Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Guest Post & Giveaway - How To Save A Life by Sloan Parker


I'm very honored to have the fabulous and award-winning author Sloan Parker as my guest today. She’s talking about her upcoming release, How To Save A Life, a m/m romance that is a spin-off of her first novel More. Not only that, How To Save A Life is also the first book in a new series, whereas More is getting its own sequel(s) as well. So, Sloan is having two series on her hands and today she is sharing about how to keep track of all the details while writing subsequent books in the series. 
And not only that, at the end of her guest post she’s generously giving away an ecopy of How To Save A Life to a lucky commenter on this post.

It’s all in the Details: Writing a Series
by Sloan Parker


Writing a series involves balancing a lot of details over a longer period of time than working on a single stand-alone story.


My book HOW TO SAVE A LIFE is not only the first book in my new Haven series (which will feature a new couple in each book), but it’s also a spin-off of my MORE series, with crossover characters and settings between the two. Even though HOW TO SAVE A LIFE can be read as a stand-alone, writing it was almost like writing both a book that’s the start of a new series and continuing an old one.

Why a series bible?

To help keep track of the details I might need to reference while writing subsequent books in the series, I’m keeping what’s called a series bible. This should save me a lot of time when I need to look up a detail from book 1 while writing books 2 and 3. It’s much easier to search through a ten page document of notes than skim or re-read a 300+ page book every time I need to know some small fact. The bible can also be essential in helping me remember the little details I might otherwise not even be aware I need to know.

Ideally, I should have started the series bible from day one of writing MORE. Unfortunately, I didn’t do that. My publisher created a style sheet when the book was copyedited. This sheet for MORE included a cast of characters and their descriptions. This served as a good start to the series bible. While re-reading MORE and while writing HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, I added more details about the characters, settings and plot points, building a more in-depth bible.

Why is it helpful to keep notes from the very beginning?

In my original outline for HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, Walter Simon’s father had died when he was a young boy. I had the entire story laid out and had started writing the first draft when I went back and re-read my book MORE (where Walter Simon was a secondary character). That’s when I realized Walter’s father was still alive when he was an adult. Uh-oh!

One line that I had forgotten all about altered my plans for Walter’s backstory. The line read: If it hadn't been for men like Richard and Walter who got along with their dads, I'd have concluded fatherhood made men evil.

It worked out really well in the end (especially the story about how Walter met his father), but this proved how important keeping very detailed notes can be when writing a series. You can’t just change the date when someone died. Well, not in a contemporary, or not without a really big plot twist.

What does a series bible include?
  • Character Sketches. Their job histories, physical attributes, middle names, basically everything about each character has to be retained through all the books in a series. I can’t have a minor character whose eye color goes from blue in book one to brown in book three (not without some explanation).

  • Backstories. Keeping detailed notes about each character’s history can help when taking a minor character and turning them into the lead for their own book. I don’t want to forget those little pieces of information I previously mentioned in passing (like I did with Walter!).

  • Settings. When the books in a series take place in the same world, specific settings are often featured in both. It’s important to introduce these settings to new readers by giving them enough details they can get a sense of the time and place, but also be both consistent and original across the books. All of those details are recorded in my series bible so I’ll always know how a place was described at any point in the series.

  • Dates and Important Facts. Who met who when. How long someone had been married. How old each character is. For people like me who have a hard time remembering numbers, these notes can be essential. Readers will definitely pick up on a main character going backward in age.

  • Rules or specifics of the world. This can often be more important for science fiction, paranormal, or fantasy, but it can also be relevant for contemporary romance, especially for customs and beliefs that are an important part of the characters and their story.

  • Research. I always document the research and answers to questions that come up during the writing process, but now I’m keeping those details in my series bible. This will eliminate the need to redo such research when I’m writing subsequent books. What a waste of time to have to look up how to bump a lock for the fourth time because I keep forgetting a skill my character knows by heart.

  • Plans for the rest of the books. It’s important when writing a series to not bring too much of the future books into the first one, but it’s also helpful to have a plan for which characters and/or storylines will be utilized throughout the series. This is true whether the books are sequels with the same lead characters or a series that features a new couple in each book. I don’t want to set up something I won’t be able to follow through on later. The bible is where I like to store these notes about future books, especially if clues to those upcoming elements were included in the previous books. I know I get very grumpy when I read a series that never answers an important question or leaves a thread hanging FOREVER.

