How can I make my sci-fi/fantasy series of novels feel like a series?

I'm trying to write a sci-fi/fantasy series, and so far it doesn't feel like a series.

I'm not going to explain the plot right now. I can briefly explain the setting. Basically, it has sort of a post-apocalyptic feel, and it doesn't have any of the more extreme elements of fantasy or sci-fi, like fairies, spaceships, robots, etc. It is in another world so naturally it is different. There are unique creatures and there are warp stones (essentially allowing teleportation over great distances). There are also vehicles with wheels and vehicles that hover.

Anyway, so far it just seems like a long drawn out short story. Most of the events tie in directly with the main plot.

I realize that would normally be a good thing...but I think that with a series...there should be more.

I think a series allows better characterization. It involves seeing more of the character's lives. That's what I want to do. The problem is that it's hard for me to think of stuff like this. I do have a few small story arcs, but they all involve murder or robbery. It's almost like I can't think of anything else right now.

I am still writing. I know a lot of people advise just writing and seeing what comes up, and I am doing that, but I have hit a bit of a road block...and I could use some help brainstorming. Can you help me?

EDIT: I forgot to mention that one thing I wanted to do is establish norms without being repetitive. In TV shows for example...you can always identify norms after the first season. You can identify what often happens (though this usually has to do with the character's career). It isn't all just one chain of events related to the same thing. Anyway, how can I effectively establish norms without being repetitive?

EDIT 2: OK I keep getting advice to add either something really large-scaled or some sort of abstract theme. Please understand...I am looking specifically for "extra" stuff to put into the series so it doesn't seem like every event moves the plot foreward in some way. I am looking for events that may happen in the characters' lives. Got it?

Do you have some sort of non physical, perhaps philosophical theme to the world? Perhaps that your protagonist's flaws or internal conflicts stop him from achieveing his goals, or that the primitive society, despite being quick to abandon old world tendencies, has the same cruelties as before? A center theme that isn't explicit, but you remember as you plot things out should help. And as for my suggestions, thats just my conjecture of a post-apoc world, and probabley dosen't pertain what-so-ever to your story. aveman1

Well that's a good idea but I already have a central theme and plenty of abstract ideas for what I want. What I'm talking about are smaller subplots to give it a somewhat "episodic" feel.

Create antagonists, or people who differ with the main character's perception of good in a post-apocaliyptic world. fanboy-buster

.......you serious?

Once again...

I have the concepts down. Of course I have antagonists. I'm looking for things that can happen. Just things...in life. It could be almost anything. I need events to make up the content of the series.

[QUOTE="fanboy-buster"]Create antagonists, or people who differ with the main character's perception of good in a post-apocaliyptic world. Rukaru

.......you serious?

Once again...

I have the concepts down. Of course I have antagonists. I'm looking for things that can happen. Just things...in life. It could be almost anything. I need events to make up the content of the series.

Haha...I thought you already had that idea :P Maybe a first sub-plot has to do with the government and their relation with whatever caused the city to be blown up. I know is sounds clichè but it is not a bad idea.

[QUOTE="Rukaru"]

[QUOTE="fanboy-buster"]Create antagonists, or people who differ with the main character's perception of good in a post-apocaliyptic world. fanboy-buster

.......you serious?

Once again...

I have the concepts down. Of course I have antagonists. I'm looking for things that can happen. Just things...in life. It could be almost anything. I need events to make up the content of the series.

Haha...I thought you already had that idea :P Maybe a first sub-plot has to do with the government and their relation with whatever caused the city to be blown up. I know is sounds clichè but it is not a bad idea.

[QUOTE="fanboy-buster"][QUOTE="Rukaru"]

.......you serious?

Once again...

I have the concepts down. Of course I have antagonists. I'm looking for things that can happen. Just things...in life. It could be almost anything. I need events to make up the content of the series.

Rukaru

Haha...I thought you already had that idea :P Maybe a first sub-plot has to do with the government and their relation with whatever caused the city to be blown up. I know is sounds clichè but it is not a bad idea.

[QUOTE="Rukaru"][QUOTE="fanboy-buster"]

Haha...I thought you already had that idea :P Maybe a first sub-plot has to do with the government and their relation with whatever caused the city to be blown up. I know is sounds clichè but it is not a bad idea.

fanboy-buster

OK thanks! :)

That's still a little bigger than I'm looking for. Is that something that might happen in your life? Probably not. And BTW, the story is not set on earth...so no Bahamas :P

I'm not going to explain the plot right now.

