Have you ever thought of writing a series of books? Of
following in the footsteps of such writers as Orson Scott Card (Ender Series)
J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings)?
By comparison, a single novel may seem like a sprint when
compared to the marathon of a series. But the lure is there both creatively and
financially. What could be better than
one successful novel? How about a whole set of them?
There are some great benefits to readers who can return to
their favorite world you created again and again, satisfying that curiosity I’ve
mentioned in previous posts. They can follow characters they feel they’ve come
to know, follow new adventures in a familiar setting. Writers get a break as
well. The writer of a series doesn’t have to start from ground zero and work
his or her way through. The second in a series may also be easier to sell since
publishers are even more happy to publish a book that will no doubt have an
audience waiting for it.
But, and it is a very large but, despite how worthwhile a
successful series can be for everyone involved, readers, writers and
publishers, it’s still a huge undertaking and there are pitfalls. And despite
the pluses, the series is more difficult than stand-alone books.
I’m going to mention just a couple of things here that need
to be taken into consideration when contemplating a series.
For one thing, a story that spans a number of books takes a
long time. Reality is life has a way of shifting. Years can pass between
installments in the series. Even decades. Readers waiting for the next book can
get irritated, disgruntled, even throw up their hands and abandon you, the
writer. Publishers can bet pushy, demanding, determined to get that next book
out of the writer. The writer has to ask himself if the project is of such
interest that it creates in him the stamina to keep going, to complete the
journey. You won’t win friends by simply dropping a project in the middle.
Another thought. Each
book should, if at all possible, stand on its own. Not always possible. In fact
frequently impossible. But if you think about the series you’ve read, many of
them manage to by giving some closures on some issues and leaving others unresolved.
In that manner the reader feels completion and yet anticipation for the next
installment. It’s a tricky high-wire act. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is a good
example of that as is Orson Scott Card’s Ender Series.
In both it’s plainly best, in fact necessary to read them in
order, and yet the reader does have a feeling of ends being tied up and moving
on in anticipation of the next book.
Another challenge for the writer of a series is keeping the
readers’ interest from one book to the next. That means the writer needs to
keep those books coming and not allow a
long span of time to flow between them. Additionally, the reader expects the
new book to be the same but different. What I mean by that is if the writer
sticks too close to the formula he used in the first book he’ll have readers
complain book two is just book one all over again. On the other hand if the
writers goes too far off course the reader will complain it’s not the same
world at all and be frustrated with the series. No way to please everyone, you
have to write what you feel.
The hero in a series must move forward, cope with trials,
learn from them, and yet can’t master every challenge or task or what would be
left for the next installment? The same applies to movies – it is storytelling
after all. Series like the Bond films go on and on. Other series, again, like
Harry Potter, have a good long run and then conclude.
Quite the challenge. Tell me your thoughts and if you think you’re
up to the challenge.
