Writing a series is a massive undertaking. It requires a lot of time and even more commitment. Think hard before you choose to take it on. But writing a series can be magical, fun, and exciting. It can feel like home because you get to play around a world of your own making. Even more so, when you’ve successfully introduced a character or characters who resonate with the readers and can serve as anchors throughout the series, the time and energy you spend will be worth the sweat and tears (yes, there will be tears) it takes to write the series.
There are two things that keep the reader coming back to a series: the characters and the author. If we’re talking about a series like R. L. Stine’s Goosebumps, readers return for the various stories and the author’s style because the characters may or may not return in a future book. But, in most other cases, the reader returns to a series because of the anchor characters.
Creating a character strong enough to support a series doesn’t mean they will be super strong or heroic throughout. It means building a layered character who will last through each book, with the character feeling refreshed or new to the reader rather than stale and stagnant. It can be difficult writing a series that remains new to the reader, so a way to do so is through our characters. How can we create characters who will live up to the challenge of carrying a series on their shoulders while staying true to themselves?
You might wonder about the secret to and the trilogy. It’s definitely what keeps me coming back for more.
