I have accepted the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge. Every day in April (except Sundays) I will be posting a blog, starting with A today, April 1st, and ending with Z on April 30th. Other writers have accepted the challenge. I hope you’ll visit a few of those blogs, too.
Now, for A.
When I wrote The Crows, I had no idea there would be another book with the same characters. I thought The Crows would be a stand alone. All but two of my romances had been stand alones (the two that weren’t featured two sisters). Once The Crows was published, I was surprised when people asked when the next book featuring P.J. Benson, her Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, and Sheriff’s Detective Wade Kingsley would be out.
Suddenly I was writing a series.
The Crows led to As the Crow Flies. And when that book ended, I’ll admit, the last paragraph really did demand a third book in the series. Eat Crow and Die will be out in July. Will there be more? Hmm, I’m not sure. I am working on a short story that involves these characters, so it’s a possibility.
Three P.J. Benson Mysteries – so far
Not being prepared to write another in the series (which wasn’t a series until I did write another), I ran into a lot of trouble. Trust me. If you think there’s a possibility you may write another book using the same characters PLAN AHEAD. Series writers, I learned, usually create a “bible,” a notebook or file that has all of the important data that will “travel” from book to book. Little things as well as the big, such as: What are the hero’s parents’ names? Where do his parents live? Their ages? Info about the neighbors, coworkers, and so on.
I’m starting another book. It may be a stand alone, but just in case it turns into a series, I’m going to start a file (or maybe a notebook) with all of the information I need, not only about my protagonists and antagonists, but also about the secondary and tierce characters.
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I hope you’ll check out some of the other blogs in this challenge. Go to A-to-Z Blogging Challenge and scroll down for the list.
Very good advice, Maris. Planning ahead is always wise. Good luck with your blog hop, an ambitious undertaking to say the least!
Thank you, Jacqueline. I tried to make each blog fairly short and on a topic of some interest (at least to me).
I almost always write interlocking series books and family/town sagas. It’s how my brain is wired. I couldn’t plan so far ahead and know what’s happening without family trees, character lists, notes, outlines, etc.
Ah, Carrie-Anne, you’re one of the organized people. I wish I’d been that wise. Call me a slow learner.
It took me a few years to write my trilogy and I needed a plan. Mainly so I would not ignore my family and health. Its too easy to get caught up in writing and let life slip away.
Stephen, I would think a “bible” would be a necessity with long breaks between books in a trilogy. I know I forgot a lot of the little details from one book to the next.
It always pays to be prepared says me, who wasn’t either. A story bible is a great idea and will save a lot time that I spend backtracking and looking details up!
You’re right, Karyn. Be prepared. By book three, I had a fairly decent “series bible” created, but it would have been nice to have had it from the start.
Good advice for writing a series. I’m going to make a note of it, as I have two series in mind. Looking forward to reading the rest of your A-Z posts!
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Lucy. I now have all of the blogs written (unless I change my mind along the way), but for a week I was busy. I hope you enjoy the rest of the blogs, meanwhile, get working on that series idea.
Good advice. I’m not sure if my WIP could evolve from a stand alone to a first book in a series. Your post made me consider the possibility and prepare for it by creating a series bible from my world-building notes. Thank you, Maris.
Lana, as I said in the blog, I hadn’t considered the possibility initially, so it’s good that you’re creating a series bible. You never know.
I like the title “Eat Crow and Die”. Best wishes on the roll out of another book.
I love series books. It’s like a wonderful close friendship that you know you can count on! Congrats on your series!
I so agree! So many times I have written a book, only to figure out later that there would be more… I really need to get better at this. Happy A-Z!
And a Happy A-Z to you, Cassie. I found it fun trying to come up with a blog for each letter. I must go see what you’ve written.
Hi there!
I’m stopping by during the A to Z Challenge. I enjoyed stopping by and hope you get the chance to check out my blog sometime during this month. I’m a children’s book author and I’m reviewing different books. Good luck with the challenge!
Take care,
Donna L Martin
http://www.donnalmartin.com
author THE STORY CATCHER
coauthor CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL: ANGELS AMONG
Donna, I certainly will check your blog. Congratulations on the Chicken Soup for the Soul story.
Maris–
Not only is it fun (or so I’ve heard) to write more books about the same characters, but it’s also a real crowd-pleasing plan. Thanks for noting some of the concerns about writing series books.
Lyn, I agree with the “crowd-pleasing.” It’s my readers who talked me into writing the second book, and my fans who pushed me to hurry up and get the third book finished. I would have been a lot faster at writing the two follow-up books if I had originally created that “bible.”
Best wishes on your release of Eat Crow & Die. Love that title. Oh, yeah, you need to keep a file on all the details. When I wrote The Pilot, I started the file with all the characters, world-building, etc. Then when I wrote the 2nd book, I copied that detail file and added all the new info. It really makes it easy to keep track.
Okay, Diane. You are definitely more organized than I am (or was with THE CROWS). But you’re right. It does make it easier to keep track of those little details.