How to create continuity, momentum, and satisfaction in every installment

By Michele Chiappetta

In part one of our Series Arc articles, we’ve defined our overall series conflicts.

Now it’s time to dig into how that conflict breaks down over several books. Sticking to our train metaphor, you’re laying section by section to get to your destination. And as you’ve probably noticed, the landscape in different parts of the country is… well, different.

Some sections are flat, others curvy or hilly, or downright mountainous. Some are hot, some cold. Each is interesting in some way, but there is still a clear, well defined arrival point. You’re not going to end up on Mars. You’re going to California, and you will always end up in California on that particular train.

Your story needs that sense of inevitability. Each book will have its own flavor and feel. Yet at the same time, they hook together to bring your readers to the series climax.

So, how do you make this happen?

Step 3: First, Map the Series Plot as You Would for a Single Book

Each book in your series must stand on its own merits and also add rising tension to the series. Yes, that means outlining, but don’t panic. You don’t need to sketch out every single scene before you write. What you need is a map, one that captures the big plot points on which everything turns.

The good news is, you can approach plotting a series arc just as you would a standalone book. You need an inciting incident, a push out of the comfort zone, a big surprise as a character rises to the occasion, a painful setback, a crushing all-seems-lost moment, a major turnaround and victory.

Use any plotting scheme you like—Save the Cat, the Snowflake Method, Story Genius, the Seven-Point Plot Arc, or anything else that works for you. Just take time to identify the specific plot turns that play out in your big-picture conflict, so the whole story speeds ahead like a bullet train.

Step 4: Give Each Book a Mini Plot that Adds to the Big Series Plot

Now that you’ve defined your series arc, it’s time to zoom in and create a rough plot for each book in the series. Each book in your series needs its own internal arc while still serving the larger story.

The trick here is making sure that each book feels both complete on its own, as well as connected to the whole. And you can achieve that sense of connectedness—of inevitability—by planning what happens in each book and making sure those events add to the big picture.

Get as specific (or as pantsy) as works for you, but sketch out at least a few key moments that occur during each book in the series. This includes:

• The major events in each book that move the story toward your series conclusion
• The key conflicts that will play out in every installment
• The ways your characters will evolve in each book

Step 5: Keep Plotlines Intertwined, and Build on What Came Before

There’s nothing worse than sticking with a series only to be let down at the end because it’s anticlimactic, rushed, confusing, or hard to buy into. You can avoid that by making sure each book builds on the previous one’s events. This takes attention and planning.

Even small callbacks, like a repeated line or image, can create an overall sense of connection. (Think Star Wars—“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”) Bigger picture, though, you want each installment in the series to relate clearly to the main plot, the various subplots, your character arcs, and themes. The pleasure between continued ideas and rising tension keep readers coming back for more.

As you look at each book’s place in the series, take note of where subplots interact with the main storyline. Be clear about the ways side quests end up revealing important information or discovering a key tool that will help win the day in the final book. Ask yourself, what’s different for the characters now compared to the previous books, what new layers of conflict arise, and how the climax in this book will set up the next book in the series.

Don’t just escalate for escalation’s sake, though. Planning allows you to make sure each new development feels earned. The reader should feel both satisfied by each book’s conclusion and curious about what’s to come.

Step 6: Keep Your Characters Evolving

One last but crucial reminder: You must create rising complications for characters, not just for plot. Outline how your characters change, grow, or struggle in each book, just as you outline key story events.

Remember, one of the key reasons people enjoy a good series is that they get to know your characters, root for them, and want to see them succeed. Your readers are emotionally invested in them—or should be!

By the time people pick up book 3 or 4, they’ve spent hours with your characters. Reward that loyalty and commitment! Make sure each book shows your characters experiencing meaningful growth, having deeper relationships, and facing genuine consequences as they move forward.

Don’t repeat the same inner conflict over and over. Instead, let characters learn a lesson in each book—one that both makes them better, and also creates new challenges.

Look at your favorite series and think about how this plays out. You’ll notice that just like life, people grow and then have new levels to conquer because of their growth. What a pain! But that’s why we read: to see people figure their new level out. It makes us feel like we can do that too!

In our final installment in this series, we’ll look at a few practical tips to help you as you take your series arc outline and put it to work during the writing process. And remember, if you need help for your series, we’re here for you!