Repetition

[Chasing the Horizon]

I'm writing a series which has a repeating plot line in pretty much all the books. My MC is always searching for some treasure somewhere in my fantasy world. Different treasures in different books, and frequently the focus is something else all together, but the treasure hunt is always the instigating plot factor.

Basically, my MC sails around looking for achient relics of enormous value. While doing this, he manages to get involved in all sorts of crazy things that he wasn't bargaining for.

Basically what I'm asking is if this will get 'old' after a while. I know detective series are more or less the same thing over and over. Detective solves a crime, next book detective solves another crime, and so on. I'm assuming this is acceptable in other genres, right?

[scarletpeaches]

If Gollum can get away with whining about his precious bloody...well, precious, anything's possible. :D

[Jordygirl]

Speaking as a person who doesn't really read series books in the first place (unless they're AWESOME), take this for what it is:

In my opinion, it could get old. Depending on how many books are in the series your reader could start to think, "wait a sec! these are all the same!"

[Chris Grey]

A repeating plot (if it's recognizable) gets old. A repeating plot element gets charming. It's alright to use the same hook over and over on the main character, but I'd advise you to use different hooks on the reader.

[wordmonkey]

It's all in the delivery.

Works for Indiana Jones and Sinbad. Of course, the key to Indiana Jones is that he NEVER gets the item of incredible riches.

But like I say, if you can sell it, it'll work and won't be an issue, because the story spirals off in new directions each time.

[newmod]

Well, what about Relic Hunter, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Sharp novels, X-Files, Cheers, Seinfeld ... the list goes on. If people like it, they´ll stick with it. Many people like to have something familiar, others don´t. I´d just concern myself with writing well.

Try to make the scrapes/quests in the book and the characters, especially the main one(s), as interesting as possible.

[formlit]

I can think of a series (Feehan's Dark series) which is similar and though the books are good, I never read them togather. I need lots of time between books. Hope this helps.

[Chasing the Horizon]

A repeating plot (if it's recognizable) gets old. A repeating plot element gets charming. It's alright to use the same hook over and over on the main character, but I'd advise you to use different hooks on the reader.
The hook on the reader is different. The search for treasure is usually my way of getting my character into trouble, which leads to a different situation every time. None of my books dedicate more than half the book to searching for treasure, and the second only has two chapters involving the search, before everything goes disastrously wrong and the next clue gets forgotten about in one of the MC's desk drawer until the final chapter (this particular treasure hunt continues into the next book, as an ongoing subplot)

It's all in the delivery.

Works for Indiana Jones and Sinbad. Of course, the key to Indiana Jones is that he NEVER gets the item of incredible riches.

But like I say, if you can sell it, it'll work and won't be an issue, because the story spirals off in new directions each time.
My MC does get the treasure he was hunting at the end of one of the books, and once he has it he can't get rid of it fast enough, which is just ironic. Turns out he literally got more than he bargained for (as far as selling it for the vast fortune he imagined, no, that never happens)

[jdparadise]

Two different things here.

If the book is -about- the treasure hunt, it's going to get repetitive and boring.

If the book is about the stuff that happens to the MC -while- he's on the treasure hunt, you have a series.

What you're dealing with is commonly called the "Maguffin." (Google it if you don't know it.) It's the thing that lets the story take place, but it could be -anything-, because the story's really about something completely different.

Example, off the top of my head. Your treasure hunter is commissioned to find the Necklace of Gaddon Tu, which is reputed to give the bearer invincibility in battle. So he assembles the usual suspects, and he's off to find it. While he's looking--being led from place to place--we're finding out all about what "invincibility" really means; we're seeing him hurt in a hundred ways (the woman he thought he could trust betrays him; the child who looked so innocent is really a killer; he opens himself to a friend and it ends up killing another friend) and seeing him broken down further and further until, when he finally finds the necklace, he's facing a choice of giving up the most important thing remaining to him and getting the necklace, or giving up the necklace and the commission... so he gives up the necklace in a way that proves that he's invincible enough without it, and in giving it up something happens so he gets it anyway, and he can sell it to the guy who commissioned him to find it.

And in the next book, this Wiser, More Tired Hero is set off after something else, but maybe the newly invincible guy who hired him is causing all sorts of trouble, so the MC feels guilty about it and wants to do something about it, but if he doesn't find the Hairnet of Ultimate Satisfaction his sole remaining relative will be killed...