All of these details are much easier to remember if they are in one, easily accessible document. If they aren’t, I just might accidentally kill off another character’s father forty years before he really died.

~~~~~
Giveaway:



Sloan Parker is generously offering a copy of her upcoming release How To Save A Life to one lucky commenter. To enter leave a comment telling you’d like to enter and feel free to ask Sloan a question.
The giveaway is international, and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, January 15, the release date of How To Save A Life. So be sure to leave your comment before then and don’t forget to check back or leave a way for us to contact you in your comment or profile.

Good luck to you all!

~~~~~



Author Bio
Award-winning author Sloan Parker writes passionate, dramatic stories about two men (or more) falling in love. Sloan enjoys writing in the fictional world because in fiction you can be anything, do anything...even fall in love for the first time over and over again. She lives in Ohio with her partner and their neurotic cats where her greatest moments in life are spent with her family, her friends, and her characters. You can learn more about Sloan and her writing at www.sloanparker.com.

Blurb for How To Save A Life
Reporter Kevin Price has a knack for tripping over his own feet. And everyone else’s. He’s in over his head undercover at the Haven, a swanky gay sex club, determined to find out why members of the club keep vanishing. Five minutes inside and he can no longer deny the truth about his sexuality. He turns to the one man he can’t get out of his head, the sexy ex-cop handling security. Too bad Kevin doesn’t trust cops. Not since the only night he let himself be with another man.

Walter Simon doesn’t do the club scene anymore. Not since he found love and lost it. That doesn’t mean he’ll let anyone hurt more innocent gay men. Even if that means going head-to-head with the klutzy, closeted, much-younger reporter. Kevin has information about the disappearances. Better to keep him close. And safe.

Neither is at the club to hook up or fall in love. Now they must work together amid their growing passion in order to uncover the truth before more men disappear.
Note: How to Save a Life features Walter Simon, a secondary character from MORE, but can be read as a stand-alone story.

Other Details

Length: Novel, 111,000+ words | Genre: Gay Contemporary Erotic Romance (m/m) | Publisher: Loose Id | Format: e-book | ISBN: 978-1-62300-076-9 | Release Date: January 15, 2013

Linkity

Sloan Parker’s website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Behind the Stories | Buy How To Save A Life here
~

54 comments:

  1. I would love to be entered into this giveaway, please count me in!
    peanutty222@hotmail.com

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  2. Please count me in!

    tracy.faulATgmail.com

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  3. Great Interview!
    Another must read for me and I can't wait for the sequel to More! :)

    Doublemom2001(AT)aol(DOT)com

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  4. Please include me in the drawing! tmadamski(at)msn(dot)com

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  5. I've heard several authors comment on how they use everything from post-it's to series of notebooks to writing programs to keep track of everything they write. It's a good thing, but there's nothing I hate more than a character's backstory suddenly changing.

    Awesome post! :-)

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  6. I love series! The more, the merrier. Thanks for your insights on the process!

    brendurbanist at gmail dot com

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  7. Congrats on the new book! I was wondering if you add aspects from people you know into your characters? Like do you have a friend that's clumsy that gave you the idea to create a clumsy MC, etc?

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  8. love to be included in the giveaway. thanks!

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    1. forgot to include email. :)) iamcoldflesh at yahoo dot com

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  9. Janna: Thanks again for having me on your blog and hosting the giveaway! As always, you're a wonderful host. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. It's always a joy to have you over, Sloan! Your posts are so insightful, I love that! So, thank you too. :)

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  10. ellasmommy06, Tracy, Tina & Juliana: Thanks so much for stopping by and entering the giveaway. Good luck to all.

    Mandy: So glad you enjoyed the post. I’m working on the sequel to MORE right now.

    Lis: So glad all the efforts we authors try to put into being consistent matters. Thanks for checking out the post!

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  11. Urb: You’re very welcome. I love series too. Especially ones that follow the same characters through several books. There’s nothing like spending more time with your faves.

    Juliana: Thanks so much for the congrats. I think without even planning to, I sometimes put aspects of people I know into my characters, and I also think there’s a little of me in so many of my heroes. My sweetie says Kevin and his clumsiness is very similar to me. Lol

    Jellym0nster: Thanks for your interest in this one and for stopping by the post.

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  12. What a great post! It is always fascinating to find out from authors how they get ideas, keep track of characters, etc. Thanks for sharing all that with us Sloan darlin!

