Secrets to Writing a Series: The Creative Series Writing Method

by K. Stanley, L. Cooke (Co-Author)

Are you dreaming of writing a series but don't know where to start?

In Secrets to Writing a Series, we'll share the secrets you need to take you from an idea to a series readers love.

We'll guide you through an actionable process, so you can set up your series and write it as you read this book.

You'll learn:

- Differences between writing a standalone novel and a series.
- Decisions you should make before writing that will set you up for a successful series.
- How to choose what type of series you'll write.
-How to test if your story idea is strong enough to support a series.
- How to start and finish a novel within a series to keep readers hooked.
- How to use backstory within a series to excite your readers.
- And much, much more

You'll create:

- A framework for your series.
- Your series uniting factor.
- Blurbs for at least three books in your series.
- Story arc patterns that unite the novels in your series.
- Your protagonist and point of view strategy that connects your readers to your characters.
- Your series vault that you'll use to write every novel in your series.

As with all the books in the Write Novels that Sell series, we give you the theory—the why behind our recommendations—and you use our actionable advice to write your novels.

Use Secrets to Writing a Series and turn your series dream into successful novels.

Genres: Writing

375 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2024

About the author

DESCENT shortlisted for 2014 Crime Writers of Canada Unhanged Arthur award. BLAZE shortlisted for the 2014 Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger. Short Story "When a Friendship Fails" won 2014 Capital Crime Writers's best short story.

CEO Fictionary.co

Reviews

[C.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of K. Stanley and L. Cooke's writing. They are excellent teachers of the craft of writing. This book is a solid, easy to follow and implement guide to setting a solid foundation for a book series in any genre. And for a pantser like myself, the step by step process of thinking long term about your future books leaves plenty of room for discovery writing.

The book covers open and closed series creation. There are plenty of examples in both sections so you know exactly what you need to consider when starting out. This information would have been great to have before starting my own series, but the information within these pages helped to strengthen my future novels.

I've read many, many books on the craft of writing, and some of them can be very dry and rigid. Not this one. Secrets to Writing a Series provides invaluable information in plain, easy to understand jargon that will help you pre plan your series without sacrificing creativity.

[L. O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the thought of expanding one book into a series came to me, the ability to keep my story arc structured properly became exponentially more difficult. Imagine undertaking a series like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings without some advance plotting. Even a write-by-the-seat-of-your-pantser like me can appreciate the value of the formula set forth in this book. For my open series (where characters or setting are common to the books but each one contains a standalone story), I found the suggestions for planning to be practical and it actually spurred valuable thought about the content for my books. It didn’t cramp my style to write skeleton blurbs for each of the books and consider an overall theme. The concept of a series vault, where I keep track of the decisions made for my series and the scenes that lie within, is great for organizing key components and maintaining consistency throughout multiple books without threatening the free spirit of creativity.

I must admit I’m becoming more of a “plantser” now, someone who still thrives from sitting behind the keyboard and letting it rip but now with a bit more forethought going into the planning process. It saves me from overwriting quite so much and keeps my mind thinking about how each scene I write impacts the overall goal of my story. This book and its predecessor, Secrets to Outlining a Novel, have been instrumental in helping me plan my story arc scenes up front, organize my overall thoughts for the series, and avoiding having to take a jumbled mess of 250,000 words and attempt to break it into three books. I imagine my yearly excursions into NaNoWriMo-land will become much more productive if I apply some of these concepts to outlining ahead of time.

This book will help you, among other things:
1) Determine if you have an open or closed series
2) Write skeleton blurbs for your books
3) Plan your story arc across a closed series or for each book in an open series
4) Determine theme/commonality for open series
5) Think about the setup and resolution of each book in the series
6) Build a “series vault” to keep track of facts vital to your story, characters, and setting
7) Stimulate a lot of thought about what you want to write

If you love to plot, this book will build on that love and you’ll be thrilled with the result. If you’re not someone who embraces plotting, fear not. The strategies in this book require only very high-level plotting and your creativity will remain intact, and maybe even better. In either case, you’ll know where your story is going. It’s up to you to fill in the gaps with how your story and characters progress.

