How acceptable are book "reboots"?

Steven Lake · 02-21-2014, 01:58 PM

Okay, I have a question for everyone I've been mulling this over for a while and I'm very strongly considering taking my Earthfleet Saga and completely rebooting it. It'd keep all the important stuff intact, and would be more or less a minor or intermediate rewrite that brings it up to a higher standard. Since I've improved my craft as a writer by leaps and bounds over the past five years, I want to go back to my older works and bring them up to the standards and quality levels that I produce now.

As such I'm wondering, would readers accept a rebooted book series? Or is it pretty much a case of, "Once it's out in the wild, what it is is what it is" and I'm not really allowed to change it per say, save for grammatical and spelling errors that are occasionally found and need fixing?

If reboots are openly accepted, then I'm all in on this. If not, then what do I do about the books? I'd really like to improve on them using what I've learned in the time since first publishing them.

Katsunami · 02-21-2014, 05:50 PM

Have you got a mail list?

If so, I'd say: ask your readers. Put a poll on your site. I for one hate reboots.

You could do a re-make though: same characters, same events and scenes, same story, different writing. Like a new HD remake of a game, but instead of better graphics, the book gets better text.

VydorScope · 02-21-2014, 05:53 PM

Depends. Are you changing the STORY or the WRITING.

My first book, Enemy of an Enemy was released before I could afford an editor. A year or so after I was on the market I had enough cash flow to afford an editor, so I had it professionally edited and released it. The line I drew in the sand was no story content changed, just the grammar, spelling, and etc. I then re-released it and through Amazon, and the other stores, I made sure everyone got a free copy of the new book.

If you are talking about changing the store - don't. Just write a new one and put your energy behind that would be my recommendation.

Katsunami · 02-21-2014, 05:55 PM

Changing the story is a reboot.
Changing the writing telling the exact same story is a remake.

Those are the choices I think

I would probably read a remake, just as I play remade games to see how much better they became. If you'd do a reboot and abandon your existing series, I'd probably stop reading you. If you want to quit the series, it'd be better to close it, and after start a new one in the same world, but keeping continuity with the existing one.

Lazer · 02-21-2014, 09:17 PM

You're the writer, you can do anything you want –unless your master is Penguin Books or some other publisher. Break the rules.

TL

Steven Lake · 02-21-2014, 09:19 PM

I'm not planning on changing the story itself. I'm just looking to remove one scene from book one that never worked (and everyone so far hates), and then do some basic story cleanup, grammar and spelling fixes, and then go in and flesh out or fixing other problems or areas which weren't covered or explained properly. So no major story changes or overhauls per say. Or at least that's not part of the plan at this point.

Rizla · 02-21-2014, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Lake

I'm not planning on changing the story itself. I'm just looking to remove one scene from book one that never worked (and everyone so far hates), and then do some basic story cleanup, grammar and spelling fixes, and then go in and flesh out or fixing other problems or areas which weren't covered or explained properly. So no major story changes or overhauls per say. Or at least that's not part of the plan at this point.

Update it if you have time. Perhaps offer the update free to people who already read it. It may generate more sales to them later. Fixing grammar and removing a scene is not a major rewrite.

gmw · 02-22-2014, 12:28 AM

Fixing the text (grammar, spelling, smoothing out awkward sentences, adding explanations if readers have complained that some things are unclear), I think is probably worthwhile if you are unhappy with how it is now.

To do anything more than that, I think, depends on why you want to do it. If you have plans to continue expanding the series then I can understand wanting to bring it all up-to-date with how you are currently writing, so the series feels more consistent from start to finish. But if you don't have plans to expand the series then I would be tempted to leave it alone and spend your time on current or new projects.

AlexBell · 02-22-2014, 02:32 AM

I think that it's perfectly acceptable to do a second edition of a non-fiction book, as long as it is labeled as a second (or third or fourth) edition. I can't see why you can't redo your book or series as a second edition as long as you let people know that it's a second edition.

If people think your current version is perfect they probably won't buy the second edition. If they think your current version is 'good but could be better' they may well buy the second edition to see if it's been improved the way they want. And if they think your current version is poor they won't buy your second edition anyway.

All of the above is of course in my humble opinion as an ebook designer rather than a writer.

cromag · 02-22-2014, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Lake

I'm not planning on changing the story itself. I'm just looking to remove one scene from book one that never worked (and everyone so far hates), and then do some basic story cleanup, grammar and spelling fixes, and then go in and flesh out or fixing other problems or areas which weren't covered or explained properly. So no major story changes or overhauls per say. Or at least that's not part of the plan at this point.

I think this sounds more like a "revised edition" than anything else. If it's bothering you, go ahead. But since it's out and has been selling, I wonder if it might be better to put your energy into a brand new project.

Pulpmeister · 02-22-2014, 09:37 AM

It's been done quite a few times by all sorts of authors. I can think of "The Bagdad Chest" which became "The Spanish Chest" (Agatha Christie) for one (one with and one without Poirot). "Flowers for Algernon" was a longish short story, then re-written a novel. Do what you think needs doing, write a brief preface if need be, but go for it... it's your creation after all.

morriss003 · 02-23-2014, 01:53 PM

I'm presently editing Surviving the Fog, because the people who are going to download this book deserve a better copy than what is presently available. In the six years since I wrote this book, I've become a much better writer. It's free. Warning: don't get the copy at mobilereads, because it is the oldest version available.

crich70 · 02-25-2014, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Lake

I'm not planning on changing the story itself. I'm just looking to remove one scene from book one that never worked (and everyone so far hates), and then do some basic story cleanup, grammar and spelling fixes, and then go in and flesh out or fixing other problems or areas which weren't covered or explained properly. So no major story changes or overhauls per say. Or at least that's not part of the plan at this point.

