How to create a Wiki for your series novels?
What is a series?
A book series is a sequence of books with common characters, themes, settings or characteristics formed together as a group. They can be organized in different ways. They often contain a story arc and/or theme that crosses the books in the series.
What is your favorite series?
I love the Kushiel’s Legacy series, City Shifters: the Pride Series, City Shifters: The Den series, Beyond Series, Sookie Stackhouse Series, and many more. I love reading series because I hate leaving characters at the end of a book and never seeing them again. Since I love reading them it was only natural for me to write them as well.
Into the Fire is book one in The Fire Series
Obsidian Vendetta is book one of the PIR novels
If you haven’t subscribed to Sarra Cannon’s Youtube channel Heart Breathings you should check it out today. She has a a full playlist on planning and writing a series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAH8NoVfy0k&list=PLg6zjsQP4PwdmQG45bTonDlbIS1NcL-dy
What is a series wiki?
It is a way to record the true stuff about your story series for you to reference as an author. Often we have a ton of notes laying around with characters and backstories, locations and what not. Creating a series wiki helps you keep track of everything in a more efficient location.
Sara Cannon also has a video on building a series bible wiki https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKzS2-zQ2g8&t=17s
Kate Cavanaugh also has a video on building a series encyclopedia on Campfire Blaze
Where can I make my series wiki?
Now that I have you excited to start your own wiki. Where are you going to put it? I have two wiki sites I use. One is Campfire Blaze. If you take part in NaNoWriMo you know it is one of the sponsors and they give a prize to authors that complete their goal.
Campfire Blaze
Kate Cavanaugh’s video is a good place to start on how to get started there .
The other wiki site I use is PB works Wiki Hub https://www.pbworks.com/
I would be happy to do a video on my Youtube channel on how to get started making your series wiki on their Wiki Hub. Just let me know in the comments below if you would like to see that.
How do I start?
Collect all your notes on the series
Read through them and see if you missed anything and make note of those items
List as many books and shorts you have planned
List all your main characters in the series
List all of those characters' relationships; family, children, friends, connections, past love interests that might come back to bite them in the ass. If they own a business and their employees that might be important or that they work often with like assistants or administrative assistants.
List important locations for the series.
Now that you have your information make a first page where you will connect the series to the books and shorts in it. You can also add the main characters and locations to this page. This is your front page for quick access to the information.
Create a page for each book and short and link it back to the front page you created in step 7.
In each book and short page list the characters and locations featured.
Create a page for each main character and link it back to wherever they are mentioned. In these character pages you will want to include their relationships and personal information you gathered in step 5.
Create a page for each location featured in the series and link it back to wherever it is mentioned.
Create a map page if you need to and include information that is important like landmarks.
Well, you did it. That is all there is to it. You can add more information as you write because we all know that characters will surprise you.
What do I do with it after I make it?
You can keep it private or share it with your fans. It really is up to you.
What is your favorite way to keep notes on your writings?
I created a series notebook for each series and I keep research and ideas in it.
Writing prompt of the week
Would you like to be a guest author on this blog?
Camp NaNoWriMo is coming! It starts July 1st and I’m looking for guest blog authors for that month. If you would like to write for this blog, sign up here.
Summer is here and that means Newsletter time
My summer newsletter comes out later this month, what will be in it?
Monthly freebie for newsletter members
Free books
A giveaway
And much more
Sign up for the newsletter today and don’t miss it and more.
I was interviewed check it out Monday, June 7th, 2021
We chat on Discord every Wednesday, join us.
We have a new recipe for you from fans to fans. Check out the recipe of the month. If you would like to submit a recipe for July, we are taking submissions until the last Friday of the month. All the winning recipes will go into a cookbook that we will sell to raise money for a food-related charity that the fans vote for.
Into the Fire book cover planner, share your love of the novel every time you add to your schedule.
If you become a member of the Bronze cup club you get a flash fiction that you can read in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.
What am I watching
Midsomer Murders https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118401/?ref_=tt_mv_close
What am I reading
What am I listening too?
Current WIP (work in progress)
This short explains where Talon went in Obsidian Vendetta and why he left. This novella is part of the PIR novels, an Urban Fantasy Noir Mystery series and it will be for fans only. I will be sharing more information on this project on my social media so keep a lookout
Twitter @crowshirley
Instagram @crowshirley
Comments