This is the third book from authors K. Stanley and L. Cooke. I highly recommend all three (the first one is Secrets to Editing Success) for writers of any experience level. Couple it with the outstanding Fictionary software (created by CEO Stanley) and you’ll have solid story structure that allows your writer voice to shine through and give you more confidence that what you’re writing is coherent and engaging to your readers.

[Lorelei Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only resource I have found that teaches you in-depth how to write a series. Simply: If you are considering writing a series or are in the process of writing your first book, get this book! ...You’re welcome.

This book’s strengths are the no-nonsense, no-fluff, step-by-step instructions. I normally get annoyed with craft books because they may have a whole chapter devoted to one point and then an exercise that doesn’t really help because there is no way to judge it. I did all the exercises in this book because they provided guidelines and tests to make sure your series would satisfy the reader. Just understanding what makes a series satisfying is also another gold nugget you will get out of this book.

I had already outlined my four-book series before I read this book, so I didn’t think I would get much out of it. Although I patted myself on the back many times when the book’s advice matched what I had already done naturally, it was fantastic to find out WHY it worked. It also pointed out many holes in my series. I had a saggy third book, but when one of the exercises had me map my series structure, I realized why it was saggy. Inserting the missing series plot point made the third book so much stronger that it's now part of the third book's story arc.

Reading this book with my series already in mind was fantastic, but if you only have a vague idea, they take you step-by-step through creating one. They analyze many books in their examples, three of which I already read. For the ones I hadn’t, they provided enough information for me to understand the story and how it fit the series structure.

I am not a plotter (although love to outline) and have given up on plotting my stories to a structure. This is the first book where I have seen a story structure that was simple and made sense. If you are a pantser, don’t worry, they explain it beautifully. I actually used their structure to plot all four books in my series very easily. Doing these exercises showed me weaknesses in my individual books as well as my series.

I have taken a lot of craft classes, and this is the first time I’ve had answers to my series-specific questions: Can I change POV within a series? How much backstory is needed after the first book? What if I change the first person to the third? I also learned many things I didn’t know I had to worry about: How to keep the books consistent? (use a series vault, skeleton blurbs) What should I think about when naming a series? What considerations should I make from book to book? (series arc, mirroring)

I hope you get as much out of this book as I did!

[Margaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I need to confess that I read the book straight through so I could get the overall impression of the contents. This was not what the authors recommended. I have not yet done the outlining tasks throughout. Like many people, I’ve thought about writing a series, but I’ve never seriously made any plans to. Writing one book seems daunting enough for a new writer, let alone an entire series. BUT, after reading Secrets to Writing a Series, I’m feeling not only motivated to do it, but that it might be easier and more fun than I previously thought.

Stanley and Cooke have done the extraordinary feat of laying out the steps to planning out a fiction series in so complete and well-explained manner, I think anyone could write a series using their structure.

Now, I hesitate to call it a structure, because that makes it sound rigid and formulaic. The authors take great care throughout to emphasize that their method is meant to be used for guiding writers to think through how to set up the pillars of their series, but that there is plenty of room for personal customization and creativity. This method is a lighthouse beam to help you avoid costly mistakes and editing misery down the road, but it doesn’t tell you how you should sail your ship.

Though repetitive in parts, the repetition will be useful for writers going through the book more slowly, taking the breaks between chapters to complete the tasks. The authors use popular series as examples of their points, but also step through the process of thinking through each chapter’s tasks using their own series. Having these working samples is fantastically useful, not only for showing how it works, but also to make every task seem bite-sized and doable, especially for a beginning writer.

As an editor, I also greatly appreciate the inclusion of the Series Structure Test to evaluate if there are any loose bits in an author’s plan and execution of their individual novels and overall series. Indeed, the entire method will be useful is figuring out where the story/stories might need a bit more structural bolstering to meet readers’ expectations.

