Querying a Series

I'd like to know the answer to this, too. I know when I first posted my query someone said not to mention that it was a series at all, so I didn't say anything about it.

Selling a series isn't impossible, but it's way more difficult - especially for a first-time novelist - so pitching your first book as a standalone which can be expanded into a series is just common sense.

Think about it - if the first book sells, and sells well, the publisher might buy your other books, and you'll have your series. But if your first book doesn't sell, there isn't going to be a follow-up anyway, because nobody is going to want to invest in an author who doesn't generate profit.

So instead of saying upfront that you have written/planned ten books one connected to the other, make the first book stand alone (always the best thign) and then you can just say, that it is a possible beginning of a series. This leaves you a lot of leeway if things go as well as you wish for them to go, and at least it won't scare any agent/publisher away from buying your novel.

If it's a genre series, there's no reason to hide that fact, but, if it were me, I'd try to sell the first book all by itself, and mention that it has sequel or series potential.

In other words, try to sell the first book, not the series, but don't be shy about mentioning series potential ('cause unless the first book sells, there isn't going to be a [published] series).

Publishers like genre series because they have a fairly accurate idea of how many copies to print, because so many genre fans buy practically everything in the genre. This is important, because publishers credit booksellers for returned, unsold books. With genres, they get far fewer returns, hence higher profits.

Many genre writers have gotten rich by signing multi-book contracts for a series, when no one book in the series would ever have sold enough to justify a six-figure advance.

But whether you have a series worth selling will be determined by the first book. If no one wants to read it...

If your agent loves the book and sees the potential for a series, trust me, she'll suggest it to you. And then you can give her the sweet surprise...

reenkam said:

If a publisher gave someone a $10k advance for a book, or a $100k advance for a prewritten series, they're spending the same amount, essentially. And I feel like a series is more likely to have followers than a single book...there are authors that I enjoy, but I won't run out to buy their books then there are authors with series I enjoy. Then I'll buy them all. It just seems like it could end up being more profitable for publishers...but maybe I'm missing something (Actually, I probably am...)

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All that's true, but you still have to sell the first book first. And no one, not agent, publisher or bookstore browser, is going to buy it on the promise that "the rest of the series is better."

If you don't like the first book, I'd suggest putting in the effort to make it good, before working on any additional books.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it's got to be easier to win the lottery than get $100k in advance for a series when you aren't already a published - and selling, obviously - author. Not saying it would never happen. Just, you know, unlikely.

It's unlikely because the logical thing would be to publish the rest of the series IF the first book sells. If nobody wants to read the first one, they won't jump into it mid-series, you know?

Also,

reenkam said:

That's the thing...I don't like it as a standalone. I think the last chapter is too neat and "ooh everything worked out so perfectly with just enough left over for more!" It seems so fake and annoying to me. I don't know if other people would notice, but I do.

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This, to me, means that you aren't done writing/editing that book yet. One of the good ways to check is to run it by a couple of people you trust to be honest with their opinions. But usually, if it doesn't sit well with you, it won't sit well with many others, either.

reenkam said:

That's the thing...I don't like it as a standalone. I think the last chapter is too neat and "ooh everything worked out so perfectly with just enough left over for more!" It seems so fake and annoying to me.

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Hmm, I feel your pain. I'm writing a three book fantasy series at the moment (4 if you count the prelude novel, but I don't since it's mainstream fiction). I understand that the first books should stand alone, and even though one of the main plots is all wrapped up at the end of my first book it just seems weird for it to end there, seeing as the last line is "She clung to that thin strand of hope as pain washed her into the darkness of sleep. Maybe she could live. Living was important."

But what do I know, maybe I'm just not allowed to end a book like that. ::chuckle:: I hope everything works out for you series wise, but I, too, have been told that it's better to mention "expandable into a series" than "first book in a series."

Azraelsbane said:

"She clung to that thin strand of hope as pain washed her into the darkness of sleep. Maybe she could live. Living was important."

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Slightly off-topic, but I actually really like that.

My query says:

I am seeking representation for my novel, The Gods Must be Lazy. It is a standalone light urban fantasy, with the potential to become a series.

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Doesn't mean it's right or that it works (well, it certainly hasn't been working), but there you go. That's what I have.

Rhea L said:

Selling a series isn't impossible, but it's way more difficult - especially for a first-time novelist

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Rhea is right here. If you're a first-time writer with a finished novel ready to market to an agent, sell it as a single entity. Get a publishing contract and hope for strong sales. But if your intention is to write a series, then the minute you sign the contract, start on book #2. Almost all contracts contain a “first refusal” clause. If the publisher is pleased with #1, they’ll be asking you for another and you might just secure a multi-book deal.

