I have been very productive (a relative term, I know). I am at the very threshold of 35,000 words in my novel, and I work on it quite consistently. Sometimes I write a few paragraphs only to a hit wall, and I erase them and start over, but it’s always for the best. It’s easier when I know exactly where my book is headed. In fact, knowing where the book is headed has brought me to think more on where this one should end; and whether I need multiple books to tell my story.

One of the goals I posted for myself and my writing weeks and weeks ago was to decide whether my story could fit in one book, or whether I would need a sequel or even trilogy. I am leaning toward trilogy.

Book 1: Riaone from the start (at her home, Stillwater) and her journey with Tsa Sial, Jaim, and Garel all the way to the Academy in the kingdom of Chare. After a year or thereabouts at the Academy, Riaone is confirmed as a Legate and is told she must train in Higa. End of Book 1.

Book 2: Riaone commences studies in Higa and Tsa Sial, Jaim, and Garel continue their individual exploits, which were just beginning in Book 1, in this book. Book 2 follows their separate narratives and ends when these four, along with the other two Legates, meet up in the end and the Legates must fulfill their destinies. End of Book 2.

Book 3: I don’t want to give it away, but Book 3 is not about Riaone. None of my books are written in first person, but the first two books do focus on Riaone as the top main protagonist. Book 3 is written from a different top main protagonist, but one who has been nevertheless featured a lot on Books 1 (a little) and 2 (much more). It ends by changing the way the world works forever.

I imagine my story unfolding in three books because I just feel like I am writing so much; but my (many) characters need appropriate time for development, and I think that appropriate time is three books. I don’t care how long they get, but I don’t want it to go over three books and risk losing readers’ interest in the story or even their interest in choosing to start reading the series. I am no Robert Jordan, with his ten-plus novels.

Are there any drawbacks to telling a story in multiple books that anyone would like to share? Plus-sides? Warnings?