Writing one book can be daunting, writing a trilogy is even more so. Writing a series, well, I haven't tried that yet.
This blog is about Writing a Trilogy: Tips to Keep You Focused. By this, I mean making sure the story can sustain three books, keeping track of your characters and giving the time required to provide the story with your best.
I have written two trilogies, the one above, Edward's Cat Trilogy, is my recent one. It is a Young Adult Magical Fantasy and is recommended for readers 13+. A boxed set will be available in July 2024.
Edward's Cat is a contemporary, magical realism story. This means the reader will relate to the everyday lives of the characters but I have added the element that they are magical, they can shapeshift into their animal forms.
The first trilogy I attempted is a Science Fantasy and is also for teen readers, Xenure Station Trilogy. This book started as a short story - Xenure Station. A Billion Light Years, which was received well by readers, they asked for more. Xenure Station Trilogy - The Enforcers Reign. Revenge is Sweet. Who Wins the Space Race? is an epic battle of good vs evil.
Being my first attempt at writing three books of the same story, I was not sure I could expand a short story to three, but with science fantasy, I found it easy to add elements because this genre is diverse in its storytelling. You are only limited by your imagination as to what you can add to a fantasy story.
Tips on Staying Focused
Write an outline for each story. Work on the overarching storyline that sets up what will happen across the three books.
List all your characters and their traits. Build on their journey. Do they change with time? Do they grow?
Have a hook. Introduce your characters in each book and how they fit into the story.
Set the scenes and control the pacing through the books.
Write an Outline
When I first started writing novels, I didn't plan or write an outline, now I do. Planning is the key to staying focused, especially when writing a trilogy (or series). If you break the main element of the story, maybe go on a tangent with a secondary character, this makes your story harder to write let alone get back on track. The overarching storyline needs to be consistent throughout the three books.
List your Characters
The amount of characters in your story may change, but I find it easier if I have the main characters clear in my head. Then adding secondary characters becomes easier. So, even before I've written my first sentence, I outline who my characters are and how they fit in with each other and the story.
Have a Hook
My Edward's Cat Trilogy started with a 'hook' question at one of my writers' groups. A hook entices readers to keep reading your story, it's an important element when writing a readable story. In this case, my hook was the magic and how the characters use their animal forms to fight the bullies. This hook is the overarching storyline throughout the three books.
What resulted from being given this task was a short paragraph using magic as the hook. This paragraph resulted in my magical realism fantasy with three books following the adventures of Edward, Logan (Edward's son) and their friends fighting bullies.
Set Scenes and Control the Pace
Pacing is another important element when writing a story. This means using short sentences and dramatic words to increase the drama and pace, for example, in a fight scene or an argument between two main characters. Using expressive language will also set the pace. In the example below, I have used pacing to set the scene with the reader being shown what the character is thinking and feeling -
She stopped. Her heart racing. She peeks around the corner to see he is still looking for her. Anger sears through her body, he will not capture her again, this time she will chase freedom, not his controlling arms.
Writing a trilogy takes time and effort. Taking the time and staying focused on consistencies within the story, whose point of view (POV) you are writing, and pacing the story to keep readers interested, this all takes time and staying focused.
If you don't see yourself ever writing a trilogy, then enjoy reading one. Buy a set now and appreciate what the author has done to reach such a milestone.
Happy reading,
Maria P Frino
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