    I have a question on the actual writing process...Do you write a book in chronological order, follow an outline, or do you write scenes as they come to you and then make everything fit where it should? and did that make sense? *grin*

    Thanks for the chance to win a great prize!

    hugs from your fan,
    jo
    johannasnodgrass(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  13. I *loved* More, for the fact that each of the three partners was equally important to the relationship in their own way. Very much looking forward to the new book!

    meancolleenjuniper (at) gmail (dot) com

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  14. Hi Sloan!! I love the idea of a "series bible". Very organized...I could stand to be more organized. :D

    Please enter me.

    morris(dot)crissy(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. Congrats on your upcoming release, and thanks for the insight on how you manage to keep all the facts from the previous stories. It is mind boggling..
    I fell in love with m/m stories when I read your wonderful More book. I've been hooked every since with the genre.
    Wishing you all the best and continue success. Thank you for the giveaway!
    Please count me in..*S*

    Darcy
    pommawolf @hotmail.com

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  16. Looking forward to this series...would love to win! Thanks for the opportunity, chellebee66(at)gmail(dot)com

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  17. I WOULD LOVE TO WIN A COPY OF YOUR NEW BOOK. YOU ARE THE BEST. JMSMESTAD@GMAIL.COM

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  18. That's fascinating about the series bible.
    Please include me in the contest too. Do you know how many books that you plan to have in the Haven series already?

    Thanks!

    strive4bst(At) yahoo(Dot) com

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  19. Enjoyed the post.

    Oh! please count me in~~

    Judi
    arella3173_loveless@yahoo(dot)com

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  20. Love your books, so please count me in!

    Anke Gabriel

    anke_gabriel at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Please Count Me In
    Thank You

    ShirleyAnn@speakman40.freeserve.co.uk

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  22. I always look forward to Sloan's new releases. Thanks for the giveaway!

    By the way, love the idea of a series bible. Wondered how authors were able to remember all those little details when writing. Wish I was that organized. :)

    lkbherring64(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. Love to be entered. Thanks.
    love2read28@gmail.com

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  24. I have "More" and would love to get this book to add to it.

    please add my name to the hat

    yinyang1062 at yahoo dot com

    thanks
    Linda

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  25. I loved More. It's a great story about love and courage. I am looking forward to reading How To Save A Life. Thanks for the giveaway. I am always amazed at how authors keep track of the details from book to book in a series. Thanks for sharing your book bible story. jepebATverizonDOTnet

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  26. Great interview!

    penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com

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  27. Wow, huge thanks to everyone for stopping by and checking out the post. And for your interest in reading HOW TO SAVE A LIFE. I just adore Kevin and Walter together, and I’m really excited to share them with everyone.

    Jo: That’s a great question. I always write an outline before I write the story, then I work on the first draft pretty much chronologically, working off the outline as I go. But when I’m first creating the outline, I’m all over the place, jotting down any ideas that come to me. I use index cards or post-it notes to sort all the ideas into scenes. I think because of the length of my novels and the fact that they can get pretty suspenseful (with multiple threads to follow), I have to create some sort of plan ahead of time or I’d never finish a first draft. Thanks for checking out the post!

    Colleen: Thanks for sharing your thoughts on MORE. I really wanted to write a story where the relationship didn’t feel like it could’ve worked at that time without all three of them. I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it. I’m working on the sequel to that one now and it’s been a lot of fun getting into Richard’s head. I hope you like HOW TO SAVE A LIFE too if you check it out.

    Crissy: I’m both highly organized and chaotic at the same time. It’s a crazy combination and makes for an interesting first draft when I’m writing from that creative zone where my brain jumps all over the place. Thanks for checking out the post.

    Darcy: Thanks for the congrats. I’m honored you came to m/m by way of MORE. I hope you continue to find many beautiful m/m stories to enjoy. All the best to you too.

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  28. Michelle: Glad to hear you’re looking forward to this one. It was a long journey writing it, but I’m so very proud of how Walter and Kevin's story turned out. Thanks for stopping by and entering.

    Kathie: That’s so very kind of you. Thank you! And thanks for stopping by Janna’s and checking out the post.

    Jbst: Thanks for asking about the series. I’m hoping to write at least three books, but I guess, ultimately that’ll depend on how this one and any others go over with readers. Anyone who reads this one should be able to pick up on who the next book will be about (which I CANNOT wait to write), so I’ll be curious to hear any reader feedback on that.

    Judi: Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad the post was interesting. I’ve told Janna before I can talk about writing all the time (too much for most people probably LOL).

