The Bigger Picture: Writing with a Series in Mind
Come attend this Reedsy Masterclass with Lisa Edwards on April 13th
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I sometimes feel disappointed by cliffhanger endings, especially in a modern series that is still ongoing and, unfortunately, unfinished. There’s nothing inherently wrong with abrupt endings, but my preference is to read a conclusion that ties up most of the dangling plot threads; otherwise, the “ending” can come across as an arbitrary stopping point, as if the author didn’t know how to end it.
On the flip side, I recently enjoyed a five-book series that seamlessly blended the books into one epic story. If done right, readers will keep coming back, knowing that the author is taking them on a well-thought-out journey. And that’s kind of what it comes down to: a reader’s trust in the story and the one telling it.
To me, for a series to have decent fundamentals, the author must carefully consider what to keep, what to leave out, and when to do both. But I’m not a well-established author, nor am I qualified to advise on writing a series (I struggle with finishing short stories). That’s why I’ve teamed up with Reedsy Learning (affiliate link)* to bring you the experts at a discount!
Reedsy Learning has provided us with a 50% discount code (WINSTON50) to attend the course “The Bigger Picture: Writing with a Series in Mind” by Lisa Edwards (The Hunger Games, His Dark Materials) on April 13th. If you’re interested in learning more about crafting a series, consider joining us in this upcoming Reedsy Masterclass.
*A portion of the funds raised by attending this class and future events is returned to the Lunar Awards to improve our prizes and cover operating costs, which keeps the awards free for all indies to participate.
Lisa Edwards brings thirty years of experience across both children’s and adult books. As Publishing Director of Scholastic UK, her team published bestsellers including The Hunger Games and His Dark Materials. She has been a freelance writer, editor, agent, and publisher for the last seven years.
In this hour-long Masterclass, we’ll learn:
Why the possibility of multiple books appeals to publishers.
Ways to strengthen your concept by thinking beyond a single book.
How to tailor your idea for different age groups and market needs.
Tools for planning narrative arcs within individual books and across a trilogy, series, or collection.
I’m going to be there. I hope you will be, too. Don’t forget to use code WINSTON50 during checkout to get 50% off your ticket price. Thanks for being a part of the Lunar Awards!
