How to plan a book series
The plan for a 3 to 7 book series: overall arc and each book's arc.
Is your series planned? Write the first book with Makebook, chapter by chapter.
Write my first book with MakebookThe guide
A successful series rests on a strong through-line: an overall conflict that evolves with each book. Each volume must also offer its own story, with a beginning, a peak and a partial resolution.
The generated plan spreads the overall arc across the number of books you choose and suggests stakes and an escalation for each.
Avoid revealing everything too early. Save the big revelations for the last books and plant clues from the first.
Frequently asked questions
How many books should a series have?
Three is a good format to start. Don't plan more books than your story needs.
Should every book end on a cliffhanger?
Not necessarily. Each book should resolve part of the conflict while opening a bigger question.
Do I need to write everything before publishing book 1?
It's better to have the overall plan and at least the plot of book 2 in mind to avoid inconsistencies.