I had to write up a plan for my agent this week, listing everything I plan to do for the next couple of years. Without giving too much away, it mostly involves new projects, new worlds, new ideas, new magicks, and new directions...

Which leads me to wonder if I'm missing the boat here. All my contemporaries seem to be working in the same worlds as their most successful works. Fiona's new series is set in the same world as the Quickening, Trudi's new series in back in the world of the Black Magician Trilogy. Sara Douglass has gone back to Tencendor.

This is not an uncommon thing, either. Raymond Feist rarely leaves Midkemia and can anybody say, ahem, David Eddings... :)

I've only ever revisited a world once, and that was at the request of a publisher. And although I get, on almost a daily basis, requests for sequels, and I'm certainly not opposed to revisiting those worlds, I'm really thinking... sure... when I run out of new worlds to play with. (Or if the publishers ask for it... so instead of emailing me demanding more in the worlds of Amaryantha, Hythria or Ranadon, kiddies, you should be emailing the publishers...LOL)

I'm not passing judgement on this. I don't even think it's a bad thing. Actually, it's an extremely smart thing to do, given the work that goes into creating a believable world. It's a crying shame to waste all that effort, when you think about it. Which makes my propensity for jumping across worlds even more inexplicable...

I find it a curious phenomenon. Maybe I suffer EWBS (Excessive World Building Syndrome). I should probably join a support group:)

The more you write about a particular world the more that you tie your writing down IMHO. If we take the example of Star Wars. The original three books were fairly free. When lucas made the next three he was bound by what came after and I think the films suffered for it.

New worlds, new characters gives you a lot more room to explore new ideas, people etc.

I like new worlds...but I also like old friends, um characters.
I like knowing what happens afterwards but I still want it 'happily ever after'...
Laters
Kristen

Oooh, does that mean, considering your books are on my comfort re-read shelf (the books that get read more than once a year, and I want close at hand) that I suffer from ERJWS? (Excessive Reading of Jennys Worlds Syndrome)

I'd have to be part of that support group. Love tackling that new world...

I can get a bit nervous about returning to old worlds as it usually involves time jumps between characters and the characters I've grown attached to have different roles in the new series. But then again, sometimes the newer characters are better than the old! :)

I believe I also suffer from ERJWS. I'm turning my mother into one too :)

I admit there may have been some disappointment when I originally discovered the Hythrun chronicles would not be a sequel series?but that changed pretty damn quickly once I learnt exactly what the series would entail.

You see, that?s the wonderful thing about discovering an author such as yourself, at a much later date; I have many books to occupy myself whilst more of these wonderful series are written! Thankfully, I don?t have to wait in agony for the fourth Tide Lords book, like everyone else. I?m currently in the middle of Krakandar with a one year old Damin. ^_~ Although, perhaps, I should pace myself a little better with them. Ha ha.

Obviously, reading this entry brought much happiness to my eyes. (Me being one of those people hanging for a sequel to DC.) I do think a lot of fantasy authors grow attached(/ cannot let go) to their worlds and rightly so considering the work they put into them. Perhaps it?s easier returning to the existing world. I know that speaking for myself, the building of one world is a strain on the mind?but four is pretty inconceivable.

But yes, the fact you are brimming with many ideas for new stories is all kinds of awesome. Some authors I feel suffer in later attempts to revisit their more successful works. It?s what I?ve come to call ?The Lost theory.? When said author has drawn out their respected fantasy series to the point it feels the story (or the above mentioned TV show^) has completely (and literally) lost the plot.

Ah, I don?t think you?d have this problem at all, what I?m trying to say is that it?s a very good idea to get the new series out whilst they are still fresh in your mind. (*cough* *cough* Totally unselfish reasons of course.) It definitely sounds like there?ll be plenty of time to revist Medalon, Hythria etc. So I guess we?ll just have to keep ourselves occupied re-reading old copies until then. :)

You forgot the worst offender of staying on one world...Terry Pratchett. However, as most people know, I am well satisfied with his interpretations of just one world.

However, Jennykins, I don't think you need the support group yet. You do stay with one world over three/four books. And the Timelords needed a whole world of their own.

Cough... Ranadon!!