How do you know when your series is done?

For most of my writing career, I’ve worked on three book series. Woven, Station 86 and AA. All three series were planned out, with a specific number of books and a specific storyline in place.

Woven ended up being one book longer, with a prequel novel. Station 86 was supposed to be three books. Then it became four. Then five. Now I’m working on the last one for real this time. And at this point, I have no idea how many seasons AA is going to have. I think I know how it’s going to end, but I guess we’ll see.

Long-running book series, TV shows and comics can feel like institutions. It can very much feel like they will never have an ending. Some shows, like Star Trek, Dr. Who and The Simpsons, really feel like they could go on and on forever. Book series aren’t as prone to this, but we all know there are some series that will probably go on even after the original author passes. Looking at you, Rita Mae Brown.

So how do we know, as writers, when to stop writing? When do we know that the story, and the series, is finished?

While every story will ask something different from a writer, here is the best advice I can give regarding the matter.

Start with an outline

This isn’t a safe space for pantsers, sorry not sorry. If you’re writing a story that is going to span several books, you need to at least have some idea of where the damn story is heading. You need to have a destination in mind. That way, even if you take a winding path to get there, you at least have some direction.

When I wrote Woven, I knew how I wanted the story to end. And I stayed pretty true to that. It was going to originally be one book, but ended up bloating and growing so much that it needed a whole trilogy. Then, of course, Grace had to sneak into my mind and refuse to let go, so I had to give her her own story.

The thing is, I could write more in this world. And I might yet. But for right now, I had a specific story in mind, and I told it.

If you stop having fun

I know I harp on this, and I’m not likely to stop. Writing is supposed to be fun. Not all the time. There are some times when it’s absolutely a nightmare. Sometimes writing will shatter your soul and your will to exist. But your passion for the work cannot wain. It cannot feel like a slough.

When writing starts to feel like work, it might be time to set this series aside. Maybe just for a while. Maybe forever. But if it’s work to write, it’s gonna be work to read. And nobody wants that.

If you start repeating yourself

I mentioned Rita Mae Brown earlier. I used to love her books. I also loved The Cat Who series by Lillian Jackson Braun. But even though Brown is still around and writing, I’ve stopped reading. Because it became repetitive.

There are only so many stories one person wants to read about a cat and corgi who solve mysteries. Especially when it doesn’t feel like any of the characters change or grow. Given that, it’s easy for all the books to feel the same. So if you feel like you’re on repeat, it might be time to give that story a rest.

When all the loose threads are accounted for

Even in continuing series, there are some overall plots. Maybe it’s just a running gag or a long-standing irritation. Maybe one character is constantly one-upping another. Think of Lucy and Charlie Brown with the football.

I certainly suggest having things like this in your writing. It’s fun. But when you think you might be ready to stop writing your series, it’s time for some payoff. It’s time for Charlie Brown to get to kick the football. Or, just become savvy and self-assured enough to walk away from the situation.

Now that I’m working on the last Station 86 book, I’m re-reading the whole series. Because I want to make sure I don’t leave any of these loose ends

When you feel passionate about a new project

Sometimes it’s easy to get in a rut, even with our creative work. We sit down and start writing a story in the same way we’ve always written stories because it is the same way we’ve learned to write stories.

Then, something new comes along. A new idea. Maybe a whole new genre. A new character steps into the light and asks for your attention.

Then demands it.

That might be a sign that it’s time to put your current tale to rest. I’m not suggesting dropping the story mid-draft, or if you have a cliffhanger out there. But if the muse is tempting you with new, exotic tales, they might have a very good reason for doing so. And you might have a very good reason to listen.

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