Wednesday, December 4, 2013

IWSG post - Series and Trilogy Envy

I am already twelve posts old in IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group). IWSG started by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh is a support group for writers, where we talk of our writing insecurities, share ways we circumvent these insecurities and help and support each other. We post on the first Wednesday of every month. Click here for the IWSG website.

One writing envy I seldom talk about is series or trilogy envy. Every other writer I find is writing either a trilogy or a series. Except me. The trilogy I was writing has been put away for the time being because I was not happy with the way the plotline was moving.

I sometimes feel publishers and agents are eager to accept books that come as a series or trilogy. Standalone books don’t stand much of a chance. My book does have a series potential, but I am not pitching it as a series. I want to take it one book at a time.

This is the reason I have deserted what would have been my first trilogy because my anxiety was messing up my rational thinking and making a marshmallow of my plot. In my eagerness to write a trilogy and get an agent, I was messing up many things like story arc, sub-plots, character arcs etc. I need a clear head to do justice to that trilogy, without the worry of getting an agent or a publisher for it.

Maybe I was trying too hard and it was affecting my story. I have not completely abandoned that trilogy, it will get my undivided attention later this month.

Do you all suffer from a series or trilogy envy? How do you tackle it? Anyone writing a standalone book at the moment? I would love to read about your insecurity. Hopefully I can help you circumvent it.

23 comments:

  1. Only barrier between triology and realization is 'Candy Crush':)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Writing long-form fiction is very challenging. I have stopped writing temporarily - I am reading 'On Writing' by Stephen King and another book on writing by Ernest Hemingway, now. Then there are two more books - one on basic punctuation by Grammar Girl and then, 'Bird by Bird'.

    That's it - When I finish all these four books (and Hunger Games that I bought during a sale on Amazon), I can start writing again. Phew!!

    DestinationInfinity.org

    ReplyDelete
  3. I write stories that can be a trilogy, but I'm super nervous if I could ever produce good second and third books, especially being on contract. It's one of the things that holds me back from querying.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My book that is coming out tomorrow is a stand-alone and has no option of becoming a series. I'd love to make a series out of my other book but so far my attempts haven't gone so well! I don't know if I'll ever get it finished but I'm going to give it my best shot in the new year. I think a series can be very intimidating so I understand your anxiety!
    Nice to meet you through the IWSG!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've written book one of an MG mystery that I hope will be a series. (Gotta get that book 1 sold first. :-0) But I've read recently that series and trilogies are waning for publishers and editors and that they are looking for more stand alone novels for young people than they were before. For adult mysteries, I think series are still attractive to them. In fact, mysteries for any age may be the venue for series. But I think you're on good ground, Rachna, if you are writing stand alone books.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It used to be standalones were the only book agents wanted. Strange business we are in.

    I love books in a series. if I love the first, generally I'll love the second and third.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Taking that step back and realizing you needed to focus on this one without the pressure of the trilogy nagging at you, shows that you're more than capable. Each book as to be the best out there, and IF that series is going to happen new fantastic ideas will rise and you'll surprise even yourself. That being said, I'm glad you're not abandoning the idea of a trilogy completely, you can make it happen.

    I don't really think I'm into writing trilogies, so I do have a little bit of that envy you speak of, but I love reading them so keep'm coming, authors :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Write a stand alone and don't worry if it's part of a trilogy or not. Of course, you might have to turn it into a trilogy later. (Like I did!)
    The story I am writing now is a stand alone if that makes you feel better. I can see more if necessary, but I'm not planning on it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I understand the concern Rachna! I'm not sure if what I'm developing is a series. I'm writing the sequel to my first book, but the sequel is so different from the first that I'm not sure it fits as a series. Once it's published, I may add it as a series in Amazon despite it's great difference since the story does shoot off from the first.

