Are you writing a novel or nonfiction book series? Want to make it stellar? Read on for three tips on how to write a stellar series, from an author, editor, and reader’s perspective!
I just finished Jen Turano’s Ladies of Distinction series. I read and reviewed the fourth book last year. I scooped up the others during a sale. I liked them all.
This recent foray into reading series has led to a lot of thought about what makes an effective series. Read on for 3 tips to making a series stellar, from a reader and editor’s perspective.
Stellar Series Ingredient #1: Change of Scenery
One of Dani Pettrey‘s series is set in Alaska; Jen‘s series is set in New York. Yet both manage to cover different locations in Alaska and New York in each book. Even if all of Dani’s characters are based in Yancey, the nature of the adventures take each couple into different wilderness spots. One book even ventures onto a cruise ship and an island off the Alaskan coast! In Jen’s series, a simple train ride takes her characters into different towns in New York–and even out on a ship.
A good series has something holding the books together (more on that in a minute). But each one must be unique, too. A simple way to achieve this is to set each book in the series in a slightly different locale (or corner of that locale).
This can also be achieved, of course, by different time periods, as is expertly done in Roseanna M. White‘s generational Culper Ring series.
In a series you’ve read, how did the author accomplish a change of scenery?
Stellar Series Ingredient #2: Binding Agent
No series would be a true series unless there is something that makes it stand out as unified. This is why we put books in a series together on our bookshelves. The titles may not be alphabetical. The authors can even be different (as in Single Title series).
But there must be something that says these stories tell a bigger story.
This can be accomplished in several ways, of course:
- The main characters come from the same locale/town/city (this often isn’t enough, though…)
- The main characters are members of the same family (this is employed by Roseanna‘s, Dani‘s, and Jen‘s series)
- The main characters are involved in each other’s lives (this is the method used by Sarah Sundin)
- The main characters are the same in each of the books in the series (this is a Continuity Series rather than a Stand-Alone series)
In a series you’ve read, what was the binding agent?
Stellar Series Ingredient #3: Separation
As a reader, I hate this element! But it so often needed in middle books in a series, usually in the Continuity Series. When the main characters fall in love in the first book and so often get married in the third book, the middle book is a time when they’re apart, which is tortuous for the reader, but necessary.
Because then we often see these two people reverting back to who they were before they met each other; it’s a taste of who they are independently.
It drives home why the two belong together. They’re better together. They’re functioning but floundering apart. It’s obvious they belong with each other; and it’s often beautiful how they find their way back to that.
So while the Separation is often my least favorite, it’s often the most powerful (read Joanne Bischof’s The Cadence of Grace series if you don’t believe me).
In a series you’ve read, how did the Separation work?
I’ve gotten more selective as I’ve listed these ingredients; first explaining that I’m talking mainly romances here and finishing up with the Separation ingredient that pretty much exclusively applies to Continuity series. I hope you find these tips helpful as you write your own series of books!
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Victoria Grace Howell says
Good post. :) These are good tips to know. I usually only see posts about writing the first book. Not any others. Bookmarking this one!
Stori Tori’s Blog
Rachelle says
Thanks, Victoria! Glad it proved useful to you. :)
Sylvia M. says
My favorite series are the continuity ones. Off the top of my head I would say these: Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn (her others too), the Cheney Duvall, M.D. series by Lynn Morris, the Million Dollar Mystery series by Mindy Starns Clark. I do like sibling series where each book is about a different child in the family. These would include The Alaskan Courage series by Dani Pettrey, the Californians series by Lori Wick, the Wings of Glory series by Sarah Sundin and more. I am not fond of a single series spanning centuries. The books aren’t really related that way. I don’t mind if you have one series set in the Revolutionary War time and then a second series about the descendants set in the Civil War.
Rachelle says
I’d say my favorite are continuity series, too, although I’ve read some pretty stellar stand-alone series. :) Great list, Sylvia! Have you checked out Roseanna M. White’s Culper Ring series? (Hers begins in the Revolutionary War and then ends in the Civil War–it’s awesome.) :)
Rissi says
Cool points, Rachelle. You’ve documented some excellent reasons for series working well and may I just say, Dani’s is STILL one of my very favorites as is Susan May Warren’s latest set of books – she just “moved” her location to Hawaii for the last book and it worked so beautifully to get out of the small town these characters live in. Oh, and Denise Hunter. SO many awesome series out there. :)
Rachelle says
Thanks, Rissi! It’s always nice to receive a comment from you. :) I can see what you’re saying for Susan May Warren’s books–Hawaii would definitely be a change of scenery!
Shaina @Crazy4Fiction says
Love this analysis, Rachelle. Whenever we’re looking at a proposal, we often go through similar steps to discern if the series has enough ‘meat’ to pull reader through. I have to agree; there’s always something a little bittersweet about the middle book. It’s usually when the hero/heroine are on the precipice of a major decision that will affect the plot to come. And it’s never fun when our hero and heroine are apart, of course :D
Shaina, @Crazy4Fiction
Rachelle says
Thanks for commenting, Shaina! Great point about a major decision occurring in the middle book. I hadn’t visited Crazy4Fiction before; I love Rel’s inspired post!
Heather @ Mrs Southern Bride says
Oh, goodness. I adore the Alaskan Courage series. I feel as if I am actually part of the family when I read them. I loved the adventurous overtones, the Alaskan setting, and the bond between the siblings. The romance was believable. The characters were likable, yet their imperfections made them likable.
Le sigh. I do love that series. I can’t wait to finish the last one in the book! I, too, bought one of the books at full price, simply because I needed it. ;-)
Look at me waxing poetic over that series. Perhaps there should be fan club?
Another series that is high on my list would be “The Hunger Games”. I love red the rebellious elements, dystopian setting, and of course, the intensity of the novels.
Rachelle says
Heather, I’m so with you! Nodding along to all those points…which one was your favorite, if you have one?
Great point about The Hunger Games! Hey, if you liked those, check out Lisa T. Bergren’s new Remnants series. The first one was interesting, and I’m looking forward to the others. Although her River of Time series will forever remain my favorite. ;)
Roseanna M. White says
Great post, Rachelle! Though I have to admit I totally forgot about my post on the subject last summer, LOL. I was all like, “Huh? Me? Wha…?” ;-)
Rachelle says
Haha, Roseanna! That’s too funny! Especially since that’s one of your GTW posts that I printed so I could reference it regularly with the series I’m writing… :) Thanks again for writing it, even if you did forget. ;)