Planning to write a series
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If You’re Going to Write a Series, You Need a Plan: Here’s Exactly How to Do It
Whether you’re writing a sprawling fantasy epic, a gripping romance sequence, a non-fiction masterclass, or a serialised content marketing campaign for your brand, one golden rule reigns supreme: If you are going to write a series, you need a plan.
It’s easy to get swept up in the adrenaline of Book 1. You have a brilliant premise, a head full of steam, and a blank document waiting to be conquered. But what happens when you reach the end of that first installment? If you haven’t mapped out the bigger picture, you risk painting yourself into a narrative corner, dropping vital plot threads, or watching your reader engagement plummet because Book 2 feels directionless.
Series planning isn’t about killing your spontaneity—it’s about building a sturdy scaffolding so your creativity can safely soar.
Just how do you plan a series without losing your mind? Let’s break down the step-by-step roadmap to building a cohesive, binge-worthy series from scratch.
Phase 1: Define the Scope and Structure
Before you write a single scene, you need to understand what kind of series you are building. Not all series are created equal, and your planning strategy will depend heavily on your format.
- The Epic/Arc-Driven Series (e.g., Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings): Each book has its own conflict, but they all feed into one massive, overarching plot that concludes in the final book.
- The Episodic/Character-Driven Series (e.g., Jack Reacher, most cozy mysteries): Each book stands completely on its own, tied together only by the recurring protagonist and setting.
- The Non-Fiction/Content Series: A sequence of blogs, emails, or modules designed to take a customer or reader from point A to point B on a specific journey.
Ask yourself: How many instalments will this take? Is it a trilogy? A duology? An open-ended series? Knowing your endpoint helps you pace the reveals.
Phase 2: Map the Macro-Story (The Big Picture)
If you’re writing a connected series, you must know your destination before you take the first step. You don’t need every single sentence figured out, but you need the major milestones.
- Define the Ultimate Climax: What is the final question your series is trying to answer? (e.g., Will the hero defeat the dark lord? Will the two lovers finally end up together?). Write down how the series ends.
- Break Down the Major Beats by Book: Divide your overarching plot into major milestones.
- Book 1: Introduce the world, the characters, and the inciting incident of the macro-plot. End with a major victory that reveals a bigger threat.
- Book 2: The “dark middle” where things get worse for the protagonists. Stakes are raised; loyalties are tested.
- Book 3: The convergence, the final battle, and the resolution.
- Plant the Seeds Early: If a character is going to betray the protagonist in Book 3, you need to lay subtle clues in Book 1. Macro-planning allows you to weave these rewarding “Easter eggs” into your early chapters.
Phase 3: Treat Characters Like Investments
In a series, your characters are your stock in trade. If they stagnate, your readers will leave. When planning a series, you need to map out character arcs, not just plot arcs.
- The Core Wound: What internal flaw is your main character overcoming across the entire series? How does Book 1 chip away at it? How does the final book heal it?
- Supporting Cast Evolution: Plan how your side characters will grow, change, or exit the narrative. Nothing is more frustrating than a companion character who serves no purpose other than holding a flashlight for three books.
- The Villains: If you have an overarching antagonist, map out their evolution too. Are they always in the background, or do they step into the spotlight gradually?
Phase 4: Create a Series “Bible”
Organization is the secret weapon of prolific series authors. As your world grows, your brain will inevitably drop important details—like the name of the tavern your characters visited in Book 1, or the exact rules of your magic system (or your brand’s content framework).
Create a digital Series Bible (using Notion, Scrivener, or even a simple Google Doc) that includes:
- Character Profiles: Physical descriptions, backstories, quirks, and arc trajectories.
- World-Building Lore: Geography, history, rules, terminology, or product lines.
- Timeline: A master chronology to ensure events line up properly across multiple instalments.
- Open Threads: A running list of unanswered questions or subplots you need to resolve later.
Phase 5: Pace the Information (The “Iceberg” Method)
One of the biggest mistakes creators make in a series is dumping all their best ideas into Book 1. They empty the tank, leaving nothing exciting for the sequels.
Use the Iceberg Method. Show only 10% to 20% of your world, lore, or strategy in the first installment. Hint at the 80% lurking beneath the surface. This creates immediate intrigue and gives you plenty of room to expand in subsequent books without feeling repetitive or forced.
Final Thoughts: Be Flexible, But Stay Grounded
Remember, a plan is a roadmap, not a prison sentence. As you actually sit down to write Book 1, your characters might surprise you, or a better plot twist might reveal itself. That’s okay!
The beauty of having a series plan is that it gives you the freedom to pivot. When you know where you are ultimately going, you can take creative detours along the way without getting lost.
So, before you write that thrilling opening sentence, take a step back. Grab a notebook, map out the horizon, and set yourself up for a series your readers won’t be able to put down.
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