This week: Series Based on Different Characters Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Fantasy Newsletter by Dawn
After focusing on romance, I've had a different experience with what is known as a "series." This newsletter looks at using the same world but different characters but considering it a series. |
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When it comes to genres, the novel series is something rather common for speculative fiction. Fantasy novels in particular can include many books that cover a long span of time and involve a variety of characters. However, as I've been reading/listening to romance stories from the library, I've had more exposure to a different type of series and that has made me really think. Honestly, It is quite amazing how some authors can write a number of books with different ways to connect them. Following a main character (or couple) for all of the books is a nice option but it's not the only one.
I've read some books from the same authors, or even different authors in the cause of a particular series centered around a made up university. With the romance stories, there are other aspects that tie the books together as a series instead of extending plot/conflict for the one set of characters over an extended about of time. There has been a case where the one guy that moves out from the one series of accidental love ends up with a character from NHL players, which also includes secondary character from the college player series. Plus, the hockey players are mentioned in the divorced dad's club series. They all manage to intertwine while each having several books based off a particular trope, location or group of characters. It is quite impressive and something that could also be used and found in other genres.
Speculative fiction is a good place for expansion or the exploration of worlds in a series with different characters. Many of the authors (not me) have extensive world building and note taking skills, which means it's easier to keep track of characters and how their lives intertwine.
That doesn't mean you have to interlace 4 different series within each other, unless you really want to, because that is quite a lot of things to keep track even if it's in a more typical human type of world. But one thing to consider is that maybe a fantasy series doesn't have to focus on the same entire group or couple of characters for the series.
I did have one where I considered doing something similar. With my Tolkien-esque (or dragonlance) influences series that I want to write for me, there is a ensemble cast in that it focuses on a particular group of characters. However, the books in the middle don't include them all as main characters or even show their viewpoint. I was considering dividing them between sets of characters as they have to part ways before coming back together for the last book. One book would follow the dwarf and the short human who falls in love with her. Another book would follow to female humans as they seek help in one of the most diverse cities. And of course, one book would follow a couple of elves. I haven't even finished book one but I still kind of like that layout. Now, I'm considering how some worlds can be used to tell a plethora of stories that interlace together. Of what is considered a series.
And that is the main point of my ramble for this newsletter.
Consider the options for what you could create as a series. This might help in particular if there are some secondary or side characters that get a little out of control or try to take over scenes. In fact, they could also have their own books and show sides of the world and conflicts that may be important for the reader to experience. Or it could be something you write and keep to the side for your own feedback. There are many reasons to write different stories, scenes and even whole books.
While this method would be hard if you never keep notes or track of anything in the world/series but most of us pantsers still have some planning or notes taken down the road, even if it's not before the first draft. Some effort is helpful when trying to not make mistakes in big stories and series. It can also help when you're trying to do different stories and start running out of names because there may be ways to interlace these stories in order to use names more than once. Why not have them be minor characters in one world but their own hero in another. Could be fun.
In the end, it's up to you and the story in how things go down. Whether it's a single book for fifteen of them. Whether it's a long, follow the timeline series or separate stories that have a connection. It all depends on what you are wanting to write. Figure that out, try a few things and enjoy what you create. And with the timing of this newsletter(NaNoWriMo), just go write a novel. Worry about the series later. |
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Have you considered writing a series where each book follows different characters?
Last time, for this newsletter, I discussed picking the right POV character for any given moment/chapter or book. Here is a comment sent in over that topic, then another comment added from the past:
Comment by GaelicQueen  :
My current project has 4 regular characters. 1. Main character; 4 secondary characters. POV is from main character and her interactions with the other characters and events.
Also, here is a comment sent in from a previous newsletter that was about writing first but relates to thoughts of series.
Comment by Elfin Dragon-finally published  :
It's funny, you say write first then decide later. Unfortunately the more I write the more I realize the one book I enjoy writing with my character, the more I realize it's going to end up a serialized story!
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Fantasy: November 01, 2023 Issue [#12250]
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