Previously, we’ve discussed two types of book series: episodic series and anthology series. Today, we’ll examine the continuous books series, which is centered on plot. We’ll dig into its definition, examples, and key elements. Then, we will go over how to plan a continuous book series as that most often stumps new writers. This post will be a bit longer than most. It’s a huge topic and splitting it into multiple posts seemed too cumbersome.
Continuous Book Series
A continuous book series is a collection of books holding one story that occurs in the same setting, with the same characters, and chasing the same plot. These books are related to one another and must be read in chronological order. They are technically serials, but most call them a series nowadays. This type of collection can also be called a dynamic series or a dependent series.
Examples
There is a plethora of series that fall in the continuous category. While episodic book series are prime material for TV shows, continuous book series are often made into movie series. Examples are Harry Potter, Anne of Green Gables, The Lord of the Rings, Divergent, and The Dark Tower. These books follow one overarching plot segmented into individual units for each book. Essentially, if you squish all the books together, it’s just one story. Harry Potter learns how to defeat Voldemort and succeeds. Anne grows up on a farm and gains a family. Frodo travels to Mount Doom to destroy the ring while the others battle Sauron. Continuous book series follow the same story to the last book.
Key Elements
Now that we have a grasp on continuous book series, let’s examine three key elements that are present in each successful one.
1. Open External Arc/Closed Internal Arc
When we talked about episodic book series, we pointed out that there are two arcs to every story: external and internal. The external arc is what happens in the story; the internal arc is how the character grows through the story. Continuous book series and episodic book series are opposite in how they treat these arcs. Episodic series have a closed external arc and open internal arc, and continuous series have an open external arc and a closed internal arc.
In a continuous book series, the external arc is open and continuous throughout the entire series. All the books are parts of the full story. While there is an external goal the protagonist chases in each book, each of those goals are just steps in the plan to reach the overall external goal. For instance, Harry Potter’s ultimate goal is to defeat Voldemort, but each book is focused on accomplishing just one step toward that goal (defeat a henchman to Voldemort, learn magic, discover past secrets, collect Horcruxes, etc.). This is why these series have to be read in order, because they are all one story told in several parts.
For the internal arcs in continuous series, they are closed off in every book. Since the external plot arc is never fully closed until the end of the series, readers need some sense of closure in each book. By giving the protagonist an internal goal and showing them grow and achieve that goal, readers get a sense of fulfillment even though the story isn’t over. If every book is spent rehashing the protagonist’s inability to trust others, readers will get bored. Each book will feel like a repeat, and the series will seem like an endless cycle. Make sure there is definite, measurable internal growth in each book.
2. Building Tension
One of the biggest elements of a continuous book series is the building tension over the series. The first book has high stakes, but then the next book has higher stakes, and the next has even higher, and so on. Typically, the first book is a face off with a minion of the villain, then the next is facing a henchman, and then the final book is the big fight against the real villain. Or, if you are writing a romance series, then the first book is dating, the next is the engagement, and then the last is the wedding. Things escalate. More people get involved. Tension builds.
In an episodic or anthology series, each book can restart its level of tension. Not so with continuous book series. If the next book doesn’t feel bigger and better, then the series will flop. That’s usually why these series are limited in number instead of being ongoing like episodic series. There is only so much tension you can build before it gets over the top.
3. The Review And Hook
Because each book builds off the last, continuous book series have to review and hook more than any other type of series. Readers will be following one story over many years, and they shouldn’t be expected to remember everything they read a year ago. With the exception of the first book in the series, each novel should have some review embedded into the beginning. This isn’t a recap where there’s a chapter summarizing everything that happened before (though I’ve seen some do it). It’s where small details are dropped about the past to jog readers’ memories. When a character is introduced anew, a small tidbit is tacked on to remind the readers who he or she is in the story. Or an event in the last book is referenced in chapter one. Just enough little details are given to get the reader firmly planted back in the story.
Excluding the last book in the series, each book also has an ending hook to make the readers want the next novel. It has to be good enough to keep the story in their minds for a year until the next book drops, but the hook also can’t be so huge that the current book’s story feels unresolved and unsatisfying. Generally, the book’s external goal is resolved, but a reveal or twist happens that teases out the series’ overall external plot goal.
How To Plan The Series
Let’s look at the three main parts to planning any series: plot, character, and setting. We’ll dive into each and how they can be used to prepare for a continuous book series.
Plot
The biggest element of planning a continuous book series is the plot. To start, write a premise for the series, and then one for each book. Once you know that, you can work on weaving all the plots together while making them build and tie off at different times to give each book its moment to shine. It’s a very complex process when done correctly so you need to at least have a skeleton outline for the series before you start writing.
