As a fiction writer, I was frustrated for years trying to figure out how to write a Genre Fiction series that readers would find easily and that they would love.

Most genre fiction authors I chat with want to write books they love, that their readers are also excited to read. In other words, writers want the fiction they write to be marketable.

That’s the perfect sweet spot that many authors are eager to discover. Over the past two years, I’ve learned more about how to write a marketable sweet romance series, and that’s what I want to share with you today.

How do you as a writer plan a marketable genre fiction series that both you and your readers love? Keep reading below to find out…

How to Get A Clear Plan to Write a Marketable Genre Fiction Series that Readers Love

You might be wondering why it’s important to write a fiction series instead of several standalone books. I used to ask the same question, until it was explained to me by successful indie authors.

Here’s what I’ve learned: A Genre Fiction series draws readers into the world you created and readers become attached to the characters and world you’ve created. When they love what you’re writing, they are hungry to read more books in that series.

 “Genre Fiction series is the bread and butter of mid-list writers. For many they make the difference between a writing dream and a writing career.” Zoe York

Of course you can write any book(s) you want to write.

But, if you want to make a living with your writing, sometimes you need to ask yourself where it might be wise to pivot in your writing business.

That’s what I did, when I started a pen name and began to write a marketable clean romance series back in 2018. I knew I had to figure out something different, because my books weren’t really selling. I didn’t have enough readers interested in my books.

So I pivoted.

Sometimes we need to pivot in our author business. And we need to realize when we need to accept help from others. You gain wisdom from many counselors as the Good Book says, and learning from bestselling authors, is one of the best ways to fast track your understanding and success as a writer.

If you read the story behind the Twilight Saga fiction series by Stephenie Meyer, you’ll know that before she wrote the first book she asked David Farland(a writing teacher/mentor): “How can I write the best selling young adult novel of all time?”

David Farland advised Stephenie Meyer that if she wanted to write a bestselling YA novel she needed to do the following:

• Add Transport to your story: Take your story and transport your reader to another time and another place. Readers love that.
• Write for a wide audience: that means male and female, old and young. If you can write to a wide audience, that will increase your chances of being a best seller.
• Write a book that scores high on the emotional Richter scale: You want people to say after they’ve read your book: “Of all the romance novels(or whatever genre you write), this is the greatest romance I’ve ever read.” When people talk about your book like that, it becomes remarkable.

The above story, is just one example of why it’s important for writers to have mentors and successful writers to learn from.

It was because of what I learned, that I chose to pivot and began writing a 5 book clean romance series. I wrote those books under a pen name(I’m keeping it secret for now), because I wanted to try something new and I also wanted to see if doing that would change Amazon’s algorithms so my “also bought books” would be an exact match to the books I was writing.

Following that advice has worked, because as of this writing I am earning 4 figures a month from my series and many readers have told me they love the books. That’s always encouraging to hear when you’re a writer! So now I’m excited to start a new series under the same pen name.

That’s why, today I wanted to share with you what I’ve learned in the process of writing a series.

5 Tips to Write a Marketable Genre Fiction Series that Readers Love

1.Discover what you really love to write and find comparable books and authors who are having success in that specific genre.

When I first started thinking of writing a marketable fiction series, I searched out clean and wholesome romance authors on Amazon. Next, when I found books similar to what I wanted to write, I wrote down those book titles and series titles. After I did that, I read the reader reviews to learn what readers loved and what they didn’t like in sweet romance books.

Something to do: If you were writing cozy mystery fiction for example, great books to look at would be those by author Elizabeth Spann Craig.  You could see how the book covers look in that genre and when you read the description you’d get an idea of what the book is about. If you looked on her amazon page, underneath it you would see recommended books which are similar and comparable to Elizabeth’s books. Then if you scrolled down to the bottom of that book’s webpage on Amazon you’d find reader’s comments in the reviews. That would help you discover what readers liked and didn’t like about the book.

2.Write down your Series name and Book Titles/Subtitles.

When I started brainstorming my clean romance series, I wrote ideas down in my notebook. I found that sketching out a map of the small town and surrounding areas was helpful to give me a good idea of setting.

Next, I referred to books that were similar to mine in sweet romance fiction and looked closely at how they chose their book and series titles.

Some important points to remember when you’re writing a marketable fiction series:

• Make sure the title for each book in your series, has the exact same information in the series field, that way the various ebook retailers will link your books automatically. Example: You’ll see in Elizabeth Spann Craig’s books above, that each of her books has a title and then in brackets is the series name: Borrowed Time (A Village Library Mystery Book 3). Of course you’d change the book number for each book in the series.
• Add keywords and/or tropes to your book titles. Example: I’ll use Liz Isaacson’s western romance for this example. You can see by the Book title and Series title exactly what this book is about: Rhett’s Make-Believe Marriage: Christmas Brides for Billionaire Brothers (Seven Sons Ranch in Three Rivers Romance Book 1). You know some of the tropes by reading the title: Billionaires; Marriage-of-Convenience; a Cowboy Romance. Just an FYI… your book title doesn’t need to be long, but it should give your readers a good idea of what your book is about.
• Use Keywords that are the closest thing to what you’re writing.  For example: For Liz Isaacson’s western Sweet Romance above, good keywords would be: clean and wholesome romance; inspirational spiritual fiction; christian romance; billionaire romance; cowboy romance, etc.

