Does a book series have to be written or published in chronological order?

[jasmine_childoftheking]

I think a lot of us have read a series of books at one time or another. Though do they have to be written in chronological order? Well, there are book series (even Christian series) are written that way. Though there are series that weren’t published that way. I’m sure there are numerous examples we could think of.

Now, if you were writing a Christian book series (it could be any genre: fantasy, mystery, end time prophecy fiction, historical fiction), would you write them in chronological order? Why or why not?

 

[Hazelelponi]

If I intended to write a trilogy I would outline it out as such, from beginning to end.

From there I would then draft and write book 1, 2, then 3.

I would write the books in order to allow for some organic growth from one book to the other with the further character development, but an intentional trilogy would come out better than an organic one .. the outline helps with that intention, keeps focus.

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

Well, of course, in a series, it kind of gives you time to get to know the characters.

A trilogy, with notable examples like Lord of the Rings, is kind of a way you get to know the main characters.

Sometimes there's a trilogy, sometimes there are seven or eight or six or 5 or 10 or 12 books. It would all depend on what your intentions are.

 

[DragonFox91]

Many authors start in the middle b/c that’s where the meat of the story is. This is the story they want to tell. It’s easier to start in the middle b/c you’re not starting w/ a blank slate. You already have an established world. The pieces have already been set for the characters to go on their journey. Background information is provided as needed. Professional authors generally advise not planning a ‘trilogy’ or X number of books at the beginning, but write the story you want to tell & only then go on to write more or go back to do prequels.

I hear people all the time ‘why didn’t this person just start w/ the chronologically first’ one. It’s b/c the writing process.

 

[brassica]

Of course not—after all, the Chronicles of Narnia were not written or published in chronological order, and people love prequels as well as sequels. If you write the story you want, and fill in the pieces as you go, I think it would create a better reading and writing experience.

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

Of course not—after all, the Chronicles of Narnia were not written or published in chronological order, and people love prequels as well as sequels. If you write the story you want, and fill in the pieces as you go, I think it would create a better reading and writing experience.

That’s true they weren’t. Though it’s been renumbered chronologically, Narnia fans still prefer to read them in publication order. The first 4 books are original stories, the 5th is a midquel or side story, the 6th is a prequel, and the 7th is a sequel.

Prequels have been very popular (even in Hollywood now), so it should not come as a surprise.