A Genre Fiction Mainstay '" the Series

The series is to genre fiction as peanut butter is to jelly -- a natural fit. Terry Brooks and R.A. Salvatore are prime examples of writers who have taken a well written series or a beloved character and turned then into a successful franchise. A series can take a relatively unknown writer and turn them into overnight sensations and household names, just ask J.K Rowling or Stephanie Meyer.

Creating a series can be a daunting task for a writer to take on. Honestly, it is hard enough crafting one tale let alone something as far reaching in scope of say, a trilogy. With that in mind here are a few tips which may help the process go a little smoother.

The first piece of advice I can offer is to know the world you will be creating. I don't care if it is an entirely new planet or 1950's era Los Angeles. If you are building a world or realm from scratch then dedicate time to explore it. Know the physical features, landscapes, people, animals, and history. Really develop the government and the societies of those inhabiting your world. The more detail you give it the more realistic the world is, and the more it will resonate with readers.

It is ok to let your imagination run wild, but make sure you also stick to the rules and laws you create. For instance, if your world has a system of magic based on elements then stay within the system that governs how the magic works. If you do not the story takes on a phony quality which is a disservice to your readers.

Another tip I have is to develop each book in the series as a stand-alone novel. This does not mean what happens is one book won't influence what could happen later on in the future. Terry Brooks' early Shannara novels are a good example of this. In this day and age of immediate gratification many readers are leery of investing large amounts of time to get through an entire series. But, if they can read one book without having to read through 4 or 5 then they will be more inclined to continue following along, and before they know it if you have done your job as a writer well, they are hooked on your series!

One last piece of advice I would offer is - do not fall in love with your characters. They are dispensable pieces used to move a story forward. George R. R. Martin whose A Song of Ice and Fire series is perhaps the most compelling I have ever read is the best example of using characters in this manner. Martin is never afraid to kill a character off to advance the storyline. The reader never knows what might happen next, and is dared to continue on in an effort to find out.

The characters we create as writers are like our children. We have this almost innate parental sense of duty to protect them and keep them safe. The down side to this however, is those same characters can become stagnant. Often it is completely necessary to kill a character so the story can move forward. And, by killing, I mean they stay dead. Hopefully as a writer you are creative enough to stay away from the ridiculous soap opera return from the dead plots, and are able to create new and more exciting characters to replace those who have gone before.

I find myself getting bored with a series if it has the same characters experiencing similar conflicts over and over again through 3, 4 or more novels. It is never easy to lose a character, but that loss will help readers develop an emotional investment to the series, and keep them coming back for more.

J.K. Rowlings, Robert Jordan, Stephanie Meyer, and the list goes on and on are all writers who became successful by creating a popular series. Genre fiction tends to lend itself to writers who create worlds and characters who need more than one book to tell their tale. Hopefully these few general tips are helpful to aspiring writers who are compelled to create on this grand scope

This article originally appeared on www.belfirepress.com as a guest blog spot