All around, this is a book I never knew I was missing until I read it! There are a lot of books now about how to outline your novels (the authors wrote a great one!), but I know of hardly any others that help you plan and outline a series. If you’re a new writer, or a writer in the midst of writing a series but having trouble tying them together, this guide will give you confidence and a path forward.

[I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.]

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic resource for plotters and discovery writers (aka pantsers)!

The authors of this book say, “We’re introducing a new concept called the Series Structure Test. Before you start writing, you’ll know whether your idea is strong enough to support a series, and if it’s not, you’ll know what to do to fix it.”

Boy, do they deliver!

In clear, to the point chapters, they explain what is needed to create a solid structure for a compelling story that spans multiple books. Step by step they lead the reader through the artistic decisions such as open or closed series, how many books in the series, creating skeleton blurbs. the importance of compelling stakes that increase throughout the series (if it’s a closed series) and a solid story arc. Each step is clearly explained with multiple examples from already published bestsellers as well as their own in-progress works.

Even as they lead the reader thorough creating a solid series structure, they also give clear reminders that the author of the series is in control. Their system is meant to provide structure to the process. In doing so, they aspire to help support and increase a writer’s creativity and productivity.

This avowed pantser/discovery writer has found a gem of a resource that will allow me to test my ideas before and during the creating process. I love discovering the stories as I write them, but it takes an immense amount of work to then craft them into stories others will find as enjoyable. I plan to reread this book multiple times to solidify its contents into the intuitive subconscious part of my brain that manufactures the stories I love to create. By doing that, perhaps those ‘discovered stories’ I create as first drafts will be more complete stories. Even if not, it will be much easier to craft them into interesting and compelling stories in subsequent drafts.

This is an amazing resource to help both plotters and discovery writers (aka pantsers) discover their story and create the most solid story series possible.

[John Messing · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to approach writing a series is an important question for many authors, some of whom don't quite know how to end a book in the series properly. Occasionally, otherwise well-written books follow a "partial installment" approach that interrupts the story in the middle and invites the reader to pay for a second installment as yet another book, but this approach often generates resentment and likely resistance among readers to continue to read the story.

The dynamic duo of K. Stanley and L. Cooke take the challenge of writing a series head-on and with crisp, clear prose that leaps from the page demonstrate how to structure a series in a way that fulfills the reader's expectations from each book and creates a satisfying experience from the very first sentence of the first book to the end of the last book. Starting with a basic distinction between closed and open series, building to a mapping of plot points between the various books in a series and the series as a whole, the authors convey a comprehensive and understandable strategy for authors to consider, whether traditional or self-published.

Understanding how the various plot connections interrelate theoretically is one thing; applying this knowledge effectively in practice may be altogether another. Anyone who reads the book and finds it useful should consider learning about the Fictionary software and coursework that the authors have developed to bring the lessons of their books to life practically. In this regard, the book may be most valuable as course reference material in the context of their very fine software and sessions in the Fictionary community.

I for one find the book well worth the read.

I was an ARC reader for this book.

[A F J Kernow · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, you want to write a book series? Then you will need a clear study guide to provide you with the tools to create your own book series.

I heartily recommend The Secrets to Writing a Series. It lives up to its title, and divulges the secrets of writing a good book series.

The initial chapter clearly sets out the purpose of the book and describes the process the writer will engage in to outline their series.
From this statement of intent, the book guides the writer – in easy to manage steps – through the process of writing either a closed or open series of books.

An immensely practical and readable guide for writers. There are several features that make it an essential read for any writer thinking of writing a series.

You are encouraged to make creative decisions and bank them in your own story vault. This is the most useful. If you carry out all the tasks as you read the book, by the end you will have a series bible that will save you an enormous amount of time.

The authors' illustrate each point they make using popular series such as The Hunger Games and Bridgerton and their own writing. The liberal use of tables and flowcharts helped me to quickly get an overview of the process then go back and read the details.

