Series Bibles
Speaking of shared worlds, do you have a series bible? They’re great for shared or solo worldbuilding. As well as for contemporary romance as well as fantasy romance.
Creating a series bible for your romance novels is an invaluable tool for managing the details that weave through multiple books in a series. Whether you’re navigating the romantic twists of long-standing characters or ensuring the consistency of your locations and settings, a well-organized series bible can be your roadmap to maintaining coherence and enriching your storytelling.
What is a Series Bible?
A series bible is a comprehensive document that contains all pertinent details about your series. It serves as a reference point to keep everything consistent throughout your books, from character traits to plot developments. Think of it as your series' encyclopedia—a living document that grows and evolves with your work.
Key Elements to Include in Your Series Bible
1. Character Descriptions : Start with detailed descriptions of each character, including their physical appearance, background, motivations, and any changes they undergo throughout the series. This should cover not only your main characters but also secondary characters who play pivotal roles.
2. Character Arcs : Outline the development of each major character across the series. What are their goals, and how do they change from book to book? Keeping track of each character’s journey ensures consistency and helps in planning future arcs.
3. Locations and Settings : Document the key settings where your stories unfold. For a small town romance, this might include a map of the town along with descriptions of important places like the local coffee shop, the heroine’s bookstore, or the iconic beach that features in key scenes. For paranormal romances, detailing the rules of your supernatural world is crucial.
4. Story Timelines : Maintain a timeline for each book and for the series as a whole. This can include major events, character birthdays, anniversaries, and other significant dates that may affect your story's continuity.
5. Plot Developments : Keep a summary of each book’s plot within your series bible. Include main conflicts, turning points, resolutions, and any subplots. This helps in weaving threads between the books and avoiding plot holes.
6. Thematic Elements : Note the themes and motifs of your series and how they develop in each book. This helps maintain a cohesive feel across your series, even as plots and characters change.
7. Stylistic Details : Document stylistic elements that give your series a distinctive voice and tone. This might include specific language, humor, narrative techniques, or even recurring symbols.
Tips for Using and Maintaining Your Series Bible
- Update Regularly : Your series bible should be a living document. Update it as you write to include new characters, plot twists, or changes in your setting.
- Accessibility : Keep your series bible easily accessible. Whether it’s a digital file on your computer or a physical binder on your desk, it should be at your fingertips while you write.
- Simplify Navigation : Organize your bible in a way that makes it easy to find information. Use tabs, hyperlinks, or an index to streamline navigation.
Practical Exercise to Start Your Series Bible
Start by creating a document or notebook dedicated to your series bible. Personally, I keep my series bible in Scrivener in the Project Bookmarks section. For each book you have already written or are planning, create a section in the bible. Fill in the character descriptions for all characters introduced so far, followed by a brief plot summary and timeline of your first book. Include a map of your main setting, annotated with important locations. As you proceed, continue to fill in detailed sections for each subsequent book.
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What a great post. I try to keep my series Bible updated but it doesn't always happen. You mentioned something's that I am missing. I currently had my series in Obsidian. I have also used CC Hogan's One Note template and I tried a binder but it was too messy for me. Thank you again for the post!
That´s a worthy tip, Ines, and comes in handy. Thank you.