Writing a Series

[snogged]

Hey Flisters/Writers:

I've never really written a series before but I want too. I have an idea for one floating around in my brain that was inspired by a plot bunny I saw over in the feedmykink list.

So for those of you that have successfully written series, are there any pointers you can give me?

Comments

[dragonydreams.livejournal.com]

Most of my series have been accidental. I'll decide after finishing a story that there's still more to tell, so I write a sequel. Then that sequel gets a sequel and low and behold, a series! (I define a series as three or more stories that follow each other but are complete in and of themselves.)

Or, with the Adam/Claire series, I decided that I wanted to give the backstory to the one already written, with plans to write more along the same vein.

[mordere.livejournal.com]

Most of my series are accidental too.
But if you know you're planning a series, either write all of it before posting it anywhere, or be sure you will be able to finish it. It's really frustrating when people start posting a series and then get writers block or run out of ideas, and quit halfway through.

[okdeanna.livejournal.com]

Keep good notes about important and even some minute details in the first fic because you never know how much it might come into play in one of the sequels later on. I learned this early on and it has helped me out more times than I can count on future scene ideas.

I'm one of those lucky ones that keep most notes in my head, but I have, on occassion, with bigger series wrote it down in a spiral for future use. This came in very handy when I was writing my longer Passions stories because more often than not, they turned into large scale epic series, one of which I'm still working to finish.

Deanna