The authors’ style is warm and engaging, this is no dry textbook. I enjoyed reading their insights into writing a series and the decisions they had made in their own writing. There is a huge amount of information, but it is explained in bite sized portions. There are summaries at the end of each chapter and a useful glossary.

I wish I had read this years ago. K. Stanley and L. Cooke must be commended on creating such a helpful guide. I'm off to continue work on my own series!

[Michelle Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be helpful to anyone planning a series. It covers in-depth structure of both closed series (a fixed number of books that tell a single story) and also open series (where characters/plot/settings are more loosely connected across individual books).

The writer will learn about essential scene structure, as well as structural elements across a series. There’s evaluation of the structure of series such as The Hunger Games, and the authors also plan out their own book series. So the reader will gain a sense of structure from existing best-selling series, and then see how those elements can be applied to a series in the making.

The emphasis is on outlining, and showing how the traditional book plot points can be applied as series plot points. The book is exceptionally easy to read, with theory outlined using non-complex language and concepts. Diagrams help to make it easy to follow.

I took away some useful thoughts about plot points across the series, and used it to outline a series arc, noting some common themes and changes of direction, and links between goals and conflict. Of course the book won’t write this for you, but it provides actionable advice that gets you thinking.

I think this book will suit a writer who is embarking on writing a commercial series. More literary writers may resist the formulaic approach, but I firmly believe that it’s not necessary to stick rigidly to a formula. Understand what’s there and how it works, and then take away what you need to make sure you have the structural foundations of a commercially successful series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given two and a half weeks to read and review this book. It’s a long book (longer than it needs to be), so I didn’t have time to try out the ideas in the book, which is unfortunate because it’s hard to know if a structure is solid or not until you try out its strategies.
Once I do that, I will update this review.
For now, here’s what I liked:
This structural approach is a fresh and proactive method to writing a series. It is a combination of the Five-Act Series and Save The Cat as much of the vocabulary and ideas are like those originals, but the combination of both is unique and new.
Everything is broken down into small steps, so it isn’t overwhelming.
The narrative encourages writers regarding getting stressed and stuck with planning.
The examples are excellent, detailed, and popular (Hunger Games, Divergent).
The diagrams are excellent.

Here’s what didn’t work for me:
Sometimes the framework of the chapters was inconsistent. For example, one chapter might begin with a prereading goal such as, “In this chapter you’ll learn X, Y, and Z. But this is not for every chapter, so it weakened the overall structure. Prereading is essential especially for a book this detailed. Following a consistent prereading structure to improve reader comprehension without having to repeat the same information ‘over and over’ again would improve the book.
Ultimately, despite the useful information, the book was redundant to a fault with a volume of unnecessary repetitions. I didn’t need to continuously read the same thing twice on a single page or three to four times in a single chapter. In fact, the redundancy was so extreme, that often the text became confusing, defeating the purpose.
With another edit to reduce the redundancy, I would give this book a 5 out of 5. As is: 4 out of 5.

[Maria Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to be a die-hard pantser, but after reading the authors’ outlining book, that all changed, and this book is even more powerful than the last. I’m not new to writing series, and I thought I understood how to do it, but this book left me reeling as it revealed to me the weaknesses I had baked into every novel.

These two masters take you through step by step the journey of constructing a series, and how it’s like a puzzle piece with each piece interlocking and working together from the start to create a powerful and well-structured series before you even start writing it.

You’ll learn the differences between open and closed series, which I didn’t even realize was a thing before this book, as well as examples between the two of commercially successful fiction that uses similar structure.

I’ve learned how to create a series vault that will not only help me with my current series, but I can use as a template for the future as well to help me create the right decisions before I start writing. With all the tips and tricks I’ve learned from this book I’m more confident that when I finish my latest series, it’s going to leave readers with a sense of satisfaction long after everything is over, and that’s because the magical ingredient of structure was lovingly baked in from the start.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Moreau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review, so here it is:

Overall I found the book to be incredibly useful for plotting my closed series, but there were errors in Chapter 9 that didn't match the rest of the book (some text and one diagram) and that seriously confused me. I had to finish reading the book to sort it out, but once I verified which scenes should mirror each other, it all came together beautifully. I had to dock one star due to those errors, and I feel a little bad about it because it is such a great book. See below for why.

