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- Cover Art by Jason Pedersen
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- Cover Art by Jason Pedersen
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- Sari by Jason Pedersen
Legends of Windemere: Allure of the Gypsies is Available on Amazon Kindle!!
So, here I am sitting around during the first week of my book’s debut thinking about what to write. Yesterday, was the big debut and rushing around to submit to all my listed marketing sites. Then it struck me that a question I asked during Prodigy of Rainbow Tower‘s debut was never asked:
What do you look for in the third book of a series?
Some people might not realize how a third book differs from a second book or the finale of a trilogy. Obviously, you can’t give full closure like the ending of a trilogy, so that answers that difference. The trick comes in when comparing it to a sequel.
To be honest, part two can be cleaner than the third book. You have direct plotlines and foreshadowing to work off of. The world is still being explored and you can move out from the initial setting, so there’s still a freshness for the author to depend on. Same goes for the characters. They’re still in early development and the second book is where you can throw in a good amount of shake ups. Betrayals, deaths, failures, victories, and the whole bag of tricks to make that sequel even bigger than the first . . . then what?
Here’s where the third book will find a problem. It has two books to live up to while forging its own niche in the series. You can pull out some of the tricks from the second book, but too many and you doom the entire series. There’s a lot riding on this third book and it could easily end up larger than the previous ones. At this point, you may find some subplots are running their course and need to come to a conclusion. Introducing a new character and removing an old one can be helpful too. You need shock events without making them seem strained.
You also need to think more about the future of the series on this one. Think of the reader dating your series:
- First book is the blind date where you’re getting to know each other. Might not be smooth, but you can put on a good enough show for a return.
- Second book is the big second date where you give it your best and try to give the reader more of what they liked during the first book. Also, add stuff that they hinted they wanted.
- Third book is the nerve-wracking date where you consider putting out. By ‘putting out’, I mean revealing the big story and grabbing hold of the reader for the true roller coaster.
I hope that analogy makes sense. So, what do people think about the third book of an on-going series?
Legends of Windemere 
For me, by the third book is where the characters are completely solidified… their motivations, back stories, etc. The hero is no longer a complete novice. So now, I need more conflict. Some mysteries are revealed so the reader doesn’t feel the author is taking them for a ride. Chekov’s guns go off. Previously unimportant characters become important. New avenues open up for characters to explore. What I mean is that the world, now that it is already been created, becomes so much more real. We’re no longer peeking through a window, we’re now part of it.
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Good point. For a long series, it can be where the hinted at main plot gets more traction too. I always find 3rd in a series (chapter or book) to be where a sudden realization or locking in of the plot happens. Might be why I always have trouble with chapters that are multiples of 3.
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Yup, I agree with you about the main plot. I feel cheated if an author continues to keep everything shrouded in mystery and drags the plot around this mystery, which almost becomes a MacGuffin. And when the big reveal happens, its never good enough to suffice expectations. So yea, the brickwork has to be laid down beginning the third book, IMO.
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Even an appearance by the true villain in a cameo would be useful. It’s like a horror movie using constant gore and creepy music. Eventually, it loses its effect and the audience gets bored.
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I’m working on my third now, and will be eagerly watching this thread for hints.
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Me too. 3rd of anything always gives me trouble.
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I love this analogy! Considering I’ve started writing random drabbles that will hopefully make it into the third Imminent Danger book, this is probably something I should consider before going much further, lol.
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I kind of winged it when it came to my third book. So, I’ve been looking over what I did. Too early to tell if I was successful.
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I’m considering a third book for my Captured Mind series–Captured Minds is now available on amazon–and I don’t want it to be boring to the audience. I want it to remain fresh with new ideas but still keeping with the main plot.
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That’s part of the trick. I think with a long series, you can get away with a book that is predominantly character development instead of main plot pushing.
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Usually by the time I’ve gotten as far as the third novel, I’m either already loving the plot or the characters. So I don’t think I look for anything specific beyond enjoying the familiarity. If I am, then I’m not aware of it.
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As a reader, I fall into the same mindset. I like the feel of reuniting with the characters and not having to focus on getting to know them. It makes it easier to learn about new characters. As a writer, I think I try to focus a lot more on continuity when it goes beyond a sequel.
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I’ve never really thought about that. Usually the first book in the series is awesome, and the rest go downhill, with a few exceptions like Harry Potter and Legends of Windemere.
The Wheel of Time series, the Twilight saga, Eragon, and The Hunger Games all started with amazing books, which is what obviously made the series so popular. But after that, the rest of the books were not as enjoyable.
I guess what I look for in the third book (that isn’t a trilogy) is the plot to deepen and draw me in more, giving me a few answers to past questions, as well as introducing new characters for me to grow to love (or hate).
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LOTR and Narnia did great as they continued. 😀
I think it gets tougher in a series to retain some of the magic because introductions have been made.
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Oh yes, I completely forgot Narnia!
And that’s a good point. But whatever you’re doing, you’re doing great, so don’t stop! 🙂
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Thanks. I forget Narnia at times for some reason.
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While I won’t voice my opinions on Twilight or Eragon. And I’ve yet to read the Hunger Games. I would have to disagree on the Wheel of Time, the quality did climb back up once it hit the halfway mark and all those loose ends started coming together.
I think part of the problem was the series had so many characters POVs and plots for each person that it sagged a little in its middle. If it was a standalone or even a trilogy, I don’t think people would’ve noticed, but then, there would’ve been complaints about the story being too short.
In keeping with the theme, the third WoT book was actually pretty good.
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Longer series do tend to have those lag books. Maybe they’re needed to help cleanse the subplots and tie a few things up. Otherwise the later books will get more bogged down and confusing.
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I loved the first Wheel of Time book, and the second and third one weren’t bad, but I had lost interest in the series by book 6. Though one day I may try reading the whole thing again. And that’s what confused me I think, was how it jumped back and froth from so many characters. It was all well written, of course! 🙂
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