If we were having coffee you would soon realise I have a one track mind today – my new obsession. So, until you lost the will to listen to any more on the subject, I would talk about my aim to write series fiction. Yesterday it was a possibility, today it is a probability. I didn’t get a wink of sleep because ideas are literally parading through my mind like protagonists on a cat walk!
At three o’clock this morning I was blaming Rebecca for planting the seed, the fiction series Yesterday’s Gone for being so entertaining, Taylor for encouraging Riley (a character who was supposed to wait his turn), and Eloise for cheering me on! Eventually the buck stopped where it belonged – right in my lap.
If we were having coffee, I would pause for breath and ask about your experiences, if any, with series fiction. I’d also ask about your projects and life in general. I’m not completely selfish!
You would understand how serious I am about this project because I already have a loose plan – I know, it’s a shocker, right? In the UK, television series tend to have a shorter run than the US. We normally get around 12 episodes. I’ve already decided I will follow this format, and will be writing 12 episodes per season (one season per year). Because I couldn’t decide on Fantasy or Crime, I’m going to do both – one in the first six months of the year, one in the last. For the crime I will be focusing on a new close protection team, but as the group work closely with Morgan and Fairchild, there’ll be opportunities for a little crossover.
I have a (tentative) title for the Fantasy series. At the moment I’m calling it The Collective, but that might yet change. I like the idea of multiple authors writing series fiction, so I’m playing around with possibilities there too.
So, during our second cup of happy, the subject would be all talked out and we would settle in to discuss weekend plans and the trials and tribulations of everyday life. There are more trials for me at the moment, but I am clinging to the positive vibes my friends invariably send in my direction, which complement my stubborn will. While we’re on the subject of friends, I would babble excitedly about Callum’s new poetry collection (which is terrific), and the fact I’m about to start Winter’s new release (an anthology) – Secret Identities. I can’t wait to get started!
I would tell you how much I enjoy spending time with you during these weekly get togethers, and we would head over to Diana’s place to show our appreciation for her special brand of awesome.
Until next time
Mel
Melissa Barker-Simpson 
Series fiction sounds like fun! Are you going to cross over your characters from crime to fantasy, or keep the characters separate for each? I think the fun of series fiction is you get to know your characters so well. Have a great week!
I agree – I think I will know them exceptionally well by the end! I won’t cross the series over but there are links to my novels for sure. You have a great week too 😀
Series fiction sounds like fun and something that would come naturally to me (a TV writer by trade), but I’m curious about the business side of it. Is writing a series just a fun side project for authors? Or do people make money writing serial books? Either way, looking forward to following your journey!
Thanks, Heather and you’re absolutely right – it would be perfect for you 🙂 As far as I can tell from Yesterday’s Gone – the team of writers take it seriously. There are a number of seasons now – the first being free (as a marketing technique clearly). There are also other series, so it appears they invest a lot of time into the business. I plan to explore things further, and I’ll share my experiences.
There were so many things in this that made me smile 🙂 Thanks for the mention too!
Thanks, Callum. I let my enthusiasm carry me away! 🙂
Do the series. Just do it. You will not regret it. I hear Aeon Timeline helps keep everything straight.
Ooh, I’ve not heard of that. I will go research immediately. Thanks, Winter 🙂
Just heard of it myself actually. Okay I am tackling a series myself. I am, seriously considering writing it backwards from book three to book one. Thoughts?
I love the idea! It’s perfect for getting to know the characters and understanding the events which influenced them. I love books with flashback scenes, where the picture starts to grow slowly about how things came to pass – it keeps people guessing and is a different sort of journey. I’ll look forward to hearing more about it 🙂
I don’t know about flashbacks. I just know the characters in the third book and know what I want to happen in the end. It’s the middle that is foggy of course 😉 When I am stuck with stories I write backwards so why not with a series?
Why not indeed! Fun for you and fun for the reader too 🙂
You busy lady! This sounds like fun, but it also sounds like a lot of work! Glad you’re so excited about it, and interested in hearing more about the project. 🙂
The excitement is probably delirium! But, seriously, I tend to work better when I’m juggling things so why not! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Yeah, I’m the same way, or at least I tell myself I am, about working better when I’m juggling things!
It’s great when it works! I try to stop beating myself up about the things I can’t control and embrace my eccentricities 😉
Wow Mel! This sounds so exciting, I’m thrilled for you and of course me as a eager reader :).
Aw, thanks, Cassie. I appreciate your encouragement – it means a lot 🙂
Hi, stopping in for coffee and so glad I did. I bopped over to your published page and now I have to run upstairs and grab my Nook. Are you in Barnes and Noble? I am getting hooked. I love love love series fiction,We all started with those types of books as kids. Did you read Nancy Drew? Look at today’s best selling authors in fiction that keep coming back and its series books. I look forward to reading yours.
Thanks so much, for stopping by and for your kind words. My novels are mainly through Amazon, but The Fifth Watcher is available for the Nook. Once I publish my fiction series, I will make sure that is available in most formats too. I’m planning to make Season 1 free and will post it weekly on my website and publish it for those who want an e-book copy. I LOVED Nancy Drew – I devoured those books as a kid. I really miss them! Just doing my own coffee rounds so hope to catch up with you soon 🙂
I love that new idea obsession where it dominates every aspect of your life. Makes it that much more exciting.
I know…it’s so much fun! It’s addictive too! 🙂
It would take a long time before I stopped you talking about series fiction because I’d be asking a lot of questions like, “What the heck is series fiction?” I hope as you get into it, you’ll share the details.
Or, I could warm up my Google finger…
lol – there’s nothing quite like a little google research…just don’t get lost (I’ve lost hours before!). I like to think of it as the book version of a tv show, but that’s oversimplifying perhaps! 🙂
I’m just getting used to ‘fan fiction’–I know. Where have I been! I think they renamed it from something else.
I know what you mean. I’ve never taken part in fan – fiction and don’t completely understand the rules. I get why people would want to spend more time with their favourite characters – there are just too many of my own to give this area of fiction a go at the moment. It might be a fun experience at some point though – I do love a challenge!
Too cool! I’m totally crazy about the idea of writing serial fiction myself. I even have a started project in my files. I’ve always love that style of storytelling as a reader and I try to find old editions of books were the format of being serialize is still persevered. It’s fun to study how the writers used cliffhangers and such to draw the readers in from week to week. Good luck with the projects, it sound great! Thanks for coffee.
Ooh, how exciting. With your passion for the idea, the research, the knowledge – combined with Heather’s experience, might we one day see a series by the sisters? That would be awesome! Thanks for stopping by. I’m as crazy about the idea as you are and the more I think about it, the crazier I become! Have a great weekend 🙂
I like your enthusiasm and excitement about the series project. I will stay tuned to see how that goes 🙂 (If we were having coffee, I’d just say I was fine and urge you to keep talking, because I’d rather just listen!)
Thanks, Janna. It’s always great to share your company so – if we were having coffee and I ran out of things to say, we could always sit in companionable silence 🙂
Good Luck in your fiction writing. Thanks for the visit and the follow.
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It’s my pleasure 🙂 Thanks to you too.