Next in the Series

Have you asked your agent what they think about your plan? Many folks suggest not starting on a second book in a series until the first book sells to an editor. Just in case it doesn't sell, you aren't then stuck with two trunked books.

Series can be tricky things, and it really depends on what you're going for. Are they standalone books with the same MC? Does each book in the series have a different hero/heroine? Are the books all part of a single, over-arcing story? Do you have an end goal in mind?

My best advice -- keep a notebook. Keep track of characters, plot threads, histories, all the little details you'll need to reference over and over again.

FWIW, my agent turned what I planned to be a stand-alone novel into a series. I'm just now getting ready to send him book 1 in the next week or so, but I'm not going to start book 2 until I get his feedback. If he wants changes to book 1, that might bollocks up the whole plan for book 2. So I'm waiting to get his feedback before tackling book 2. In the meantime, I'm going to work on a totally different project.

As Chaos says, this depends somewhat on the relationship between the books. However, I'd say that even when you wrote the first book, there was a past history, and you decided how much to include based on what was needed in this story. Do that for the next one too.

I think JKR does a good job with the HP series. She includes only what she needs from previous books.

I'd hold off on Book Two until Book One sells, unless your agent advises otherwise.

I'm shopping a Book One (but stands alone). My next WIP is set in a whole other universe. But I'm also planning out Book Two (and Book Three), in case an agent or editor asks about a possible series.

I'm still editing my first book before I send it off to anyone but I've started on my second one because I just want to carry the momentum. I'm not working as...seriously, I guess, On my second book because of the editing I'm doing.
But the second book has helped me figure out what I want with my first book a lot more so….
I think if you can juggle it ( and you wouldn't feel horrible for having 2 un-publishable books) then why not?

I'm going to go out on a limb here, and disagree with the majority of posters here.

Write what you want to write. If your agent sells a series instead of a standalone, you're in a great position if you already have a draft worked out. If your agent sells the one book, or, worst case scenario, that first book doesn't sell, by writing a second book, you've put in more practice and further honed your craft.

Practice will make a difference, no matter how you go about it. To paraphrase some things Miss Snark has been known to say: Write well. That's what's important, because good writing trumps all.

Jeanette said:

Thanks for all the suggestions -- I guess it is best to wait until the darn thing sells. Cart and horse and all that. I was just excited, and I have impatient ways and it's hard to just sit and wait when revisions are just around the corner. I'd start on something else, but literally, the revisions will be in hand on Monday so... Maybe I'll do something crazy like (gulp) reading for pleasure and maybe even catching up on my recorded episodes of "America's Next Top Model."

Click to expand...

I guess it depends on why you're writing.

I can certainly understand the sensible approach to wait and see if Book 1 ends up being a seller, but do what makes you happy. If you're excited, you should capitalize on that and strike while the iron is hot.

It was mentioned on Carrie Vaughn's blog that for a series, it's best that one book can also serve as a standalone so the reader need not really start from the first book. If your story is heavily plot-driven and involves a lot of worldbuilding, you could include an appendix, which could also help you in keeping track of events and characters.

I think KiraOnWhite said it before I could (and probably more eloquently at that) but I would add this:

From my own personal (little bit of) experience, regardless of what happens with book 1, if there's a book 2 that you've already imagined, you're going to write it someday (probably) so you as well get right in on it, at least to capture the flavour while it's freshest.

As for step-by-step instructions, that's all variable depending on the situation which could best be answered by an editor or perhaps a trusted friend who loves the genre you're writing in.

One possibility is that half the threads from book 1 would still be unanswered by the end of book 2, leaving you more options for book 3 and onwards. To decide which bits are like this, I'd say that if your editor or trusted friend asks you specifically about one bit, then you need to flesh it out sooner rather than later.

As the writer, chances are looking at your own work will give you a headachefull of loose threads which the reader might only notice half of.

So I think the best thing you could do if you did start writing book 2 while book 1 is still being edited is to decide which threads need to be answered soon. By deciding this, you'll notice some threads that you don't want to flesh out, so they can be cut willy-nilly during editing without giving you worry (if they need to be cut) and you'll also have a better idea of why certain bits have to stay in, which most reasonable editors will concede to if you explain why that loose end becomes a great thing in the next book. You may still have to rewrite the loose end to make it up to scratch (again, trust your editor) but you'll be able to keep it in there if you know it has to go in the next book or two.

Basically what I'm rambling at is be aware of every thread in there and what it needs to do. Read through the MS and make notes of what is unanswered, then simply put them in columns:

A) Ditch it.
B) Could be useful much later on (ditch it now could work, so long as you reintroduce it a book or two before you want to flesh it out)
C) The "Must have" pile - fight for them, but still listen to advice from editors/readers (I knew you would!)

Cliff