Is it easier to market and sell a series rather than a single novel?

Yes, you heard me right. A series. As in, more than one book. As in, a lot of work. But trust me, it is worth it.

Here are some reasons why:

- A series creates loyal fans. When readers fall in love with your characters and your world, they will want more. They will eagerly await the next instalment and spread the word to their friends and family. They will also be more likely to leave positive reviews and ratings, which will boost your visibility and sales.

- A series gives you more opportunities to market. You can create buzz around each book launch, offer discounts or freebies on the previous books, run giveaways or contests, and cross-promote with other authors in your genre. You can also leverage the power of box sets, bundles, and omnibus editions to reach new audiences and increase your income.

- A series allows you to explore your creativity. Writing a series gives you more room to develop your characters, your plot, your themes, and your world. You can take your time instead of trying to cram all of the story into a single book. You can experiment with different perspectives, subplots, twists, and genres. You can also challenge yourself as a writer and grow your skills.

Of course, writing a series is not easy. It requires planning, consistency, patience, and dedication. But if you have a story that is begging to be told in more than one book, don't be afraid to go for it. You might be surprised by how much easier it is to sell a series rather than a single novel.

If you have already written your first book then stop and think if the story has fully been told or not. I was about three-quarters of the way through the Utopia Conspiracy when I realised I wanted to write a series. I had a chat with Rob Jones and he agreed that it would be far better to split the full story into 3 parts. This decision then enabled me to draw a line as to where book 1 (The Utopia Conspiracy) would end and where Book two (The Utopia Treaty) would start ) which I would like to add is well underway 😊)

Some authors like Rob have written a series (The Micklegate Series) and then realised that there is a side story about one of their key characters (In this case Silas) which is deserving of a full book of its own.

A great way to establish if your idea for a book is indeed enough for a series is to use a book planning tool. By planning out a rough chapter-by-chapter plan it will enable you to realise if you have enough content to split over multiple books.