    Anke: Makes my day to hear from readers who’ve enjoyed my stories. It’s my favorite part about writing and having my work published. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Lisa: Thanks. Really glad you’re looking forward to HOW TO SAVE A LIFE. It’s been a long time coming and I’m so psyched to share it with everyone.

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  29. Jen B: Thanks for the kind words about MORE. I love that you used the word courage to describe Luke’s story. That’s very much how I saw his journey. Thanks for sharing.

    Penumbra: So glad you liked the post. Thanks for checking it out.

    Shirley Ann, Dawn & Linda: Thanks guys for checking out the book and entering the giveaway. Good luck to everyone who’s entered. I’m very excited so many of you are interested in reading this one. Thanks!

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  30. Thank you for covering a subject which is very important to me as a beginner writer. This past November I joined the masses with NaNo and worked avidly at finishing my very first novel. From that book, two secondary characters screamed at me wanting their own story. Thanks to your idea I can now go back and write little details I will most probably need when I give them their own story. As I edit my finished story I've come to realize huge blunders I need to go back and fix and jot down details about them that might be used in book 2. I made a sheet with each character's name and what relation they had in the story but did not add physical details which I will need for the second book. So, thank you for the wonderful idea!
    I'd love to be included in your giveaway. Thanks!

    ~Rush~
    taina1959@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. Rush: Big congrats on finishing your first novel! That’s a huge milestone and you should be very proud of yourself. Good luck on putting together your own series bible. I’m really glad my post was helpful. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  31. When you start writing a story, how soon do you realize it will become the start of a series?

    Trix, vitajex(at)aol(Dot)com

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    1. Trix: I think that can vary per series, per author. For me I always knew I wanted to write more than one book for Luke, Richard, and Matthew of MORE. But for the Haven series, I wasn’t sure I’d write more than one book until I had the idea for the entire story planned out for the first one. That's when I knew that several of the secondary characters were going to need their own happy endings, so I went ahead and pitched the idea of a series to my editor. Ideally, it’s best to know going into a book (or at least before you finish writing it) that there will be a sequel with the same characters so you can plan out the story and character arcs that will be a part of the entire series. Thanks for asking.

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  32. As a reader I do appreciate it when everything slots together well. Keeping track is essential thank you.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. Mary: You’re very welcome. So glad to hear you appreciate the extra effort. Thanks for checking out my thoughts on writing a series.

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  33. Fascinating post Sloan. And YAH for consistency! It's interesting how something so little can suddenly completely change how one views a story :)

    All the best with the release!

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    Replies
    1. orannia: Thanks so much. Very true how our opinions can change quickly when we’re pulled out of the story.

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  34. It's always interesting to hear how different authors keep track of the details in series. Nothing is more jarring that reading something and realizing it directly contradicts something you've already read. Thanks for all you do :)

    Sadonna

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    1. Sadonna: Thanks so much. I am really trying hard to keep everything straight (hahaha no pun intended) for both series.

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  35. I love More, especially the scene where Richard describes what he sees when he looks at Matthew and Luke. It makes my heart melt every time! I'd love to read the new book.

    Becca

    beccafoh(AT)hotmail(DOT)co(DOT)uk

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    Replies
    1. Becca: That’s so wonderful to hear. That’s one of my favorites too. Thanks for sharing!

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  36. Please count me in.

    midiamuniz@yahoo.com

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    1. Hi midia. Thanks so much for your interest in this one.

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  37. Thanks for the interview, it was very enlightening! Count me in please.

    tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Emily: You’re very welcome. So glad you liked it. Appreciate you checking out the post.

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  38. Count me in please. Love your work.
    Yvette
    yratpatrol@aol.com

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  39. Another wonderful and informative post, Sloan! I hadn't realized you had 2 series brewing,...now am REALLY happy! Can see why a series bible would be so necessary to accuracy. Please include me in the give away and thank you for doing one. And thanks to Janna for hosting it!
    seritzko AT verizon DOT net

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    1. SusieQ: Yes, I’ve got more coming with the boys from MORE and more couples to share in the Haven series. I’m so jazzed to share the rest in both of these series. Thanks for stopping by.

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  40. Loved More, please count me in.Thank you.

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    1. Cornelia: So happy to hear you liked More. Thanks for your interest in HOW TO SAVE A LIFE.

      Good luck in the giveaway, everyone! Thanks again to Janna for hosting.

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  41. Thanks everyone for stopping by! I'm going to announce the winner in a bit after I run all the entries through random.org. So, I'll close the comment section on this post now. Good luck to you all! :)

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