“The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes. ”
― Agatha Christie
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| Exploring the Creation of Fictional Worlds |
A Good Book, A Good Series?
But what do authors think about writing them?
During November and December I ran a few posts promoting good authors and their very good books on my other 'author promotion' blog, then someone mentioned it was OK to be serious about a series - but they are also great fun to write (and read!) So I thought I'd kick this new writing for readers series off by asking some authors to give their thoughts about writing a series.
first: Susan Grossey
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| Just Published! |
I am a greedy reader: I read a lot and I read quickly. And for me, discovering that a favourite author has produced a series, so that I can spend more time in their world and with their characters, is one of life’s great joys. I remember sneaking the first Poldark novel from my mother’s bookcase and then stealthily – or so I thought – exchanging it for the next and the next and the next. I am quite sure she knew what I was up to, and we both loved Ross Poldark – although I suspect she admired rather more about him than the rebellious spirit which appealed to her pre-pubescent daughter.
And when I became an author myself, it quickly became clear that the series was my destiny. I tried, honestly I did, to write a solo book, but within two months of finishing it I was looking back over my character notes and imagining where they could – indeed, must – go next. That first series was accidental, but my second series was planned as such from the outset – and for a methodical person like me, the assembling of character biographies and story arcs has been addictive. I can drip-feed information in each book while every character’s ultimate fate in my mind – and trying not to smile knowingly when readers ask. The only downside to writing a series is that the mourning for the end is so sharp: I can fully understand why “Inspector Morse” spawned “Lewis” and then “Endeavour”. When you have lived with your creations for years, bidding them farewell can be almost impossible.
Alison Morton's 'thoughts'
When I started my first novel I had no idea what I was doing. But not even halfway through the first draft, I realised I had a far bigger story than I’d anticipated. So I did the classic thing – I decided to make it a trilogy then add a novella. But it has now grown into a series of eleven books.
Work out the overarching plot in advance
If you go back to write a prequel or in my case a prequel four books, you have the benefit of knowing what is to come, but you also need to fit early events very carefully.
Do not write instalments
Each book must stand on its own as a complete story with a definite resolution.
Use and recycle your characters
Bringing back characters from another book not only helps eliminate ‘character creep’ but is a pleasure for both writer and reader as we see each individual develop his or her own story.
Work out big secrets in advance and scatter little ones throughout all the books
As a reader, I like a ‘twist in the tale’. As a writer, I love laying ‘Easter eggs’ in one book that hatch in another one in the series.
Intrigue by revelation over a longer stretch
Readers love ‘deep lore from the past’, hidden family secrets or a forbidden passion. Timely revelations also strengthen the interconnectedness of the books.
Practicalities
Build a consistent and plausible world, keep track of ages, eye and hair colour across a series. Use maps, family trees and lists of characters
The very worst thing to avoid?
As a reader, I dislike it when something or somebody pops up like a deus ex machina in a sequel to solve the mystery or make the quest come to a good end and there has not been the least hint about it or them in an earlier book.
Amazon Buy link: https://mybook.to/RomeNovaSeries
Website/blog: https://www.alison-morton.com
Anna Belfrage's view:
When I started on His Castilian Hawk it was because I had this recurring image in my head of a man walking up narrow stairs with his arms full of apple blossom. Why? Because this somewhat battered knight had to apologise to his wife. I had no idea why he
had to apologise. I knew nothing of the relationship between knight and wife, but I loved the apple blossom. Once I started to dig into Robert and his Noor, my story took shape, with real-life people like Edward I and his wife, Eleanor of Castile, hogging
significant air time. And once a king like Edward I starts intruding on your story, you realise things are about to become complicated—and long. Except, of course, that in my series it is Eleanor and her suspicious mind that launched book two . . .
Writing a series means spending a LOT of time with your characters. They become close companions, at times as real as the people around you. They also tend to develop characteristics you had not counted on - which, in this case - led to the apple blossom scene being cut. (Sniff ) Losing an apple blossom scene is no biggie, but having your protagonist glower at you while saying they would never, ever do something as harebrained as your proposed next scene—a crucial scene in your plot—is extremely enervating!
