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Market Viability:Research the market to determine if there’s an audience for your series. Cozy mysteries areextremelyfriendly to series. However, there are a lot of cozy mystery series out there already. Does your concept have what it takes to compete in that crowded marketplace?

Structural Planning:Think about whether you prefer the structure and planning involved in series writing. Not everyone has the attention span for a series. Which is fine. A series can demand intricate plotting to weave threads across books while ensuring each installment offers a satisfying conclusion. Are you prepared for the challenge of balancing overarching storylines with the self-contained narratives of individual books?

Financial Considerations:Series can be financially advantageous, as each book can drive sales of others in the series. However, the initial investment in time before seeing a return might be significant. It typically takes until books 5–8 to see really strong financial returns on a series. Assess your financial expectations and how a series fits into them.

Creative Flexibility:Consider whether you enjoy working within the same world and with the same characters over time. While a series can provide a rich canvas for storytelling, it requires consistency and a certain level of creative constraint compared to standalone projects. While there is a level of comfort and familiarity in writing a series, you’re going to find yourself boxed in by what you’ve already created. Not to mention, there are A LOT of details to keep track of when writing a series, especially a series with a large cast such as the typical cozy entails.

Reader Engagement:Series have the advantage of building a loyal readership. Think about whether you’re ready to engage with a community of readers who will have expectations and hopes for your series’ direction. There’s nothing like having a reader inform you your character would never do something you’ve planned for them to do for the past three years.

Publishing Strategy:Decide on your publishing strategy early on. If you’re aiming for traditional publishing, consider that publishers often look for series potential in mystery and crime fiction. If you’re all about self-publishing, think about your capacity to produce books at a pace that keeps readers engaged.

Deciding to write a series is a significant but potentially rewarding decision. It requires careful consideration to ensure that both you and your readers find the journey fulfilling and enjoyable.

If you do decide to write a series, you willdefinitelyhave to have a series bible.

A series bible is essentially a comprehensive guidebook that writers use to maintain consistency across a series. It’s a treasure trove of information on characters, settings, plot points, themes, and anything else relevant to the series. Think of it as a map or a reference tool that helps you keep track of all the intricate details of your world, ensuring that characters stay true to their development and the series remains coherent from book to book. It’s particularly handy for avoiding contradictions and for keeping the small details that enrich a story consistent throughout your writing, especially useful in genres like mystery and crime fiction, where complexity and detail are key.

You don’t have to maintain the bible yourself (I hire someone for that), butsomeonehas to keep it updated—and updated accurately.

Creating a series bible ahead of time offers numerous advantages for authors, especially when tackling a series with intricate plots, a large cast of characters, and a detailed setting. A series bible is essentially a reference document that contains all the crucial information about your series, ensuring consistency and aiding in the development of your story. Here are some key advantages of having a series bible from the outset:

Maintains Consistency:One of the primary benefits is the maintenance of consistency across books. A series bible helps keep track of character details (such as physical descriptions, backgrounds, and relationships), settings (geographic details, cultural norms), and plot points (key events, timelines) to prevent discrepancies that could confuse readers or undermine the story’s believability.

Enhances Continuity:For series with complex plots and long character arcs, a bible ensures continuity of storylines and character development. It helps you remember what has already happened and what’s been hinted at, allowing for the seamless weaving of narratives across multiple volumes.

Facilitates Efficient Writing:With a comprehensive guide at your fingertips, you spend less time searching through previous manuscripts for details, making the writing process more efficient. It reduces the need for extensive revisions due to inconsistencies and helps speed up the writing of subsequent books.

Aids in World-Building:A series set in a richly detailed world benefits greatly from a bible that catalogs its complexities. This includes geography, political systems, social norms, and cultural practices. A well-constructed bible can make the world more vivid and immersive for readers. The very act of creating the bible often leads to more and better ideas. It’s a form of brainstorming with yourself.

Supports Character Development:Tracking character growth and changes becomes simpler with a series bible. This is especially useful for series with large ensembles or where characters undergo significant development. It helps ensure that changes in characters are deliberate and consistent with their arcs.

Encourages Creative Exploration:A series bible can also be a creative tool, offering a space to explore ideas for future plots, characters, and settings that can be integrated into the series. This can lead to richer storytelling and more cohesive narratives.

Improves Planning and Plotting:For authors who plot their series in advance, a series bible is invaluable for planning out story arcs, character trajectories, and major events. It allows you to see the big picture and make adjustments as needed to serve the overall narrative.

Eases Collaboration:If you’re working with editors, co-authors, or other contributors, a series bible ensures everyone has the same understanding of the series’ elements. This can be crucial for maintaining a unified vision and voice across the series.

Streamlines Fact-Checking:Before publication, a series bible serves as a quick reference for fact-checking, ensuring that all details align with what’s been previously established, which is crucial for maintaining reader trust and immersion.

Supports Marketing and Adaptations:A detailed series bible can also be a useful tool for marketing efforts or if your series is considered for adaptation into other media. It provides a comprehensive overview of your series’ universe, characters, and plot, which can be invaluable for promotional or development purposes.

In summary, a series bible is not just a tool for keeping track of details; it’s an essential asset for crafting a cohesive, engaging, and believable series. It supports the creative process, enhances productivity, and ensures a high-quality reading experience.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Comprehensive Series Bible

1. Choose Your Format

Digital vs. Physical:Decide whether you prefer a digital document (using software like Scrivener, OneNote, or a simple Word document) or a physical binder. Digital formats are easily searchable and accessible from multiple devices, while physical bibles can be satisfying to flip through and annotate by hand.

Template:Consider starting with a basic template that you can customize as your series develops. There are many templates available online, or you can create your own based on the categories most relevant to your series.

2. Organize Your Bible into Sections

Your series bible should include sections for all the critical elements of your series. Common sections include:

Character Profiles:Include detailed descriptions, backgrounds, relationships, character arcs, and any changes that occur throughout the series.

Setting Descriptions:Document the settings of your series, including geographical details, maps, political structures, cultural norms, and significant locations within your story’s world.