Now that my dark western book, Shadows of Atlantic City, is published, it’s time to move back to the Witcham series. Yes, that means I am working on a dark fantasy and a dark western series at the same time. Why wouldn’t I just finish one before starting the other?
No, it doesn’t have to do with ADHD or autism. There are actually quite a few sound reasons why working on multiple book series is ideal in my case.
Like everything else that is writing-related, this process is subject to the individual. There’s no right or wrong answer, as long as you’re progressing in your craft and it fits your needs.
With that being said, this is why I am perfectly capable and comfortable writing two series at the same time.
The Dark Western Book Series Grew On Me Quite Quickly
Initially, I was roughly 80,000 words into writing Fury, the sequel to my dark fantasy, Kingmaker. When I attended the Reedsy masterclass for How to Write a Novel, I wanted to start fresh with something so I could implement the things I learned as I progressed.
The end result was a much better book than anything else I’ve put together thus far.
The research I conducted for 1870s life in New Jersey, the storyline itself, and what I realized I could do with a western grew on me rapidly. I’m not Louis L’Amour, but I think I found a genre that I really enjoy as much as fantasy.
Giving a Break In Between the Books
I love writing fantasy. However, I’ve found that taking a break helps with focus, story development, and motivation when I start writing the next volume. Breaking it up with something completely different gives me a chance to metaphorically breathe.
Don’t get me wrong, I still think of the other series during the “off time.” And in a lot of ways, taking a break helps me realize better plot developments, dialogue, and subplot elements I wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.
The hard part is giving myself too much of a break. I haven’t had a chance to work on the Witcham series outside of a few thousand words in over two years. I really miss those books!
That’s where better time management comes into play. I really need to dedicate more time to writing books.
Exploring Different Styles and Genres
Although I often prefer to write fantasy, I love a wide scope of genres. Then again, I’ve always been a “jack of all trades, and a master of none.” Meaning I enjoy the writing process, whether I’m breaking down a sword battle or describing a character’s quickdraw on a wraith.
So far, I’ve included a romance scene in my books, aside from my autobiography, A Freelancer’s Tale.
My point is that I love trying out new methods and techniques while exploring genres I’ve never tried. I go into the process with an open mind to see how well I can do something when I put in the effort to succeed.
That’s key to just about everything in life. If you look at something with a negative opinion, you’re only going to see the negative outcomes. That’s because you’re expecting it, which can skew your efforts consciously and subconsciously.
Try to be objective when you try something for the first time. You may find out that you actually like it.
Giving Adequate Time to Read Prior Books
I wanted to give readers adequate time to read a previous book before publishing the next in a series. Unfortunately, my life is very chaotic, and the gap in between the volumes has been considerably wider than I would have liked.
Ideally, I would love to publish a new part in a series once per year…perhaps sooner. So, that is one of my goals for the foreseeable future.
According to some experts, a series should be released three to six months at a time. But I bet those experts and authors probably make a living from writing books. I have other things that take precedence to keep the mortgage and credit card bills paid.
Anyway, writing back and forth might give people adequate time to read either series before the next book comes out.
Writing the Stories I Want to Tell
I’m not an author because I want to chase the almighty dollar. I don’t care what trends are happening on Amazon or what most people are buying right now to read. I write the stories I want to tell regardless of genre.
In this case, I loved writing the dark western so much that I am making it a more permanent part of my library. This is in addition to the dark fantasy series, the upcoming fan fiction, and the science fiction I have planned for 2026.
I am happiest writing virtually any kind of story, even if that means I won’t sell a single copy of a book in over 10 months. I’m not in it for the money; I’m in it to tell stories.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to make Stephen-King-levels of money. What author wouldn’t? But I’m not going to sacrifice principles, morals, or passion to do so.
I Love the Various Characters That Much
Every time I write a new story or book, I fall in love with the characters. And like a lot of authors, I don’t want to just write a one-off book and never see them again. So, I am more likely to write a series, even if it’s just two or three books.
In fact, I had plans for a single origin story book regarding a character in Kingmaker that is probably going to be three books long.
I’m sure that I’ll eventually write one-off stories. One of my goals for 2026 is to write a book specifically to use with Kindle Unlimited as a case study to see if it’s worth being exclusive to Amazon.
But outside of writing experiments, the moment I start writing a short story, the character’s entire life comes into view, and I want to write more of it. Otherwise, I’ll feel like I’m not giving the character enough credit for their contribution to the plot.
It’s weird, I know. But for me, this is what works, and one of the reasons why I love being a writer.
Why Not Write a Book Series?
I’ve never been one to follow trends, jump on bandwagons, or play follow the leader. I’ve always cut my own path, even when it was clearly the more difficult choice. So, when someone tells me I should just stay in my lane, I give them the bird and do what I want anyway.
You can’t tell me that I can’t do something a certain way. I’ll put in maximum effort to do it that way just to prove a point, even if I eventually fail. That’s because I won’t know it won’t work until I see that it doesn’t for myself.
In this case, the act of maintaining two book series brings me an immense amount of joy. And as a writer, that’s the best you can hope for in the long run.
You can’t force people to buy, read, and enjoy your book. However, you can control how you feel about it and whether the process is what you wanted from the experience of writing.
Should a Book Series Be Your First Publishing?
A lot of experts say that a series shouldn’t be the first thing you publish as an author. I say, as long as you’re enjoying yourself and having fun writing the series, write it.
Most of these so-called experts on writing advice focus on one primary element: making money. So, of course, they are going to share their tips on how to maximize profits or otherwise sell more copies of books from the beginning.
While I’m not averse to making money, I side with actual writers who write because they love the process. It’s not always about how much you make, but the story you tell. And sometimes, those stories won’t get the spotlight you think they deserve.
In any case, I don’t believe you should restrict yourself as an author. Write what makes you happy and try to market it to the right audience. That’s all any of us can really do, in the grand scheme of things.
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