I am writing my first novel but cannot decide if its best to write a trilogy or a single novel. The genre is mystery, new-age, suspense with a bit of fantasy. The foundational theme of the story allows for additional divergent stories to be told and developed so I'm thinking a novel with future tales in future but on the other hand, the single novel is a big story with many subplots that could be turned into an exciting trilogy, creating anticipation for readers. (The best example of this is probably how Great Expectations was originally written by Dickens). I know that there is no wrong or right answer but I am looking for a subjective answer as to the pros and cons of both. Thanks in advance.
Writing as a single novel and when you get to the end you will realise how much you've learned for the next book. Let that one be the trilogy.
Good luck
@jonathan thanks for the insight. I can see that making the decision to create a series can be quite a challenge to write. The greatest challenge that I have had since I started writing (I am roughly 30% through my first novel) is keeping things interesting all the time. I began putting the overall story together, writing a short synopsis on each planned chapter, but the grit comes into it when one has to conceptualise and design the sub-plots along the way. I initially planned a trilogy because my story was so big but then decided on a single novel when I started writing as I realised that there was just too much in-between stuff to write to connect all three planned novels together. I know that I can still change my mind towards the end of writing this one novel but then I would have to take the story, cut it up and add more irritating in-between stuff to make room for two more!
Forgot the pros and cons.
I'm in the middle of story three at the mo and they seem (so far) to be:
Pros (i) Readers who like the first book will buy the next (ii)You'll probably have a ready-made set of characters (iii) Er.....
Cons (i) Characters have to grow and change with each story. More difficult than it sounds (ii) You have to remember every previous experience your characters have had since it affects how they act and react (iii) Each new story has to be better in every way than its predecessor.
Sometimes I'm half-sorry I started a second ;)