I’m grappling with timelines.
My series books are completely independant from one another, but there are overlapping incidents.
This shouldn’t be too big a deal, but it’s getting to be. Kind of. Becuase I know that readers will spot any inconsistencies or flubs I make and I don’t want to disappoint or lose any readers.
For example, I’m very clear about each of my Olympians’ ticks and features, down to eye-color. So if, for example, Poseidon has the palest blue eyes in Book 1 and 2, he certainly can’t have grey eyes in book 3. I realize this is a dumbed down example, but you get the point.
How to keep the events ordered and clear?
Note cards?
Software? (I will totally use software if it will make me as happy as the woman in the picture!!!)
I’d love to hear what’s been most successful for you. If you’re in a sharing mood that is 
??
Tags: organization, plotting, scrivner, story bibles, writing
Oh, Gee whiz! This is a doozie. I do have book bibles for my books. That helps. Some people have elaborate excel sheets. I have one because I set my stories in a fictional town and use from story to story. Works for me.
I definitely use index cards for characters. Otherwise I’d forget who I created and how they fit into the world in which I’m setting the series. (Something about writing by hand has a different impact than just creating a computer file.)
I also use Book in a Week to write the first drafts of later books in the series very quickly before I do the final draft of earlier books because a) I’m less likely to paint myself into a corner with the earlier book(s) and b) that often gives me ideas for the earlier book I’m working on.
I’m currently using an Excel sheet that lists language, places, people, etc. I hate this method. I mean, it’s working okay, but it’s not complete and I’d like to switch to something else. Everyone raves about Scriviner, and I think they just released it for Windows. I tried out the Beta, but I’ve been way too busy to sit down and learn how to use it. Maybe after I finish this round of revisions (crosses fingers) I can learn it. I have tons of info to put into it now. It could take days to catch up. *sigh*
If I were you, I think I’d try out the software. If you have time to learn it, that is.
Let us know what you experiment with!
Thanks Vicki and April, It is indeed a doozie
. I’m not the most orgranized person, so I’m scared notecards would get eaten in the various. At the same time, I find myself jotting notes on whatevers close by anyway so maybe I should use them… Ack – grumble grumble…
I’m in the same boat! Having heard many wonderful things about Scrivener, I’m giving that a try. Will let you know
Hi Sasha!
I haven’t written a series (yet) but the idea is daunting because of trying to keep everything organized and not change things midstream. I have a set of index cards with a ring clasp through the upper left corner where I write down all the pertinent information. A card or two for each individual character with their characteristics, hair color, eye color, and anthing like that. Then cards with locations, time lines, interiors of rooms. Everything that might possibly be used in another book should be written down IN DETAIL. If you have a lamp described one way in a book and change it in the next, you better say that you bought a new lamp, or some reader will definitely ding you for it. LOL
Good luck with keeping everything straight. It’s a hard, hard but necessary chore.
I usually keep files in the computer of the events I believe will overlap within the books. Then again, I usually don’t start the second book unless the first book finds a home.
I use an Excel spreadsheet to keep events and characters consistent in my Notorious series. But it is unwieldy. Like Mona, I’m considering Scrivener. There’s a free trial you can download.
Map it out. I have a board and several notebooks with details to help keep everyone straight.
Good Luck!
Unfortunately, I suffer from disorganized organization. My office is crowded with various notebooks, post-it notes, and scrap paper with all sorts of brilliance (ha ha) jotted down on it.
The good news is, eventually, it does get entered into the computer via timeline, etc.