This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
By Anna Bell
With both my published and self-published writing, I write books in series. This year, however, I'll be writing the final instalment for both. It's going to be really sad to say goodbye to my characters, and I'm wondering if I'll feel lost without them. Is it normal to think of your characters as long lost friends?
Last week I started book three in my Don't Tell the… series. I had planned it roughly before I started, and sent the synopsis to my agent and editor for comment, so I already had a good idea of where it was going. I sat down on day one and wrote the first chapter really quickly, pleased to be back in Penny's world. The best thing about writing a series is that you know your characters inside out. You know where they've come from, what makes them tick. They're firmly established in your mind, and you know how they think, which means I can get right into the action, without having to soul-search new characters.
I absolutely love reading books in series; a diet of Trebizon by Anne Digby and Sweet Valley High books firmly established that. Yet I'm a believer in ending a series without dragging it out too. I know – with both the series I've been writing – that they are coming to the natural end of their lives, and now is the time for the final part. The only problem is, I feel added pressure to end them well. There's nothing worse than having followed a series, then reading the last part and feeling let down, like the author rushed or forced an ending. 
I think the problem with having a final ending is trying to make it the end. Hopefully, with chick lit, your characters live on and carry on their lives, albeit happily. I want to make sure there isn't the temptation to resurrect the series. It would be easy for me to write about both my characters having babies, but it doesn't feel right to.
I'm still deciding whether to write a new series after I’ve finished these, or whether I should write some stand alone novels. Whatever happens I'm going to miss Penny and Millie.
What are your thoughts on series of novels? Do you like it when characters are bought back, or do you like a good (and final) happy ever after? Have you written a series? Did you feel lost when it finished?
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