Today’s guest post is from Alexis D. Johnson, a fantasy author and freelance editor specializing in speculative fiction for clients in the U.S. and U.K.
She is currently working on her book The Seventh Year Trials. It is an underdog fantasy woven with charm, treachery, and a touch of steampunk, where dragons and riders contend in an Olympic competition for a costly purse and the admiration of a nation. Learn more about Alexis at her website or on her Facebook page.
How to Start a Book Series
Everyone loves a great book series. But it’s a bittersweet moment when you reach the end of a book and realize you have to leave the characters and world you’ve fallen in love with there at the final page.
I’m going to assume that if you’re reading this, you’re a writer, wondering if your story would make a good series. But what makes a story into one, or two, or even seven great books? I’ve faced this uncertainty as a series writer myself, so what I’m about to share comes from firsthand experience.
Why a Book Series?
So, how do you know if your story should be a series? Simple: If you can’t fit the whole story into one book.
However, a series should not be your first recourse. If you find your story line is rushed and your characters underdeveloped because you’re trying to fit too much into one volume, then it’s time for a series.
Keep in mind, when your words are carefully crafted, it takes little space to weave a compelling, full-bodied story. For example, when revising an early draft, I typically cut the word count of entire chapters in half. They end up vastly stronger, more compelling, and keep the story moving and the reader immersed in that world. That’s the goal, isn’t it?
You want your story trim and devoid of fluff, but not skeletal. If there isn’t enough room in one book to develop your characters and complete the arc of the story, then it’s time to decide how the first book is going to look, then how the next will play out. Congratulations, you’ve started a series!
The First Step
Before determining your course though, we need to consider how stories are crafted. Every story needs an arc—a beginning where a need is established, a middle where obstacles are encountered, and an end where the situation is resolved.
Launch the reader into conflict from the start. Every chapter must drive the story forward, always pointing to the next step, and ultimately, the conclusion. If a book loses that sense of direction, the reader’s mind will wander, and there’s nothing to keep them from putting your book down forever. You will have subplots of course—a budding romance, a rivalry, etc.—but these should strengthen the central arc, not diverge from it or distract.
So, just how do you achieve this kind of structure? Outlining, my friend.
A lot of writers swear by pantsing (writing by the seat of your pants), but as a previous pantser, I can honestly say that outlining has changed my world. [Debra can say the same for her writing.]
Outlining is the tool that allows you to see the arc of your story and plot out the steps that take the reader from beginning to end.
An outline doesn’t have to be unyielding, in fact, it shouldn’t be. As you write, you’re going to come up with new and more unique ideas that influence the rest of your story, and once you’ve finished the first draft, there will be revisions needed where the story lags or falls flat. By outlining thoroughly, you can make these decisions so that everything you write has clear direction the reader will sense and be drawn in by. Make them desperate to see how it all ends.
Whether you’re new to outlining or a seasoned pro, here is some excellent article from K.M. Weiland about outlining a book series: “How to Outline a Series of Bestselling Books.”
How the First Book Should Look
When writing a series, you need multiple arcs: one that is fully completed in each book, and an overarching arc that ties them all together. The Harry Potter series is a wonderful example:
Book one introduces Harry and Lord Voldemort who tried to kill him as a baby. Harry has to prevent Lord Voldemort from using the Sorcerer’s Stone to restore himself to full power. Voldemort is thwarted, but we are left with the ominous warning that one day he will return to power. The first book’s arc is completed, but the greater arc of fully vanquishing Voldemort will continue through the next six books.
When writing the first book of a series, make that book’s unique arc your priority.
Focus first on crafting a solid arc for the first book and let it guide where that takes the reader in the larger journey. Of course, you don’t want to lose track of the greater story. Remind the reader where this is all ultimately headed. Just remember, if you fail to give a satisfying arc in the first book, the reader isn’t likely to stick around for the second.
So, do you have a stand-alone or book series on your hands? I’d love to hear from you!