The One Thing You Need To Know About Plotting A Series

If you are writing a trilogy, or a longer series, there is one important thing you need to know about plotting a series of books.

The One Thing You Need To Know About Plotting A Series

It is important to write the first book as a stand-alone novel with its own plot. It is important to establish the main characters and their roles and goals in it.

If you don’t, you will place too much emphasis on scenes and characters and sub-plots that only become important as the series progresses.

It is frustrating, as a writing teacher, to help an author who tells me, ‘It will make sense in the next book.’ The problem is that if it doesn’t make sense now, I won’t even finish the current book. Readers who get confused have lots of other options, including many well-written and well-plotted books, to occupy their time.

Finish Book One and make sure your readers feel as if they have read a complete story. Concentrate on getting the plotting essentials of crisis, conflict, and consequence correct in the first book. We know that a good novel leaves some questions unanswered and some possibilities open. These leave the door open for your series.

This image from Plotting a Series by JA Huss, author of the Rook and Ronin series, explains it perfectly.

The Last Word

If I have been entertained in the world you’ve created and the story you’ve told in your first book, I will be eager to spend money on your next book.

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by Amanda Patterson