short stories to write that are planned out

SHORT STORIES TO WRITE THAT ARE PLANNED OUT HOW TO
SHORT STORIES TO WRITE THAT ARE PLANNED OUT SERIES

Which means you must resolve the story arc of the first novel in a compelling, unexpected and yet satisfying way. And the main thing to selling a reader is fulfilling their expectations. Readers must be sold on a first book before they will read a second one.No characters whose lives will span a dozen tomes. With a few exceptions, most new writers are better off writing a book that will stand completely on its own.

SHORT STORIES TO WRITE THAT ARE PLANNED OUT SERIES

Yet, in spite of the above, I still advise my students to avoid writing a series as their first novel. If your story idea simply demands a lot of words, a series is about the only credible way of fulfilling it. Which means you need page space in which to develop it.

Some story arcs take a long time to develop.

Because this process of discovery is vital, writing a series may be helpful in your development as an observer of human nature.

SHORT STORIES TO WRITE THAT ARE PLANNED OUT HOW TO

It may take two or three novels to discover who your characters are, to learn how to discover who your characters are. However, in my experience as a writing teacher, few first novels succeed at applying enough pressure on the characters to wring from them any truly human responses. Often the most interesting aspects of a fictional character are those that come under the most intense pressure. It allows you to explore your world and your characters in more depth.If your readers like your world and your characters and they want to read more about them, why not give them what they want? As long as you have a story to tell, everyone wins. Your first fan base may be small, but having any fans is an encouragement to keep writing and improving your craft. It allows you to indulge an enthusiastic public.The question, then, is whether a new writer is smart to consider making their first novel the beginning of a longer series. Christopher Paolini’s Eregon succeeded, at least commercially, beyond expectations. It is possible to write a first novel as the beginning of a series and watch it grow into a literary and commercial success. Rowling essentially began with Harry Potter. But it simply isn’t true that the best or most enjoyable series have been written by established novelists who paid their dues writing stand-alone novels. It is often said that new writers should leave series to the experienced novelists who know what they are doing.

Why start from scratch on a new fictional world when you already have a fully formed one waiting to be explored further? The idea of getting three books out of one story world can be tempting.

It also takes work to envision a story world and believable characters. So it’s no surprise that as writers we feel compelled to write a series as epic as the ones that have enthralled us. We write what we love, and first novels are often loving imitations of one’s favorite books, or at least the best parts of those books. Henty, which are essentially a series unto themselves. I think it may even be a richer place because of the abysmal-but-charming historical works of G.A. It is also a richer place because of some mediocre series like Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars books or the 19th-century adventure tales of H. The continuing popularity of well-told series stories like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games and The Lord of the Rings makes large story arcs appealing.Īnd the world is a richer place because of the great series novels about Narnia and the world of Sherlock Holmes and (if I may be so bold) Discworld. The question still surprises me I’m amazed at the number of teens who aren’t afraid of long-term writing projects.Ĭertainly there are some good reasons for wanting to write a series. I’m often asked whether or not a young author’s first book can or should be part of a longer series.

Short stories to write that are planned out