by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I’ve mentioned before here that I love writing series. Not only are they easier to write (the recurring characters and story world are already developed), but readers seem to enjoy spending more time with the characters they’ve gotten to know. Right now I’m working on three active series and have one discontinued one. And a single standalone book.
How can you write a book with series potential? Here are a few ingredients for a strong series:
A protagonist who has flaws and special skills. Someone who can change and grow. Does your protagonist shine in some way? Is his or her own particular skillset an important tool to help solve the story’s conflict? Conversely, does your protagonist have a flaw that gets in the way, perhaps setting up some internal or external conflict? Can your character grow and change . . . for the better or worse?
Characters readers want to spend more time with. This goes for your protagonist of course (even if they’re not 100% likeable, they need to be captivating), but it also goes for your supporting characters. They can be fun, mysterious, or quirky, but the point of the cast is to have characters readers want to find out more about or hang out with.
A story world that invites readers back. This could be a happy place (most cozy mystery series are set in charming locales) or even a scary place, as long as it’s interesting. Can you imagine setting many different books there?
A hint of problems yet to come that the protagonist can help solve…but some resolution for the first book. Readers tend to get very upset when the major plot problem in the first book isn’t at all resolved. It’s almost like the first book was just a teaser for book two. It’s important to wrap-up at least part of the conflict in the first book, but (for continuous story arcs) hint at more issues to come. Avoid cliff-hangers but leave readers wanting more.
Tip: If you think you may continue your book into a series, go ahead and create a series bible. You’ll thank yourself later.
For help expanding your story into a series, see this post from Reedsy.
What elements do you find appealing as a series reader or writer? Do you like writing in series or reading them?
I created a series and I didn't even mean to!
I didn't plan it as well as you suggest though.
Serendipity works well, too!!
Thanks for the information. Always helpful.
I am interested in taking a couple of shelved drafts and making them a series. One would be only two books (so that might not be series) and the other could to on forever, honestly.
Teresa
I hope you give it a go, Teresa! I think two books is a duology, but the same stuff applies! And I think I have a forever series myself, now, ha.
This is all really helpful, Elizabeth. I especially agree with adding things in that could be developed into other novels, or a story arc. And if readers want to know more, well, then, you know there's possibly a series there.
Small elements can definitely be explored in later books!
I love series and have since I was a kid.
In romance, a lot of people write series with standalones (me included). The main couple change for each book, but the setting and supporting characters remain the same. I'm having a lot of fun creating the series this way. I wish I'd known more before starting series 1, but I think that's always going to be the case for me. I love learning something new with each book.
Thanks for the tips!
Oh, that’s a cool way of doing a series! You get the benefits of recurring characters, but with change, too.