I, like most authors I know, have far more books dreamed up than I will ever have time to write. As I prepare to close the door on The Bloom Sisters Series (the final book will be written this fall), I’m in my happy place — planning my next series!
I’ll let you in on a little secret. Personally, I rarely start my planning with the stories in mind. I don’t even start my planning with a setting in mind… Instead, I start with either A) the covers or B) the titles.
It’s interesting when I think about how the Bloom Sisters came to be. I was browsing a group where designers sell the book covers they have created. One designer posted a set of 4 books that caught my eye. The titles were different, but the flowers were there… and my mind went immediattely to FLOWER NAMES! Haha! I bought the set, and had the designer add three more to complete the series (after I had chosen the names of the Bloom siblings.)
A lot of times, the titles tell me what the story will be, more than the other way around. For example, when I needed to name Poppy’s book in the Bloom Sisters, I couldn’t get Poppy’s Proposal out of my mind. And with a title like that, it needed to be a “marriage of convenience” story!
One of my future series is the same way. I saw the covers and my mind took off, giving me the basis for a series. More to come on that one later ;)
For other future series, I have a note on my phone with ideas and titles. They aren’t all good. In fact, just the other day I deleted one note about a series concept that just wasn’t going to work. Maybe someone could do a matchmaking angelic barista who works at the airport coffee stand and orchestrates true love matches… but I decided it wasn’t me. Despite deleting that particular idea, I still have the complete list of titles for at least 3 future series, including the one I’ve actually decided to write next — did someone say Firefighters???
Yes – you heard it here… My next contemporary Christian romance series will be a small-town firefighter series, full of second chance romances! I’ll have more on the Second Chance Fire Station series coming later this year – including the titles… which I absolutely LOVE, and which were chosen long before I had any idea what series they would belong to!
Since I’ve got the titles – I’ve already commissioned the cover designs. All this before I’ve even started outlining stories or naming characters!
One thing I love about planning a series ahead of time is the opportunity to make sure the entire series is cohesive, with characters popping in and out of the other stories, knowing how many books there will be ahead of time (especially for sibling groups), and planning out the release schedule.
The whole process gets me so excited to start writing and bring those books to fruition! I love the planning phase – probably more than I like the (much longer) writing phase!
Okay, IR readers… your turn! Now that you’ve seen behind the curtain, what stood out? Was any of this surprising to you? If you are an author — how do you plan your series?
Tara Grace Ericson lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons. She studied engineering and worked as an engineer for many years before embracing her creative side to become a full-time author. She loves cooking, crocheting, and reading books by the dozen. Her writing partner is usually her black lab - Ruby - and a good cup of coffee or tea. She loves a good “happily ever after” with an engaging love story. That’s why Tara focuses on writing clean contemporary romance, with an emphasis on Christian faith and living.
I’m not surprised. I imagine there are an infinite number of ways that authors work.
I was surprised that you start with covers and/or titles. Inspiration can come from anywhere and I am happy you have a system that works well for you. Lots of authors seem.to find covers, titles and blurbs challenging or time consuming to create. Looking forward to the new series. Though where did that urban myth that all firefighters are good looking come from :D
I’m not surprised! You have ideas, and the covers match your ideas. This new series sounds good!! I have a couple of the Bloom SIsters books in my TBR stack.
My engineer’s brain hears “Requirements, concept design and implementation (which is always the longest and drudgiest part)”! It sounds like a fun version of personal writing prompts. I don’t think I would have the patience to go trawling the cover images, though. :-) It’s always fun to have the muse strike. Best wishes with the process ahead!
I work differently from you! I’m sure that surprises no on! Like you, though, my titles inform my stories and themes, I just don’t pick them out quite as far in advance as you do… and therefore I can’t order my covers that far in advance, either.
I start with a series concept. For my Urban Farm Fresh Romance series, what would local food and gardening look like in a city? How many angles to that concept can I find? (Twelve, apparently…) And then it’s like the characters “audition” for assorted story ideas within that general concept. The titles come after that, and I don’t always know how they will fit.
I think that’s kinda cool how you picture the covers and tite first, before writing the stories. I love a good book cover and when they’re done right you can just imagine how wonderful the book will be by just looking at it.
It is surprising :) cover and title … straight on
Such pretty covers, Tara. I start with character, then setting. I usually don’t know the name of the book, until I’ve written most of it. My last title and several others have gotten changed by my editor. But I’ve gotten to keep most of my titles.
Everyone is so different, aren’t they?
Haha, I follow our local fire departments on facebook and yes — definitely a myth!
I am strange in that I like writing blurbs too!
I’m really excited about the new series. Second chance stories have so many possibilities!
Thank you! Fellow engineer here — I’ve never thought about book production that way!
How interesting that the characters “audition”! I like that you start with a series concept – it makes a lot of sense, too!
Covers make such a big difference!
Thanks for stopping by Natalya!
I get that! Sometimes characters simply demand their story be told!
I hadn’t thought of an author working from the cover first or the title. I would have thought you have an idea for a story first and cover and even title would be later on. I shows all work so differently.
Thanks for sharing
Characters and setting are the catalyst for my series. I’m a pantser through and through. I the characters and setting, and off I go into the writing mist. Who knows what will happen?
I left out the word have. So that should read, “I have the characters…” I need to proofread my posts. :)
I can’t believe you know your next series just by book covers…without knowing anything else about them! That’s amazing :-)
I’ve learned a lot about authors methods to their stories through this blog and others & I think it’s really interesting how each one comes up with a story, or characters or plots. It’s so interesting to me!
It is a very interesting way of working, it reminded me of my mother, you will see she paints, she loves to paint flowers.
One day in a store he saw a nice frame and bought it then he told me: I’ll paint something so that it fits in this frame, THEN he chose the fabric and what flower he would paint (it was a rose).
Please ignore that it uses “he” instead of “she” D:
I find the cover goes great with the title because not all books do go well together. :)
I am not surprised. I have heard from a lot of authors. There is no one and done way to plan a series. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
How interesting! I love hearing the process Authors use for their books. I’ve found they are rarely the same, which makes each very interesting. Those book covers are beautiful!