Four years on, I’m finally delivering on a series plan. When I took up the challenge to write a fantasy novel, I knew it needed to be a series in order to gain any traction in the marketplace.
Let’s consider what makes a classic novel series; a set of ongoing stories about a group of characters in a shared world. There are other types of series, but let’s start here.
According to a favourite coach, Savannah Gilbo, series success meets these criteria:
- A cohesive message or theme
- Consistent genre – no mixing or switching, and no ‘genre identity crises’ – series readers hate it
- Characters with strong arcs within each story and, ideally, across a number of stories
- Individual and overarching series plots that progress credibly and logically
- Conflict that escalates across the series – this means:
- Start small and build both stakes and narrative
- Added momentum that keeps the series moving along.
Stand and Deliver
How does my series measure up?
The message or theme changes for each of the three books:
- Book 1 – self determination vs. destiny or fate. It’s Jo’s coming-of-age story.
- Book 2 – found-family. Jo gathers a family and build loyalty
- Book 3 – leadership and sacrifice. Jo must embrace her leadership role and accept sacrifice, if that’s what it takes
Consistent genre: my series is solid fantasy-adventure right down the line.
Character Reference
Characters with strong arcs:
- Jo has her coming-of-age, choosing her own path. She becomes a leader; she puts family and society above self.
- Varla remains the resistance fighter, but he changes from lone-wolf to team player to father-figure.
- Risto finds a cause to fight for and forms attachments. She doesn’t complete her arc over two books, however. Where next for the Corsair…?
Progress: each of them has their wants, needs and misbeliefs for each story, adding up to a full reconciliation across the series. We see wants abandoned and needs change; misbeliefs exposed and truth acknowledged.
Individual plots:
- Book 1 – pursuit and escap
- Book 2 – pursuit and turn the tables
- Book 3 – rebellion and resistance.
More is More
Escalating conflict: for each book the antagonistic forces increase. Book one begins with the Vipers and the tracker. Two escalates with Straka, more Vipers, a fire-mage, the Emperor’s Seer and the Brotherhood. Book three sets the entire empire in opposition: the Lances, the Coterie, the Brotherhood, the Scildan. At the same time, the setting becomes more constrained; from the expanse of the Outlands, the Southern Cants become very small and ultimately our heroes are trapped inside a hostile city.
Finally, momentum. The stakes remain life and death, but the risk grows each time. The consequences of Jo’s initial choices grow with each small victory, until there’s no other path than to take the fight to ever more powerful enemies.
Do I pull it off? Does the plan deliver? The series goes live this week. Read and find out.