Free Series Craft 101 by Patricia Gilliam

Introduction
     
                  For many people, the idea of completing even a single novel can be an intimidating process.  I was in that group not long ago.  In trying to transition The Hannaria Series from a set of short stories to my first novel, I spent almost two years writing myself into corners until I would quit in frustration.  I loved writing, but I had misconceptions about novels as projects and no clear workflow system.  Finally, I made the decision to step back and rethink my approach—looking not only at literary resources but production aspects of television shows, movies, and even video games.
                  Around the same time, I attended a talk by David Baldacci and was able to ask his advice during the event’s Q&A session.  He explained that he analyzed the stories he enjoyed—breaking down the core elements of why he liked them and applying the overall techniques to his writing.  It made me think of all of the generic writing guides I’d bought and piled up on my shelves—some read and others to apparently teach me how to write a novel through osmosis. Even with years of formal education and a technical knowledge about writing, I was still missing something important. I made the decision that I wouldn’t attempt another book until I figured it out.
    What I realized over time was that great storytelling has a richness that can’t be winged or faked.  As readers, we intuitively sense this but sometimes neglect it as writers.  It’s the difference between walking into an empty house and one that’s been thoughtfully made into a home.  As an author, the background work before and during a series can take years—even decades—but there’s a wonderful element of discovery that I wouldn’t trade for anything.  It’s a lot of work on the front-end of a project, but there’s a long-term benefit that makes the rest of the writing process easier.
                  It took me six months of initial research—mainly focusing on character and setting development—before I sat down and tried to write a novel again.  I finished Out of the Gray in April 2009, and the momentum has carried to where I’m now working on the sixth novel in the series alongside this guide.  What makes my situation unique is that I’ve kept notes on the entire process, including what didn’t work for me.  I also believe that what I’ve learned can be duplicated across genres, not just sci-fi.
    Writing guides can fall into several different categories, a nd I want to be clear that this book is more of a case study of one way to do things—not an all-encompassing overview of everything you’ll ever need to be a novelist.  To grow, you need to pull from a variety of sources and develop a system that works for you.   When possible, I’ve tried to include lists of related resources that helped me.  Even after writing several novels, I’m still in a perpetual state of learning and intend to stay that way for the rest of my life.  Book and publishing industries are rapidly changing, and more responsibility and control is being placed on authors regardless to the method used to publish.  Times of great upheaval are also times of great opportunity based on your perspective, and you need to stay informed if you intend to take your writing from a hobby to a profession.
                  I hope this book will help you get started with a good foundation, and I want to encourage you if it’s your dream to create a story on this kind of level.  It takes time, effort, and a lot of patience, but it can be done.  Best wishes in your writing.
                  Now let’s get started.

Why Novelists Need Systems and How to Create One
     
                  If you take any physically massive project—such as building a house—the idea of just jumping in without a plan and a schedule seems ridiculous.  Even if someone attempted it, the end result