So if it's about the finding, it's boring after book 1, and maybe before. If it's about what happens while he's finding, it's got a chance...

Hope that helps!

[JoNightshade]

I am okay with series that begin with a similar premise (and then branch off). One thing I like, however, is an occasional change-up. IE, the first three books all begin with him hunting for treasure. But book four begins with him giving up on the treasure hunt and trying to do something else with his life before getting sucked back in. That sort of thing-- just to show that your character is three dimensional and has choices and changes now and then.

[aadams73]

I love a well-executed treasure hunt!

[gp101]

I know detective series are more or less the same thing over and over. Detective solves a crime, next book detective solves another crime, and so on. I'm assuming this is acceptable in other genres, right?

Keep in mind, that it's always a different crime, and usually strikes up new interest in the reader. More importantly, detective series are more often about the character than the crime. How he solves it, why he solves it, how he deals with certain events makes the story more enjoyable than the actual solving of the crime. I would imagine this is the case for your genre as well. I'm sure it's a different treasure your MC is after each time. Each will bring a unique interest to the reader. You'll hedge your bet at being successful if you make the story just as important regarding character and how/why he goes after the treasure (and how he reacts to stuff) as it is about attaining the treasure.

[justpat]

As long as there are some good sub-plots and its more than just the treasure hunts (which it sounds like it is) then I probably wouldn't mind.

[Mel]

I'd say treasure hunting is your MC's job. Lots of other things happen around characters to make the reading interesting. However, if the character doesn't either, get the treasure, or there is some kind of satisfying conclusion, then I'm going to maybe feel disappointed at the end. I'm not real fond of ...to be continued... books. Unless I can read them back to back.

If you can satisfy your readers with the end, and don't leave them hanging there scratching their heads, then you'll be all right.

::I have two treasure hunters!::

[Chasing the Horizon]

I do my best to give all the books a conclusion. Both the first and second conclude nicely by resolving the main plot, and leaving just a few unanswered questions or continuing subplots for the next. The third book solves a major problem at the end, but doesn't really have a conclusion. The fourth was intended to be the end of the series, and thus wraps everything up completely (though I've decided to continue the series beyond four, with a new set of plots and subplots).

Thanks to everyone for your advice. It sounds like I'm handling it in such a way most won't find it too repetitive.

[Legionsynch]

I think it depends on if it's Murder She Wrote: the Series or not.

I mean, how many people can really die in a small town like Cabot Cove before Mrs. Fletcher get's ostracized?

If there's an ongoing plot, character development and growth, and an overall story, then a series in this vein would be really interesting (and could totally work). If each separate adventure leaves the hero exactly where they started out, I'd personally get bored after a couple of books.

[Chasing the Horizon]

Yes, Murder She Wrote was totally ridiculous. Cabot Cove made Detroit look safe.

No, my hero learns and changes tremendously throughout the series.

[Evaine]

Now I just want to find the Hairnet of Ultimate Satisfaction!

[ccarver30]

I think you can do it. It all depends on all the OTHER factors that will make the story fun. :)

[JoNightshade]

I think one thing that makes a series like this interesting is a three-dimensional supporting cast. I think of Laurie King's Sherlock-and-Mary series. Each book stars Sherlock and Mary to some degree, but there is always a different supporting cast that gets fleshed out and introduced in each book. Since we know the two main characters very well by the third or fourth book, the cast gets more attention and detail. Granted, sometimes I want to scream "Give me more Holmes!" but most of the time I enjoy getting to know these new people. :)

[RLSMiller]

As long as you create real, interesting characters and interesting plots, you'll be okay. Make sure you write a killer hooker & query letter too - we all know Agents and Editors are a fickle species, and they might assume that your story is just a superficial Indiana Jones rip off if you don't make it stand out enough.

[Twilight's Chapter]

Dear Hope to the Horizon,

Series are generally repeating the same process. A similar treasure-hunting plot can be tiring, but by adding extra different minor characters, and settings, (etc.) the reader's interest can be kept in check. If you, the writer, can make each book different and exciting, there's no problem!

Wondering if I helped,
TC

[Kentuk]

Some TV shows have just one plot i.e. "House". You will probably get tired of relic hunts first and from what you discribed it isn't the plot, just what the protag does.