TO WRITE A SERIES OR NOT TO WRITE A SERIES - PART 2
[image error] In this post I'll continue sharing tips and options if you should to write a series. One such option could be a sequel. Even if you had no intention of selling a series, you may want to consider a sequel before you send your book off to an agent or editor. When something works, the movie and publishing industries are anxious to keep the golden goose producing.
While You Wait - Have Your Sequel Idea Ready - You may decide not to write a sequel to your story, but writing a rough treatment for your current project is a good exercise nonetheless. In Sullivan's Secret, the story ends with Marie in the hospital, but the crime has been solved. The second book, Secret of the Big Easy, will have new secondary characters, but will carry the readers forward as they discover Marie's new psychic abilities, as well as being pulled into another crime dealing with the occult and voodoo. Book two will also be a stand-alone story, with a dramatic arc that will be resolved by the end of the book.
Keep the Reader Current - You want to be sure that your plot does not require a reader to read your book series in sequence. If a reader realizes that a key to the current story was given in the last book, and that book is not available, they will more than likely give up and abandon you.
Try not to constantly refer to earlier events. You need to write it in a way that lets the reader know what happened in the previous book, but be careful not to "information dump". It needs to be written clearly and concisely. You can also use it in dialogue, as in the example below:
Brigitte leaned forward revealing quite a bit of cleavage. “How long have y’all been investigating as a team? André mentioned y’all helped solve a case involving a serial killer that was plaguing your island.”
Marie smiled. “Yes, that’s somewhat true, and we’ve been investigating together for about six months.” She glanced over at Cory and proceeded after his approving nod. “I’m not sure what information André filled you in on, but I have the ability to see and talk to spirits. I’ve had this ability since I was twelve, but squelched it for the last eighteen years. Up until about six or seven months ago, my ability began to come back to me in full force. Along with me learning to channel that ability with the help of one of our team members and my very dear friend and mentor, a serial killer began a killing spree on the women in and around Sullivan’s Island.”
“I remember reading the article André brought to one of our meetings. This killer was an old friend of yours?” Jason blew smoke right into Gale’s face and ignored her muffled cough.
This example starts to bring in certain elements that occurred in the first book of the series without dumping too much information at once. It also increases the readers' curiosity to possibly go out and purchase the first book in the series.
Carry Your Story on to Book Two - Bridge the Gap - By using subplots and secondary character conflicts, it can provide powerful bridges to connect your stand-alone series books to each other. If you're writing a single plot series with a strong overarching story, the story itself will carry your reader from book to book. Just be sure to have the first book available.
Be Sure Not to Repeat - If you have a following of readers who have read your first book, then you'll need to be careful not to bore your readers describing the same characters they already know. One method to help with this issue is to place your characters into a scene that reveals much of the story world and shows character relationships. Remember to have your first chapter orient the new reader into your world, involve plenty of drama, and create that strong hook sentence. Try to show, don't tell. You don't want to drone on about who these people are, how they relate to each other, and what has happened up until now.
Finally, Revise, Revise, Revise - This goes without saying, but I had to say it. Remember to revise for story, revise for craft, and revise for polish.
I hope this has helped you decide whether to write a series, or not to write a series. Whatever you choose, I hope you always remember to...Keep on Writing!
While You Wait - Have Your Sequel Idea Ready - You may decide not to write a sequel to your story, but writing a rough treatment for your current project is a good exercise nonetheless. In Sullivan's Secret, the story ends with Marie in the hospital, but the crime has been solved. The second book, Secret of the Big Easy, will have new secondary characters, but will carry the readers forward as they discover Marie's new psychic abilities, as well as being pulled into another crime dealing with the occult and voodoo. Book two will also be a stand-alone story, with a dramatic arc that will be resolved by the end of the book.
Keep the Reader Current - You want to be sure that your plot does not require a reader to read your book series in sequence. If a reader realizes that a key to the current story was given in the last book, and that book is not available, they will more than likely give up and abandon you.
Try not to constantly refer to earlier events. You need to write it in a way that lets the reader know what happened in the previous book, but be careful not to "information dump". It needs to be written clearly and concisely. You can also use it in dialogue, as in the example below:
Brigitte leaned forward revealing quite a bit of cleavage. “How long have y’all been investigating as a team? André mentioned y’all helped solve a case involving a serial killer that was plaguing your island.”
Marie smiled. “Yes, that’s somewhat true, and we’ve been investigating together for about six months.” She glanced over at Cory and proceeded after his approving nod. “I’m not sure what information André filled you in on, but I have the ability to see and talk to spirits. I’ve had this ability since I was twelve, but squelched it for the last eighteen years. Up until about six or seven months ago, my ability began to come back to me in full force. Along with me learning to channel that ability with the help of one of our team members and my very dear friend and mentor, a serial killer began a killing spree on the women in and around Sullivan’s Island.”
“I remember reading the article André brought to one of our meetings. This killer was an old friend of yours?” Jason blew smoke right into Gale’s face and ignored her muffled cough.
This example starts to bring in certain elements that occurred in the first book of the series without dumping too much information at once. It also increases the readers' curiosity to possibly go out and purchase the first book in the series.
Carry Your Story on to Book Two - Bridge the Gap - By using subplots and secondary character conflicts, it can provide powerful bridges to connect your stand-alone series books to each other. If you're writing a single plot series with a strong overarching story, the story itself will carry your reader from book to book. Just be sure to have the first book available.
Be Sure Not to Repeat - If you have a following of readers who have read your first book, then you'll need to be careful not to bore your readers describing the same characters they already know. One method to help with this issue is to place your characters into a scene that reveals much of the story world and shows character relationships. Remember to have your first chapter orient the new reader into your world, involve plenty of drama, and create that strong hook sentence. Try to show, don't tell. You don't want to drone on about who these people are, how they relate to each other, and what has happened up until now.
Finally, Revise, Revise, Revise - This goes without saying, but I had to say it. Remember to revise for story, revise for craft, and revise for polish.
I hope this has helped you decide whether to write a series, or not to write a series. Whatever you choose, I hope you always remember to...Keep on Writing!
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