According to a poll conducted by Goodreads in 2015, more
readers liked reading books that were part of a series than stand-alone books, although
it was close. Knowing this, many writers embark on the road to writing a
series.
The key to writing a successful book series is creating a
believable world and lovable characters. Book series are popular IF readers
fall in love with the characters. If readers love the characters, they will
want to know more about them and their journeys in life.
Preplanning for a series is imperative. Before writing a
series, a writer needs to do a lot of prework and answer a series of questions:
(1) Will the series be about the world where the characters live
or about the characters and what happens to them? A writer should determine what
the focus of the series will be. Consider the novels of James Michener that
were long and could have been broken individual series. He wrote about places
and the people who lived there. The characters came, changed the place, then
died or moved on. The next characters in time came and picked up the story of
the place. His focus was the world of his novels. The most successful series ever
written was about the characters of Harry Potter and his friends. The wizarding
world was an important element of the series, but the characters were the focus
of the series.
(2) What is at the core of the series? An overarching antagonist
or evil to be overcome should weave its way through the whole series. Harry
Potter didn’t kill Voldemort in the first book; it took the whole series to
bring him down. Smaller enemies and problems (subplots to the whole story) were
resolved by the end of each book in the quest to take out Voldemort. The same
can be said of the original Star Wars movies. The characters resolved battles
by the end of each movie, but the overarching nemesis of the Empire wasn’t
destroyed until the final movie.
(3) How does each book end? Don’t end the first or second book
with a cliffhanger or end a book mid-scene. Each book should have its problems
or issues (subplots) that are resolved by the final page, but leave the reader
wondering if the final victory will be won. That’s what draws them into the
next book.
(4) Where does the story take place? The writer must create the
world where the characters live; not only create it but describe it in great
detail.
(a) Draw a map on paper. Find pictures of what the imagined world looks
like and keep them close.
(b) What does this world physically look like?
(c) What kinds of people are in it, and how do they dress?
(d) What are the ethics and beliefs of
society?
(e) What issues are facing the population?
(f) Do they have enemies and
allies?
(g) Who are the characters? All the characters must be defined
before writing. What do they look like and how to they act? Who are their
immediate family members, and how were they brought up? What notable physical
traits and what special powers or skills do they have? What morals do they hold,
and what would it take to push them outside of their beliefs?
(5) Whose point of view (POV) will be used? Most series are
written in third-person limited to one or two characters’ POV unless the focus
is on the place.
(6) When will the story end? Through the course of the series,
the characters should move from their faulty beginnings to their new and
improved selves. The best series have happily-ever-after endings. The reader can
hope for the same.
Readers who like series generally waited until all the books
in the series were out before starting the first one. Writing, then releasing
two, three, or more books at once may seem intimidating. Releasing them one at
a time may result in more sales after the last one comes out.
Please check out these helpful resources:
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Thank you, Carol, for this well-crafted guest blog to assist writers who desire to author a series of books.
My friend and fellow author, C.S. Kjar, (pronounced "care") lives with her
long-time first husband in their empty nest in Boise. She spent her life doing
many different things. She’s been a stay-at-home mom, a teacher, a secretary, a
statistician, a literacy tutor, a newsletter editor, a timber sale accountant,
an archeological technician, and best and longest of all, a technical
writer/editor.
After retiring, Carol focused on writing fiction. Her novels
are sweet and wholesome, suspenseful with a touch of romance. She has also
written children's, middle age books, and one non-fiction book about quilting. When not writing or traveling with her husband, she loves to
quilt, sew, read, draw, paint, and read to her grandsons.
For those of you so inclined, pick up your pen or sit down at your computer, and write on. Get that book series published!
