The Series Dilemma: Big Plots or Small Plots?

So, now that Body of Proof's freshman run has ended (and I am a little sad that it ended at episode 9 instead of 13 but we'll probably get those other episodes tacked on the season 2 if we're lucky), I thought I would write up a post about a topic I've been thinking about a lot lately; series. Not the TV kind. The book kind. Both as a reader and a writer, series fascinate me. And as I've discovered, there appear to be two main types of series. So I will take a little time to discuss each, including what's difficult for writers, what readers can expect from each and a few suggestions of series I've enjoyed (or know of that fit the category) in case you're interested in taking a look.

The Arcing Series

The first series type I'll be discussing is what I've dubbed the arcing series. In this type of series each book may have it's own distinct plot but each book builds on the ones before to tell a larger tale. As a writer, this type of series takes a lot of planning before you even sit down to start composing book 1 (no matter if it's a trilogy or a fifteen-volume opus). The majority of this type of series tend to fall into the genre categories of science fiction and fantasy. And with those genres comes lots and lots of world building. If you're creating your own universe (as if the one we live in didn't exist) you're going to need to have everything thought out. That doesn't include the plot. Before you can start fleshing out your characters, their dilemma and journey, you have to know as much about your world as you can. Of course you're not going to put all of that information in your series. Just what's essential to the story. But you won't know that until you've got it all laid out.

Then comes the storyline itself. Series are an ambitious thing to attempt for any writer, especially the arcing series. You have to make sure that at least the first book can stand on its own. Publishers and readers may be more willing to accept cliffhangers (though not gigantic ones) in later volumes. But to keep your audience, you should try to tie up the plot of each book by the end. The fact that you're working with a larger tale to tell will allow you leave some hints, clues and threads along the way to tie up by the very end.

In terms of being the consumer of this type of series, you have to really think about whether you're willing to wait a year (or more given the pace of publishing) for the next installment to get your fix. Personally, I hate the wait. It's why I enjoy discovering new series where a few of the books have already been released. I was quite young when Harry Potter hit the shelves and I apparently have blocked out that I got super anxious in between releases. I was reminded of that longing when I read the first book in Rick Riordan's "Heroes of Olympus" series (spin-off of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series). I'd read the preceding 5-book adventure of Poseidon's son after all 5 books had been released and therefore didn't have to wait. Below you'll find a few suggestions for arcing series (some finished, some not).

Reading Suggestions: Harry Potter (complete), Percy Jackson and the Olympians (complete), Heroes of Olympus (incomplete), The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (incomplete).

The Character Series

This type of series follows the same main character (or set of characters) over the course of numerous adventures. It is far easier to jump into a series like this mid-way and not feel totally lost. Certainly, there may be call back to prior plot lines or characters but in general, they're far more stand alone than the arcing series. This type of series comes with its own set of writing difficulties. You are more than likely going to be anchored in the real world so you don't have the world-building issue of the arcing series. But, you do have to do your research. These types of stories focus more on the character development than the larger story. It can be difficult, especially if you are under contract with a publisher for a certain number of volumes in a series of this type, to come up with enough unique and interesting plots. This also has to do with branding. You have to tell a consistent type of story with these types of series.

As a reader (as said previously) it is easier to come into a series like this mid-stream. But if you're anything like me as a series consumer, I like to start at the beginning. Which meant when I started reading Steve Berry, I had to go and pick up all of the series to read it in order. I like this type of series (usually thrillers or some sort of genre like that) because you really get to know the characters. They become like old friends in a way. I've read far fewer of this type of series because I do love my sci-fi/fantasy, but I have given you a couple recommendations.


Reading Suggestions: The Cotton Malone series (incomplete), Alex Cross (incomplete)

Now you may be wondering if it is possible to mix the two types of series. The answer is; yes, of course. They're more about elements and you can have a character-driven series that also has a larger overall plot. You can even cross genre lines. These aren't hard and fast rules. Just observations about the way stories get told. I would urge you if you don't do a lot of reading to try picking up a series. It's so much fun to get wrapped up in the same group of characters whether you're in it for the longer journey of an arcing series or the real deep character work of a character series.

Reading Recommendation

So I've been doing a lot of reading lately. I just love getting lost in a good book and when I'm on a roll, I can poweer through a 350-400 page book in about 2 days. So I thought I would drop by and give you a little book recommendation from my reading list.

Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Basic premise: The Gods of Olympus have ruled the world for the last 3,000 years in the 5th Age (the Golden Age), moving across the globe as Western Civilization moves. Currently, Mount Olympus rests atop the Empire State Building in New York City. Enter 12-year-old Percy Jackson. He's just a kid with ADHD and dyslexia until he discovers he's the son of one of the Big Three (Zeus, Posiedon and Hades) and is ushered off to Camp Half-Blood (training ground for all demigods).

Why I like the series: I really love Greek mythology (as those of you who have been following my progress with Euterpe's Song know) so I was interested to see how someone else handled the pantheon in modern times. I saw the film adaptation of The Lightning Thief (book 1) before I read any of the books. The movie was enough to hook me. I immediately went out and bought the first two books in the series and devoured them in three days flat. Books 3 and 4 went the same way last week and book 5 (the last in the series) was gobbled up in less than 24 hours yesterday.

I was drawn in to the world Riordan created and the way he made everything fit. I really enjoyed the fact that Olympus was in New York at the top of the Empire State Building (the 600th floor). The gods and goddesses all have their roles to play as the saga unfolds and I found their portrayals fascinating, especially in comparison to the personas I'd given several of the gods and goddesses in my novel. Certainly there are differences between Riordan's work and my own but knowing that someone else managed to publish a book about the Greek pantheon gives me hope. I also found Percy's voice entertaining, albiet a little repetitive between books. We were constantly reminded who his father was and who his friends were (and who their godly parent(s) were). But I suppose all series have some sort of recap in them at some point.

I will also admit that reading Riordan's sereis gave me some things to mull over for my own books (books 2 and 3 in my trilogy). I hope that my interpretation of these great figures can stand up to his. I would feel veryy honored to share shelf space with him.

Overall rating: * * * *