This Time Around hasn’t even been released yet, and somehow my brain is already living in my next project.
That project is The Prime Minister’s Daughter, a political thriller trilogy that will probably be the most ambitious thing I’ve ever attempted. At the moment I’m deep in the planning stage, and I can honestly say it has completely changed the way I think about writing.
I’ve written several books now, from The Man in Red and Yellow Who Will Live Forever to Across the Brief, Love on Wheels, and now This Time Around. Every one of them presented its own challenges.
But writing a trilogy?
That’s a completely different beast.
Writing a Trilogy Means Thinking Years Ahead
When you’re writing a standalone novel, life is comparatively simple.
Your job is to make sure every chapter serves that story. Every character arc, every plot twist and every emotional moment only has to work within the covers of one book.
With a trilogy, you don’t have that luxury.
Instead, you’re constantly asking yourself questions like:
- Where does this character need to be by Book Three?
- Does this event belong in Book One, or would it have more impact later?
- Am I revealing too much too early?
- Have I planted enough clues for readers to spot when they look back?
Every decision has consequences that might not pay off until hundreds of pages later.
That’s a level of planning I’ve never had to deal with before.
Every Character Needs a Destination
One of the biggest things I’ve realised is that I can’t just create interesting characters.
I have to know where they’re going.
Luke Dawson and Lizzie Wetherby don’t just need compelling stories in the first book. They need believable growth across three separate novels.
Supporting characters need their own journeys.
Villains need long-term motivations.
Relationships have to evolve naturally.
Some characters need to become more confident.
Others need to fall apart.
Some might not even survive.
When readers reach the final page of the trilogy, I want them to feel that every character has earned the ending they receive.
That only happens if I know where they’re heading before I even write Chapter One.
Planning Has Become More Important Than Ever
I’ve written before about why I believe fiction is far harder to write than non-fiction.
Even after writing that article, I don’t think I fully appreciated just how complicated long-form fiction can become.
Planning a trilogy isn’t simply writing three books.
It’s really writing one enormous story that’s been split into three parts.
Each novel has to stand on its own.
Each needs its own beginning, middle and ending.
Each needs satisfying pay-offs.
Yet all three books also have to fit together as one complete story.
Miss one important detail in Book One and it could create a plot hole two books later.
No pressure then.
The Five Ps… On Steroids
I’ve always believed in the Five Ps.
Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.
Whether it was writing essays during my law degree, completing academic work or planning novels, that mindset has always served me well.
But this project has taken that philosophy to another level.
It’s the Five Ps on steroids.
Instead of keeping one book in my head, I constantly have three.
I’m thinking about scenes that won’t happen for another thousand pages.
I’m solving problems in Book Three before Book One has even been written.
Sometimes I’ll be planning a chapter and suddenly realise changing one conversation could affect something that happens two books later.
It’s exhausting.
It’s also strangely exciting.
Stepping Into a New Genre
Another challenge is that political thrillers are new territory for me.
They’re one of my favourite genres to watch.
Shows like Bodyguard, 24, The West Wing and Jack Ryan have always fascinated me because they’re built around tension, politics, conspiracy and difficult moral decisions.
Reading them is one thing.
Writing one yourself is something else entirely.
That means I’m constantly researching alongside planning.
I’m asking questions.
Could this actually happen?
Would this security procedure work?
How would politicians respond?
Would readers believe this decision?
The more realistic I can make the world, the more invested I hope readers will become.
It’s Also the Most Exciting Project I’ve Planned
Reading this back, it probably sounds like I’m complaining.
I’m not.
Far from it.
Yes, writing a trilogy is incredibly challenging.
Yes, it’s forcing me to think differently.
Yes, it’s stretching me further than any book I’ve written before.
But that’s exactly why I wanted to do it.
Every book should teach you something.
Every project should make you a better writer.
If The Prime Minister’s Daughter does that, then all the planning, rewriting and head scratching will be worth it.
After all, if writing was easy, everyone would be doing it.
The Story Hasn’t Been Written Yet…
One thing I find funny is that This Time Around hasn’t even been released yet, and I’m already living in another world entirely.
That’s probably just how writers are wired.
We’re always thinking about the next idea.
The next character.
The next story.
And sometimes…
The next trilogy.
I’d Love to Hear Your Thoughts
Have you ever taken on a project that turned out to be far bigger than you expected?
Or if you’re a reader, do you prefer standalone novels or long-running series?
Leave a comment below and join the conversation.
You can also explore more of my writing, books and behind-the-scenes updates over at Cmeewrites