It sounds like you're discussing more of a re-editing job than a reboot. Just my 2¢ for what it's worth.

teh603 · 02-25-2014, 07:20 AM

I'll be honest, I'm considering resetting my fantasy world to something more Tolkein-esque. Given how I've been stuck at one sale for a year or two, it can't hurt, can it?

HarryT · 02-25-2014, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

I'll be honest, I'm considering resetting my fantasy world to something more Tolkein-esque. Given how I've been stuck at one sale for a year or two, it can't hurt, can it?

For goodness sake learn how to spell "Tolkien" correctly, or no fantasy fan will take you seriously

.

02-21-2014, 01:58 PM	#1
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,158 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	How acceptable are book "reboots"? Okay, I have a question for everyone I've been mulling this over for a while and I'm very strongly considering taking my Earthfleet Saga and completely rebooting it. It'd keep all the important stuff intact, and would be more or less a minor or intermediate rewrite that brings it up to a higher standard. Since I've improved my craft as a writer by leaps and bounds over the past five years, I want to go back to my older works and bring them up to the standards and quality levels that I produce now. As such I'm wondering, would readers accept a rebooted book series? Or is it pretty much a case of, "Once it's out in the wild, what it is is what it is" and I'm not really allowed to change it per say, save for grammatical and spelling errors that are occasionally found and need fixing? If reboots are openly accepted, then I'm all in on this. If not, then what do I do about the books? I'd really like to improve on them using what I've learned in the time since first publishing them.

02-21-2014, 05:55 PM	#4
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	Changing the story is a reboot. Changing the writing telling the exact same story is a remake. Those are the choices I think I would probably read a remake, just as I play remade games to see how much better they became. If you'd do a reboot and abandon your existing series, I'd probably stop reading you. If you want to quit the series, it'd be better to close it, and after start a new one in the same world, but keeping continuity with the existing one. Last edited by Katsunami; 02-21-2014 at 05:59 PM.

02-23-2014, 01:53 PM	#12
morriss003 Evangelist Posts: 438 Karma: 3409790 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maui Device: kindle	I'm presently editing Surviving the Fog, because the people who are going to download this book deserve a better copy than what is presently available. In the six years since I wrote this book, I've become a much better writer. It's free. Warning: don't get the copy at mobilereads, because it is the oldest version available. Last edited by morriss003; 02-23-2014 at 01:53 PM. Reason: edits

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02-21-2014, 05:50 PM	#2
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	Have you got a mail list? If so, I'd say: ask your readers. Put a poll on your site. I for one hate reboots. You could do a re-make though: same characters, same events and scenes, same story, different writing. Like a new HD remake of a game, but instead of better graphics, the book gets better text.

02-21-2014, 05:53 PM	#3
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Depends. Are you changing the STORY or the WRITING. My first book, Enemy of an Enemy was released before I could afford an editor. A year or so after I was on the market I had enough cash flow to afford an editor, so I had it professionally edited and released it. The line I drew in the sand was no story content changed, just the grammar, spelling, and etc. I then re-released it and through Amazon, and the other stores, I made sure everyone got a free copy of the new book. If you are talking about changing the store - don't. Just write a new one and put your energy behind that would be my recommendation.

02-21-2014, 09:17 PM	#5
Lazer Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 1498858 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	You're the writer, you can do anything you want –unless your master is Penguin Books or some other publisher. Break the rules. TL

02-21-2014, 09:19 PM	#6
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,158 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	I'm not planning on changing the story itself. I'm just looking to remove one scene from book one that never worked (and everyone so far hates), and then do some basic story cleanup, grammar and spelling fixes, and then go in and flesh out or fixing other problems or areas which weren't covered or explained properly. So no major story changes or overhauls per say. Or at least that's not part of the plan at this point.

02-22-2014, 12:28 AM	#8
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	Fixing the text (grammar, spelling, smoothing out awkward sentences, adding explanations if readers have complained that some things are unclear), I think is probably worthwhile if you are unhappy with how it is now. To do anything more than that, I think, depends on why you want to do it. If you have plans to continue expanding the series then I can understand wanting to bring it all up-to-date with how you are currently writing, so the series feels more consistent from start to finish. But if you don't have plans to expand the series then I would be tempted to leave it alone and spend your time on current or new projects.

02-22-2014, 02:32 AM	#9
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	I think that it's perfectly acceptable to do a second edition of a non-fiction book, as long as it is labeled as a second (or third or fourth) edition. I can't see why you can't redo your book or series as a second edition as long as you let people know that it's a second edition. If people think your current version is perfect they probably won't buy the second edition. If they think your current version is 'good but could be better' they may well buy the second edition to see if it's been improved the way they want. And if they think your current version is poor they won't buy your second edition anyway. All of the above is of course in my humble opinion as an ebook designer rather than a writer.

02-22-2014, 09:37 AM	#11
Pulpmeister Wizard Posts: 2,822 Karma: 29145056 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle	It's been done quite a few times by all sorts of authors. I can think of "The Bagdad Chest" which became "The Spanish Chest" (Agatha Christie) for one (one with and one without Poirot). "Flowers for Algernon" was a longish short story, then re-written a novel. Do what you think needs doing, write a brief preface if need be, but go for it... it's your creation after all.

02-25-2014, 07:20 AM	#14
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	I'll be honest, I'm considering resetting my fantasy world to something more Tolkein-esque. Given how I've been stuck at one sale for a year or two, it can't hurt, can it?

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