Rukaru

You do realize that what you ask is insanely difficult without at least a short plot summary?

[QUOTE="Rukaru"]

I'm not going to explain the plot right now.

Theokhoth

You do realize that what you ask is insanely difficult without at least a short plot summary?

How about have a universal theme of anti-evolution. The story takes place in a futuristic utopia where everybody is happy until monkeys ceize the nukes of Russia. Since monkeys have no soul, they launch the nukes and kill almost everybody. And now there's only one man that can stop the monkeys from post-apocalyptic conquest of the world. Starring. Jason Stathum, as, the last hope for mankind. *Scene of Jason propelling down from a skylight and shooting twin uzis in a circle as all the monkey security guards try to stop him. They all miss and he kills them all. Then he fights the evil flaming monkey overlord using no weapons except various articles of clothing to bring down the monkey menace* (Back to narrator voice) this is..... The Conspirarator. Coming to theaters this spring. -end-


EDIT: Wow. I believe that's the most sidetracked I've ever gotten in a post before. Awesome. hamstergeddon

Once again...not looking for a theme or concept. I'm looking for life events...or something similar that can make a story seem like a series.

[QUOTE="Rukaru"][QUOTE="fanboy-buster"]

Haha...I thought you already had that idea :P Maybe a first sub-plot has to do with the government and their relation with whatever caused the city to be blown up. I know is sounds clichè but it is not a bad idea.

fanboy-buster

[QUOTE="fanboy-buster"][QUOTE="Rukaru"] Yeah actually I already have that for the main plot. This is what I'm looking for though. Brainstorming of possible events. I'm thinking something on a smaller scale might work better for a subplot. And it needs to directly involve one of the characters. I just want to give the idea that the characters have lives. It is also a good outlet for character development.skivit

I didn't intend my post to be sarcastic...but I am not seeing what you found sarcastic.

That's too large scale! That isn't a life event! Have you ever done that? seriously....Rukaru

Life events include deaths and changes in plans. Ever read George R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series?

Without a plot summary there's not much I can do. Perhaps you could have characters die; main characters, sub characters, whatever. Introduce one or two more characters with interesting plot lines that intertwine with the main protagonist's and kill them; or, kill the protagonist and have his story continue with the deuteragonist.Theokhoth

Ok you still have the wrong idea. You don't need a plot summary. I'm talking about things like....you know....life events. I'm not sure a gamer could understand. Incidentally, I am not one. :)

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]Without a plot summary there's not much I can do. Perhaps you could have characters die; main characters, sub characters, whatever. Introduce one or two more characters with interesting plot lines that intertwine with the main protagonist's and kill them; or, kill the protagonist and have his story continue with the deuteragonist.Rukaru

Ok you still have the wrong idea. You don't need a plot summary. I'm talking about things like....you know....life events. I'm not sure a gamer could understand. Incidentally, I am not one. :)

*Ahem* I'm also writing a novel. ;)

See my post above. "Life events" is too broad a term, and without a plot summary, it's a rather hopeless cause.

Hmmm, i don't know if it can help you in any way but i do am a sucker for very personal character plot. Since you are set up in a world with a post apocalytic feeling and looking for ''filler'' content, you can have flashbacks of this character life and what forged this character to be what he/she is today.

It's really hard to give you ideas without knowing details but it can be really interesting to have your perception of a character changed after discovering a subplot event. I have no clue what your characters are but making them flawed is a great way to humanize them and develop sub plots related to them, exploit their flaws, exploit their personality. A once hot-headed character has more than likely ran into trouble, this ''trouble'' might trigger a personality switch in this character at the end of said episodic plot which might explain better an action he committed in another episode. Just an example but you get the idea. Get your characters personality, physical traits and past on paper and start digging.

Hmmm, i don't know if it can help you in any way but i do am a sucker for very personal character plot. Since you are set up in a world with a post apocalytic feeling and looking for ''filler'' content, you can have flashbacks of this character life and what forged this character to be what he/she is today.

It's really hard to give you ideas without knowing details but it can be really interesting to have your perception of a character changed after discovering a subplot event. I have no clue what your characters are but making them flawed is a great way to humanize them and develop sub plots related to them, exploit their flaws, exploit their personality. A once hot-headed character has more than likely ran into trouble, this ''trouble'' might trigger a personality switch in this character at the end of said episodic plot which might explain better an action he committed in another episode. Just an example but you get the idea. Get your characters personality, physical traits and past on paper and start digging.

Cenerune