Anyone looking to write a fiction series MUST get this book. It is comprehensive in explaining the types of fiction series one can write all the way to how to check the structure to make sure it is sound enough to proceed in writing so you don't waste your time on a series that goes nowhere. It even goes above and beyond with Part 4 which covers how to add depth to your series in different ways (backstory, subplots, protagonist, POV, etc.). The authors also have a section at the end of each chapter called "Your Fun Series Task" where you can plot your series as you read the book, and they give extremely clear examples for every piece of information they are giving. I am very happy to have read this book, and I highly recommend it!

[Kestrelmorn Geiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

When offered an e-copy of Secrets to Writing a Series by Kristina Stanley and L. Cooke in exchange for writing an ARC review, I jumped at the chance. I was already the proud owner of both of their other writing craft books, Secrets to Editing Success and Secrets to Outlining a Novel.
Their newest offering is just as well-written as the other two and contains everything a writer needs to write a successful series. This book covers both a Closed Series, like the Hunger Games, with one overreaching plot over multiple books, and an Open Series, like the Stephanie Plum books, with a different plot for each book in the series.
The Closed Series is the more complicated of the two kinds, and Stanley and Cooke carefully and expertly help you plot out your story arc for each book, as well as the story as a whole. By using many familiar examples and the copious application of charts and diagrams, they guide you through the process with ease.
An Open Series may seem a little easier to craft, but Stanley and Cooke understand the story arc scenes in an Open Series must still “resonate through the series; otherwise, the series will not hold together.”
As a new writer who is working on a series that is Closed for the first three books and then transforms into an Open Series, I am eagerly using their instruction and charts to craft the best series I can write.
Thank you, Kristina Stanley and L. Cooke, for putting your heads together for a third time and crafting this carefully researched and written ‘how-to’ for writing a series.

[Vivianne Israel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute MUST HAVE for Series Authors!

This book answers questions I have been struggling with (e.g. choosing the right protagonist and determining POV). Also questions I didn’t know I needed to ask (determining a POV strategy across your series and strategies for developing subplots).

The authors take you by the hand and walk you through an amazing process of ways to begin, to discover your series, and develop your series. At each developmental step, they.re-present the to-date structure before adding the new element; building the knowledge of what you’re presented while engaging your mind for creating that particular element in your own story—very engaging!

There is SO much value in this book. A “structure test” for your overall series; tests for unity across your series; a test for what backstory to use; a process for developing subplots and how to arc them across one book or across the whole series. And best of all, how to develop an indispensable, “living Story Vault”.

I was more excited about my first series with every chapter I worked through. I can’t imagine trying to write a series without this book.My fledgling author-of-fiction self is literally grateful for this book!

[Alexandra Kleanthous · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book before I wrote my closed trilogy. Life would have been easier. With each book, I did not know what would follow in the next. I worked in the dark. This book has given me an informed method to produce a series with well-thought-out ideas ahead of writing. It’s an easy, organised, step-by-step method that helps authors produce series synergy and works that resonate with readers. Whether you’re a discovery writer or an outliner, the method in this book enables you to plan enough to set the foundation for the project, something you can refer to throughout the writing process to keep the series objective clear and your writing on target. Once you lay the groundwork, you can fill in the details and write the novel with creative freedom. If any changes manifest while writing, the writer can simply update and adjust the outline to incorporate this new direction. I will certainly use this method for my next series. In fact, I’m keen to start a series because now I have a strategy that will make the process efficient, fun, easy, and creative. There is freedom in planning just enough to smooth out the writing process. I highly recommend this book to series writers.

