by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I’m a real fan of writing series. That’s probably obvious, since I write three of them. It gives me more opportunity to fully-develop my characters and give them growth throughout the series. In addition…it’s honestly a lot easier to write series. You put a setting in place, and recurring characters in place–which makes subsequent books easier to write.
As a reader, I like series, too. I feel more invested in the protagonist and recurring characters if I know I’ll be spending several books with them. I’ll even soak in the setting and descriptions a bit more, since I know they’ll be needed lately (as I’ve mentioned before, I frequently will gloss over any descriptions when reading.)
Elements that make for a good series:
A strong protagonist. This character shouldn’t take a back seat in the story–he should make things happen instead of having things happen *to* him. There should be room for character growth there, too, and change.
Either a big conflict (for linked series where the plot continues from book to book) or solid new conflicts for each non-linked book in a series. Some subplots work well in series, too..romantic subplots are frequently popular with writers of all genres.
An interesting setting. And one that’s interesting for the writer to write, too.
Elements that also make for good standalones…strong supporting characters, believable conflict, good pace, etc.
When to call a series quits:
When your publisher says it’s finished. :) (These days you should see if you can get the rights to those characters back and continue the series yourself.)
When your characters start becoming static and your ideas are drying up.
When you find you’re recycling plots.
When readers lose interest.
Do you prefer writing and reading standalones or series better?
Image: MorgueFile: beglib
Elizabeth – Series have a lot to recommend them . I think for an author there are good reasons to write a series too, as you’ve pointed out. One of the things that makes a series appealing to me as a writer is that it gives me an overall plan for my writing – for the next few years. And that motivates me. But as you say, there are times when a series has to end. I think when the writer feels that the stories have been told and it’s time to move on, then it really is. Nobody knows the characters better than the writer does…
I think it may be difficult for the reader to give up a beloved series, but all good things must end — I guess. :)
As a child, I loved Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. Couldn’t wait for the next book in the series. I loved Ann Rice’s “The Witching Hour” series and of course, I love your series, Elizabeth. But other than those, I haven’t read a series in quite a while. Not sure why.
Karen
I do reuse characters from time to time but I am not of the mind to do a series. Maybe it is because I grew-up with “Big Books” by folks like Michener and serial characters by Chandler.
I’m not sure I could write evenly across all books in a series. I suspect my plotting would grow wobbly if I couldn’t control the main arc within the span of a single book.
I envy you who can do this so well.
I do enjoy the recurring character. What isn’t to love about Rumpole or Cadfael?
Margot–You’re right…it’s almost like having a mini-outline in place for the next couple of years. The setting, the characters, etc. are set and we work within those parameters…and ensure growth, too.
I do prefer a series because I become invested in the characters, including my own. It’s best to call it quits when the writing becomes forced. Before that moment if possible.
I like reading both stand-alones and series! I just like reading everything. So far I’ve written only stand-alones, but I’d love to write a series. My favorite types of series are the kind where each book can be read by itself, so you can start at any point in the series. If I ever wrote a series, I think I’d try to do it that way. Series with cliffhangers are fun, too! But then it’s such torture waiting a year or two (or longer) until the next one.
Diane–Good point. Yes, if we can tell our writing is starting to go downhill with a series, better to call it quits instead of giving something to readers that’s not as good.
Laura–I’m with you. My son has read books in a series before and really suffered waiting for the next installment of the story!
Teresa–For once, I’d love to see a series that gets a little stale, rebound. Seems like the just come to a sad close. Would love for some of ,y favorite writers to recharge their batteries and continue on.
Karen–I *loved* Nancy Drew. :) And the Hardy Boys, and the Bobbsey Twins, Box Car Kids…I think kids are perfect for series. They almost make friends with the characters.
j welling–I always think about authors like Rowling and how she managed to pace an epic story through all those books! I remember her saying that she had a complete arc and plot in mind before she started (this is amazing, too–I’m no plotter.)
I enjoy reading both.
Never planned on a series, but I know three will be enough. Besides, since I keep jumping ahead twenty years, Byron will soon be too old for this stuff!
Alex–Ha! You’ll have to start freezing him in time like my characters. :) I wished I aged as slowly as my characters do…
I’m a fan of both. I think the first book has to stand on its own and feel BIG. As a reader, I’m not fully invested in the author or the series at this point and if nothing much happens, I won’t continue the series regardless of whether there is a cliffhanger ending.
You know, I rarely read a series! Like, I’m reading book one in a series right now (well, a trilogy) and I know I won’t read book two. That’s weird, huh? I usually read stand alone books.
I like reading series at the beginning, but I get burned out on them after 3-5 books, for the most part.
So far, I’ve written standalones, but I’m now working on a trilogy and finding it a lot of fun!
Laura summed up my feelings so well. I haven’t written a book, YET, but one that I have in mind is huge and could be put into a series.
Thanks for all of your visits and sweet comments, Elizabeth. And, I can’t wait to read your new second book in the Patchwork Cottage series!
Kathy M.
I love a good series. I can’t imagine the world with only ONE Nero Wolfe or Philip Marlowe book in it.
It’s funny, all my beta readers for my current work in progress assumed it was the first in a series.
It is, but I wasn’t planning a series reusing the same characters, but reusing the same ideas (which is hard to explain without giving too much away.)
It’s taking a bit of a rethink, sorting out whether to surprise my readers with a very different connection from book to book, or to satisfy them via the obvious and expected route of recurring characters.
Elizabeth, from Nancy Drew to Agatha to my latest love … Harry Bosch from Michael Connelly … I have always loved series. Absolutely read and reread many of them. Then there are those that need to end but the author doesn’t have the good sense to know when … or as the case is with one very popular cozy character … the author (no name please) can’t seem to resolve her issues and put it to bed.
Series can follow a character through so many adventures and thrills. While I also read dozens of stand-alone, I must admit that many series are my best reads.
I read both and whether a book is part of a series is never a consideration when I pick it up. In fact, I often pick up a book because of title or cover and find I’m in the middle of a series.
The series I’ve found myself writing have been by accident. A year or so after completing what I thought was a book on its own, the characters start coming up with ideas and invading my dreams.
Maya–Exactly. Otherwise, it’s just too much of an investment of time with one character.
Julie–I think many people read one or the other…which is interesting. Not sure what it means!
Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy–Series are so much fun to write!
Thanks so much! It comes out next year. :)
Carol–Can’t wait to see the trilogy!
Joel–I think it’s gotten to the point where readers hear “mystery” and they automatically think “series.”
Are you spacing the books out? Could your readers help you make that decision? I know readers have written me, asking to see more of one character or another. It does influence what I write, rightly or wrongly.
fOIS In The City–Oh, I think I know which one you’re speaking of. :) I hope the author fixes the series problems and keeps on because I enjoy it. But I don’t enjoy weak books that weigh the rest of the series down.
Series are my favorites, too. :)
Carolyn–Do you go back and read the series from the start, if you’ve happened on it midway?
The characters *do* demand more stories, don’t they? It’s funny how that happens.
The books will be 6-9 months apart, if I’m as good as I think I am.
Part of my clever little gambit was allowing a bit of confusion about my main character. I’m not sure how to query my fans without giving away something I’d rather they sorted on their own.
I guess what’s important is whether I’m being clever for the sake of being clever, or if my original reasons for this decision still make sense to me.
Time to write myself a letter and see if I can convince me, one way or the other.
Hi Elizabeth – I’d probably read a trilogy – but prefer stand alones – yet if I found a series I enjoyed then I’d read til I was bored … I guess my staying powers in this day and age aren’t great! Certainly there are authors that I don’t enjoy any more …
Cheers Hilary