Series vs. Stand Alone in Fiction RWA 2009

by Michelle Miles

I know I usually talk about movies here on Pop Culture Divas, but since I’m fresh from the RWA® National Conference in Washington, DC, I thought I’d talk about something I heard more than once from editors.

In several workshops I attended, the question of series came up. The question being, are series more popular than stand alone books? The response back was that yes, they were. The reason? Editors and readers love to see books about recurring characters…like a beloved television show.

I think that stands to reason. I know for myself, I love reading a series about the same characters or the characters best friend or whatever. And yes, I’ve noticed that too. There are a lot of authors who are writing series with recurring characters.

Does that mean it’s hard to write stand alone books? I think in some ways they are. They’re not frowned-upon by any means. But I really think an author can cash in on telling stories with recurring characters. Plus, as an author who has written stories with some of the same characters, I can see the appeal.

It’s like cozying up to the TV on a Wednesday night, waiting with great anticipation to see what happens to our favorite LOST characters. We want to see what will happen to Jack and Company, don’t we? Another favorite of mine is Grey’s Anatomy. Will Derek and Meredith FINALLY tie the knot?

I know I feel the same way about books. I’m a huge, huge fan of Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series and I wait with baited breath for each new release and then devour each book (the fourth released this fall with Dreamfever!). Though I confess, I’ve made myself savor the books. Take my time reading them and relishing every delicious word and every succulent page. I’m dying to see what happens to Mac and Jericho Barrons. Will they or won’t they? I think that’s the question most readers of that series have.

Another series I’m really enjoying is Vicki Pettersson’s Zodiac series. Her characters are real and interesting. I’m currently reading the second book and really looking forward to the third.

Now when I pull a book off the shelf, I find myself looking to see if the author has a series with recurring characters.

What about you? What are some of your favorite series (television or books)? And why?

Michelle Miles is an avid movie watcher, writes romance, drinks coffee and collects shoes. You can learn more about her books at http://www.michellemiles.net.