marketable in today's climate?

Straka · Feb 13, 2009

I hear that series are more desirable than stand alones. Now what about a series of stand alones? Each book would have the same world setting, and interconnect with the others, but would feature a different MC every time.

Do you think that would turn off publishers or readers?

TychoBrahe · Feb 13, 2009

I certainly hope not; that's what I'm trying to sell right now.

All I can tell you is that as a reader, I would find a series of stand-alones more attractive - it requires less commitment, especially if you don't have to read them in order.

Mr Flibble · Feb 13, 2009

Hasn't done Terry Pratchett any harm

I'm doing something similar myself, so let's hope so eh?

David Wisehart · Feb 13, 2009

I think you're better with a series of standalones. Each story will resolve, so the reader will be happy. But if they love your world, there's more.

You might consider having an overall story arc for the series, like Harry Potter. Each book was a standalone, but also contributed to a larger story.

sirensix · Feb 13, 2009

I would think you would definitely have a better shot with a series of standalones. Because an agent/publisher doesn't have to commit to 3-10 books by signing you. You could just put out the first one, and it would be a perfectly valid work on its own even if there are never any others. But at the same time they know that if that one hits big, you have a whole fountain of other stories they can draw on.

Straka · Feb 13, 2009

Thanks everyone! That is encouraging. Funny, somehow I forgot about Terry Pratchett...

David Wisehart said:
You might consider having an overall story arc for the series, like Harry Potter. Each book was a standalone, but also contributed to a larger story.

And yes there will be an overarching plot, and lots of tie ins so people who read them might say, "hey that happened in book X" or "I recognize that character from X."

Well the trick now is to get a pub to pick up the first one...

Pthom · Feb 13, 2009

Isn't a "series" of stand-alones called a "collection?"

That's what I'm doing.

Liosse de Velishaf · Feb 13, 2009

One of my back-burner projects is like this... I've seen it done fairly often, and I usually enjoy such series. Not much else to say besides ditto the others.

ChaosTitan · Feb 13, 2009

These sorts of series happen quite often in romance. I'm enjoying several paranormal romances series in which the main characters (hero and heroine) change with book, but over-arcing plot threads are woven through each volume.

One of the new series I hope to present to my agent soon will follow the "new main character each time" format.

Thomas_Anderson · Feb 14, 2009

David Wisehart said:
I think you're better with a series of standalones. Each story will resolve, so the reader will be happy. But if they love your world, there's more.

One could also follow in Larry Niven's footsteps, a lot of his series are set in the same universe, but they're different series.

Straka · Feb 14, 2009

To me it makes sense, how many series have you read where its the same MC and wonder, aren't they dead from old age yet? Is it possible that they really had that many adventures?

And then what about the world? You've spent all this time polishing it, why not introduce a different MC with a different perspective in a different part of the world.

For me its fun to write a series of stand alones. Very refreshing.

Inarticulate Babbler · Feb 14, 2009

IdiotsRUs said:
Hasn't done Terry Pratchett any harm

I'm doing something similar myself, so let's hope so eh?

Nor Steve Perry. He's still writing in his Matador universe.

marketable in today's climate?

Straka

Bored Fanatic

TychoBrahe

Wannabe Mad Scientist

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

David Wisehart

sirensix

Mediocre Sorceress

Straka

Bored Fanatic

Pthom

Word butcher

Liosse de Velishaf

ChaosTitan

Around

Thomas_Anderson

Straka

Bored Fanatic

Inarticulate Babbler

Pissin' Everyone off, 1 at a time