Photo by Анастасия Чопорова
Some of the well-known books are published as a series. From the household series J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter to the newer binge-worthy Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, many books have claimed success in being more than a single-part story.
It’s unsurprising that these books can easily do well. After all, once readers are hooked on a story and its characters, it’s easy to captivate them with other installments.
As a writer, there will always be an urge to incorporate several ideas when writing a story. It’s easy to be carried away when imagining scenarios and pile more conflicts to make a storyline more exciting. But more often than not, this results in a disaster. Complex plotlines in a single book will only be confusing to its readers. Hence, this is where book series come into the light.
To Make a Novel Series or Not?
It may seem like writing a novel series is an easy task. But it isn’t. Not every story idea or genre can be expanded, nor are they worth adding more parts. Simply because an author wants to make more out of the plot they made doesn’t mean they can easily do so.
One of the essential things an author must consider before setting their mind to writing a series is the genre of their story. Some genres can be fleshed out to make a series. Others are better as standalone. Genres like fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery are among those that work best as a series.
For instance, author Benoit Blanchard’s book on mind control may seem like a straightforward narrative. It may look like it only needs a single book to deliver the story from a to b. But it is currently a two-part book focusing on the possible dangers of futuristic technology.
Authors must look into other novel series under the same genre when deciding on a genre. A little research won’t hurt anyone. This gives them an idea of how to proceed with their series.
Plan the Plot
Some authors may identify as “pantsers.” Flying by the seat of one’s pants or writing a book without thorough planning might be fine in writing standalone books. But with writing a series, authors need to be more meticulous with their stories.
What are their goals in the first book? What will they need to omit from the first book to tackle in the second one? Planning will ensure that there will still be storylines left to discuss in the following books.
This doesn’t mean that authors must plan everything down to the last details. For starters, they can outline chapters and divide what part of the whole storyline belongs to which part of the novel series. Doing this helps authors connect the chapters and determine where they can end the books to add suspense to the story.
Choose an Interesting Central Conflict
The conflict makes or breaks a story. The author’s choice of conflict can decide whether the book can be fleshed out or not. Create a conflict within a conflict. The story’s premise shouldn’t be an undemanding journey from point a to point b. This doesn’t only make up for a short storyline but will also be dull to read.
One way to ensure the conflict is exciting and sustaining enough for more than a single book is by creating secondary obstacles. Authors can add more complications that are related to the central conflict. This way, any additional problems aren’t far-fetched and are easily believable to the readers. These obstacles can become additional chapters and tensions to the storyline.
Add Loose Ends
Planning for the whole story can make way for authors to create loose ends in their books. Loose ends are plot details that are yet to be settled or explained. Authors may avoid these because they can easily break the story’s build-up if not justified or tackled well. But if addressed well, they can bring curiosity to the readers, causing them to be more hooked to the book.
Looking for a series to inspire your work? Check our Benoit Blanchard’s Cyberbrain Book 1 and 2 on his website: https://whatisacyber.com/. You can also purchase them on Amazon.
