On this panel, authors discuss multiple stories in one universe, aka writing a series.
Panelists: Cassie Alexander, Alex Bledsoe, Dorothy Hearst, and Ellen Kushner
An initial grounding began the series. The authors introduced themselves and talked about writing series, including continuity.
Ellen mentioned that what every series writer needs is an obsessive fan to catalog whats happening in the series. Alex added that you can get those nasty fan letters telling you why what you did contradicts what you had done before.
In some ways, the preset rules can sometimes spark your creativity. It’s a constant challenge–giving your readers what they want that they are familiar with while keeping each story fresh.
There are several different approaches to writing a series. Alex mentioned he has one series that focuses on one character at a variety of ages. In another series, he tells the story from a different character’s POV for each book.
Ellen discussed writing her characters, and then looking at her characters through the eyes of others. What do they look like from the outside.
Other ways? The place can be the constant factor. So can the character. Minor characters in one book can become major ones in the next.
Cassie asked the authors if they felt hemmed in by the expectations publishers had for their series? The answer was mixed.
Cassie also asked if the book was sold as a series. The answer was no, but essentially a wise author leaves some area to explore as another story for a potential sequel.
How do you know when it is time to move on from a series? Working in the same world can be cool, but it can be daunting. Alex discussed the Spencer series, which is being written after the author’s death. He feels that the original books are the only ones in the series.
One of the authors said this about writing a series: “I feel less locked in than lucky. I spent my whole life trying to have my cake and eat it to…and I can.”
When people say they love a series, they are wanting the same crack in each book.
Some discussion occurred about having two series contracts at the same time, and alternating books between each series.
People want to visit old familiar friends, but have something new.
Cassie mentioned Diana Rowland as a crazy series machine.
Ellen suggested that the moral of a series book might be you are really tired. Also, she blames the readers who think “that they can press a button and get a book.”
These days authors might be called upon to write two books a year, and maybe some short giveaways to interest people in the story.
Someone in the audience asked about if single books are still okay. Dorothy assured them that single books are still okay.
As a writer, write what you write. Write what you want to write. What is cool changes.
One of my favorite quotes: “Write a trilogy in which each book is complete.”
There will be pressure from agents to write more books that you might not want to write.
What are readers looking for in a series? Hanging out with old friends. It’s a lucrative thing to do if you can pull it off. “The author has to send their kids to college.”
However, be careful. You can run out of ideas, like the television term jumping the shark.
It is a tribute that authors can create characters you want to hang out with as friends.
There was some discussion of series written out of order and how to approach reading those.
Some minor characters deserve to remain mysterious. No one really needed to know more about Hannibal Lecter. The more you know about tricksters, the less interesting they are.
Also, some discussion of shared worlds.
