Sunday, November 4, 2012

Ten Warning Signs that a Series Needs to End Already

Good morning Word-Whoredom! I'm writing this from gloomy Toronto, where I've been attending the World Fantasy Convention, with sister whores Allison Pang and Linda Robertson. In a most-convenient stroke of serendipity, Ellora's Cave just happened to have a booth going at the Everything to do with Sex Show downtown. Last night I went and signed a bunch of cover flats for Feeding the Vampire and Hunting the Siren. Wild, enthusiastic and occasionally drunken readers. Total antithesis to the WFC crowd.

Both have been great experiences.

This week's theme is signs a series needs to end. Because I'm running a little low on time, I'm going for bullet points on this one.

Signs a Series Needs To End

1. Your heroine is running out of strange, new and exotic creatures to do the nasty with.

2. Your fans fondly recall Book 10 as the last one that made any sense at all.

3. You're having trouble maintaining a believable love triangle because you can't find a nursing home that allows co-habitation.

4. You've run out of additional super-powers to grant your heroine.

5. If, after eight books, your characters have still not reached the destination they set out for in
Book 1.

6. You've publicly announced that you were done writing the series three books ago, but couldn't resist the money the publisher offered.

7. You're now writing about the continuing exploits of your original heroine's great-grandchildren.

8. The original author's name no longer appears anywhere on the cover.

9. You're less concerned with whether your heroine is becoming a monster than in finding any human qualities at all.

10. If your series is recognized by anyone reading this list.

Why yes - I do plan to revisit this list throughout my writing career!

20 comments:

  1. Great post. Sounds like you had fun at both venues, albeit a different kind of fun.

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    1. Thanks Jillian! And yes - very fun to travel between those two worlds.

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  2. Great list!
    I think I actually can name some series that qualify ;-)

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    1. Sullivan - I bet you could ID every one I'm referencing here!

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  3. Great list. I could add 'killing off the main character only to bring him back for another book' is a pretty good sign the author is done but the publishing contract isn't up yet. :coughharrydresdencough:

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    1. Excellent addition, B.E. I haven't read that series, but I've that particular issue mentioned before.

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  4. SO true. Also I'd add: undoing everything you did in Book Two or Three, which the readers universally LOVED, so WHY are you taking it all apart now??? That was when I stopped reading a certain series!

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    1. Hmmm...I'm not sure which series that is, Veronica?

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    2. One with large vampires...maybe it was just me LOL. I loved a certain relationship from the early books that then got revisited in a much later book and it didn't work for *me* as "refreshed". Maybe "universally loved" was too strong a phrase when I'm really saying "loved by me" :-) and then "unloved by me". Moving on....more books to read, thank goodness, including yours!

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  5. Brilliant post! Funny as heck, but so true. LOL

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  6. I picked out several series from your list that need to end as in just leave it - walk away!! Great post!

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    1. Thanks Dren! The fact that most people, like you, know instantly which series I mean speaks volumes.

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  7. I've read many of these and have stopped how many books would you say are ideal for a series? I think 5-ish usually does it.

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    1. I love the trilogy, Sharon. It's a classic for a reason! I think going past 3 is stretching...

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    2. I love hearing something is going to be a trilogy. That way I know ahead of time there is an end. It kind of sucks when you read a series and have no idea how many books there are going to be.

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  8. LOL! I'll try to keep all these in mind as I continue with my series. I definitely don't want to wear out my welcome with readers.

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    1. I'm making that two-finger pointy gesture between my eyes and yours, Linda!

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