What are your thoughts on stand alone novels versus series? Which do you prefer to read, and which do you prefer to write?

Holly Black There are things I love about stand-alones and things I love about series as a writer. In terms of stand-alones, the best thing is being able to leave absolutely everything on the floor, to use up every idea, and never have to keep anything in reserve. What I love about series, though, is being able to set things up that later play out, to shock people, and to deepen characterization.

One of the things I love best about stand-alones as a reader is the feeling of racing through a book and getting to the ending and having the full experience of the story in one great swallow. Most of my favorite books are stand-alones (or at least can be read that way), but there are a few series that also have my heart.

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