When I started my first book series, I still remember the sweet memory of creating the plot during my high school exam break. It remains a golden memory in my mind. However, although it was a cherished time, it was not easy back in 2010/2011. It was quite a mess. I wrote many rough drafts and was quite inexperienced. Now, when I look back at my first draft, it makes me laugh. Trust me, it gives me a tickling feeling. So, I don’t read those drafts anymore. But I do love to remember one thing that helped me a lot: I wrote consistently, whether it was funny or unrealistic. I didn’t edit even once. I just wrote whatever came to my mind, continuously.
My first book was “NOVA”, which I don’t want to show anymore now. It was a mess, as I hadn’t planned anything about the plot. I just tried to continue with whatever came to my mind. After that, I moved on to the next book, starting from scratch. I created a plot and continued until I finished it. I realized that many scenes and dialogues came from my unpublished first draft, not all of them, but obviously some ideas were inspired by that initial draft I began in 2009/2010.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I had been writing since childhood, but those were not part of a series. They were just disorganized short stories and random pages. Anyway, after a long time, I was finally able to start my series. Actually, when I was a child reading books, sometimes I would think that the endings could have been different. Not all stories, but some made me feel that way. I realized that these weren’t my plots or my writing. So, I decided to write something according to my own preferences. That’s when I began to aspire to write a series. My inspiration for writing series came from the Three Investigators series by Robert Arthur. Even today, the memories of reading “Three Investigators” among countless series remain vivid in my mind.
By the way, From my years of experience, I will share three basic tips for working on a series.
So, How can you effectively balance continuity with new developments when outlining and planning a series?
You can use these 3 Tips:
➡️ Outline and Plan Your Series Basic Structure :
Create a detailed plan for the entire series. Include the main story and key plot points for each book. Each book should have its own story while linking to the overall series. Keep a balance between continuity and new developments to maintain interest.
➡️Develop Rich Characters and World-Building:
Design characters with clear personalities, goals, and conflicts. Show their growth throughout the series. Build a consistent world with clear rules and details. Gradually introduce new elements to enhance the story without overwhelming the reader.
➡️ Manage Series Logistics and Marketing:
Take detailed notes on plot points and characters to keep track. Set deadlines for writing and revising each book. Promote the series effectively through social media and other channels. Make sure your release strategy engages your readers.