Pitching non-series fantasy books
Today's question comes from Superwench83 -- So, what if you're writing a book that's not a series? Since fantasy readers like series books, how big of a problem is it for a writer to be writing a non-series fantasy book? I know Guy Gavriel Kay and Brandon Sanderson have done it, but I also know that just because someone else has done something doesn't mean it will work for me. And yet three of my four books in one stage of development or another are stand-alone books. Any thoughts?
While fantasy series are very popular, single books can sell equally well; and who knows, one of those singles just might bloom into a series. If you love the characters enough, or if the characters and their stories just won't leave you in peace, chances are you've got a budding series on your hands.
And even if those books choose to remain stubbornly single . . . honey, that's not a problem, that's prolific. Count yourself very fortunate that you've got that many ideas running around in your head. Nurture those babies.
I scanned my bookshelves to find some non-series, single fantasy titles that I've really enjoyed over the years:
Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist (I need to read this one again)
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
Merlin's Bones by Fred Saberhagen
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
I know I have plenty more on my shelves, but like I said, this was a quick scan. What non-series fantasy books are among your favorites? I always love book recommendations.
Coming up tomorrow: Ye old Saturday Fun Pic featuring more photos from my and Derek's trip to North Carolina's Outer Banks. You get to see Derek on a horse and a rattlesnake on the beach. Now that's entertainment. And coming up next week, more of your writing questions. Keep 'em coming!
TGIF!!
Lisa
Upcoming topics for the next two weeks:
While fantasy series are very popular, single books can sell equally well; and who knows, one of those singles just might bloom into a series. If you love the characters enough, or if the characters and their stories just won't leave you in peace, chances are you've got a budding series on your hands.
And even if those books choose to remain stubbornly single . . . honey, that's not a problem, that's prolific. Count yourself very fortunate that you've got that many ideas running around in your head. Nurture those babies.
I scanned my bookshelves to find some non-series, single fantasy titles that I've really enjoyed over the years:
Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist (I need to read this one again)
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
Merlin's Bones by Fred Saberhagen
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
I know I have plenty more on my shelves, but like I said, this was a quick scan. What non-series fantasy books are among your favorites? I always love book recommendations.
Coming up tomorrow: Ye old Saturday Fun Pic featuring more photos from my and Derek's trip to North Carolina's Outer Banks. You get to see Derek on a horse and a rattlesnake on the beach. Now that's entertainment. And coming up next week, more of your writing questions. Keep 'em coming!
TGIF!!
Lisa
Upcoming topics for the next two weeks:
- How much time do I spend developing a character?
- How to know if you are moving your story forward?
- How to figure out what happens next?
- Keeping your hopes up while looking for an agent.
- Getting "not quite ready" writing up to publishable standards.
- Help! I have two writing styles.
- Pitching to agents -- Single or multiple queries?
- How long did it take me to write Magic Lost , Trouble Found?
- How to stay motivated to write after rejections.
posted by Lisa Shearin at
6:26 AM
12 Comments:
Coincidentally, I'm re-reading Faerie Tale right now. It's been so long since I read it that I only had a vague recollection that it was about ... well, faeries. Took me a while to figure out the author and title.
Although Neil Gaiman's well known for his Sandman series of graphic novels, all of his--I suppose I shall call them "non-graphic" novels--have been standalone. I count many of those among my favourites.
Thanks so much for answering my question!
You're most welcome, Superwench.
Hi Ben, Neil's Neverwhere is on my TBR list.
I only own two fantasy books that are not part of a series (one in english and one in german), and both are among my favorites:
'War of flowers' by Tad Williams and 'Der letzte Elf(The last elf)' by Silvana DeMari. 'The last elf' is written for children and a beautiful story. If I ever have children, it will be on of the first stories I read to them.
Thank you for the suggestions, Tanja!
You may have read it already as you're an Eddings fan, but The Redemption of Althalus is stand alone, and amazing! I do wish it was a series, though, it's just so good!
Oh no! You gave me more books to read! :P
Yep, Jo. I have that one too. ; )
I'll be taking a look at those recommendations! Sometimes it's nice to read a standalone book instead of a series all the time.
One of my favourite fantasy books of all time (which also happens to be a standalone) is Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay. I LOVE this book. :)
Vivian Vande Velde's books are pretty much all stand-alone, though `Changeling Prince' (my favorite) is a prequel to another book that can be read as a stand-alone or not. Robin Mckinley mostly writes stand-alone books. Both writers have a strong following, thought they're also both writers who deal mostly in YA. Patricia Brigg's `Hob's Bargain' is a stand-alone.
Great recommendations! Thank you!
I really like 'To Ride Hell's Chasm' and 'Sorcerer's Legacy' by Janny Wurts, both of which are standalone novels. Also 'Drinking Midnight Wine' and 'Shadow's Fall' by Simon R Green (although technically the world's in all his books are sort of interconnected...)
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