I have long loved a good series, really from the moment I picked up Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel, only to be followed by the J. R. R. Tolkien books. As I got older, and more interested in the crime genre, that love of series turned to Faye Kellerman, J. A. Jance, Janet Evanovich, and Sue Grafton. So, when I decided to try writing my own novel, a series seemed to be a natural choice. That’s when my PI Kelly Pruett series was born, soon to be followed by the Misty Pines mystery series, which is ongoing. The third book in the series, Killer Tracks, will be out on September 30, 2025.
A funny thing happened while I was writing the second book of the Misty Pines series: I had an idea for a standalone. Admittedly, I don’t sit still well and always need to write the next thing. It’s not like I hadn’t read standalones over the years—my bookshelf is full of Mary Higgins Clark, John Grisham, Ruth Ware, J. T. Ellison, etc. I’d never thought about writing one. Never thought myself capable, really.
I realized I had been creating standalones all along. While the characters might recur in my series, the plot of each book stands on its own every time. That character part is significant when crafting the novel. I know what makes my characters tick and how they interact with each other, and have a general idea of how they might change and grow, alone and together, throughout the story. The case my PI or sheriff and his team solve is separate and resolved by the end.
So, with a scant amount of confidence, I jumped in with both feet and began to write what would turn out to be my first published standalone, Don’t Ask, Don’t Follow. I learned a few lessons along the way that might prove helpful if you are juggling writing an ongoing series, and the idea for a new standalone demands your attention.
1. Make your characters distinctive. As a matter of familiarity, it was easy to assign traits to my standalone characters that were present in my series characters. To keep the idea fresh, I had to think about ways that made them stand-out individuals with plenty of quirks, weaknesses, and goals. I spent time diving into character sketches of my protagonist, as well as those who would have a major role in the novel—before I even wrote the first page.
2. Keep a journal on your series characters and potential storylines. I used to be a complete pantser, but the more books I’ve written, I find spending time to think about the pitch and core plot is essential. In terms of juggling series vs. standalone, it’s important to make certain the idea fits.
For example, there are plots that are prime for a small-town sheriff to tackle. There are plots more appropriate for a female protagonist to take on, even when she’s stuck in the middle of a situation she’s desperate to escape. By keeping a running list of ideas or pitches, I think it through before I make the conscious decision of who is the best person to tell the story.
3. Don’t start two new books at the same time. I’ve found the success in writing a series and weaving in the standalones is having them in different places at different times, which means I don’t write them concurrently. If I’m writing a standalone, I’m editing the series, and vice versa. In that way, my brain is always focused on the creative aspect and can easily shift into editorial.
Everyone has different abilities, so if you can be creative in two places at once, then perhaps choose separate writing times; allow your mind to be fully vested in the characters and their world as you create the story.
4. While I have not implemented this suggestion myself, I do think the use of spreadsheets and dashboards to keep a running progress on the separate projects can be very helpful. I tend to wing it in that area, but I admire those who are more organized, and if you are balancing two projects, it’s definitely worth a shot!
5. Lastly, be easy about the whole thing. Writing is fun. If you are writing both a series and a standalone, allow yourself to enjoy the process; take breaks, long walks, or trips in nature. Let your imagination breathe. You’ll come back to writing with renewed energy, necessary when you have multiple projects, and so rewarding in the writing game.
Eighteen years in the legal field and an overactive imagination led Mary Keliikoa to plot murder—novels, that is. She is the author of the domestic thriller Don’t Ask, Don’t Follow, the upcoming Killer Tracks, the third book in the Misty Pines mystery series, which is an IPPY Silver and Bronze Award winner, Silver Falchion finalist, and a Foreword Indies award finalist, and the Shamus and CLUE Finalist, and Lefty, Agatha and Anthony nominated “PI Kelly Pruett” mystery series. Her short stories have appeared in Woman’s World and the anthology Peace, Love and Crime: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of the 60s.
