do You Know What To Write?): journal, ask a question, or sharing a life experience. 

Well, this evening I am blogging the second style. 

Trying to give you the Cliff Notes version:

I finally finished the third book in my series. None are published; I haven’t even shared them with friends yet. First two books are written in second person/female, story about  a middle-aged woman crashing her car and winding up in 1880 and 1895 respectively. The voice is casual; she is quirky, sometimes overly emotional, a bit insecure, and does a lot of self-analysis. (typical woman, eh?) But she is a heroine.

I decided to write the third book as the same story as the second book but from the man’s point of view. It is written second person/male. He is more cerebral, more black and white, a brooder and emotional and a hard worker. The sentences in this book run long, helter skelter, like human thoughts often do.

I tried a literary approach to this version — I wouldn’t exactly call it “literary fiction”  because I’m not sure how to write it, although I know it when I read it. It is the same story from two different points of view.

My question to you readers and writers — do I try and make all the books sound similar? If I ever got a chance to “sell” the series, shouldn’t they all sound like each other?

I know the more you read your own stuff, the more it all sounds the same. But I set out to on purpose make them sound and feel different. I don’t know if I accomplished that, but I wonder now if I should add more to the woman’s version.

Every one of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones books sound the same. Only the story and the people change. Or rather the same people change and evolve (or die). That’s what people love about the series. 

I can’t tell if all of my books sound the same or if they really do feel different, men vs. women sort of thing. 

But that’s not my question to you. My question is:  is is okay to make the third book sound different than the first two, even if it’s telling basically the same story?

I know this isn’t a big deal, and it’s hard to give advice if you haven’t read the books. But you do know what you like to read; you do know what you like to write. 

Do you like everything in a series to sound the same?

 

 

Published by humoringthegoddess

I am a writer of fantasy fiction that often surrounds middle-aged women. I am a married mother of two and granny to three, a BoHo Chic kinda gal. I am recently retired and busier than when I worked 9-5. But writing and blogging is my main game.

13 thoughts on “Same Story, Different Versions”

  1. I have a feeling that, in the end, they’re not much different. I am really an emotional person, so I don’t think I know how to write like a person whose emotions are stilted. It’s like…I was going to put a part in the last book about the bad guy burning the hero’s livery stable with horses still in it..it was such a horrible thought that I scraped the whole thing. I can’t even write fake horrible things.

    Like

  2. Initially my response was going to be for a series – the same. But if it is from a female perspective for one book, then male for another, it could be interesting. 🙂

    Like

  4. It is. I have written all my life and sometimes just want to try something different. I know my first 2 books were definitely female..finding self worth and inner strength and all that. I have a hard time writing from different points of view, so I thought Id try HIS side of the story. Less over the top emotion, more brooding (like a good Irishman should). When they are all done I’ll send you a copy to see what you think!

    Like

  7. Yes. The second book is the female’s experience and reactions, the third book is what the man is going through. Different backgrounds, worlds, experiences. His history vs her history.

    Like

  8. Am all in for different 🙋🙋🙌🙌🙌 books even in series with a similar torn get boring with time. The difference gives the series an edge, living one in suspense and imagination as to what happens next …🤔

    One day Claudia will let her books out to the world.. Just one day.. 😊😋👏

    Like

  9. Am all in for different 🙋🙋🙌🙌🙌 books even in series with a similar torn get boring with time. The difference gives the series an edge, living one in suspense and imagination as to what happens next

    Like

  12. Thank you for reading and thank you for your advice. Trying to sound different was/is really hard for me. Have you ever tried to write something different? To sound different?

    Liked by 1 person

Share Your Thoughts!