Comments on: Some pros and cons of the connected series http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/ Author of fun contemporary romances & more Wed, 23 May 2012 13:47:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Natalie J. Damschroder http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/comment-page-1/#comment-8296 Natalie J. Damschroder Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:15:38 +0000 http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/29/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/#comment-8296 Yeah, I feel the same about Plum, though her humor has held me longer than, say, the Kinsey Millhone books did, which I stopped reading for the same reason (stagnation). The other risk there, not just that Stephanie making a choice will eliminate the tension, is that no matter who she chooses, half the readership will be unhappy. :) You know what series amazes me? The JD Robb series. Eve and Roarke grow and change with each book, incrementally so, as very little time passes over the course of the series, but they have come a long way from their beginnings. It's amazing how many books there are, and my eagerness for each one hasn't diminished one iota. I'm sure there are other people who feel the opposite, though, there always are. :) Yeah, I feel the same about Plum, though her humor has held me longer than, say, the Kinsey Millhone books did, which I stopped reading for the same reason (stagnation). The other risk there, not just that Stephanie making a choice will eliminate the tension, is that no matter who she chooses, half the readership will be unhappy. :)

You know what series amazes me? The JD Robb series. Eve and Roarke grow and change with each book, incrementally so, as very little time passes over the course of the series, but they have come a long way from their beginnings. It’s amazing how many books there are, and my eagerness for each one hasn’t diminished one iota. I’m sure there are other people who feel the opposite, though, there always are. :)

]]> By: Shannon http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/comment-page-1/#comment-8295 Shannon Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:09:15 +0000 http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/29/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/#comment-8295 Oh hai, I's back... Another thing I meant to mention---I really like Brockmann's method of having almost series within a series. A storyline having a three-book arc or whatever. I think it helps keep things from getting stale without shorting anybody's arc. Oh hai, I’s back…

Another thing I meant to mention—I really like Brockmann’s method of having almost series within a series. A storyline having a three-book arc or whatever. I think it helps keep things from getting stale without shorting anybody’s arc.

]]> By: Shannon http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/comment-page-1/#comment-8294 Shannon Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:07:06 +0000 http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/29/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/#comment-8294 Yes, she absolutely should stay true. And, as much as I'm annoyed by the new Troubleshooters, I'm still there. The series I've more or less dropped is the Stephanie Plum series. I just feel like I was reading the same story over and over, and at HC prices? No. But she's written herself into an interesting place because I feel that until Steph chooses between Joe and Ranger, she can't go anywhere growth-wise, but I also feel that Steph making a decision between the two men will Moonlight the series. Yes, she absolutely should stay true. And, as much as I’m annoyed by the new Troubleshooters, I’m still there.

The series I’ve more or less dropped is the Stephanie Plum series. I just feel like I was reading the same story over and over, and at HC prices? No. But she’s written herself into an interesting place because I feel that until Steph chooses between Joe and Ranger, she can’t go anywhere growth-wise, but I also feel that Steph making a decision between the two men will Moonlight the series.

]]> By: Natalie J. Damschroder http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/comment-page-1/#comment-8293 Natalie J. Damschroder Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:56:12 +0000 http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/29/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/#comment-8293 Yeah, I knew that was the one you were referring to. :) But she intended from book 1 to expand, that's why she included the FBI and people from other areas in her world from the very beginning. I'm still completely hooked, for far longer than I've been with other series that have stuck much closer to their original format. I got bored with those. My point isn't that you're wrong, just that it all balances. Any given choice an author makes can lose some readers, pick up or solidify others. A good argument for staying true to yourself as an author, maybe? :) Yeah, I knew that was the one you were referring to. :) But she intended from book 1 to expand, that’s why she included the FBI and people from other areas in her world from the very beginning. I’m still completely hooked, for far longer than I’ve been with other series that have stuck much closer to their original format. I got bored with those.

My point isn’t that you’re wrong, just that it all balances. Any given choice an author makes can lose some readers, pick up or solidify others. A good argument for staying true to yourself as an author, maybe? :)

]]> By: Shannon http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/comment-page-1/#comment-8292 Shannon Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:48:48 +0000 http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/29/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/#comment-8292 <i>Like, how can you prevent zero arc over the length of a series? Expand it beyond your original world.</i> Without breaking the rules of your original world, though, or changing what you're giving your reader too drastically. Some readers think Brockmann is growing and expanding the Troubleshooters series and keeping it fresh. I want my :censor: SEAL team back. That's why I read that series and now I'm stuck reading a series I don't really want to read because of the few characters I DO care about. Like, how can you prevent zero arc over the length of a series? Expand it beyond your original world.

Without breaking the rules of your original world, though, or changing what you’re giving your reader too drastically.

Some readers think Brockmann is growing and expanding the Troubleshooters series and keeping it fresh. I want my :censor: SEAL team back. That’s why I read that series and now I’m stuck reading a series I don’t really want to read because of the few characters I DO care about.

]]> By: Natalie J. Damschroder http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/comment-page-1/#comment-8291 Natalie J. Damschroder Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:25:34 +0000 http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/29/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/#comment-8291 Excellent analysis, Shannon! I agree with all of it. What's also interesting is that some of your cons can cancel each other out. Like, how can you prevent zero arc over the length of a series? Expand it beyond your original world. :) Excellent analysis, Shannon! I agree with all of it.

What’s also interesting is that some of your cons can cancel each other out. Like, how can you prevent zero arc over the length of a series? Expand it beyond your original world. :)

]]> By: Charlene http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/comment-page-1/#comment-8290 Charlene Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:30:34 +0000 http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/29/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/#comment-8290 I love series as a reader. As a writer, I've had the downside of not being able to sell a sequel, and that blows. Which is why the series I'm currently developing will be sold AS a series, 3 books min. with the option to add more (but finite). When a series ends it's natural arc or you want to change focus, you can always do another series in the same world, but I agree, Shan, that the endless series is usually a Bad Thing for both readers and writers. The exception is Discworld, and I think it keeps up the energy and quality by having multiple mini-series within the setting. There are the witch books, the wizard books, the children's and YA books, the police books, and so on. Not always having the same cast of characters or focus gives the series a lot of depth and variety. I love series as a reader. As a writer, I’ve had the downside of not being able to sell a sequel, and that blows. Which is why the series I’m currently developing will be sold AS a series, 3 books min. with the option to add more (but finite). When a series ends it’s natural arc or you want to change focus, you can always do another series in the same world, but I agree, Shan, that the endless series is usually a Bad Thing for both readers and writers.

The exception is Discworld, and I think it keeps up the energy and quality by having multiple mini-series within the setting. There are the witch books, the wizard books, the children’s and YA books, the police books, and so on. Not always having the same cast of characters or focus gives the series a lot of depth and variety.

]]> By: SarahT http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/comment-page-1/#comment-8289 SarahT Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:26:37 +0000 http://shannonstacey.com/2009/07/29/some-pros-and-cons-of-the-connected-series/#comment-8289 "When does it end? Best case scenario—it was always intended to be a defined number of books and it ends in a satisfying manner for the author and her readers." Yes! I am so with you on this point. It's such a shame when an author kills a formerly good series by letting it run on forever. “When does it end? Best case scenario—it was always intended to be a defined number of books and it ends in a satisfying manner for the author and her readers.” Yes! I am so with you on this point. It’s such a shame when an author kills a formerly good series by letting it run on forever.

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