Series. What a funny little word. It sounds like seahorses and eyeballs, and while eyeballs can be unsettling (though don’t underestimate those seahorses), “series” doesn’t really seem like the kind of word to strike terror into unsuspecting hearts.
But it has. Though, I suppose my heart wasn’t exactly unsuspecting, but I digress.
Series. It’s coming. Specifically, the Hazel and Holly series I said I would write way back when, which was so long ago now that you probably thought I pulled a “Just kidding!” and hid under the bed. Bed-hiding may or may not have happened, but that’s not the point. The point is that the series is happening, and it’s happening this Friday. And every Friday after that or until I have a mental breakdown and you find me cowering in a corner petting my hair while I call the cats “pretty.”
Breaths. Happy little breaths. Bob Ross would be proud.
Why so nervous? Mostly because I’ve never done anything like this before, and new things are scary! Also, the fact that I will essentially be posting the first draft of my writing online for all to ridicule read plays a fairly large part. And while writing short stories are daunting in their own “we’re all about the brevity” kind of way, writing a longer, larger story while still trying to keep it cohesive and coherent is a whole different beast. I’m a pantser, I write on the fly. So if I write myself into a corner, I’ll have nowhere to hide.
If you’re going to fail, then fail epically in public. Words to live by.
That’s not to say I haven’t been having fun with the series. Because I have. Tons of fun. This is the story where I’m just saying, “screw it!” and writing with abandon because it makes me giggle. Kind of like this blog post. If you don’t like this blog post, you might want to stay clear of Hazel and Holly. Though, those witches have their own brand of crazy, whereas this post is purely my own.
And now, some technicalities:
I’m using the term “series” pretty loosely here. It’s probably closer to a serialized novel. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not, but that’s they way the story’s panning out, so I’m running with it.
I’m trying to keep the installments/chapters pretty short, between 1k and 2k words. Partly because I think longer than that doesn’t really serve online reading well, also because they need to be that short if I want to sustain a weekly schedule. I’ve tried to make each installment interesting in which something happens. But I honestly don’t know if I’ve succeeded or not, or will ever succeed. We’ll see, I guess.
Oh, and if you read the Hawthorn, Hazel, Hemlock, and Holly story from the A to Z Challenge from which this story grew, be prepared for some changes. Some personality tweaks as I got to know the characters better, altered motivations. Some things are the same, but a lot has also changed. It’s just the way stories work as they wend their way through the swiss-cheese morass that is my brain. Which is why it’s scary posting the whole thing while it’s still developing.
And that, my friends, is a full circle of ranty craziness.
So. Yeah. Friday. Hazel and Holly. Is a series better than a serialized novel? Discuss.
This makes me so happy!!! 🙂 I can’t wait! I am glad you are doing this. I can understand that you are nervous, too, but I believe it will be great 🙂 You should definitely write what makes you giggle. It’s a good writing philosophy. 🙂
Yay! I’m so glad it makes you happy! Despite the nerves, I do think it will be fun. I’m super excited to have you along for the ride. 🙂
I’m looking forward to this. I think the most important thing is to write what you want and be happy with it, and then the rest will follow. I don’t think your readers will be happy with it unless you are doing that, and there will always be someone who isn’t pleased no matter what. You can’t be defined by that. 🙂
Thanks, Michelle! I agree–it’s important to write what one enjoys. As for being happy with what I write, that definitely has its ups and downs, but so far I’m happy with the Hazel and Holly story. So… so far so good. 😉
I love this idea, and you are in hallowed company. Dickens published in serial form, along with many others. Check this out! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_(literature)
Also on the topic of serials – did you listen to Serial, the run-away popular podcast produced by This American Life? Why, oh why have they not yet come out with season two?!?!? ? http://serialpodcast.org/
Lastly, your rambling blog post was absolutely charming. Can’t wait for Friday!
Yeah, serialization isn’t new, and it seems to be gathering steam these days, which is part of the reason I’d like to try it out. Just to see how it goes, you know?
I don’t generally listen to podcasts, so I haven’t heard Serial. Looking at their website, it looks like it’s downloadable. Does that mean I could listen to it on my iPod?
And thanks. Glad you enjoyed my rambling. 😀 I put off writing this post for a while because I just couldn’t formulate a decent, coherent narrative that wasn’t completely stiff and boring. So I gave up trying and embraced the brain-vomit approach instead. It was fun. 😉
Yup, podcasts are downloadable via iTunes or Android apps, often free.
Nice, I’ll check it out.
Tomorrow is Friday Sara! Loved this post! Breath deeply! And have fun – H & H sound like they’re in for a ride and a half!
Thanks, Susan! So many deep breaths! And let’s hope they take us along for the ride! 😉
I’ll tell you a secret: I love serialised stories… but I’m very bad at following them.
But I’ll try to keep pace with yours. I enjoyed your story during the challenge, and to be honest, I’m so curious to see what you came up with 😉
So. Let’s see, let’s see.
I’m also terrible with keeping up with posts/reading and the like. The story installments will be up on the blog for the foreseeable future, though, so it’s not like there’s any rush.
Let’s see, indeed! That’s pretty much how I feel with this whole project. 😉
Wonderful! Looking forward to reading them all. 🙂
Thanks, Sue! Hope you enjoy them. 🙂