Developing a Novel Series

"When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature."

~Ernest Hemingway

While creating a single novel can be an ambitious project in itself, there are some extra actions you can take if you already have a series concept in mind. If you prepare well from the very beginning, you'll save a lot of time and energy long-term as you develop and write your books. Here are some tips and ideas that can help:

1) Study the stories that you personally enjoy.

When you read for entertainment, you may not always pay attention to why you enjoy a particular book or series. Going back and breaking down a great book into its elements--character, setting, plot structure, conflict, suspense, etc.--will help you better understand how to use the same elements in your own work while applying your own unique style.

The same idea can be applied to television shows, movies, graphic novels, and even story-based video games. Take notes, and read and watch things more than once to pick up more subtle details.

2) Character and setting development have a stronger importance in a series.

This does not mean you ignore your overall plot, but a novel series almost requires you to have your characters and setting fully developed prior to beginning your first book. This can be accomplished using a template and character profile system. (See below for more detailed articles on how to create and organize this information.) At least a portion of your plot will be character-driven, so developing your characters first will make your structure process clearer as well.

Setting and character tend to impact each other, and even minor details can add realism and depth to your story. As you write your books, more details and ideas will come to you. This is normal, and you can update your character and setting information as needed for future reference.

3) Every book has a purpose.

From a plot standpoint, you should have a main story arch across the entire series. One way of doing this is deciding your ending first then work your way back to the events that led up to it. Each book however can have its own smaller plot, allowing readers to enter into the story without necessarily knowing everything from previous books. An example of this model can be found in any episode-based television series.

In most cases, your first book is going to serve as an introduction to your characters and setting. It allows you to set up the rules of your fictional world that the other books will follow. The middle books in a series allow for both character development and an opportunity to build tension and conflict. Some can be cliffhangers that create anticipation for the next book. Your final book is meant for resolution of the main conflict and to tie up any loose ends from the previous books.

4) Use multiple conflicts to build strong pacing and suspense.

When you have a core set of characters and at least two conflicts within a book, you can use an "A-story/B-story" format--basically alternating the attention of your readers between a main conflict and a secondary conflict. When one conflict reaches a critical moment, you switch to the other--creating a greater reason for the reader to continue.

5) Develop a habit of working daily on your series.

Writing one novel per year is a reasonable goal if you're serious and willing to incorporate writing into your lifestyle. This is not an overnight process, and you may have to make adjustments to other commitments and figure out what times of the day your write best. During the rest of your day, be open to being observant of your surroundings and brainstorm at least slightly ahead of where you're working in your current book. This keeps you moving forward.

If writing just one novel seems like a massive project, break it down into smaller and more manageable steps--focus on preparation first followed by constructing one chapter or scene at a time until you feel comfortable moving on to the next. Over time, the actual process of writing will turn into a habit.

I hope you've found these tips helpful. Take care, and keep writing!

Tricia

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Sci-fi novelist Patricia Gilliam is the author of the Hannaria Series: Out of the Gray (April 2009), Legacy (Nov 2009), and No Good Deed Goes Unpunished (June 2010). Beginning her career as an online content writer, she has written over 1,000 non-fiction articles and 40 fiction short stories since 2006. She has been a preferred author on Writing.com since 2007, offering free help and resources to the site's community.

Outside of writing, she and her husband Cory are broadcast camera operators for the Christian television show Power of the Word in the Knoxville, TN area. In 2009, they adopted a rescue greyhound (racing name Lucius Malfoy) and are active volunteers for the local adoption group.

Book 4 of the Hannaria Series, Something Like the Truth, is in progress with an expected release in early 2012.
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