I’m writing my first series. I’ve written six, no seven now, complete manuscripts, but I’ve never taken one of the stories further into another book. I’m quickly learning that it’s a tricky process. You have to give some info from the last book and you simply can’t have info dumps.
Boring.
Making the story a continuation of the last, yet one that can stand on its own, is challenging. Funny enough, I find myself wanting to end a sentence… er, funny. Here’s an example.
My stomach twisted into the knot it always did when I let myself think about that time. I’d moved past it—pretty much had to when I’d battled the Dweller for the return of my sister’s soul.
Problem is, I want to end that sentence with “in the last book” so badly, I’m thinking of just doing it then going back to take them out.
Kidding.
So yeah, this isn’t as easy as starting a book from scratch in some ways–but in others, it is. My world is already built. I know my characters better and don’t have to spend a fourth of the book getting to know them before going back to “fix” them in the first part of the story. And one of the best things is getting to delve deeper into the secondary characters. I have one that I fell in love with in DOTT. She’s actually getting a lot of action in this book–and no, you of the dirty minds, not that kind.
Okay, maybe a little of that kind. 😉
But seriously, I’m exploring her strengths in BOAA. I’m also tackling a very difficult, emotional realization in my main character. I’m excited about the psychological aspects of these two characters and their relationship. Ready to have all the plotting mapped out completely.
Not a pantser.
I used to be. I would just plop my butt down and type away and then the work I’d have to do in rewrites overwhelmed me. This works for lots of writers. Sometimes, I wish it did for me. But I’ve learned that when I map the story out, it doesn’t make me lose interest. In fact, it sparks more excitement than anything. I know what part comes next and I look forward to tackling the challenge of it.
Today, I’ve been writing about a city at night. I’m so far into the scene, I can feel the warm, midnight breeze, smell the slight tinge of zapped power lines. My uh, main character, had a little accident.
Graceful, she is not. <g>