My novel is no longer canon (advice please)

[elyss]

So, I started my novel some time ago last year. I completed it before deciding to post it and figured I'd do some small edits before posting each chapter. Turns out 'small edits' turned into rewriting and reworking it to the point that it had an additional 20 or so new chapters and many new characters.

Now, as I reach the final arc of the story, I've decided to package what I have of the story so that I could publish it properly and hammered out the acts. Upon doing that, I realized I'd inadvertently wrote a trilogy with 3 major 3 act types and an overarching plot.

In piecing them together, I realized certain plot points made sense moving them to different 'books' and such. For example, a major plot point that originally happened towards the end of the second arc was put as a large point in the first.

My problem is, as great as the reworking made the story, my Tapas novel is now moot in my eyes. I don't want to add anymore than I've already scheduled because the Tapas version is no longer canon in my eyes. If I wrote anymore it'd be a waste of time that could be put towards the new version I intend to send to an editor. What should I do? I'm not fond of leaving my readers in the dark, but I also don't want to beat a dead horse.

[KRWright]

If you're not planning to post the reworked version onto Tapas, then upload the final version unedited so as not to leave your readers in the dark, and then keep the reworked version for your editor and final submission. Whether it's 'canon' or not to you, you started a 'contract' with your readers when you started posting it online, and that was to finish it. Whether it's 'canon' or not will only be known to you, the author. Your readers will honestly be none-the-wiser unless you post up the new version in a different book.

You can abandon it, but that also comes with the ramifications of the fact that some readers will feel burned and not follow you onto future projects.

So my advice would be finish it with the original ending - explain in an authors note that you're writing a different version and the kinds of changes you're making, and then leave it at that.

[elyss]

That does make sense. My problem is that I cant post what I already had written without editing it as well. Tapas has V2 and what's left to upload is still at V1, so I'd basically have to edit an ending I no longer plan on using. I feel like I've written myself into a corner because of this.

[KRWright]

Do you HAVE to edit it? Can't you post the unedited version and just write an explanation?

[elyss]

I've changed alot about the story sense V1 even in V2. If I posted it as is, it wouldn't make any sense anymore.

[KRWright]

Ah. That sucks. I don't know what to suggest. I'd suggest for the health of your platform finishing it in some way - even if you summarise what the ending would have been or something. But there's no quick and easy fix here.

[rajillustration]

I saw something like this on a comic I was reading, where apparently the author had done a version about 10 years ago when they were in high school, but changed it completely on uploading it to Tapas and Webtoon years later. Thing is, while I don't know that or care, a lot of their readers are always pointing out in the comments "hey, didn't these two end up together in the original???" and "Why does this person still love this other person now???" because they can't seem to separate the high school version with the modern edit--even though I don't believe the original version is even on the internet anymore.

So you run this risk that the first thing you publish will always be considered canon by your long term fans--which isn't great if you don't really want it to be.

My suggestion is...if your new version is that much more intricate, is there anyway you can just change everyone's name and just make two completely different stories?

[elyss]

Oh that's even more worrying. Things dont change so much as happen in a different more effective order of delivery. I wouldn't want to change their names, they're just too close to my heart for that.

Yeah @KRWilliams I think I'll have to stew on it harder. Maybe the best thing to do would be to just pull and repost...? I dont want to leave my readers in the dark and I don't want them to have the meh version with a meh ending. Maybe it's best to reach out to them and see what they want?

[Kaylim]

Maybe it's best to reach out to them and see what they want?

That's a good idea. It's always nice as a reader to get a head's up that an author's stuck or in conundrum. And to be honest, I think most readers will understand your situation.

And you are not really in a contract with your readers. Perhaps a social one, and yes, stopping a story could damage your reputation, but I really don't think so. In this age of the internet, comics and novels regularly die or go on hiatus as creator's priorities, schedule, and projects change. I think people will be sad, but it's not like this is unheard of, so I don't think most sane, rational human beings will hold it against you.

Also, some perspective: you are writing this for free and in your spare time. If you don't want to rewrite the story in order to post it, you absolutely don't have to. You are not legally obligated to finish anything, and social obligation to random readers shouldn't outweigh your own mental health and how you spend your time writing. If you really don't want to finish the unedited version of the story, I think if you explain your situation, most people will understand. As another poster suggested, they might like a summary of how things end.

[elyss]

Yeah I'll reach out. I keep forgetting that yeah, on a level this is a hobby. I'll just take some time to cool my head and ask my readers if they're game to wait for V3 or if theyd like a synopsis or the like of the original ending. I'd hate to leave them in the dark, especially since I want to adapt it to a comic once it's all done.

[DogshitJay]

Personally I wouldn't hate you for stepping away. If you shared a synopsis for loyal fans or told them your plans and updated them on your progress I think that's good too. Not every story is going to be finished, and that's ok.