SERIES OR STANDALONE?

One and Done or Ever On?

Deciding Between a Standalone Novel and a Series

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Writing a novel is thrilling. You've got your characters, your world, your plot—but halfway through, your brain taps you on the shoulder and asks, “Oi, is this the end, or just the beginning?”

Should you tie everything up in one neat book, or launch into an epic series that spans volumes? Let's unravel the mystery together.

 

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First Clue: What Type of Story Are You Telling?

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Some genres naturally lean one way or the other. Cozy mysteries, police procedurals, and legal dramas practically beg to be turned into a series. The same sleuth, the same setting—just new corpses.

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On the other hand, psychological thrillers, suspense tales, or high-concept dramas often work best as one-and-done shockers that leave the reader breathless, possibly traumatised, and always satisfied.

 

The Case for Writing a Series

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“M” is for Money

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More books equal more chances to earn. Simple economics. Series build readership, loyalty, and future income. If book three hits big, guess what? Readers often go back to books one and two.

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A well-written series practically sells itself—especially if each book can be picked up independently. Just ask fans of Grafton, Harris, or Pratchett.

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Welcome to Your World (Again and Again)

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Writing a series gives you the chance to craft deeper, richer story arcs and worlds. Characters grow over time. Conflicts stretch over volumes.

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Think Harry Potter's journey from cupboard to chosen one. Or Midworld, Stephen King's universe which hosts supernatural horrors, terrible people, and even King himself, in countless (and mostly unconnected) adventures.

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The Metanarrative Magic

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Each book can contain its own story, but also feed into a grander arc. These threads pull readers through your books like sweets on a string.

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Bonus: You get to build lore. Who doesn't want their own fan wiki?

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So Many Options!

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• Duologies give you room to breathe without dragging things out.

• Trilogies (The Hunger Games, Lord of the Rings) offer perfect three-act structure over multiple volumes.

• Long series (hello, Discworld) give you a writing career in one universe.

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Built-In Marketing Power

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Series offer multiple formats and release stages—hardback, paperback, eBook, audio. That's multiple revenue streams and renewed attention with every new release.

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Plus, readers who discover book four might snap up the rest. That's the literary equivalent of “back catalogue gold”.

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The Series Snags: Proceed with Caution

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A Bigger Gamble

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Publishers don't always want to commit to a series unless the first book sings. And if readers don't bite on book one, you may be writing sequels for crickets. But this doesn't mean you can't self-publish. Write what you want to write, there is something out there for everyone.

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Continuity Overload

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You'll need a “series bible” to keep everything straight—character birthdays, eye colour, past trauma, pet names, the type of poison used in book two…refresh your memory with these Character Sheets.

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Miss a beat and your readers will notice (just ask anyone who's debated whether Dr Watson was shot in the leg or shoulder).

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The Neverending Story (or Career Pigeonhole)

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Once you're in, you're in. Audiences (and publishers) might resist your next project if it's not connected to your beloved detective/lawyer/vampire botanist.

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Conan Doyle tried to kill off Sherlock. It didn't stick. Twenty thousand angry readers cancelled their subscriptions to The Strand.

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Why Standalone Novels Still Shine

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Clean Breaks and Clean Slates

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One book. One arc. One satisfying resolution. No need to juggle timelines or keep a bible.

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You get to wrap up your world, tuck it in, and move on to something entirely different. Psychological thriller today, romantic sci-fi tomorrow? Why not!

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Freedom and Flexibility

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You can write across genres, dabble in different styles, or chase whatever muse strikes next. Standalones give you the freedom to reinvent yourself with every book.

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Readers Love One-Offs Too

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Many readers don't want to commit to a seven-book saga. They just want a good story with a beginning, middle, and end. Books like Life of Pi or The Book Thief stand tall as literary one-shots.

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Less Infrastructure, Less Fuss

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With no need to worry about future continuity, you can focus purely on crafting one exquisite tale. It's also a great way to practise your craft without the added baggage of a series.

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The Flip Side of Standalones

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Story Too Big? Trim or Split

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If your manuscript creeps towards 200,000 words, you might need to either wield the editorial machete or embrace the duology. Overstuffing a standalone risks losing the reader—or a publisher's interest.

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Harder to Build a Devoted Fanbase

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Different books, different readers. Unlike series fans who binge everything, standalone readers might only latch onto one specific title.

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Stephen King is a great example of an author with standalone novels and a cult following. But for most, building brand loyalty through disconnected novels takes longer.

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The Middle Ground: Hybrid Heaven

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Can't decide? You don't have to. Here are a few creative options:

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Sequel-Adjacent Standalones

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Write a full, satisfying story—but leave room for more.

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Spin-Offs and Same World Tales

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Think Pratchett's Discworld or Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (okay, this one is a movie, but it works in context).You can stick with the same setting, change characters, and avoid rigid chronology. Great for staying inspired—and keeping readers curious.

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Episodic Series

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These follow the same characters, but with loosely connected plots. Readers can jump in anywhere. Perfect for mystery series or procedural formats.

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TL;DR

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Final Thoughts: Decide When You're Ready

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You don't need to know the answer when you start writing. Finish the book first. See how the story ends—and how you feel.

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Did you create a world you want to revisit? Characters you can't stop thinking about? Or are you itching to try something wildly different? Sometimes, the readers will help you make this choice when they're begging for more stories from their favourite character.

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Whichever path you choose, make sure it's the one that keeps your creativity alive. Readers will follow passion wherever it leads—even if it's only for one glorious book.

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So, what's your next chapter going to be? Series or standalone?

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Either way, you've got this. Just remember: finish the first book before you panic about the second.