When Should You Release Your Second Book?
Writing tips and advice from The Writing Community Chat Show.
Congratulations. You’ve done what millions of people dream of but few actually achieve: you’ve self-published your first book. You’ve navigated the KDP dashboard, wrestled with formatting, and felt that incredible rush of seeing your name in print.
But as the initial buzz of the launch settles, you’ve realised what we all did, MARKETING IS HARD, then, this daunting question inevitably creeps in: “How soon should I publish the next one?” As we have discussed previously, having a catalogue of books is essential for author growth and sales.
At the Writing Community Chat Show, having interviewed over 380 authors—from indie breakout stars to NYT bestsellers—we’ve seen every strategy under the sun. While there is no “magic date,” there is a science to the timing. After all, we didn’t get ranked as the #3 writing podcast in the UK by ignoring the data!
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Choosing Your Speed: Three Ways to Play the Game.
Based on our conversations with the UK’s top indie authors, release strategies generally fall into three camps. Rather than worrying about a rigid spreadsheet, look at these profiles and see which one fits your life and your genre.
The Rapid Release (30–90 Days)
This is the “sprint” method, often favoured by those looking to quit the day job as quickly as possible.
The Timeline: A new book every 1 to 3 months.
Best For: High-consumption genres like Contemporary Romance, Psychological Thrillers, or “LitRPG.”
The Logic: This keeps you permanently in the “Hot New Release” charts on Amazon. By the time the algorithm starts to forget Book 1, Book 2 is already generating fresh heat.
The Risk: Extreme burnout. This strategy usually requires you to have several books finished before you even hit publish on the first one.
The Steady Builder (4–6 Months)
This is the most common path for authors who are balancing writing with a full-time career or family life.
The Timeline: Two to three books per year.
Best For: Most fiction genres, including Crime, Mystery, and YA.
The Logic: It gives you enough time to breathe and market Book 1 properly while ensuring your readers don’t forget who you are. It balances quality with a professional output.
The Risk: You might see a slight dip in organic traffic between releases, so you’ll need to keep your mailing list engaged with newsletters or behind-the-scenes content.
The Long Game (9–12 Months)
This is the prestige route, where the focus is on a single, massive launch event once a year.
The Timeline: One book per year.
Best For: Epic Fantasy, Historical Fiction, or deep-dive Non-Fiction that requires months of research and heavy editing.
The Logic: Your readers expect one big release. They understand that world-building takes time. This pace allows for a very high level of polish and a long, coordinated marketing pre-heat phase.
The Risk: In the fast-moving world of indie publishing, a year is a long time. You have to work twice as hard to stay relevant in the minds of your readers during the off-season.
Practical Tips from the WCCS Vault.
After 380+ interviews, we’ve gathered some boots-on-the-ground advice that you won’t find in a textbook:
Build a Sandwich!: Don’t wait until Book 1 is out to start Book 2. Ideally, you should have the first draft of your second book finished before the first one even hits the shelves. This prevents Post-Launch Paralysis. We know just how exciting it is to finish your book and publish it. However, if you are playing the long game, wait.
Leverage the Newsletter: Your timing should be dictated by your audience. If you have 100 people on a mailing list screaming for the sequel, you’re ready. If your list is quiet, spend an extra month on marketing and lead-generation before dropping the next title. Substack is GREAT for this.
The Series Factor: If you are writing a series, speed matters more. Readers are often hesitant to start an unfinished series. Getting Book 2 out quickly builds that crucial trust that you aren’t going to leave them on a permanent cliffhanger.
The Final Word.
If you’re feeling pressured to publish or perish, take a breath. While the UK indie market is competitive, longevity is built on quality plus consistency.
If you can manage a book every six months, you are doing better than 90% of the market. Focus on building a catalogue you are proud of, rather than a graveyard of rushed releases. As many of our guests say: Your first book gets you a reader; your second book gets you a fan.
Here are four “Coming Soon” templates you can drop straight into the back matter of Book 1. These are designed to turn a casual reader into a dedicated subscriber before they even close their Kindle.
