It's funny how those two things so often go hand in hand. A few days ago I mentioned I was taking a new class, Building A Marketable Series by Zoe York. I already write series, and am working on two that will be coming out this year. So why am I taking this class? Well I write series for lots of reasons, and I love reading them too. Taking the class was a chance to see how other authors look at writing series, and how they think readers look at series. Sometimes seeing things from another perspective can open your eyes to things you may have missed, or just were unaware of.
One thing that has come to light for me is that one of my new series is probably two series (Yes that means I have three on the board to start this year). So I may be breaking them apart even though they're in the same town with the the same characters. Reason one for this is some will be novellas and others with be novels. Reason two is that at least eight (or possibly 11) of the books are about one family. The novellas are about other members of the town. I've bounced this off one of my editors and she agreed. Actually she told me to go with my gut, which is screaming SPLIT THEM UP!, but whispering let readers know they're related somehow.
Coming up with a new series name for the spin-ff isn't as easy as you'd think. I want readers to know that the books are connected to a point. Some of the characters will definitely make appearances in the other series. So I don't want to veer to far away from the original series title. Book 1 of the novellas is written, edited, has a cover and is ready to go. Book 2, which would be book 1 of new series is well underway. I think I need to take a step back and take a deeper look before I make a final decision on what to do.
My other series for this year is a step away from my normal stuff. It's still in the development stage, but I've been thinking about it for a while and really like the premise. My character list is shaping up well, and things I'm looking forward to writing this series.
Now here's where I say this is a four week class and we haven't even reached the end of week one. And as always for me as a writer none of this is set in stone during the planning phase. Once I release the first book of a series I'm locked in and then you'll hear me shouting it around the mighty interwebs (love when Richard Rawlings says it, but just sounds dorky coming from me).
One thing that has come to light for me is that one of my new series is probably two series (Yes that means I have three on the board to start this year). So I may be breaking them apart even though they're in the same town with the the same characters. Reason one for this is some will be novellas and others with be novels. Reason two is that at least eight (or possibly 11) of the books are about one family. The novellas are about other members of the town. I've bounced this off one of my editors and she agreed. Actually she told me to go with my gut, which is screaming SPLIT THEM UP!, but whispering let readers know they're related somehow.
Coming up with a new series name for the spin-ff isn't as easy as you'd think. I want readers to know that the books are connected to a point. Some of the characters will definitely make appearances in the other series. So I don't want to veer to far away from the original series title. Book 1 of the novellas is written, edited, has a cover and is ready to go. Book 2, which would be book 1 of new series is well underway. I think I need to take a step back and take a deeper look before I make a final decision on what to do.
My other series for this year is a step away from my normal stuff. It's still in the development stage, but I've been thinking about it for a while and really like the premise. My character list is shaping up well, and things I'm looking forward to writing this series.
Now here's where I say this is a four week class and we haven't even reached the end of week one. And as always for me as a writer none of this is set in stone during the planning phase. Once I release the first book of a series I'm locked in and then you'll hear me shouting it around the mighty interwebs (love when Richard Rawlings says it, but just sounds dorky coming from me).
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