Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

Is a book's success the green light for a series?

Hi George, I've wondered that. I have a book I published with a series in mind, and it's doing okay, but not sure well enough for a series. I'd be interested in hearing others' opinions on that. Thanks for asking!

From all I've read you should be writing a series. Sometimes a first book isn't picked up. They say the best thing to do is to write your next book. And if possible, make it part of a series. So, yes, go ahead and write your series, whether or not your first book does well.

George wrote: "Is a book's success the green light for a series?"

Can't say; however, I kept writing once I'd finished the first book because I was so interested in the characters I wanted to find out what happened to them. Result: a sequel.

It would depend if you genuinely have something more to say about the characters or world of your first book and if you are personally feeling like you want to say more. Don't write a sequel or series just because some reader (s) is asking for it.

I agree, Michel, and I read that lengthening the same idea, plot, theme and characters in a sequel/series isn't what reader's want. Book 1 is done (if it can be described as a standalone as mine can). Book 2 needs to have something new and refreshing. I'm still debating. I love developing new characters and plots and while so many authors have a series of 10+, I'm afraid I'd get bored and so would the readers. ????

Gail, developping new or old characters is something I enjoy. From my own experience, I can tell you that if you don't get bored by writing more about your characters, then your readers won't. My longest series now counts eleven ebooks and I am still enjoying writing them as much as with the first one.

You are doing well, Michel, and I do agree with you. I love my characters dearly, and I will never let them go in my mind. But I have so many more stories inside of me, so many new people to introduce to the world and different plots, places, eras to research and discover. It's just too exciting for me to continue stories that should end where they did. I'm still contemplating a series for one of them and when the ideas pop up for it, I may pursue. Until then, I prefer brand new stories to tell and different characters for readers to fall in love with.

I think you can write standalone novels as part of a series. Use the same world, or one character and build a new story. As a reader, I feel sad when I have to leave a world, or a character I've enjoyed and would like to read more about them.
But if there are no stories that will build on what you have, then don't force it.

George wrote: "Is a book's success the green light for a series?"

No, there have been several stand alone success full books. Turning the that book into the first in the series could cheapen the first book if the series can't live up to the first book

V.M. wrote: "I think you can write standalone novels as part of a series. Use the same world, or one character and build a new story. As a reader, I feel sad when I have to leave a world, or a character I've en..."

I know that feeling when you have to say goodbye to the characters at the end of the book. Any subsequent books simply have to be as strong as the first one though.

I think many readers become attached to some characters, even if they are not the protagonist. Like friends, some readers want to check in on their favorite characters to see how they're doing.

That is why I like reading/writing series and serials. My stories are often character-driven. I normally write my stories A-Z, allowing the story to build up as I go along. Therefore, I have to write in order to know what happens next ;-D.

Ann wrote: "My stories are often character-driven. I normally write my stories A-Z, allowing the story to build up as I go along. Therefore, I have to write in order to know what happens next"

I’m so with you, Ann.
When I wrote my first historical romance (time travel), I thought it would be a one-book deal. I never intended to write a series, but I enjoyed writing the story so much, I could not let go of the characters I had grown to love. I was compelled to write two more novels, which though part of the series, stand on their own. They tell the love stories of the Taylor children from my first novel. It was wonderful to add snippets of the parents’ lives in these new tales. Authors spend so much time on their books, a connection happens that never leaves. Writing a series gives us a chance to go beyond “The End”. - DMP

I decided from the beginning I wanted to write a series. The characters have so much to do I couldn't accomplish that in one book. I have to admit the second in the series is a little slow in coming together. About a month to publication. I'm taking my time because I don't want my readers to be disappointed.

This is true, about peole becoming attached to people other than the protagonist. I know it's happened to me, both as a reader and a writer. In one of my series, I love a non-human creature. I've also had readers tell me who their favourite character is, and it's not always the protagonist.
I suppose if you become attached to another character, it means that character is well-written.
I'm currently writing a series of novellas about some of the charaters in my Wolves of Vimar series before they met. It's great fun, and I'm enjoying writing them. I hope my readers will, too.

There is another way a series can happen. I finished or thought I finished a book. I was a little concerned that is was almost 1000 pages long. Just about the time I finished it, I read a blog with comments. The discussion was, how long a first book should be. Th consensus was somewhere between 200 and 250 pages. Oops! After much effort the one book became a quartet called the "Grandchildren of Lemma". They did not all come out at once, but as a series as I revised from the beginning. In the revision some less-main characters gained in prominence because I really like them.

Bruce wrote: "There is another way a series can happen. I finished or thought I finished a book. I was a little concerned that is was almost 1000 pages long. Just about the time I finished it, I read a blog with..."

My Wolves of Vimar series was supposed to be a single book. It was based on a D&D scenario I wrote. Somehow, by the time I'd got to nearly 400 pages, I'd only got the very first bit done. So I had to continue and make it a series.
As Book 1 was about finding a lost magical sword, it seemed a natural place to leave it when they'd found the sword. The next 2 books were about finding out why the prophecy said the sword was needed at this time.
At the beginning of book 2, the group who call themselves Wolf is split into 2, (one half being captured and the others escaping), so it was natural to follow one group in Book 2, then return to the others in Book 3/ I'm currently working on Book 4, but it's taking a lo-ong time as I've had other projects on the go at the same time.
So I see how your single book managed to become a series.

-D.M. I like the idea about how, writing a series gives us a chance to go beyond “The End.” I don't like writing, "the end" onto any of my stories (I have written it, I just don't like to).

-Nora, it is so true about how our characters have so much to do. Although, in my case, I'm working on so many different and unrelated stories right now that I'm not sure if I will ever reach the goal of creating a series or a serial. Maybe part 2s or trilogies. I also love trilogies.

-Bruce, 1000 pages long! Congratulations!! I have only a goal to create a few series or serials. That is great to accidentally create one ;-D.

-V.M. True. Protagonist or not, any well written character will attract their fans. Some of my characters were created long ago, I literally grew up around them LOL. In any case, sometimes it feels like I've known my characters long before I knew their stories.