Writing a Novel Series? Be Sure to Keep Notes!
As a newbie Indy Writer there are many things I hadn't taken stock of as I began writing Peaches and the Gambler, the first novel in the Peaches Donnelly Mystery Series.
What am I speaking of exactly? Writing notes!
When beginning any novel series, as you go along it is essential that you keep good notes on what happened in previous book(s). I learned this the hard way. I had to go back and write notes about the 1st novel as I as I wrote the 2nd novel.
It's just one of those funny little details you learn from experience.
But you can learn now.
Here's what you do:
1) Pretend as though you are taking a college course. Treat your debut series novel/book as though it is the class you're taking. Of course this necessitates keeping good notes. You want to pass the class at the end of the semester, right?
2) Keep detailed notes on characteristics and behaviors of recurring characters. You don't want to say a character does something or acts in a way that is inconsistent from book to book in the series. This will irritate and perhaps even lose readers.
3) Write notes about recurring places that characters go and recurring characters that they speak to in those places. If they go to a particular convenience store stay consistent with the clerk that is always there. Readers LOVE this. It helps them connect to the series. It can also make things hilarious if--like me--you're writing books filled with humor.
4) This may be the most important tip: Stay consistent to your characters behavior. The most annoying thing a writer can do is to go off track to what a character would do based on previous writing. IE: In the last book in the series there was never a mention of the main character smoking. In the second book they're smoking like a chimney stack. Do NOT make this serious error. It's the mark of an inexperienced (and careless) writer.
5) Keep track of place. If they live in an apartment always write small details about where they live and how they live and keep this consistent.
Lesson of the Day : Stay consistent throughout the series.
By following these rules you will build and maintain a happy fan base.
Stay Salty!
A. T. Hicks
http://www.saltygurl.com
What am I speaking of exactly? Writing notes!
When beginning any novel series, as you go along it is essential that you keep good notes on what happened in previous book(s). I learned this the hard way. I had to go back and write notes about the 1st novel as I as I wrote the 2nd novel.
It's just one of those funny little details you learn from experience.
But you can learn now.
Here's what you do:
1) Pretend as though you are taking a college course. Treat your debut series novel/book as though it is the class you're taking. Of course this necessitates keeping good notes. You want to pass the class at the end of the semester, right?
2) Keep detailed notes on characteristics and behaviors of recurring characters. You don't want to say a character does something or acts in a way that is inconsistent from book to book in the series. This will irritate and perhaps even lose readers.
3) Write notes about recurring places that characters go and recurring characters that they speak to in those places. If they go to a particular convenience store stay consistent with the clerk that is always there. Readers LOVE this. It helps them connect to the series. It can also make things hilarious if--like me--you're writing books filled with humor.
4) This may be the most important tip: Stay consistent to your characters behavior. The most annoying thing a writer can do is to go off track to what a character would do based on previous writing. IE: In the last book in the series there was never a mention of the main character smoking. In the second book they're smoking like a chimney stack. Do NOT make this serious error. It's the mark of an inexperienced (and careless) writer.
5) Keep track of place. If they live in an apartment always write small details about where they live and how they live and keep this consistent.
Lesson of the Day : Stay consistent throughout the series.
By following these rules you will build and maintain a happy fan base.
Stay Salty!
A. T. Hicks
http://www.saltygurl.com
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