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Question on Plotting out epic scale book series

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kingaling:
This may be a bit harder to tackle than. "How does one write a story from the perspective of a walrus tooth." or something like that, but not by much.


I am busy scraping together huge chunks of information, as well as tiny ones that have a ripple effect throughout the series. I plan on it being 7 massive books long. This is really epic scale stuff. I don't want to give away too much information suffice it to say it involves an angel of death, a nazi turned demon and a fallen angel who's the reincarnation of the son of Cthulhu.

I've uncovered incredibly cool things for them and about them and each step is just awesome.


BUT I'm still finding it difficult just plotting it out. Trying to find a simpler way of compiling the information to stretch ACROSS the 7 stories. Does anyone have any advice, or perhaps a mutated version of the usual plotting norms? I have 8 files on my computer with about 20 files each, and each of those are filled to the brim. Had to upgrade to a bigger external hard drive even. (not kidding)

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks ahead of time!

- Kingaling

belial.1980:
I'm faced with a somewhat similar situation. About a year ago I started out with a simple story premise. Then it somehow ended up exploding into an epic world with a history that spans 2000 years and covers seven incarnations of the main character. Whoops. As much as I'd like to follow the K.I.S.S. principle, I'm just unable to.

But enough about me.

Let's get back to your question. One has to remember that Rome wasn't built in a day. I think an important thing to look at is your writing experience up till this point. Have you ever published a novel?


If the answer is "yes" then you're about a thousand steps ahead of me. Most of the people on this board are aspiring writers with drafts, ideas, or piles of notes that they hope to turn into something wonderful some day. I'm in this same boat and I'm going to go out on a limb and assume for a moment that you are too. (Please feel free to use hot pokers if I'm wrong.)

I'd recommend that you don't worry too much about an epic plot at this point. Focus on writing the best book you can. Give the readers a glimpse of your epic scale and whet their appetites for more. Resolve the plot at the end so as not to dissappoint the readers but leave them drooling for a sequel. And as difficult as it is, I'd try to be brisk. With such a rich world you'll probably be tempted to write an 800 page monster (or more likely feel compelled to). However, if you're a beginning writer then it's unlikely that a publisher will be willing to pick up a manuscript that long. Of course there're always exceptions and every publishing house has its own guidelines.

Now chances are you have an idea for where the storyline's going to end up. That's good. Keep a rough idea, but allow it to be malleable because your vision might change in the years down the road and I think a lot readers feel cheated by retcons. (I know I do!) Now is the time to open doors rather than lock them up.

But for now I'd focus on just writing the best d@mn book that you can. Completing that will be a huge accomplishment in its own right and once you've done that you'll have a lot better feel for the shape of your story. Good luck!

kingaling:
HAHA. No, I have not been published before. I'm compelled to write epic stories because I feel those are the only ones worth doing. Smaller stories just aren't my style, and I can't focus on a small enough scale to do it anyway. My imaginations way too big (for my own good.)

The first 3 stories are actually individual back stories for the 3 main characters starting with the demon, then the angel, then the angel of death. Each story ends with their perspective of meeting the other 2.

Then the fourth book leads them on a journey of self discovery and companionship and understanding of one another and acceptance of past wrongs they unintentionally did to eachother.

The fifth book involves them in Asgard, and a whole bunch of awesome Ragnarok stuff I shall not mention yet.

The Sixth book leads them into heaven, and to search for more goodies and answers to long and large questions to god.

The seventh book is every conceiveable armageddon rolled into one.


There's a whole lot more to each of them, but the scales for each story are literally too big to dumb down. I'm not crushing under the pressure, was just wondering if anyone knew of a way to plot out over a long series.

And believe it or not, these 7 books are just the beginning to something even larger. Good thing i'm co-writing.

KarlTenBrew:
One thing I've found out (it works for me) is: start small and Q/A yourself about the story constantly.  Starting big has certain advantages, but has the tradeoff of constraint.  You constrain yourself in [main] characters [mostly] and timeline...you've pre-planned deaths or living, which can make it harder to give a suspense feeling.  As a fledgling, I've started small whenever I try to write a story, even if it's just an exercise.  Anything that's gone beyond an exercise has followed the process: 1) Ask a question  2) Answer it  3) repeat ad infinitum

I started with a simple MMORPG character [twice], and in each case ended up in mini-universe territory before considering the actual setting and characters inherent to it.  Allies, enemies, family/friends, motivations, threats, life-changing events all evolved from asking 'Why this?  How that?  When/Who/Where/What?' naturally. 

Then I took an amitious self project to altiverse Marvel but start small and contained.  I focused on the Fantastic Four without villains, Doctor Doom, Captain America, and Nick Fury.  Now I can't quite figure out how to continue the mega-exercise because things kept evolving.  Add a character.  Throw in a sub-plot.  Enemy organization, enemy leader.  Intro new heroes.  Intro new villains.  Flesh out origins for all. @_@  :o

Now I'm working on a variety of book ideas to actually pursue serious work/publishing, and nothing stays at 'one book'.  After creating two to five short concept but fleshed out chapters, I've got more meta-plot than will fit in one book.  One that quickly got a bullet to the brain encompased a pre-planned quartet as the basis for a mega-series (if I'm that good, I'll find out later!  no need to crash and burn epicly from day 1).  My point is, keep asking and answering questions and you'll get plenty of epic.  Belial has the right idea on limiting the scope/scale of each [especially the first] book.  The rest should come with the territory.

kingaling:
Interesting enough, we had already planned it to where the stories get increasingly more epic.

The first story, which takes the point of view of a priest turned Nazi turned demon and his escapades in hell are the most subdued fo the story.

The next story involves his Guardian Angel, who has a larger view of what's going on, and the literal temptations that he simply cannot subude.

The story after that from the angel of deaths point of view has an even bigger working of where things have gone, what deaths incured what debts and so on.

The next four stories get bigger as the mystery unravels.

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