Some Thoughts Before Embarking on Writing a Series, Part I

Secrets of the Heart is the last
book in my Abi Wunder Ghost/
Mystery trilogy. It is a
work-in-progress.

By Linda Wilson   Website: bit.ly/44Dx1t9   

How big is your book idea? In fiction, it might cover generations as in The Little House series and The Rose Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Roger Lea MacBride, reddit; or growth of the main character which occurs in Nancy Drew mysteries. Have your pick of nonfiction topics that can blossom from a single topic, such as The Magic School Bus or the Body Works series; My Messy Body, My Noisy Body, etc.

Authors who write series promise readers that the fun doesn't have to end, that there's more excitement to come, more adventure and worlds to explore, more of these lives to be lived. In Writing the Fiction Series: The Complete Guide for Novels and Novellas, by Karen S. Wiesner, Weisner quotes author Thomas Helm: "Author and reader dread the end, which is the test of a good novel. Why not expand into a series?"

For three months, this blog-post trilogy will offer tips from my research and experience while writing and publishing a chapter-book trilogy. I hope the information will be helpful to you if you’re considering embarking on writing a series.

Why Turn a Perfectly Good Stand-Alone Book into a Series?

You might find that you’ve:

• Fallen in love with your characters, especially the main ones, who have so much more life to live that you can't say good-bye.
• Written in a genre that lends itself to series, such as mystery, ghost stories, romance, westerns, historical novels, fantasy and sci fi.
• Read that series sell well and publishers like to buy multiple books because series attract readers.
• Laid the groundwork in the first book.
• Loved reading series from childhood on. If you have, then you enjoy the feelings of familiarity series provoke.
• Enjoyed your setting and want to expand on it so your characters can explore worlds far and wide.    

The Next Step: Tips on Writing a Series to Keep in Mind

• Create a general outline that shows how each novel relates to the others.
• Keep track of the details and connecting threads among the novels in order to maintain continuity.
• Have an overall plot plan as well as a plan for each novel. 
• Be organized and prepared by knowing where your series will end, plotting a timeline to keep track of events.
• Choose a central conflict or premise for your series that "is the main tension or unknown that needs to be solved. In . . . Harry Potter, the central conflict is the protagonist's unfinished business with the villain, Lord Voldemort. In Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, the central conflict is between the world-dominion-seeking antagonist Sauron and the elves and hobbits who desire peace and freedom from tyranny." http://www.nownovel.com/blog/how-to-write-book-series/
• Plan for the passage of time and how your characters will age.

My Abi Wunder trilogy, ghost/mystery stories for 7-to-10-year olds, passed all of these considerations. Secret in the Stars, illustrated by Tiffany Tutti, and Secret in the Mist, illustrated by Danika Corrall, are now available on Amazon. Secrets of the Heart, illustrated by Danika Corrall, is in the work-in-progress stage. As listed above, the books have connecting threads that run through them, culminating in the last book. This is my challenge now: giving meaning to these threads and giving the book a satisfying ending.

Next month: "Tips on How to Start a Series," Part II

Moi with my trusty
writing buddies.

Linda's latest release is Secret in the Mist, the second book in the Abi Wunder trilogy, illustrated by Danika Corrall, cover art and formatting by 100 Covers, published December 2025. Two other new releases are the award-winning Botas Altas, the Spanish version of Tall Boots, illustrated by 1000 Storybooks, translated by Graciela Moreno and Adriana Botero; and Cuna en la Naturaleza, illustrated by 1000 Storybooks, the Spanish version of Cradle in the Wild, translated by Adriana Botero. Linda's newest books will be released sometime this year: The Pur-r-rfect Costume, a bilingual picture book in English and Spanish, illustrated by 1000 Storybooks, translated by Adriana Botero; and A Home Run Friendship, a middle grade book, cover art and formatting by 100 Covers.