by L.C.

Created on: May 27, 2009

If you are planning on writing a follow-up novel after finishing your first, then you have most likely realized that the true challenge has only just begun. Of course, congratulations are in order if you managed to complete your first book: many writers have yet to achieve this. However, writing a follow-up novel will come with its own difficulties and headaches, and one of these will be avoiding inconsistencies.

If you have yet to write your first novel, and you simply know that a second one will be coming afterwards, then it is absolutely essential that you start now and make a plot outline. Start with just the basics: what happens in which parts, what the conflicts are and how they are resolved. Now, as you write your book, jot down all of the information that seems relevant. Write down facts such as characters' ages, occupations, hometowns, religious beliefs and political views, as well as their physical appearances. Also make sure to have the times and locations of various events recorded. This way, when you write your follow-up novel, you won't find yourself writing that your protagonist's best friend's hair is blonde, when in the first book you said she was a redhead.

Unfortunately, if you are reading this article, it is highly probable that you have already written your first novel, and you are only now starting the follow-up one. While you could easily try to write your book and hope to avoid as many inconsistencies as possible, there is a much better way of going about this. While it will take much longer, the benefits will certainly make up for the lost time. Ideally, you should reread your first book and follow the steps described above, writing down all of the important facts as far as plot, characters, and setting are concerned. This way, you have an easily-accessed chart that will allow you to double-check facts, instead of skimming through your entire novel in hopes of finding out a quick piece of information. This process may prove to be frustrating if you are seized with inspiration and motivation to get started on your follow-up novel, but it will save you from having to go back and fix what could potentially be devastating inconsistencies.

If you have yet to write your first novel, then you are in luck. You'll be able to save much time by writing the novel and recording facts as you go, instead of going back, reading it and then jotting them down. However, if this isn't the case, I would strongly advise that you do not take the easy way out, and instead you reread your book to make sure all of the important facts are written down and can be consulted when needed. Furthermore, rereading your book will refresh your memory and help you better reconnect with the plot and characters again, particularly if it's been a while since you have written your novel. I can guarantee that the effort will be well worth it.

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