Wednesday, August 6, 2014

IWSG Post – Trilogy Anxieties

Normally my IWSG post is scheduled atleast one week in advance. With so many things crowding my mind space, this month’s IWSG post had completely slipped my mind. If not for our omniscient Ninja Captain, Alex Cavanaugh, also the founder of IWSG, who came to know via telepathy that I had forgotten about it, so to make me (us) remember he mentioned it in his blog. Thank God for omniscient founders.

IWSG is a support group for writers which posts on the first Wednesday of every month. We encourage and support each other through our posts as well as talk of our insecurities, fears, anxieties and doubts. You can check out the IWSG website. To read the other posts click here.

From ages I have hopes that somewhere down the line I will write a trilogy. But, I am not one of the world’s greatest outliners. I prefer attacking a first draft than writing a detailed outline. Though I have a beginning, middle and end in mind when I start writing, I write quite a bit by the seat of my pants. For a trilogy, I am sure I will have to be a great outliner. Every small plot detail has to be meticulously planned. For that I would need to get a detailed plot outline written for all the three books.

I am anxious about the fact that my kind of writing style may not work for a trilogy. I am wondering how other writers tackle trilogies. Does anybody have any tips for me on how to handle a trilogy? For those who have written trilogies how did you manage? 

21 comments:

  1. Back when I didn't outline, I wrote a trilogy by the seat of my pants. The way I did it was make heaps of notes to myself, details that needed to remain consistent across all the books.

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  2. Oh no, I find it difficult to complete one full novel, forget a trilogy! Furthermore, I start with minimum outlining, the concept and story evolve over time. That's one more reason why I write very slowly.

    Hope to read a trilogy written by you, some day :)

    Destination Infinity

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  3. I don't know that everyone outlines them. I do think you need to figure out the overall story and some of the things you want to foreshadow. I would be in your situation writing a trilogy.

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  4. If that's what you really want to write, give it a try your way. You never know what will happen. :)

    Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption

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  5. Now you know - I'm also telepathic!
    Plan the details of a trilogy in advance? Are you supposed to do that? Wow, did I write my trilogy all wrong...
    Write one first. Once that's done, you'll know where the second books leads.

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  6. It's funny, I tried to avoid trilogies, because I figured I'd write sequels if people liked the first book. But one of the first questions my agent asked me was, "so where are the sequels?" Yikes...hence all the writing of sequels now:)

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  7. I keep a journal for all my series. I jot down everything, every minor character, relationships, foods, histories, whatever I need to keep things straight. I call it my series bible.

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  8. I'm a planner to the last little dot.

    That being said...

    I've had TWO friends contract a single novel - WITH the agreement to write an additional two to make them into series. My thoughts? Are you f-ing kidding me?!?!? Both pantsters, they're nailing it. Big time.

    Go with your gut. Trust the muse to give you what you need. While there may be dry writing spells, keep pluggin' along. Inspiration comes in the strangest ways & places.

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  9. I second Madeline's comment - give it a try your own way. You might be surprised how well it works for you!

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  10. When I set out writing my upper MG mystery, I had three books in mind. But I had three specific places I wanted these quirky kids to solve a mystery. So, it wasn't so much of crazy outlining, just knowing where I want to go with each story:) Good luck!

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  11. I began with one and halfway through writing it, I could see four more books. I very loosely outlined them, but those outlines changed once I started writing. That's probably the easiest way to plan.

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  12. As far as I'm concerned I'm never trying a trilogy because of exactly that. I'm a pantser and no matter how hard I try to outline it gets me no where.

    Still, if I was to do it . . . I don't think I'd change my process. I'll wing it and make sure it all works. Actually, I might wing the whole three books in one shot and revise them and have them all ready-ish to make sure all details and such are in line.

    Good luck though, you should do it!

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  13. The way I wrote my trilogy was I outlined the entire story, then sectioned it off into thirds. Easy.

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  14. Rachna, I wonder how common it is a problem for pantsers to trilogize? Hmmm, it's a question I will ask because I am one and I fear sequels!!!


    ♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥

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  15. I like to hear when people are not only interested in trying something new, but also gathering information and planning before just diving in.

    I am sure you will excel in writing a trilogy when you do it.

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  16. My first trilogy grew and grew out of a 7k short story. It split itself at all the appropriate spots, and there is actually room for a fourth book, though I hope to edit down the third novel so that is unnecessary. You'll figure it out Rachna, with or without a lengthy time plotting every detail. Just write the story, and stop occasionally for sidetracks when all that storyline crowds your head.

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  17. I don't have any experience myself but I get the feeling that there can be some pantsing in trilogies- you have to be willing to revise like there's no tomorrow as you come up with things in later books that require you to revamp the first. I imagine that make it more difficult, but certainly not impossible. I say if you've always wanted to give it a try then you should go for it!

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  18. Hi, Rachna,

    I've never finished mine, so I don't have any advice to give.

    But if you stay focused... see where your character's want to go. Introduce a new one here and there.

    And READ trilogies your style is similar to and see how they melted one story into to other...

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  19. ... and when you find the answer to this, please share with us!
    It seems like series/trilogies are the way to go...

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  20. You don't need to be a plotter to write a trilogy, although I would advise to take notes as you go. They'll be really helpful when you get to books two and three.

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  21. It is always nice to get insights of lands that are still a little far away for me Rachna:) Missed reading this due lots of travel plus work:(

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