Something to do: Begin to write down ideas for your series title and Book titles and subtitles. Come up with keywords that are specific to the genre you are writing in.

The key takeaway is that your book description, title, subtitle and series title are all keywords that help readers find your book.

3.Create a world with a fascinating setting that readers love.

Begin by brainstorming the setting of a world you would love to write about. Start with what is most exciting to you!

As you build the world for your fiction series, consider these details:

• Physical World: As the writer, you need a complete 3D image in your head(and preferably sketched on paper so you don’t forget it… lol), so that your readers can visualize your story world.
• Laws of your World: You might have unique laws in your world, especially if you’re writing fantasy or Science Fiction. It’s helpful if you can write those down, so you remember them. If you’re writing contemporary romance, you can just use the laws we have around us.
• Remember to use existing canon rules for your genre that readers love: For example, if you are writing Regency Sweet Romance, readers would expect an Earl or Duke finding his lady love at London’s season in Regency England. For Space Opera Science Fiction, you’d expect to find a maverick or rogue captain thinking outside the box(think Captain James T. Kirk of Star Trek).

Something to do: Take a moment to write down what will be familiar in your story world that you know readers already love in the genre you’re writing. The fun part is brainstorming your story world and discovering parts that you love and sketching it out on paper(that’s my favorite part!).

4.Build a Cast of Memorable Characters.

One of the most important details to remember as you create your characters, is they need to be 3D people and not card-board cutouts. When characters are compelling, readers relate to them and feel like they can put themselves in the character’s shoes. That’s powerful and it keeps readers coming back for more of your books.

As you begin building your cast of characters, here are some details to consider:

• Protagonist: A broken woman or man with a haunted past. Remember the hero’s journey starts in the ordinary world, and the hero starts the story in a bad place and something needs to happen(some struggle) to get them to where they need to go so they can grow and change. In romance, there will be a meet cute(when the hero and heroine first meet) that changes everything for the protagonist that is on the wrong path in life.
• In a romance you usually have two lead characters and both need to be compelling. For example, one of your characters(hero or heroine) could be more of an ideal or fantasy-type character, while the other main character could be someone with whom the reader identifies with and is easily relatable.
• Remember to add details to your secondary characters. Add a few lines or some short paragraphs about your secondary characters. I’ve discovered that often these secondary characters end up in a starring role in another book. Create a little mystery about their past and readers will become curious. Just recently, as I published the next book in my series, I had readers emailing me asking me when the next book will be finished… lol 😉 It’s always encouraging to when readers tell you they love your stories!
• If you write suspense or mystery, add a villain. The bad guy also needs to be compelling. Whether it’s a woman or a man, this character needs to be someone who can twist things up for your protagonist and really ruin things for them. It really adds to the mystery and suspense of your story when you do this. So brainstorm and write down your villain’s broken past and discover what has gone wrong that made him or her into the bad person they are today.

Something to do: Write our your cast of characters. You can write their names and maybe some little details that come to mind as you’re brainstorming. You can wait to flesh everything out later on.

5.Write out a single sentence description of your project: Your High-Concept Idea.

What you are doing here is identifying the part of your story idea that has appeal to the widest audience of readers in your genre. Try to write a description of the core of your story idea and what makes your idea original and that will have mass appeal.

• An example of a high-concept idea: A kid in a small town who wants to fight evil and crime. When he becomes successful at it, he begins to go out to save the world. That story idea isn’t High-Concept until you add the part that he came from another plant by spaceship. It’s 1936, and he lands in the backyard of a really nice couple in rural Kansas. They raise the child and he becomes Superman. Now that story has become unique and High-Concept.
• An example of a high-concept idea in Romance: A series of contemporary romances where each sibling(brothers or sisters) fall in love with someone. Each sibling is at the top of their profession. aka; a football player; a business man; firefighter… like Barbara Freethy’s Callaway series. Another example in romance is a New Twist on an old favorite. Example: The Cowboy’s E-mail Order Bride.

Something to do: Make a list of tropes in your book(In romance popular tropes are: enemies to lovers; marriage of convenience; billionaire; rags to riches; afraid to commit; best friend’s sibling; cowboy, etc.). Next, decide what is at the CORE of your story. What is the conflict at the start of your book? Write down the occupations of your Main Characters. Where does it take place? What’s the twist you are adding to make your story unique?

Write down what tropes you want to use to have the widest appeal to readers of the genre you chose. Start thinking about a unique angle you could take with your book series. Refine your series set-up, your world and your cast of characters.

Planning a marketable Genre Fiction series that Readers Love is hard work.

But don’t give up. You can do this!

As you work through the to-do list from the above five steps, remember to do a gut check often. Ask yourself, how do I feel about this story idea? Do I love these characters or do they need tweaking? Trust what you feel inside.

Your story is already inside you. Now you just need to write it.

What are some ideas you have to write a marketable genre fiction series? I’d love to hear from you… please comment below 🙂