The Challenges of Writing a Series

[WestCin]

I have a few series on here, and I've been told I don't describe my characters enough.

Describe physically, emotionally, habits? lol
I probably over describe.

 

[SkyBubble]

An editor who helped with one of my Homecoming stories said I needed to describe the MC, Carla, more in case people hadn't read the description of her in the first story.

 

[WestCin]

An editor who helped with one of my Homecoming stories said I needed to describe the MC, Carla, more in case people hadn't read the description of her in the first story.

OK I get that and struggle with it too.
I want my story to work independently, but it feels like I’m always giving the same description of my main character.
My personal compromise is to fit her physical description into the story in bits where I can apply them.
For example, “her green top did little to conceal the two heavy hangers that stretched the tight fitting shirt.” Instead of describing her whole body.
But since I write about a specific body type (bigger women) I feel my readers want a full description.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

I've re-used several characters in what have become series, so I've got used to coming up with one-sentence backgrounds and a couple words of description for each.
And I keep notes, though of course then I have to refer to what was meant to be a throw-away.character...

I re-read my stories a fair bit, so I've noticed at least a dozen continuity bloopers - the worst being where I checked what a character's name was, X or Y, and then wrote the wrong name down in the next story.

I live in hope of having readers sufficiently invested to actually notice! None have ever mentioned any of them. (don't all run and complain at once!) Unless I get a huge number of dedicated fans analysing my work over a decade or more, I doubt people will care. I try hard to get details right, but the only ones people have ever quibbled with have been things I've actually had right!

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

OK I get that and struggle with it too.
I want my story to work independently, but it feels like I’m always giving the same description of my main character.
My personal compromise is to fit her physical description into the story in bits where I can apply them.
For example, “her green top did little to conceal the two heavy hangers that stretched the tight fitting shirt.” Instead of describing her whole body.
But since I write about a specific body type (bigger women) I feel my readers want a full description.

This works and I do it a lot.

Also, I find that it’s appropriate to describe looks whenever a new character sees a recurring character for the first time. It’s a bit contrived, but it lets you get some description in via the eyes of the new person and thus doesn’t feel out of place.

 

[WestCin]

This works and I do it a lot.

Also, I find that it’s appropriate to describe looks whenever a new character sees a recurring character for the first time. It’s a bit contrived, but it lets you get some description in via the eyes of the new person and thus doesn’t feel out of place.

I like that idea

 

[Voboy]

I have written series here.

I also write many, many one-offs... but all those one-offs exist in the same universe, and share common continuity.

To me, the main thing that differentiates my series from my in-universe standalones is that the series are meant to be read in sequence (which is why they're numbered). So if I was describing "pillowy breasticles" or whatever, I'd only do it on that character's first appearance and then I'd rely on the reader to do their part: by reading them in order. If a reader knowingly reads a series out of order, I reckon that's on them and any confusion is their fault.

With my in-universe standalones, even when they involve the same character, I approach each one with fresh eyes and a fresh narrative voice: pillowy breasticles get described anew each time. BUT! I usually write in first person, meaning my narrators might have different ways of describing the same people or settings. So continuity is less important.

In all cases, I keep notes docs that are designed to remind me where everything is. For my series, those continuity docs became extremely extensive (and I ended up publishing them because readers asked for them; if you want an example, here).

OP, it's unclear to me whether you're writing a set of standalones or a true series.

 

[Gamblnluck]

An editor who helped with one of my Homecoming stories said I needed to describe the MC, Carla, more in case people hadn't read the description of her in the first story.

The question I have here is why is his/her physical description so important further into the story? If you have a reason include something. Like somebody playing with her overly large nipples. Otherwise, no. In a series, the reader should be invested in the story, not a repeat description of the MC.

 

[Gamblnluck]

I re-read my stories a fair bit, so I've noticed at least a dozen continuity bloopers - the worst being where I checked what a character's name was, X or Y, and then wrote the wrong name down in the next story.

Continuity is the bane of writing a series.

 

[NightPorter]

Series are hard. It can sometimes be beneficial to have a few chapters in the pipeline going at once so you can go back and change things as the writing process evolves. Once you hit submit, you're kind of stuck.

 

[Writer61]

Series are hard. It can sometimes be beneficial to have a few chapters in the pipeline going at once so you can go back and change things as the writing process evolves. Once you hit submit, you're kind of stuck.

Absolutely. I am currently working on a series. It might be two or three parts, but I want to complete the whole thing before I submit it, precisely for that reason.

 

[WestCin]

I have written series here.

I also write many, many one-offs... but all those one-offs exist in the same universe, and share common continuity.

To me, the main thing that differentiates my series from my in-universe standalones is that the series are meant to be read in sequence (which is why they're numbered). So if I was describing "pillowy breasticles" or whatever, I'd only do it on that character's first appearance and then I'd rely on the reader to do their part: by reading them in order. If a reader knowingly reads a series out of order, I reckon that's on them and any confusion is their fault.

With my in-universe standalones, even when they involve the same character, I approach each one with fresh eyes and a fresh narrative voice: pillowy breasticles get described anew each time. BUT! I usually write in first person, meaning my narrators might have different ways of describing the same people or settings. So continuity is less important.

In all cases, I keep notes docs that are designed to remind me where everything is. For my series, those continuity docs became extremely extensive (and I ended up publishing them because readers asked for them; if you want an example, here).

OP, it's unclear to me whether you're writing a set of standalones or a true series.

Series are hard. It can sometimes be beneficial to have a few chapters in the pipeline going at once so you can go back and change things as the writing process evolves. Once you hit submit, you're kind of stuck.

I don’t have my series complete, but I have it outlined out and I know where it is ending.
I have a very good idea what the last three segments are going to tell.