Template 1: The High-Stakes Tease (Best for Thrillers & Romance)
Use this if your first book ends on a cliffhanger or a major emotional shift.
Think the chaos is over? Think again.
[Character Name] thought they’d finally found [peace/the truth/safety], but the shadows in [Setting] are longer than they realised. In the pulse-pounding sequel to [Book 1 Title], the stakes are higher, the secrets are deadlier, and no one is who they seem.
[Book 2 Title] — Coming [Month/Year].
Can’t wait? Join my inner circle at [Mailing List Link] to read the first three chapters for free right now.
Template 2: The Expanding World (Best for Fantasy & Sci-Fi)
Use this to show the reader that the story is getting bigger and bolder.
The battle for [Kingdom/Planet] has only just begun.
You’ve walked the streets of [City] and survived the [Event], but a greater threat looms on the horizon. As [Character Name] discovers a power they never asked for, the very foundations of their world begin to crumble.
Return to the adventure in [Book 2 Title], arriving [Season/Year].
Want an exclusive look at the map for the new realms? Sign up to the newsletter at [Link] for monthly world-building reveals and character art.
Template 3: The Practical Promise (Best for Non-Fiction)
Use this to signal that there is more value and more problems to solve.
You’ve mastered the basics. Now, let’s go deeper.
In [Book 1 Title], we covered how to [Main Achievement]. But what happens when you hit [Common Obstacle]? In the upcoming follow-up, [Book 2 Title], I’m sharing the advanced strategies and frameworks you need to truly scale your [Business/Skill/Life].
Look out for [Book 2 Title] in [Month/Year].
Get the Workbook: Download the checklist for this book and get a notification the second the sequel drops at [Link].
Template 4: The WCCS Newsletter Hook (Universal)
Use this if you don’t have a title or a firm date yet, but want to capture the lead.
The story doesn’t end here...
I’m currently hard at work on the next instalment of [Series Name]. If you enjoyed your time with [Character Name], I’d love to have you along for the journey as I write the sequel.
Sign up at [Link] to receive:
Exclusive “behind-the-scenes” snippets.
A chance to vote on the Book 2 cover art.
An alert the moment pre-orders go live.
Keep the conversation going.
In addition to this, an honest Author’s Note is a brilliant way to build a real connection with your readers. It humanises you and explains that while you aren’t a book-writing machine, you are deeply committed to the story.
Here are two versions: one for a standard gap and one if life has thrown you a bit of a curveball.
Option 1: The Quality First Note.
Use this if you are sticking to a Steady Builder or Long Game schedule.
A Note from [Your Name]
Firstly, a massive thank you for spending time with [Character Name] and [Character Name]. Writing [Book 1 Title] has been an incredible journey, and seeing it in your hands is a dream realised.
I know many of you will be asking: “When is the next one?”
I often talk about the balance between speed and soul. I want to make sure the sequel to this story isn’t just finished, but that it’s the very best version of itself. I’m currently hard at work on Book 2, and while it might take a few months to get the polish just right, I promise it will be worth the wait.
To stay in the loop with my progress (and perhaps see a few sneak peeks of what’s coming next for [Character]), please do join my mailing list at [Link].
Thank you for being part of this adventure.
Option 2: The Short & Punchy Note.
Use this if you want to keep it professional and momentum-focused.
What’s Next?
If you’ve made it this far, thank you! There is no greater honour for an indie author than a reader reaching the final page.
I’m already deep into the first draft of the sequel, [Book 2 Title]. My goal is to bring you the next chapter of this series by [Season/Year]. As a self-published author, I handle everything from the first word to the final cover design, so your patience while I cook up the next instalment means the world to me.
In the meantime, come and say hello on [Instagram/Twitter/TikTok] at [Handle], or sign up at [Link] to be the first to hear about the cover reveal!
Quick Tip for your Author’s Note:
Don’t be afraid to mention that you’re an indie author! Modern readers increasingly love supporting “the little guy.” Explicitly stating that you are a solo creator building a series often makes readers more patient and more likely to leave a supportive review to help you out.
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