Continuing a Series: Enticing Readers to Return

When writing a series, we need to adjust our writing techniques. Last year, we talked about the tricky balance of repeating information in a series from one book to another. We want to avoid giving readers a sense of déjà vu, but we also can’t assume that readers have read (or remember) previous books.

Similarly, if we hope readers of one book will be enticed to read the rest of the series, we may need to tweak our writing. Like the saying “similar but different,” books in a series need to be similar enough that readers who loved one book will find more of what they love in the other books, yet we also need to make the books different enough to not feel like reboots with just a few minor differences.

Today, let’s explore a few pointers to tempt readers into experiencing the rest of our series.

Series 101: Types of Series

To understand our options, we first need to determine the type of series we’re writing. In general, books are designated a series because they share at least one element:

• Shared Setting: These series take place in the same “world” but each feature different point-of-view (POV) characters. The characters of book two may or may not have been introduced in book one. The events of book two may or may not be dependent on the events of book one.
• Shared Character(s): These series feature the same POV character(s). The events of book two may or may not be dependent on the events of book one.
• Shared Story Arc: These series follow a story arc over several book installments. Each book usually features at least some of the same characters. Sometimes a story will end with a cliffhanger to be resolved in the next book. These books may need to be read in order.

To Standalone or Not to Standalone?

Next, we should determine how “standalone” each book in the series is from a reader perspective, as that will determine how and what we can do to entice readers to continue our series.

To be considered a standalone-style series…

• each book’s story should have a beginning, middle, and end
• each book’s story should have a satisfying ending
• each book can be read and understood in any order (even though readers may get the most enjoyment by reading in a certain order)

However, even standalone books can contain story threads that are not wrapped up within that book. For example, Shared Story Arc series are typically the least likely to be considered standalone—as they often need to be read in order because the overall series arc continues from one book to the next—but some variations will make each book more standalone than others.

In other words, while some Shared Story Arc series end each book in a cliffhanger, others have independent/semi-independent plot arcs self-contained in each book, with the Shared Story Arc slowly building in the background. Or some series start more independently and only the last book or two (when that backgrounded Shared Story Arc comes to the foreground) aren’t standalone stories. In these cases, the books will usually make sense in any order, up until the final book(s).

Either way—standalone or not (or something in between)—we should let readers know the type of series we’ve written. We can specify whether the books need to be read in order or give them a heads-up of cliffhangers. Setting expectations will encourage readers who enjoy our type of series to try our books, and if they first come across the second book in the series, they’ll know when it’s important to start at the beginning and avoid frustration.

Techniques for Non-Standalone Series

If readers find the overall story of a non-standalone series compelling—and aren’t turned off by the non-standalone nature of the series—they’re likely to continue reading, just to finish the bigger story. However, that easy encouragement to continue is also the biggest weakness of this type of series: There’s only one entry point to the series.

So if that single entry-point book doesn’t grab a reader’s interest, they won’t try other books in the series. That means we need to…

• make the entry book the best it can possibly be, to avoid turning off readers with fixable problems
• ensure the entry book appeals to the types of readers we want for the remainder of the series (i.e., an epic sci-fi series shouldn’t kick off with a cozy-western-but-no-sci-fi-vibes entry book)
• use our marketing materials to point potential readers to the entry book, even with later releases
• set expectations for any writing choices that will cause bad reviews when readers are unaware, such as the use of cliffhangers
• encourage readers to sign up for notifications of later releases, as most marketing dollars will go toward the entry book
• let readers know about the need to read in order and/or if the series is finished
• use backmatter to point readers to the continuing story in the next book, and so on…

Techniques for Standalone (or Near-Standalone) Series

A series of standalone books (or close enough to standalone to create multiple entry points for the series) requires more convincing for readers to return. While many of the above marketing bullet points still apply to standalone series, the “similar but different” balance can be trickier.

For example, in a Shared Setting-style romance series, the premise of the shared setting can be a good draw for readers. But if later books don’t offer new twists, that same premise can feel too repetitive. Similarly, in a Shared Character-style mystery series, the character’s quirks, background, vocation, etc. can catch readers’ attention, but the repetition of the same mystery story beats with the same character over multiple books can lose its charm.

So how can we find that similar-but-different balance?

Tips for Making the Stories in a Standalone Series Feel Similar:

• The overall genre should remain the same from book to book (romance, mystery, etc.).
• Use a consistent big-picture premise (small-town romance, fated mates, cozy murder mysteries, medical mysteries, etc.)
• A common series theme should apply to all the books (finding love when you least expect it, fighting for justice, etc.).
• Let side characters (or future/past main characters), locations, and/or other worldbuilding details reappear across books.
• Be consistent with details of the shared elements—ensure the continuing characters and/or setting feel familiar from book to book.

Tips for Making the Stories in a Standalone Series Feel Different: *

• Shared Character series: Give the main character ways to grow and change over multiple stories.
• Shared Character series: Address some aspect of the character’s development in each book—family issues, backstory wound, new/changing relationships, etc. (making the story deeper than just the plot).
• Shared Setting series: Give each book’s main characters different archetypes, personalities, voices, goals, false beliefs, backstory wounds, emotional flaws, etc.
• Shared Setting romance series: Swap the types of characters in the relationship (i.e., which member is “the local” in a small-town romance, which member is “the soldier” in a military/sci-fi romance, etc.).
• Vary the subgenres and/or subplots across books (a cozy mystery series can add thriller touches, a small-town romance series can also do a second-chance romance, etc.).
• Start each book with a different style of inciting incident to help the remainder of the story follow a unique path (a mystery triggered by a co-worker vs. a friend vs. a stranger, etc.).
• Use different tropes for each book’s framework or subplots (a mystery around a kidnapping, stolen treasure, family secrets, etc.).
• Focus on how the standard story beats of the plot, subplot, and/or emotional arcs can evolve differently in each book (i.e., ensure the “realizing they’re in love” moment in a Shared Setting romance doesn’t always rely on the best friend to point it out, etc.).

* Ignore tips for elements that are part of your series’ common premise (i.e., if all the books are supposed to have POV characters of the same archetype, the same inciting incident, etc.).

Additional Tips for Stories of a Standalone Series:

• Give hints to tempt readers into checking out earlier stories, but don’t give away the details of the other books’ endings. Leave readers curious enough to check out the other books.
• Ensure each book has a satisfying ending by resolving that book’s main story.
• If possible, mention at the end of the book any story threads that are purposely left dangling (so readers know we didn’t just forget to tie up that loose end) in a way that makes readers want to follow up with future books.

Final Thoughts: Encouraging Readers to Continue a Series

There’s no specific type of series that “better” encourages readers to continue. What matters most is having a sense of what readers are looking for from our series, so we can deliver that similar-but-different balance throughout the books. Once we have that balance, everything comes down to communicating to readers through our marketing, book descriptions, backmatter, story threads, etc. to let them know how our series continues. *smile*

*psst* Want more examples of how to keep a series fresh and enticing for readers? Check out Jami’s companion post!

Have you thought about the different types of series and how those differences may affect what will encourage readers to continue our series? Have you struggled with that similar-but-different balance in your series? Does this post give you ideas for working with a series? Do you have any questions about series or how to entice readers to continue?