Pros, Cons, and Tips for Writing a Novel Series

Today’s guest is award-winning author Deb Raney. We will be giving away a free copy of her newest release, Home At Last, so be sure to leave a comment for her below. The winner will be announced the week of February 27th, so check back to see if that’s you. J


By Deb Raney

I recently finished writing the fifth and final book in the Chicory Inn Novels series, and am now working on the first book in a new series. Having written mostly stand-alone novels for most of my writing career, this has been an interesting experience and one I’ve learned so much from. First let’s look at the pros and cons of series books.

PROS:
• Once you’ve created your setting and any recurring characters, half your work for subsequent books in the series is done! 
• If you’re an author who grows very attached to your characters and has a hard time saying “goodbye,” a series lets you stick around a while.
• Series let you develop characters more deeply and over a longer period of time than the average stand-alone.
• Readers love series (although be aware that some readers wait until an entire series is out before they start reading—or buying—the books).

CONS:
• If you grow bored working with the same setting or characters, you might feel stuck long before your contract is fulfilled.
• If the first book of a series bombs, it can create a dilemma about how to proceed.
• With shrinking space on the bookshelf, bookstores often carry only an author’s newest book. This can make it difficult for customers to find an entire series at once. (Of course, they can always order online.)
• Committing to a series is committing to one publisher for a long period of time. You risk cancellation if an imprint closes, or a publishing house dissolves.
• If you write contemporary, it can be difficult to keep up with technology. The iPad your character used in Book One might be obsolete by the time you get to Book Five.

Here are some things I’ve learned through the writing of two two-book series, two three-book series, and my most recent five-book series that I’d like to pass along to anyone who might be considering proposing or writing a series.

TIPS:

• Be sure you have enough material for the number of books you’ve planned. It’s not unusual to have a grand, high-concept idea for Book One that fizzles out long before you reach Book Five.
• Consider making each book of the series a stand-alone that concludes sufficiently so that readers won’t be disappointed if they read Book Three first, or if they don’t like the series well enough to continue after a book or two. Readers are sometimes disgruntled if they invest time in Book One and then find they must read future books to discover the main characters’ happy ending.
• The books of a series might tie together in theme (weddings, royal families, stories of hope, etc.) and setting (each book is about a different character in the same small town, etc.) rather than being a continuation of the stories of one or two characters. (But realize that such a loose tie negates some of the pros mentioned above.)
• Create a “bible” with all the details of your characters, setting, and storylines. You might think you’ll remember, but trust me, you won’t.
• Keep an updated, ongoing timeline for each book and for the entire series. Readers have sharp eyes when it comes to inconsistencies.
• Before you start, research what series are already being published, and work hard to make your series unique.
• Most publishers will want you to have an official series name that will likely appear on the book covers. Often this series title will hint at the setting or the theme of the series. It’s also helpful if individual titles in the series fit together well. (Think of Karen Kingsbury’s series where all the titles begin with the same letter of the alphabet. In my Chicory Inn series, each of the five titles has the word HOME in it, which also echoes a main theme of each book.)
• I’ve found it very helpful to have photo reference for the setting, each character, the homes where many scenes take place, etc. I use Pinterest and Scrivener to make “idea boards” with all those images. I also set my desktop with those inspiration photos so that I’m constantly, visually seeing my characters and setting.
• Consider creating a music soundtrack for your series. Music can be a powerful, positive trigger for getting you in the zone for writing about a specific setting or set of characters. I’ve done the same thing with scented candles, snacks, and even flowers, etc., surrounding myself with things that call to mind my story and help me go deep into my story world.
• Enjoy the privilege of living with beloved characters for longer than the time it takes to write just one book. It’s a pleasure to write “the end” knowing it’s really only the beginning of a new book with the same wonderful setting and/or cast of characters. (But prepare for the final goodbyes to be even more difficult than usual after you’ve lived with your characters for so long.)

(Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net/Stuart Miles and Deb Raney.)

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DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb’s writing career. Twenty years and more than thirty books later, she's still writing. She and her husband traded small-town life in Kansas—the setting of many of Deb’s novels—for life in the city of Wichita. They love traveling to visit four grown children and seven grandchildren who all live much too far away. Visit Deb on the Web at www.deborahraney.com.


Comments

  1. Enjoyed reading this! Thank you both!

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  2. Great post! And I love your books--series or not. :)

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  3. You have done a great job with this series. I am excited, and a bit sad too, to read the last book. It will be hard to say goodbye to this family.

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  4. Thanks for these insights, Deborah! I just finished editing my third and favorite stand-alone and am mourning the characters so much, it's ridiculous. Must be even worse after a series. I'm sure looking forward to reading Home at Last.

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    1. A memory just popped up on my Facebook of the dinner in Colorado where we first met 4 years ago, Terrie! My time flies! :) So fun to have known you these 4 years!

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  5. Thanks so much for having me on the blog, Andrea and Alycia! Happy Valentines Day to all your readers!

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  6. I've loved all of your books that I've read Deb! I must admit I have not read all of them but need to remedy that. Can't wait to read Home at Last! jarning67@hotmail.com

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  7. I love the books I have read of yours. Keep them coming.
    Thereadmaster@me.com

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  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  9. I love seeing your post on FB, have yet to read one of your books and know it would be a good read....thanks for all the info in this post.
    Paula O(kyflo130(at) yahoo (dot) com.

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