Essentially, you will plot the overall series and also each book. The eight elements of plot show up on both a book level and a series level. It’s easiest to start with the series and plot it out, and then your book plots will easily fall out of the main plot. What’s the overarching goal? What stakes are attached to it? What’s the plan to get to the goal (presumably, each major step will be a book goal)? What’s the big antagonistic force that pushes against the goal (and who all works with it that can be the main antagonist in each book)? Once you answer these types of questions for each of the eight plot elements, you’ll have a skeleton outline.
A Warning
When I first started writing continuous book series, I made a huge error that cost me a lot of time to fix. I want to share my experience with you so hopefully you don’t make the same mistake.
At first, I plotted the whole series as one story, taking it and breaking it into three parts. The problem was that, even though continuous series are supposed to be one long story, they aren’t supposed to read like one book. Each one needs its own arc, and you can’t put parts of those three arcs in each book. The graphic below shows three plot arcs in three different colors, and I’ve made two separate representations for how I (and probably most new writers) did it and how it should be done.
For instance, I knew I needed three tiers of villains (antagonistic forces) for the series, but I introduced them all in book one. Instead, I should have introduced the first in book one, defeat him, and then move on to the second villain in book two. That doesn’t mean you can’t have the second villain present in book one, but the main focus should be on villain one. Ask yourself, is this scene or person just here to set up something that happens in a later book? If so, delete. You can foreshadow and set up later plots, but that needs to happen alongside things that are pertinent for the current book.
Story Structure
Even though story structure is not the same as plot, I want to help writers with structure in a continuous series too. You’ll do the same as with plot and stretch the structure over the whole series. Let’s use a trilogy as an example, but you can apply this to any series. Just stretch or shrink the format accordingly if you have more or less books in the series.
If you are using a story structure that breaks things up into three acts (like Super Structure, Hero’s Journey, Hollywood Formula, or Save the Cat!), then you can split your trilogy into those acts. But don’t worry, if the structure you use isn’t laid out into three acts, you can simply plan each book around the three biggest points in story structure.
- Book 1-Act I (Contains the series Inciting Incident)
- Book 2-Act II (Contains the series Midpoint)
- Book 3-Act III (Contains the series Climax)
Book one is Act I of the story. It sets up the world, and the book’s climax is the inciting incident for the whole series. In Hunger Games, Katniss wins the games at the climax. However, she does it with a show of defiance, and that act sets off the entire rebellion that follows in the series.
Book two is Act II, and its climax is the midpoint. In Catching Fire, Katniss and her allies break the hunger games at the end. It’s an act of outright defiance against the Capitol, and it’s the turning point of the whole series that sets the rebels from being passive to active in their mission to overthrow the evil that runs Panem.
Book three is Act III, and its climax is the climax of the entire series. In Mockingjay, Katniss fits with her allies against the corrupt rulers, and, in the end, she kills an evil that tries to clutch her homeland. The world isn’t perfect at the end, but they’ve succeeded in making it better.
Character
Again, as I said in the episodic book series post, you need to create a well-developed protagonist to follow. The entire series will be centered on him or her so make the protagonist compelling. Once the initial characterization is done, you’ll want to give some thought to their internal arcs. The easy way to create the internal arc is to describe how a character is at the start of the series and how they are at the end. There should be a big change. Then, split that change up into little shifts and make each one the internal arc for a book.
For instance, if you’re doing positive change arcs, you’ll pick three flaws in your protagonist. Then, address one in each book. If she’s lazy, let her learn to be proactive in one book. If she’s dishonest, teach her that truth is the best path in another book. On the other hand, if you are doing a negative change arc, you’ll pick something she does well and then create ways for her to pull away from it. If she’s trusting, show her being betrayed over and over until she learns to be more cautious (or even cynical). Make sure each book’s internal arc is pushing the protagonist toward the way you want her to be at the end of the series.
Setting
Setting is another part you need to plan for a continuous series. Depending on where your story unfolds, you may need to do a lot or only a little for it. If your series all takes place in one high school, you only need to develop that space and maybe a few details about the world to sprinkle into the story to make it feel full. However, if you plan to traipse your protagonist across the country or the universe, you’ll need to do deep worldbuilding like in an anthology book series. It’s author’s preference so pick a setting that fits your story best and makes you excited to write it.
Final Thoughts
This was a long post, but I hope it clarifies some aspects of writing a continuous book series. I think this is the hardest series to write as everything needs to flow yet the story needs to be separated into satisfying chunks. Plus, keeping readers’ attention across multiple books for just one overarching story is tough. So, if you are setting out to write a continuous book series, be prepared for a steep learning curve and don’t give up when you have to do a rewrite. Continuous book series can be really popular with readers so they are worth doing and doing right. Take your time and have patience, and you’ll create a masterpiece for the world to enjoy.
Thanks for reading!
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