Questions tagged [series]
This tag should be used for questions about series of written works, such as series of books, videogame scripts or graphic novels. The questions should detail what aspect of a story is difficult, such as differing lengths or the repetition of information.
83
questions
3
votes
2
answers
769
views
Book Series - Is using 'Volume #' OK (with no book name)
I've written a book (the first in a series) and am getting read to Kindle Direct Publish the book. While I do have a good name for the world and series, I am having a hard time coming up with the name ...
- 193
2
votes
2
answers
208
views
What changes should be made to the story if a single book becomes a series?
I've been working in a novel for a while and it's coming out quite big. If it continues to expand in the current pace, it will probably be over 150k words, so I was thinking about splitting the book ...
- 1,181
3
votes
1
answer
312
views
Need to own copyright on illustrations if planning a series?
I am writing a children's book for the first time. I anticipate this becoming a series. I have an illustrator to do the artwork. If I anticipate a series do I have to own a copyright on the ...
- 31
3
votes
2
answers
438
views
Multiple POV's: Am I in over my head?
Wondering if anyone with great wisdom can help me...
I have 2 problems really that have pretty much stopped me writing anything decent for a few weeks. I'm on my first ever novel and have no ...
- 41
3
votes
1
answer
301
views
Recaps: Yes, No, and How To?
Recaps. We've all seen them. This question deals with whether or not they should be included in a series of novels, and if they should, how.
Many series use recaps to 'catch up' the reader to what ...
7
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Do new writers stand a chance at a career without ambitions to write series?
Simply put, I've been noticing a general truth in bookstores: Nearly every new book on the shelf is part of a series - this is doubly true in the Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres, but no less true in others.
...
- 1,833
17
votes
10
answers
3k
views
Is there a method to estimating the length of a work before writing it?
I am writing my first novel, which I think likely will end up being several volumes. Although I have a lot of experience in poetry and short stories, this is a very different challenge!
My question ...
- 758
3
votes
5
answers
799
views
Should each book in the series be a similar length?
A very short question.
I'm writing a trilogy. Book 1 was 88,000 words, but book 2 is probably only going to be 75,000 words. That's over 10,000 words less.
Should I find a way to make it longer?
Is ...
- 4,419
5
votes
3
answers
610
views
Do I write the entire series and edit, or edit the books as I go?
Background
Woohoo! The time has come, my first book of a trilogy is one chapter away from finishing. I've done a little editing as I go, clearing up the bad chapters, but haven't properly gone ...
- 4,419
5
votes
2
answers
900
views
How to split up a book into a series?
Related
My book was never meant to be a series, so I'm genuinely uncertain on what to do. I only really write completely self-contained things.
Background
I've really been having a great time ...
- 4,419
15
votes
14
answers
8k
views
How can I Switch Protagonists Between Books?
Disclaimer: I am not intending on doing this. It is just a question I thought was fascinating and might be useful to other writers.
Here's the scenario. You're writing a series of novels. After the ...
-1
votes
4
answers
13k
views
Help creating a name for a series [closed]
I am writing a series and need help creating a name for them. An example of what I am looking for would be something like Cassandra Claire's Mortal Instruments or Christopher Paolini's Inheritance ...
- 109
1
vote
5
answers
159
views
Can a character close to the MC betray them in the first book of a series? [closed]
I am writing a book which is told in first person from the main characters point of view. There is a group mainly of four people which the story involves most heavily, and one of them is planned to ...
- 109
5
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Term for a collection of novels divided into several series
I'm writing my first series of novels, which will contain four books. As often happens, about half way through developing the books, I opened up the possibility for an entirely new series set in the ...
8
votes
2
answers
589
views
Can the same book appear in a different series?
A book series is a sequence of books having certain characteristics in
common that are formally identified together as a group. Book series
can be organized in different ways, such as written by ...
- 181
1
vote
1
answer
128
views
Is it useful to have a backup series?
I clearly cannot guarantee that my series will be popular or well received by readers. I was wondering if it would be beneficial to have another series which is told differently, has a different plot ...
