Extended story: replace book or post as new?

[Deleted]

Almost a year ago I published a short story which, at the time, I believed was finished. However I felt compelled to keep writing and now the story has grown to the length of a novel, with the original story being the first chapter. (I didn't flesh out the original story, just continued with the events afterward.)

I'd like to get some opinions on whether I should replace the file of the original story with the (soon-to-be finished) longer story, or whether to treat the longer story as an entirely new book.

So I see three options:

1: I replace the short story with the longer story.

2: I publish the longer story as a sequel, without including the first chapter. But the downside is that new readers would have to download two separate books. (I'm offering them for free, but I think it would still be inconvenient.)

3: I publish the longer story as a complete story, including the first chapter. This would mean the first chapter is actually published twice: as a standalone and as part of the longer story.

What do you think? I'm really at a loss here and would love to hear your opinion.

[Ted]

June, on the Smashwords FAQ's page there is "Smashwords is for finished, complete and original written works only (no drafts, works-in-progress or partial works).", so I'm not sure if what I suggest below would be acceptable to Smashwords. Smashwords has that statement in their FAQ's so authors may avoid the very situation you are now facing.

You would have to get a different ISBN for your expanded work and publish it under a new title. I would suggest offering your first work for free, as a sample, and include it in your expanded work. I believe some self-published authors have published works in this manner in the past. Perhaps a member of the forum has done just what you are considering and has more pertinent information for you.

[Deleted]

Oct 26, 2012 4:33:58 GMT -8 Ted said:

June, on the Smashwords FAQ's page there is "Smashwords is for finished, complete and original written works only (no drafts, works-in-progress or partial works).", so I'm not sure if what I suggest below would be acceptable to Smashwords. Smashwords has that statement in their FAQ's so authors may avoid the very situation you are now facing.

Hi, Ted! To be sure, the short story is a standalone. It has an actual ending and can be read by itself. It's just that the longer story can not be fully understood without reading the short story first, like a sequel. I just wasn't sure how practical that would be.

Oct 26, 2012 4:33:58 GMT -8 Ted said:

You would have to get a different ISBN for your expanded work and publish it under a new title.

I hadn't thought about different ISBNs and titles yet. Thanks for pointed that out!

Oct 26, 2012 4:33:58 GMT -8 Ted said:

I would suggest offering your first work for free, as a sample, and include it in your expanded work.

I was intending for both to be free, but I see what you mean. I'll have a further look into it. Thanks for your input!