Our first novel (I co-write with Lynn Sholes) was meant as a stand alone, pitched as such and contracted as a single book. The publisher came back to us and wanted to know if we could make it into a series. That first book, THE GRAIL CONSPIRACY, is now in 21 languages around the world, has hit numerous foreign bestseller lists, and we’re halfway through writing book #4 in the series. When we wrote TGC, we never intended for it to be anything but a standalone. Once this series is over, we will be able to pitch a new series rather than a single book. It's a lot easier to do so for any author once you get your foot in the door and have a track record that you can write a series that produces revenue.

So, if you’re just starting out, sell your first book as a single item or standalone. Once you’ve signed the contract, then you can safely start talking up a possible series. Good luck.

Rhea L said:

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it's got to be easier to win the lottery than get $100k in advance for a series when you aren't already a published - and selling, obviously - author. Not saying it would never happen. Just, you know, unlikely.

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You're not wrong.

The only way this could possibly happen is for the first book to knock somebodies socks off.

I've been working on a series for years now. I'm finally on book 4 but have to rewrite book 3 because they actually occur at the same time lol.

When I queried publishers and agents for this book, I did mention it was the first of a series so they would know. I heard somewhere that publishers like series because that means the writer will be producing more books for them and they want a writer who is producing more than one book. But at the same time, your first book does have to sell well before they accept the second, third, or beyond. Now if you were famous, they may "buy" the whole package which publishers have done in the past and will keep doing because the name sells the books.

Think King. If he were to write a series, a publisher would probably automatically give him the contract because the publisher knows people will buy his stuff. He's well known accross the world so they don't hesitate one bit. For us, because we're unknown, they have to wait for the first book to see if a second book is warrented or not.

My book doesn't really stand alone. There is a cliff hanger at the end so the readers have to get the next book to see what happens next. I like cliff hangers to an extent so if the publisher never wants the second one, it would be all right although I think I would be disappointed because I can see this book as a television series like Charmed. My book is about witches too, that's why I mentioned that title lol. It is written in chapters and they're filled with a few cliff hangers as well, keeping the feeling moving along throughout the book.

Amber

There's one thing that always comes to mind whenever people suggest trying to sell a series. It's a different ballgame for an established author than for a new writer. Publishers want to know that you can produce those ten books before they pay you for them.

If you're new, they want to see the first one, and then see how you do with producing follow ons before signing a big contract. Some people only manage to finish one book; others spent so long polishing the first that the second one isn't as well written and it shows.

So the answer is yes they want series, but not as someone's first novel. Having the book be expandable is great, but make sure the first one is able to sell on its own. If not, write something else and come back to sell the series when you do have a track record.

I took part in Ms Snark's "Crapometer".

At the time my query said "first part of a thirteen book series"

She responded that hearing it's a 13 book series makes her "blood run cold".
After all, I am pitching a YA vampire story.

From that point on I have "A stand alone story that has the potential for more."

Snark also said "tell me THIS story." No, she didn't want pages, but she meant for me to focus on my first book in the query.

I hope this helps.

reenkham.

I would imagine that for a series to take off, the characters have to catch on, never mind the plot. If the plot is so huge it cannot stand up in a stand-alone first book can't you doctor the plot so it can? Or cut out sub-plots? It has to be possible.

I can see how one can say -well, the whole of planet earth is doomed and my surviving characters have to find somewhere to settle in outer space - and then come back and regain earth.... That's fine, but in that scenario that needn't be stated as the main plot - the plot of the first book could just be to have the characters survive the alien attacks, band together and find and take-off in the last available spacecraft.

I'm maybe talking out of my hat, but....

Good luck, anyway.

To have a book stand alone it's necessary that your readers not feel ripped off at the ending.

I've been wondering about this, too. My WIP is a fantasy trilogy, and the first book simply is not a standalone (neither are the second and third). The whole trilogy is completed, and it's really just a single story that's too way long for one book. It's not market-ready yet, but I haven't figured out how to market it when it is. Thoughts?

Strictly speaking I guess it's not a series, since I don't anticipate any more books after #3. But you really have to read all three in order to get closure on the story.

Didn't all five books in The Belgariad come out at once? But maybe that's a big exception.

Dave.C.Robinson said:

To have a book stand alone it's necessary that your readers not feel ripped off at the ending.

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In short, I'm screwed.

Reenkam, I wouldn't leave too many glaringly obvious plot lines hanging if you have an "everything is a-ok" ending, because the reader is going to say "uh, no...it's not. wtf?" Usually an epilogue that says everything is just peachy comes at the end of a series (such as HP). Only my opinion though.

reenkam said:

That's definitely my opinion to, which is why I want to get rid of that a-ok ending, but then I have the non-stand alone.....it's such a paradox.

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Read the rep I gave you. It answers all!