[Christine Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you’re a plotter or a discovery writer, “Secrets to Writing a Series” has something for you. It’s the most comprehensive book on series craft I have ever read. Plus, it’s actually fun to read and full of accessible examples that will help you easily leverage its contents into your own imagination. From the outset of defining open series vs. closed and getting into the grit of what each book should contain and why, this book leads a writer through the process of defining what you want to accomplish with a series and how you can do it successfully. Aside from the spot-on craft mechanics, I particularly enjoyed the reminders of what successful books do to meet reader expectations.

As I followed along with the prompts, I built a story vault for a structurally sound series that has been in my head but not defined for years. Add this to your craft library if you’re considering putting a series together. It will save you time and help you avoid the frustration of the blank page time and time again.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, Actionable, and Conversational! I was given this book as an ARC reader as I am in the midst of writing a series, which sometimes feels as if I am herding cats. The layout of this book let me see where all the pieces fit and how to check the placement of crucial parts within both the individual book and in the series. K. Stanley and L. Cooke express series building with simple steps starting with beginnings and endings and the strategy to enrich all the chapters in between to take future readers on a fulfilling and satisfying ride. Using well-known book series as examples as well as their own series in progress, I got a real sense of what they were proposing and how it plays out in real time.
I can't say enough about the original sequence of this book and the actionable 'fun tasks'. A quote from their book: "
“We bet you didn’t think you didn’t think you’d be at this level so early in your journey, and we hope you’re excited.” Chapter 9, Page 19.
You're in for a great experience as you build your story and series Vault with soon-to-be friends.

[Elaine Canyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

K. Stanley and L. Cooke have done it again!

I am a massive fan of Stanley & Cooke's books. Secrets to Editing Success was a game changer for me and even as a discovery writer I loved Secrets to Outlining a Novel. But Secrets to Writing a Series is probably my favorite of the three at this point simply because of how well it breaks down the pieces that go into a commercially successful series. Just like the other two books, Secrets to Writing a Series walks you through the process, giving you step by step instructions to plan out your series. And while no book can give you every single possible way that something can be done, Stanley & Cooke ensure that what they do explain is crystal clear, giving you, dear writer, the ability to see how the scaffolding they're providing fits around the story you're trying to tell. 5 Stars! I can't wait to see what this powerhouse duo comes out with next!

[Kevin Crowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that I wish this book was around before I started my first series!

It's one thing to write a series one book at a time, with some thoughts and concepts for future books. But K. Stanley and L. Cooke have taken how to consider, plan, outline and write a series to a level where the advice and approach are both easy to follow and clearly practical. Breaking down the steps for both open and closed series so that they are clear and straightforward to implement will absolutely help any author improve their ability to writer better (and possibly more commercially successful series). Reading through the book gave me so many great enhancements I can make for my current series, and will absolutely be part of my approach for my next one. I had not read the previous two books in the series, but will be going back to get them before I start my next book.

If you're an author who writes series or wants to write series, this book is a must!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me move forwards

I have already outlined my first ever novel that I plan to be part of trilogy but I was having trouble continuing to write because I didn't have the other 2 books figured out yet. I worried that I would miss something in my first book that was needed to be known to make the other one work better. I searched for a book on writing a series and found this one.

This book helped me think through my whole series so that it would all go together naturally. I usually find that the first book in a series is the best and the others tend to be boring, so I didn't want to have that happen to my series.

I now feel that even though I don't have a detailed outline of my other 2 books, I have some main points mapped out so that the series will go together well and have scenes that mirror other scenes.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for anyone writing a series! This book includes a step-by-step process for writing a successful series and includes many examples for both an open and closed series. The comprehensive guide will set you up with a solid structure for each book in your series and help you plan to ensure each book increases in tension and stakes to keep your reader engaged. I love that this craft book leaves room for a writer’s creative choices and allows for things to change and evolve as you write. One of my favorite parts of the book is how to use backstory in a series and weaving in subplots that are powerful and make your story stronger. This is an excellent book, and one I will come back to over and over again as an editor and writer.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book lays out step by step what choices you need to make in the beginning and how to give your readers more of what they love, while still staying true to your creative heart. The authors teach you a formula that gives structure to your stories so they can be successful, but isn't a formula that must rigidly be followed, so you can produce an individual, artistic piece that flows with the whole. Whether you are writing an open series or a closed series of any genre, this book is for you! I've used it myself to outline a horror series and a fantasy series. It can be used alone, but when combined with the six-week Fictionary Live course, Series Foundations: Structure Your Entire Book Series, it is magic!