Writing a series means spending a LOT of time with your characters. They become close companions, at times as real as the people around you. They also tend to develop characteristics you had not counted on - which, in this case - led to the apple blossom scene being cut. (Sniff ) Losing an apple blossom scene is no biggie, but having your protagonist glower at you while saying they would never, ever do something as harebrained as your proposed next scene—a crucial scene in your plot—is extremely enervating!
For myself:
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| Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick |
Award-winning Mystery Series
A Mirror Murder - the first in a series of quick-read, cosy mysteries set in the 1970s
Eighteen-year-old library assistant Jan Christopher’s life is to change on a rainy Friday evening in July 1971, when her legal guardian and uncle, DCI Toby Christopher, gives her a lift home after work. Driving the car, is her uncle’s new Detective Constable, Laurie Walker – and it is love at first sight for the young couple. But romance is soon to take a back seat when a baby boy is taken from his pram, a naked man is scaring young ladies in nearby Epping Forest, and an elderly lady is found, brutally murdered... Are the events related? How will they affect the staff and public of the local library where Jan works – and will romance survive and blossom between library assistant Jan Christopher and DC Laurie Walker – or will the brutal murder intervene?
"I sank into this gentle cosy mystery story with the same enthusiasm and relish as I approach a hot bubble bath, (in fact this would be a great book to relax in the bath with!), and really enjoyed getting to know the central character..."
Debbie Young bestselling cosy mystery author
"Jan is a charming heroine. You feel you get to know her and her love of books and her interest in the people in the library where she works. She's also funny, and her Aunt Madge bursts with character - the sort of aunt I would love to have had. I remember the 70s very well and Ms Hollick certainly gives a good flavour of the period."
Denise Barnes (bestselling romance author Molly Green)
“A delightful read about an unexpected murder in North East London. Told from the viewpoint of a young library assistant, the author draws on her own experience to weave an intriguing tale”
Richard Ashen (South Chingford Community Library)
“Lots of nostalgic, well-researched, detail about life in the 1970s, plus some wonderful, and occasionally hilarious, ‘behind the counter’ scenes of working in a public library, which any previous or present-day library assistant will recognise!”
Reader's Review
“I spent the entire read trying to decide what was a clue and what wasn’t ... Kept me thinking the entire time. I call that a success.”
Reader's Review
"An engrossing read, the pace perfect and light..super easy to read and enjoy. If you like the idea of an old school mystery you’ll love this." David's Book Blurg.
"I do love a cozy crime series, and Helen Hollick’s Jan Christopher stories are fabulous." M.J. Porter
"Having started to read this cracking series with Book 2 (jumping the gun, if you pardon the pun), I finally got around to reading the first book in the series, A Mirror Murder. Not that it matters, as I found the back story in #2 A Mystery of Murder easy to follow." Ruins & Reading
"...Brilliant for these dark nights. I was hooked on the story and can’t wait [to read] book 2. I also loved the twist because I could not, for the life of me, work out who had done it. Brilliant, 5 stars."Tea Leaves & Book Leaves
"I took to the people in this story immediately. I also liked the way the narrative switched between Jan and Laurie. It’s an easy and quick read, with some great characters and humour, and quite gentle, despite some horrible crimes being committed. As a lifelong horse owner and rider, I am always so happy to see all equine related details being so spot on - clearly this author knows her stuff! Loved it so much I went out and ordered the entire series! 5* The Word Is Out
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The SEA WITCH VOYAGES
nautical adventures with a touch of supernatural
set during the Golden Age of Piracy
If you enjoyed the 1st Pirates of the Caribbean movie,
you'll love these (much better!) seafaring voyages!
The Time : The Golden Age of Piracy - 1716.
The Place : The Pirate Round - from the South African Coast to the Caribbean.
