October 5, 2020
When writing a sequel or series with the same characters, do you ever have to refer back to your first book because you forgot what you wrote about a certain character?
When I started writing The Marquesa’s Necklace, I didn’t expect for the book to turn into a series. Even halfway through the first draft, when I had an inkling there might be a second book, I didn’t expect to ever need to refer back to the first book. When Harmony convinced me to write a series, I had no idea what I was in for.
The second book, Her Ladyship’s Ring, wasn’t bad. Sure, I had to go back and verify descriptions here and there, but the first book was still fresh on my mind, so it wasn’t a lot of extra work.
But the third book in the series, The Baron’s Cufflinks, was interrupted by a story in the Free Wolves series. Tasha, from Wolves Pawn, demanded I write her story. Immediately. So, I did. And by the time I got back to Cufflinks, I’d lost track of details, and I had to refer back to books 1 and 2 on a regular basis. Things got complicated.
By the time I hit the fourth book in the Harmony Duprie series, I wished I had a book bible – a list of characters, descriptions, which books they were in, whether they were good or bad. It was getting harder to keep track of names I’d used for minor characters. (I didn’t want to repeat them.) I started a list, but it wasn’t comprehensive. I added some to it working on The Samurai’s Inro, book 5, but it still wasn’t complete.
And here I am on book 6, The Ranger’s Dogtags. I thought it would be easier because I took Harmony out of Oak Grove and away from most of the continuing characters. But in typical Harmony fashion, things didn’t go as expected, and a character I thought I was done with from book 1 showed up. And yes, I had to go back and look up the name and description. You’ll have to wait to find out who.
But this is the last book in the Harmony Mysteries, (Well, for now) so I haven’t worked on the spreadsheet. But, lesson learned. When I start my next story, I’ll keep track of characters as they come along.
Now, let’s find out what the other authors on this loop have to tell us. Just follow the links below.
Until next time, stay safe!
October 5, 2020
When writing a sequel or series with the same characters, do you ever have to refer back to your first book because you forgot what you wrote about a certain character?
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I drag and drop copy the characters folder from one to the next and add a “current” text sheet with the leftovers and/or continuing players still in there. However, if we all wrote iceberg it would be so much easier. And shorter! Sales dragging? Try this
https://philh52.wordpress.com/2020/10/03/nvdt-random-advice-from-captain-obvious/
Wow. You have a characters folder? What program do you use to write? (Hey, that might make a good blog post topic!)
Scrivener!
I’ve heard a lot of writers recommend it, but I’ve never tried it.
Stupid easy to use, inexpensive, and your entire novel by chapter and scene. I’m not a compensated endorser but it saved me from the evils of trying to maintain an
Easy to use, your entire work visible by chapter and scene. If you want to move something drag and drop. A folder for characters, locations…the easiest way to spot holes, redundancies I’ve ever seen. I am not a compensated salesperson, but it’s saved my ass. Even for stuff that is graveyard material it makes it easy to mine good bits for shorts or “that’d work here or there.” The functional demo is free. Try it and you’re hooked.
I think everyone has different ways of keeping track. I doubt I could write Daermad Cycle without my continuity notebook. So far, I don’t need one of Transformation Project. I can fairly quickly find what I need by referring to previous manuscripts, which helps with overall continuity — besides just names and eye color. I know people who swear by spreadsheets. That feels too much like the thing I hate most at my mundane job. Maybe I’ll change my mind some day, but for now — I have better things to do with my time — like, write more stories and reread them to assure continuity in later parts of the story.
I’m weird. I actually like simple spreadsheets. (note the word simple) Sure, what I’m doing could be done in a chart in a word program, but I find it easier to do in a basic spreadsheet.
It’s what works for you. I’m a big one for doing what works for the individual.
I was never going to write series. Actually, I was never going to write more than one book, it just sort of happened. If I had to spend time on a companion volume about all the characters, I think it would distract me so much that I’d get fed up with the actual story and turn it into some sort of encyclopaedia.
The Marquesa’s Necklace wasn’t supposed to be a series. Heck, it wasn’t supposed to be a mystery. It was supposed to be a paranormal romance called The Ghost Who Loved Me, but my characters didn’t let that happen.