    Anyway, I think it's important to write what and how you love... the road traveled of a writer is going to be difficult no matter what. Writer’s Mark

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have quite a few trilogies planned, but I have to say I'm worried about all of them. Book one is usually the clearest in my head. Then I muddle around in scenes for book two and three. I think the best thing to remember about trilogies/series is to focus on book one. If no one likes book one, then no one will get to books two, three, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think many stories that ended up being series or trilogies didn't start like that. They started as stand-alone books and people loved them so much, this forced the author to continue the story and write trilogies or series. I believe there is a high risk of writing a lot of straw in the attempt of making a story a trilogy or series. There are stories that just don't have enough substance to become such. In my opinion it is way better to write a stand-alone that people just screams for continuation, than a planned trilogy that goes into oblivion along with millions of other stories. :) Dragon Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Every story needs to be true to itself. Some are meant to be stand alone, some are born to be trilogies or series. We can't write because we're trying to fit into a style of genre, we have to write beacause the story demands to be told.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I met an agent at a conference a few years ago who gave me a bit of clarity on this subject. She told me that it's not so much that agents and editors want a trilogy… they don't want to make a commitment to publish three books when the first book might flop. What they're looking for are stand alone books that, if they're successful, can turn into trilogies or series.

    Of course that was a few years ago, and the publishing business keeps changing. Maybe the same agent would tell me something different today.

    I hope that helps somewhat.

    -James

    ReplyDelete
  14. Writing a series/trilogy hasn't really entered my mind. I don't know whether I have a concept that would span a series.
    Writing a collection of stories would be the way for me.
    Writer In Transit

    ReplyDelete
  15. HI, Rachna,

    FIrst… most agents are NOT interested in book series from I've read. They want a stand alone book that has potential for a series. Many agents are turned off by writers who pitch a series instead of just the individual book.

    My advise to you is find an agent that loves your FIRST book. You DON't have to have the whole series written before you are signed. It's much better to concentrate on the book you are pitching.

    SO don't worry about a series. We as writers are stressed enough getting on book accepted.

    I hope all is well with you...

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think you're approaching it the right away. A lot of trilogies aren't very good and you can tell the author was distracted by the idea of huge book sales and forgot to write something actually worth reading.

    I think if a story has potential for a series the ideas should come naturally, not because you want them to.

    mood
    Moody Writing

    ReplyDelete
  17. Well, I'm writing the second book in a trilogy at the moment, but I recently wrote a stand alone short story. :)
    I don't know what the current market is looking for, but in the Commercial Fiction class I took many years ago, the teacher told us that new novelists gain greater respect from agents and publishers if they write a stand alone novel with serial "options." So, if you are pursuing traditional publishing, I think you may be doing exactly the right thing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love standalone books, both to read and write. I rarely read series, unless it's a good blogger friend (or Harry Potter). So at least there's two of us!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've returned to my blog after a long time! I love reading your posts even though I'm not a writer. I glean so much.

    ReplyDelete
  20. well, I definitely can see what you mean. just imagine making a story way longer, than split it up...waaa-laaaa a series! don't feel like your out of the loop. not all of us love to read series all the time!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Because I do so much world building in my stories, they tend to naturally have series potential. I can envision more than one story in the world. My latest WIP however is my first true standalone. Eeek!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I personally think the only thing that should determine whether your story is stand alone or series is the story itself. Don't chase the market, the editor or the agent. They sign the first check only. Chase the individual who reads. Do you prefer series? Then write one of those. Do you prefer a standalone? Then there ya go.
    I'm new to your blog and maybe it's annoying that I'm presumptuous enough to think you care about my opinion (though you did pose the question) but I have seen similar questions to this answered by the successful authors. This is an insecurity you should bear no longer.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I don't have this envy. When I look at sales or reviews, I see that book 1 in a trilogy is the strongest and after that the interest trickles away with far fewer sales and reviews. The only series that don't suffer from this are the mega-bestsellers. After that, all the series are like this.

    ReplyDelete