Series books can be a joy for readers…and a headache for writers.
All books are difficult to write, but series books pose special problems. Simplicity, consistency, individuality, life-like characters and a special handling of backstory details add to series success.
Here are five tips to help the writer who chooses to write a book series, despite the challenges.
1. Simplicity. It’s a good idea for the writer to keep the reader’s enjoyment of the story foremost in her mind. Keep things as simple as possible while maintaining an intriguing story. Creating overly-complex characters, settings, family trees and subplots might be taxing to the reader. She doesn’t want to work when she reads her novel, she wants to have fun, escape complexities, relax…
2. Consistency. Consistency is one of the biggest challenges in writing a series. The author who keeps detailed records regarding characters, settings, subplots, etc will be able to easily look up any questions she may have about past people, storylines, and so on while she works to maintain consistency in her series.
3. Individuality. Series books must also be single-title books. Readers should be able to enjoy and understand book three of a series without having to read books one and two.
4. Distinct Characters. It’s a good idea for the writer to create unique supporting characters who will raise the enjoyment level for readers who follow each book of the series. Good secondary characters punch up the plot and add another dimension to the story. Readers will find themselves looking forward to upcoming books or going back to pick up previous books in the series in order to further enjoy favorite supporting characters.
5. Bit by Bit. If details from earlier books are necessary to the understanding of the plots in succeeding books, writers might want to slip them in a bit at a time. Details should appear as a natural part of dialogue or narrative. A ton of backstory fed to the reader all at once may bore her and encourage her to close the book. Don’t want that! Necessary information from the past should be as much a part of a developing, active plot as revelation of character and storyline are.
I’ve written only one series so far, and I’m not sure if I’ll write another one. My Heart Junction Series, set in the early Twentieth Century, brought me good reader feedback, outstanding reviews, and a sense of enjoyment. I’m glad I chose to do the series, but, as I noted above, series writing does pose special problems.
Would I recommend series writing to other authors? Definitely. What fun would life without a special challenge now and then?
Fran Shaff, Award Winning Author of Romance and YA Novels
www.twitter.com/franshaff
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Good tips, Fran!
I’ve never written a series, but it’s something to think on.
Thanks, Jennifer!
Fran
I didn’t set out to write a series…I wrote one book, then the best friend in that book needed to have her own romance, so that was book #2. Then the kids of one of the supporting couples in the first two books became more interesting to me, and I easily wrote books #3, 4, 5, and 6 about them. The 5th will be published in June, and the 6th has been submitted, but does not have a contract yet. And yes, I have lots of little “crib sheet” notes around my laptop!