Many of the paranormal romance books you see out there are series. Readers love them, and the demand for them is high. Yet before you dive in and start writing your own series, there are a few things you need to consider.
PROS:
* Readers love them. Their demand for more is fed.
* You have plenty of time for world building and to develop characters. You'll spend so much time with them, you'll know them very well.
* If readers love your first book, it paves the way for great sales in the future with the rest of the series.
CONS:
* Readers might love them, but a series is harder to sell to a publisher.
* You'll spend so much time with your characters, you might get sick of them. Usually it takes years to write a series. Years where you are stuck with these characters that you may grow bored or frustrated with. Things might start to feel stale.
* If readers hate your first book, the rest of your series will bomb.
Here are four tips to help make your series a success:
* Avoid cliches and formulas. Keep each book fresh. Don't be afraid to try something new or show a different side to your characters.
* Make sure each book can stand alone and connect to the series.
* Up the ante in each book. Your characters must continue to grow. Their challenges must get harder in each book.
* The couple might get together in the first book, but that isn't the end of the relationship. There are many stages and challenges to each relationship. Don't let the romance die.
My favorite paranormal romance series and an excellent example of how how to write a series: The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning.
In your opinion, what makes a series good? What are your favorite paranormal romance series?
