1 Topic by mikira (AKA KLSundstrom) (edited by mikira (AKA KLSundstrom) 2015-03-07 15:45:38)

Topic: Climax and Denouement when writing the first novel of series of novels

Like the subject of this topic states, I'm looking for some advice on how to proceed. Like what type of things will the reader be okay with if I leave it open when I finish writing the novel I'm working on. Examples tension with an indigenous being on the planet my human characters have discovered. I have actually amped up this tension as I'm doing my build up for my main climatic scene and I don't intend on resolving it by the end of this novel.

Another couple examples are: I have built a mystery into this novel that I also don't intend on resolving. And a couple of romances, the one with my two main characters I might resolve but the newest budding romance I don't want to resolve.

I'm also wondering if its okay to keep my focus on the main character while I build up to the main climatic scene? I ask because I had moved between other character's storylines while writing the main body of the novel.

Edit: I tried to add the "a" in my topic header when I realized I missed it, but it won't let me add it now.

Quote Post 1

2 Reply by Tom Oldman (edited by Tom Oldman 2015-03-07 16:32:01)

Re: Climax and Denouement when writing the first novel of series of novels

All very good questions, Karen.  I've read a number of novels that were a part of a series.  usually, when I see on the dust jacket something like "The first in the exciting trilogy of "...........", I don't active LOOK for hanging issues that haven't been resolved.  If I see one or two, I just say to myself "gosh, I hope I can wait to see what happens to Nick and Nora and if their shuttle that crash-landed on Planet X will sustain them until help can be found."  All this just adds to the desire for a reader to purchase the next book in the series.

I'd be really sure that it is, if not prominently, then boldly, printed on the jacket that this is a series of books.  If it were I, once I read the first book, I'd be clearing a space on my bookshelf for more of them.  My reading room has three walls of bookcases already, no problem.

~Tom

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Re: Climax and Denouement when writing the first novel of series of novels

I'm in the same boat. I plan for a major climax at the end of book one, followed by a cliffhanger for at least one of my two main characters that leaves the door wide open for a book two. I suggest resolving many of your threads, even if only temporarily. A sci-fi book I read recently just cut off the story at the end of book one, with the author simply expecting me to buy two more books without even a temporary resolution to any of the threads. I was so unimpressed by that, I didn't bother buying the other books. That was an example for me of what not to do.

Star Wars IV, for all its perceived plot holes, did it well. They blew up the Death Star, resolving the key threat in that story, but allowed Darth Vader to escape. Had the movie flopped at the box office, Lucas could have ended it right there. The other unresolved threads where minor until the second story (who gets the girl, and does Luke become a Jedi). The Empire Strikes Back, however, ended with some big unresolved threads, followed by a three year wait for answers. Ugh.

Dirk

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Re: Climax and Denouement when writing the first novel of series of novels

Thank you Tom and Dirk, I appreciate both of your insights on this. I don't feel I will be leaving that many open issues as what "The Empire Strikes Back" did. And I feel the ending I have planned will be satisfying enough, so that what I do have still open will hopefully only peak a readers attention for the next novel. That's what's nice about work shopping a novel you can find out where you hit the target and where you missed, so you can fix it before it goes into print.

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Re: Climax and Denouement when writing the first novel of series of novels

I think if you leave a cliffhanger in the first book of a series, it will spur your readers to get the second book and so on. Just resolve some of the issues and leave others needing attention. Just my thoughts, but I don't mind it--especially in sci-fi/fantasy.

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Re: Climax and Denouement when writing the first novel of series of novels

Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:

I think if you leave a cliffhanger in the first book of a series, it will spur your readers to get the second book and so on. Just resolve some of the issues and leave others needing attention. Just my thoughts, but I don't mind it--especially in sci-fi/fantasy.

Thanks Janet! Since this is the first of my novels that I'm on the 99 yard line with and am getting successful at finding holes in the defenses of my inner editor, that has tried to trip me up in the past. I want to make sure I have a clear solid game plan together while I craft the ending to this novel and get set up for the next one in the series.