Escaping the bullying of his elder half-brother, from the age of fifteen Jesamiah Acorne has been a pirate with only two loves - his ship and his freedom. But his life is to change when he and his crewmates unsuccessfully attack a merchant ship off the coast of South Africa.
He is to meet Tiola Oldstagh an insignificant girl, or so he assumes - until she rescues him from a vicious attack, and almost certain death, by pirate hunters. And then he discovers what she really is; a healer, a midwife - and a white witch.
Tiola and Jesamiah become lovers, but the wealthy Stefan van Overstratten, a Cape Town Dutchman, also wants Tiola as his wife and Jesamiah's jealous brother, Phillipe Mereno, is determined to seek revenge for resentments of the past, a stolen ship and the insult of being cuckolded in his own home.
When the call of the sea and an opportunity to commandeer a beautiful ship - the Sea Witch - is put in Jesamiah's path he must make a choice between his life as a pirate or his love for Tiola. He wants both, but Mereno and van Overstratten want him dead.
In trouble, imprisoned in the darkness and stench that is the lowest part of his brother's ship, can Tiola, with her gift of Craft and the aid of his loyal crew, save him?
Using all her skills Tiola must conjure up a wind to rescue her lover, but first she must brave the darkness of the ocean depths and confront the supernatural being, Tethys, the Spirit of the Sea, an elemental who will stop at nothing to claim Jesamiah Acorne's soul and bones as a trophy for herself.
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Judith Arnopp on writing The Henrician Trilogy.
"I am a punster and don’t use notes or writing guides so the most hair-pulling problem in writing a series is keeping track of details of the characters – hair colour, eye colour, height, likes and dislikes. Continuity is key. My editor once worked out that one of Henry’s dogs was thirty odd years old – I am so grateful she spotted that, lol.
The fun thing about writing a series is the scope provided for character growth. In The Henrician Trilogy, Henry VIII is an infant in Book one and an old man by the time we reach Book three. He has worked his way through wives, friends, servants and I loved tracing the slow deterioration of his mind.
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Marian L Thorpe's thoughts on the The Challenges and Delights of a Series
When did that event happen? What exactly was said? When you write a series that takes place over thirty-seven years, as my Empire’s Legacy series does, those questions keep arising. Even if I kept a series bible – a detailed record of characters, events, timelines – which I didn’t, it can’t include everything. Luckily my memory is (or perhaps was) very good, but even so, I was thankful for the ‘find’ function in Word. I had a few excuses (or reasons) for small discrepancies: the series had six narrators over its course, and just as in real life, characters’ recollections and interpretations of events differ, especially when many years or decades have passed. Plus, one of these point-of-view characters tended to be economical with the truth: his version of things often suited his purposes, so that also gave me some leeway.
But that was all part of the fun!
Working out how a particular character would interpret actions or words; ensuring their reaction was consistent with their personality as it evolved and matured over the timeline, thinking about how it influenced their development, and then how they reacted or planned for new situations gave depth to the characters. The girl of seventeen my main character Lena was at the beginning of Empire’s Daughter is still there in the fifty-four year old woman at the end of Empire’s Passing, and giving her a life of challenge and triumph, heartbreak and love, over eight books was, really, a privilege and a delight. She – and the other characters – will never truly leave me, even though the series is complete.
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And Last Word goes to the fabulous Elizabeth St.John...
"My obsession is also my joy in writing historical fiction, for my novels unfold not just as traditional series but as a web of interlocking lives. Because my books are inspired by the lives of my St.John ancestors, each narrative becomes a page of historical continuity as much as storytelling. I follow threads of legacy and inheritance through the generations: wills, letters, portraits, country churches, ruined castles, manor houses, and lost gardens guide me as much as imagination. Locations become constant companions through time. Characters whisper across centuries, their decisions resonating in the lives of their descendants, revealing how choices shape legacies. Writing this kind of series not just constructs historical fiction, it also creates a living archival flow that continues to flourish as the past yields its secrets. So yes, you could say I'm serious about series - I don't think I have a choice!"
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| Some advice? Get seriously engrossed in a series! |
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