- 304
2
votes
2
answers
77
views
How to expand beyond a single series?
I am currently writing a science fiction/fantasy quadrology and would like to eventually expand on it. I have an entire world built around it and I would like to know the best way to introduce it. ...
- 21
5
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Adding a PoV after the first novel in a series
I am currently developing a series of fantasy novels, and have discovered that I will likely be adding a second point of view in the second or third book (five books total in the series). Up until ...
5
votes
5
answers
191
views
Picking a place to start (In media res)
I'm about to start a new story, and I feel it would be better if I started in media res. (aka at some point in the middle.) I know this is a fairly common style used to hook readers into the story but ...
- 51
9
votes
5
answers
2k
views
How can I create an inter-connected plot across a series?
I am an aspiring author, and I have recently just begun developing my first novel. It is a series, but I have engineered the first novel to be a standalone in case the series falls through.
When I ...
5
votes
4
answers
264
views
How can I tell if a novel idea is made for a series or a stand-alone?
If I have an idea for a novel (consisting, let's say, of a premise and a vague idea of characters), how can I tell if the idea will turn into a series or a stand-alone? I don't want to start ...
5
votes
5
answers
497
views
Can I use the same message over a series of novels?
This question is slightly less straightforward than the title implies, and requires a little explanation.
Firstly, I am an entirely self-taught writer. Because of this, my methods are probably a bit ...
2
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Should I turn my enormous novel into a series?
I am currently writing a novel and am 25,000 words into it, but only about 10% of the way in total.
My intention was to write a single novel, but as I write, it has clearly evolved into what I can ...
- 1,024
3
votes
2
answers
469
views
Series: Is there a disadvantage to the number of books?
I'm an aspiring author. Though I am fairly certain of the answer to the question below, I figured I would make sure, or at least collect opinions, since I have not 'been there.'
My question is this: ...
7
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Should a beginning writer start with a series or a stand-alone?
I am an aspiring author, but I intend to start publishing soon. I have several ideas for potential books; however, they are all series. I am hesitant about starting my writing with a series. What if ...
3
votes
4
answers
244
views
Standalone book, followed by series
I'm toying with the idea of writing a single standalone book and then later follow it with a series, in the same world with some of the same characters.
Are there any examples of this? I couldn't ...
- 131
14
votes
8
answers
15k
views
1st person story, but the main character will die in the end and some of the story needs to be told after his death. How to solve this problem?
I personally like to read stories told by the the main character, it's more "alive" to me. But the problem is that my character will die and some of the story will need to be told afterwards. Maybe 1 ...
- 395
8
votes
3
answers
665
views
How to tell or retell basic character and setting information in a series?
I am writing a short children's novel and I want to expand this into a series made of several short novels. I intend to write the whole series at once so that the internal universe is consistent and ...
- 353
11
votes
8
answers
1k
views
Are fantasy books expected to be trilogies?
Lately, more and more fantasy books I've seen are part of a trilogy. Is this because readers like it, or is it a cynical plot by publishers to draw out the story longer, so they can make more money? :...
- 6,883
3
votes
3
answers
8k
views
How do I check if an ISSN is properly registered at issn.org?
How do I check if an ISSN is properly registered with issn.org? I found a tip on wikipedia to try link like "http://www.worldcat.org/ISSN/1021-9749" to see if an ISSN is registered, but for the ISSN ...
- 143
12
votes
3
answers
407
views
Where is the best place to "twist" a series?
I have plans for a fantasy trilogy in which the main characters defeating the threat in each book simply makes way for the new threat of the next book. This way, the main characters can continue to ...
- 5,913
12
votes
4
answers
369
views
How to go about breaking up a looooong YA story?
A while ago, I played around with a short story idea in a genre I don't normally write (Young Adult fiction). The story took on a life of its own, growing quickly to a novella, and now is definitely ...
- 4,485
18
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What techniques are used to plot long (multi-novel) story arcs?
As a very visual person, I have always considered plotting a story to be somewhat like knitting or macrame. How do series authors handle multi novel story arcs? Do they just keep throwing out lines ...
- 1,415