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Re: Climax and Denouement when writing the first novel of series of novels

Well series vs. trilogy. With a trilogy you have a limited amount of time. The same can be said for a five book series, but a bit longer. Harry Potter is the first thing I thought of. I haven't read the books and I know the movies aren't the same thing. The movies are a general idea of the book so stay with me on this. Okay the whole ordeal throughout that whole series was that Harry was the boy who lived, Voldermort is the wizard who should never be name, That is the overall story arc of the series. Each separate book dealt with that story arc, but each one had their own separate arc. In the first it concentrates on Harry finding out about his origins, going to school, and dealing with the Sorcerer's stone. Then there was the Prisoner of Azkabahn (I have no idea how to spell it). The order of the Phoenix etc. With each movie/book it give you one step closer to the final battle as well as dealing with an individual problem(s) that happens to become a part of the over all plot. Hermione and Ron's relationship, Harry's friendship gets strained, deaths, the games, etc. Obviously with each problems resolve and questions answered more questions were formed. What I'm saying here and I'm hoping it makes sense is that each book is separate, but at the same time all of the books are connected. You have to resolve something in one book, but the answers found will lead to new questions and they have to lead to the next book. The problem is figuring out what to resolve and that is not easy to answer.

Now to make more sense of this I'm giving my two cents based on what I'm working on. I have finally started the final draft of my book. It is a fantasy novel where human world and magic world collide, but not with the whole human is really a witch or whatever the humans are humans. Anyways I have no idea exactly how long my series will be or if it will just be a trilogy. I had already decided on the issues with the first two books. The first book is more of an introduction of the world, characters, and situation. The main situation is keeping the world a secret. There are also going to be minor issues. Due to portals opening a human gets trapped there and that is the main issue of the first book. Next issue will involve dragons being stolen from the secret world into the human world. Humans and magical creatures are accidently coming into contact with each other and eventually having to interact for one reason or another. The overall issue will involve the political issues of the secret world etc. I really don't want to reveal too much because I fee like I'm getting off topic.

Basically in order for this to work I will have to leave some plot holes open at the end of the first book. Overall it is a good idea to have a few sub plots because I had read quite a few book series with sub-plots that eventually gotten entwined with the main one. Even when they weren't fully resolved there was still a hint of  a possibility of a resolve. I had read a book series a few years ago atleast the first three books. I would have read more if it weren't for the fact that I haven't gotten the time to read long books at the time. I swear that is my reason for not continuing. The third had a cliff hanger and someone above mentioned how a cliff hanger at the end of a book deterred them, but because there wasn't any encouragement to want to find out. This cliff hanger of the book I read had it where a character dies and he was one of the main ones. After his death one of his collegues and girlfriend was talking to his tenant and she said something how he is out there still or it isn't over or something. I have actually forgotten about the book untill now.

A cliff hanger isn't a bad idea because in order for a continuation than there still has to be something to resolve. With an individual book everything has to be resolved.

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Re: Climax and Denouement when writing the first novel of series of novels

That's how I look at series also. I have now finished writing this novel and I feel I did a good job completing a few of the main story arcs of this novel, but left plenty of things still not fully resolved or elements that people might think as they read this novel, but I want to know more about this. Or what about that. The thing is I'm to create worlds so rich and vibrant that people will want to keep reading about it as I develop more story lines to go along with the worlds I created. Think of Star Trek and Star Wars. In that way I can finish a major story arc that encompasses a certain number of novels, but still go back to those worlds and write new story lines about those worlds.

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Re: Climax and Denouement when writing the first novel of series of novels

I agree that cliffhangers are a great idea for series, trilogies, etc. because of that need to go get the next book. You are guaranteeing sales in your future. However, I do believe that there can't be ALL loose ends. There needs to be some satisfaction in at least a tid bit of resolution for at least some of the subplots. You want your reader to have some pleasure in knowing something by the end even when there are still so many unanswered questions; I'd say, especially if, in fact.

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