[Kathie Montefiore-Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent, how-to practical guide for writing a series. Filled with useful tables for constructing and adding to your series Book Vault, working out skeleton blurbs for each book and its relevant series, series structure tests, defining the essential plot elements for each book in a series, excellent examples from both well-known contemporary series as well as the authors’ own works, and simple, essential tasks to implement these secrets, this guide will lift your books and your series from good to amazing.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Charles Oakley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has cut years off the time it will take me to prepare a series of novels for publication. The content has been delivered in a logical sequence, articulating each critical step in the process to create a structure for outlining a series of books regardless of genre. I have a structured process to follow and some excellent practical examples for reference. You picked great stories to demonstrate each step and the use of your respective stories to embed the process worked for me. My best takeaway is the Series Vault, a great place to record and constantly refer to each step in the series outline development. Each entry is like another piece of the jigsaw being completed and is a visible demonstration of the writer’s progress.

Charles Oakley

[Daniel Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristina Stanley and Lucy Cooke have done it again, masterfully. For writers at any stage crafting a series--from brainstorming book one to polishing book five--this is a must-read.

The latest in Stanley and Cooke's "Secrets" series, this well-structured manual shepherds, encourages, and instructs with well-known published examples (Hunger Games, Jack Reacher), the authors' works-in-progress, and a set of progressive exercises that will advance writers' progress more quickly than most could ever do on their own.

Get it.

[Deborah Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristina Stanley and L Cooke’s new addition to their series, Secrets to Writing a Series is a masterpiece in craft. They have woven all the ingredients to write a series, both open or closed in a simple, easy to follow, step-by-step guide that is non-genre specific. Giving the writer everything they need to create a successful series, while leaving all the artistic decisions for the author. From concept, to completion, Secret to Writing a Series leaves no secrets to successfully writing your series.
Stanley and Cooke are masters in their craft, and this book does not disappoint.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this straightforward approach to writing a series. I have the first manuscript written in a planned 3 book series, and this guide has helped me figure out how to adjust the first novel to prepare for the next two so the series makes sense and satisfies readers. I have read many books on writing craft over the years, but this one stands out for its conversational tone (it reads like a supportive friend's spot on advice) and its workshop style that lets you write as you read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crafting a compelling narrative is the ultimate goal of any aspiring writer, and Secrets to Crafting a Story delivers on all fronts. With clear, actionable guidance, Stanley and Cooke expertly demystify the daunting task of editing and revising a manuscript. This indispensable resource gives us the tools and techniques needed to transform a rough draft into a polished masterpiece. This book is a must-have companion on my journey as an aspiring writer.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dortha Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets to Writing a Series is a complete all-in-one tool for writing a series. Every step that is needed to help a writer prepare and write a successful series. I was amazed at the detail put in to walk the reader through each step to take and why it is needed. The authors were also clear about the issues that would come later on in your story if you were to not take these particular steps in that particular order. As a writer, it helped me understand why I kept getting stuck in certain areas of my writing. This book is a must-read and is definitely the perfect book for writing your series.

[Randall R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was an ARC reader for this book.
This is a very well-researched book on how to think about writing a series to make them successful and build on each other. I've read several books on how to write series, but this one has a very interesting and useful strategy to write closed and open series to keep your readers interested. I learned a lot and am applying these tools to my new series as we speak.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A digestible, actionable guide! This book would be very useful for anyone writing or considering writing a series. Following the steps allows you to finish this book with a strong plan for a series. Can also be used to check and adjust a plan or series arc that's already in place which is how I used it. I love that they are clear on the best places to use artistic judgement. And the subplots chapter might've been my favorite!