Because you have multiple books to fill, you’re given a lot more freedom in certain ways. Think of it in terms of the cinema: a standalone novel is like a movie whereas a series is like a TV show. You have to give the readers–and the characters–the ending that they deserve.Ī series is a completely different beast. That doesn’t mean a happily ever after per say, but because there won’t be another book you can’t end on a horrible cliffhanger. Speaking of which, with a standalone novel you absolutely need a satisfying ending. If things get too complicated, you most likely won’t be able to come to a satisfying resolution by the end. There can be side plot points as well, but there has to be a clear narrative structure. A standalone novel must have a main thread that is being followed clearly, so don’t make the plot too complicated. This also means preciseness in terms of charting out the plot strands as a whole. When writing a standalone novel, every scene needs to answer the questions: How does this further the character arc? How does this further the plot? Every scene has to be important and purposeful, you don’t have the liberty of being able to write cute or heartfelt scenes that don’t advance the plot or develop your characters…it’s crunch time. However, because the story will be contained within the confines of a single book–rather than several–not a single moment can be wasted. It is a self-contained story so, for readers, it will feel clean and complete within itself. But there are actually benefits and drawbacks to both forms.Ī standalone novel requires a lot of preciseness. A series can feel like a very daunting task to undertake. Initially, it may seem like a standalone is the easier and safer choice. One of the biggest choices is deciding whether that idea would work best as a standalone novel or a series. But, before you begin turning that idea into a book, there are some choices you need to make. And we all know that eye twitching, foot tapping, addict feeling of needing to start writing it. We all know that hurried way we reach to our notebooks (or even our phones) and vigorously jot down everything we can before it slips away. All writers know that moment– that gorgeous ‘aha’ moment when a fantastic idea comes their way.
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