I may be wrong, but I think it was Ross McDonĀald (he wrote the highĀly sucĀcessĀful Archer series of crime novĀels) who sugĀgestĀed that if you intend to write a series, start off by writĀing three or four of them, so you get, not just the sequencĀing right, but the main charĀacĀters right.
I have writĀten a numĀber of seriesāthe CapĀtain Gray books, Crispin Books, the PopĀpy books, MidĀnight MagĀic booksāand nevĀer havĀing done what he urged, I think heās right.
The thought comes into my head as I attempt to write a sequel to The Secret School. The origĀiĀnal was writĀten twenĀty years ago and was comĀposed for seriĀalĀizaĀtion in newspapersāpublished by BreakĀfast SeriĀals. It was subĀseĀquentĀly rewritĀten and pubĀlished in book form by HarĀcourt. HarĀcourt was acquired by LitĀtle Brown. LitĀtle Brown requestĀed a sequel and I agreed to do it.
That seemed reaĀsonĀable, butā
Since I nevĀer intendĀed a sequel, I had no idea what the plot might be.
The daughĀter of an ediĀtor friend of mine who had loved the origĀiĀnal, when I asked her what the sequel should be about replied, āIt has to be about how Ida (the proĀtagĀoĀnist) goes to high school.ā
That made sense, butā
The origĀiĀnal stoĀry covĀered a time periĀod of some six weeks.
High school is a four-year project.
And when I went and re-read that origĀiĀnal, othĀer than describĀing Ida Bidsonās heightāwhich is imporĀtant in the origĀiĀnal bookāthere is no descripĀtion of what she even looks like.
Beyond all that the origĀiĀnal stoĀry was much-loved. How could I posĀsiĀbly capĀture its attracĀtion and energy?
But I have agreed to write the book.
Itās been a process of getĀting back into charĀacĀter, psyĀcholĀoĀgy, place, style, vocabĀuĀlary, hisĀtorĀiĀcal moment, life in a small-town high schoolāin the year 1925.
I should have lisĀtened to Ross McDonĀald. But I didnāt.
Would you be surĀprised if I tell you itās going slowly?
Stay tuned.
9 thoughts on “Writing a series”
Oh I will stay tuned. I am sure it will all come to you evenĀtuĀalĀly. I love you letĀting us in on your process!
PS My friend attendĀed a one room school near BufĀfaĀlo, NY. She is a poet and writer and about 81 or 82 with a good memĀoĀry so if you would like to hear her stoĀries I am sure she would be very eager to share.
Janet, I would love to hear her stoĀries, too! Do you have a blog where you could post them?
But if you preĀfer to keep it more priĀvate, I defĀiĀniteĀly understand. š
I will stay tuned, as I love that book! Such an aweĀsome book. I love Prairie School, too. Please keep these kinds of book comĀing, Avi. š
SendĀing good luck! I canāt wait to read it!
Canāt wait to see what hapĀpens with Ida next! I adore the origĀiĀnal book which I now will view as Part 1 in a series!! Lots can hapĀpen in high school!
By some astoundĀing coinĀciĀdence I just picked up The Secret School today and read it entireĀly in the afterĀnoon. It was so marĀvelous that I had to find out more which lead me to this blog and the posĀsiĀbilĀiĀty that my kids and I will be able to read a sequel. Joy!
I nevĀer write my stand-alones with the intenĀtion for a series, but now I find that a couĀple of them could be, *if* the first sells and does well. (No small IF, that š )
I think Ross MacĀDonĀaldās advice is right, though it also feels preĀsumpĀtuĀous in a way for mid-lisĀters. But we have to get over that, donāt we.
Good luck with yours. If anyĀone can, you can.