Writing a juvenile fiction series
Harry Potter has “disapparated,” A Series of Unfortunate
Events has come to its tragic ending. So what’s the next
great children’s book series? And more importantly, could
you be the one to write it?
It seems every other writer wants to pen “the next Harry
Potter.” But before plunging headlong into the world of
juvenile series fiction, there are a few things to consider.
Why write a series?
The benefits of writing series fiction for kids boil down
to three essentials:
1. Hone your craft. I learned the craft of mystery writing
by selling the Chet Gecko Mysteries series and having to
write the books on deadline. Series teach you about
plotting, character, motivation, maintaining consistency,
and how to sit down and write when your Muse is on vacation
and you’d rather be off surfing.
2. Hook readers. Series are “training wheel books.” The
familiarity of the characters and world make it easier for
the reader to enter with each succeeding tale. This builds
literacy skills and creates new readers who will want to
read whatever you come up with.
3. Get a steadier paycheck. Let’s face it: those of us who
are serious about making our living as fiction writers lack
the steady paycheck of the nine-to-fiver. Selling and
writing a series gives you predictable advances on
royalties -- as long as you keep up with your deadlines.
Convinced? Consider one more thing before taking the
plunge.
Avoid this big mistake many writers make
I know, I know. You’ve got a whole world mapped out,
including spin-off books, histories for all the characters,
toy designs, and casting suggestions for the movie. But
reign in that enthusiasm for a minute.
The biggest mistake most writers make is trying to plan the
whole series before taking care of the basics: writing the
best possible first book.
Before even thinking about selling your series (to say
nothing of the merchandising rights), start by writing an
amazingly good first book of the series. Make sure your
tale has these essentials:
• A strong voice,
• A sympathetic lead character,
• Colorful, lively writing, and
• A well-constructed plot.
Most editors don’t want to see all 12 manuscripts and your
20-page marketing plan. They want to see one wonderful
story and hear why you think your series is unique.
And if you can manage that, you’re one step closer to
creating the next Harry Potter. Good luck with that.
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Bruce Hale is the author and illustrator of more than 20
books for kids, including the bestselling Chet Gecko
Mysteries and Underwhere. Find out more about how to write
and publish children’s books from his popular free
e-newsletter at http://www.brucetalks.com
