Did you know the structure of a story—how it's built and presented—has a significant impact on the storytelling experience?
As an author, choosing between writing a standalone novel, a closed series, an open series, or a mixed series shapes not only your creative process but also your relationship with readers. Each format comes with its own advantages, challenges, and storytelling techniques.
This guide will break down these formats, help you understand their unique qualities, and offer recommendations for how to approach them based on your vision.
Standalone Novels
A standalone novel is a self-contained story that has a clear beginning, middle, and end within one book. Once the final page is turned, the primary plot and character arcs are resolved, leaving readers satisfied without requiring further installments.
Characteristics of Standalone Novels:
The entire plot is confined to one book, focusing on a single main story.
By the end, all major conflicts are resolved, and there’s little room for continuation.
The world-building tends to be concise, offering just enough detail to support the story without excess material for future installments.
Pros of Writing a Standalone Novel:
Easier for new authors to publish and promote without committing to multiple books.
Allows for creative freedom to experiment with new genres, styles, or themes in subsequent projects.
No pressure to sustain long-term continuity across multiple books.
Challenges:
Standalone novels need to establish a world, develop characters, and deliver a satisfying narrative all within one book.
Authors must decide what to prioritize and leave out to avoid overwhelming readers.
Standalone novels are ideal for writers who have a clear, self-contained story in mind or who want to explore a variety of unrelated ideas.
Closed Series
A closed series is a set of books with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Each book contributes to an overarching narrative, and the final installment ties up all major plot threads and character arcs.
Characteristics of Closed Series:
The series follows one main story that unfolds over multiple books.
Often, authors outline the major beats of the series before beginning, with the goal to support continuity and resolution.
Characters often undergo significant development and growth over the course of the series.
Pros of Writing a Closed Series:
Creates deep emotional investment as readers follow characters through multiple books.
Offers the opportunity to develop intricate plots and expansive world-building.
Appeals to readers who enjoy the satisfaction of a finite story with a definitive conclusion.
Challenges:
Keeping track of characters, settings, and plot points across multiple books can be daunting and requires consistency.
Writing and publishing a series requires sustained effort over years, demanding a long-term commitment.
Popular Closed series include The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and The Hunger Games.
Open Series
An open series consists of books that share the same world or characters, but do not necessarily follow a single overarching story. Each installment can often be read as a standalone, though some recurring elements (e.g., character relationships or overarching subplots) may carry through.
Characteristics of Open Series:
Each book is a self-contained adventure, though it may reference events from previous books.
The setting and world-building is often rich and flexible enough to support a wide variety of stories.
Characters may develop gradually over time but don’t always follow a single defined arc.
It is common for each book to be about a different set of characters.
Pros of Writing an Open Series:
Flexibility to explore different storylines, themes, and character perspectives without committing to a predefined ending.
Continuous readership is created because fans can jump into the series at various points.
An open series can grow indefinitely as long as there’s demand and inspiration.
Challenges:
Maintaining freshness by making sure each installment feels unique and engaging can be difficult.
While separate story arcs, inconsistencies in characters or world-building can disrupt immersion.
Open series are prevalent in genres like mystery (Sherlock Holmes), romance (Bridgerton), and urban fantasy (The Dresden Files).
Mixed Series
A mixed series blends elements of both closed and open series. It may feature an overarching storyline like a closed series, but individual books or subseries can also function as standalones. Alternatively, it might consist of multiple smaller arcs that interconnect to create a larger narrative.
Characteristics of Mixed Series:
Allows for some flexibility in the structure with a larger overarching plot.
Subplots and character arcs can resolve within one book or carry across several installments.
The world-building often supports both standalone adventures and interconnected narratives.
Pros of Writing a Mixed Series:
Readers can enjoy individual books without needing to commit to the entire series, but dedicated fans are rewarded with deeper connections and payoffs.
Offers the freedom to experiment while maintaining continuity.
Secondary characters or subplots can inspire future books or subseries.
Challenges:
Balancing the openness of storytelling elements with an overarching story requires careful planning.
There is a risk of uneven pacing since some books may feel less significant if they’re primarily serving the larger narrative.
Mixed series are often seen in long-running fantasy sagas (The Wheel of Time), shared-world fiction (Discworld), and interconnected romance series (Sarah J. Maas).
Choosing the Right Format for Your Story
Deciding which format to pursue depends on your story’s scope, your goals as a writer, and your readers’ expectations.
Here are some questions to consider:
Do you have a single, self-contained story to tell? A standalone novel might be your best option.
Are you passionate about creating a long-term narrative with a definitive ending? A closed series could be the way to go.
Do you love exploring a dynamic world or revisiting favorite characters in episodic adventures? Consider an open series.
Do you want the flexibility to write self-contained stories while building toward a larger narrative? A mixed series might strike the perfect balance.
Remember, the format you choose shapes not only the storytelling process but also how your work is marketed and received by readers.
How From Seeds to Standalone Can Help
If you’re working on a standalone novel or an open series, From Seeds to Standalone is designed to guide you through the process.
This program emphasizes:
Creating self-contained narratives: Whether for a standalone or an episodic book in an open series, you’ll learn how to craft a compelling story with a satisfying resolution.
Dynamic world-building: Develop flexible and engaging worlds that can support standalone books or ongoing series.
Character-focused storytelling: Master the art of creating memorable characters who can shine in single adventures or evolve over time in an open format.
Maintaining reader engagement: Discover how to keep your audience hooked, whether your work is a one-off masterpiece or part of a sprawling series.
From Seeds to Standalone is perfect for writers who crave flexibility and want to focus on building strong individual stories.
How From Seed to Series Can Help
For writers envisioning a closed series or a mixed series, From Seed to Series provides the tools and frameworks to bring your vision to life.
This program focuses on:
Mapping out overarching storylines: Learn how to plot multi-book narratives that deliver satisfying resolutions and long-term payoffs.
Building interconnected arcs: Explore techniques for weaving together subplots, character journeys, and world-building details across books.
Structuring with intention: Gain clarity on pacing, emotional beats, and continuity to ensure your series feels cohesive and engaging.
Balancing episodic and overarching elements: For mixed series, discover how to craft standalones that also contribute to a larger narrative.
Achieving closure: Whether it’s a trilogy or a ten-book saga, you’ll learn how to deliver a finale that resonates with readers.
From Seed to Series is ideal for writers ready to commit to ambitious storytelling and build a series that captivates readers from the first book to the last.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between standalone novels, closed series, open series, or mixed series is an important decision that shapes your creative journey. Each format offers unique opportunities to connect with readers, explore your ideas, and leave a lasting impact. Whether you’re crafting a self-contained masterpiece or weaving a multi-book saga, the key is to align your format with your storytelling goals.
If you’re ready to bring your story to life, From Seed to Series, From Seed to Standalone, and Weaving the Writer’s Web (personalized one-on-one support) programs are here to support you. No matter your path, you’ll gain the tools, knowledge, and confidence to create stories that resonate deeply with your audience.
So, what will you create next?
There is no better time to start weaving and nourishing story seeds than today.
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