DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS—AACCKK!

When writing a book series the problem of details soon arises. How do you keep everyone’s names straight from book to book? How do you keep track of where your plot went so it makes sense as to where it will go? What tools are effective in keeping your sanity as you try to remember who did what, where, how, when and why, two books ago? Not to mention remembering the changes your agent or editor may have made along the way!

For my first writing project I envisioned a trilogy. When I began book two I found myself spending valuable time referencing book one for details so that I could stay consistent. It wouldn’t do to have people changing their names, ages or jobs between books. The timing details were the hardest: who did what when, and who else was around at the time. Future conversations would have lost their ring of truth if I didn’t have my own facts straight.

I finally got smart and started making lists. I listed all the characters from book one, their ages, occupations and etc. Then I made the list for book two and as I added new characters, down they went. I ripped a couple of pages out of an old calendar to jot down the action for a two month period in my story. Getting the timing confused was too easy and I constantly referenced those pages for half of my second book. I had other pages with future plot developments that I wanted to include for books two and three. (Some would call that plotting but I just call it keeping my brain intact.) I also listed the page number for each chapter beginning and a brief description of what was in it. That way I could quickly re-read whatever scene I was looking for. And then I got real smart and dumped them all in a file folder instead of digging through the piles on my desk. Now I pull it out and have everything I need in one place. Whew, what a relief!

This may not be what works for you and that’s ok. We all have different styles and preferences. But, if you are going to write a series, make life easier and start tracking your series details from the get go. You’ll be thankful later!