Continuity - Especially in a series

[Kelliezgirl]

A week ago, I wrote a scene in which a main character drinks a beer.

And today, I happened to be looking at her first appearance, and realized that she says she never drinks alcohol.

Luckily, I caught it before the current story was published, so it's an easy fix.

On the other hand, in that first story she's watching a particular video series.

In the work in progress, she's still watching it ... 10 years later. And it's in season 3.

Oops. Maybe I'll call the "current" series a reboot.

-Annie

Maybe rewatching it all those years later?

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I'm sure this has been discussed many times but I didn't find anything in the search that matched what I am questioning.

I'm wondering how people track continuity, within a story and across a series (who has done or said what, or who's body parts are currently where).

I've seen beat sheets but they tend to focus on macro story arcs, not the smaller details.

For now, I've taken to writing bullet-list summaries of each story part which helps but is a bit clunky. Does anyone have a better technique ?

-Nick

I complete each story before publishing it, which is key to maintaining continuity and other aspects of managing the writing process.

My stories that are part of a series are still completed as stand-alone, but share common themes ("Before They Were Stars", etc.). When the same characters do appear, they are in a different story. So, other than keeping track of how they were described originally, there isn't much of a continuity issue.

 

[wuselmann]

I complete each story before publishing it, which is key to maintaining continuity and other aspects of managing the writing process.

That is exactly what I am usually doing, unless I am fairly certain that I am continuing to write that story/novel in the foreseeable future.

What I find more difficult than keeping track of characters and locations is to get back into the original style (and mood) of writing, if I haven't touched a piece for a while, since I do most of my writing with some preparations (thinking about the characters, details I might want to research and so forth), but then let the story develop by itself. In other words, I need some sort of continuous flow, which is difficult to regain, once it's lost.

I used to start spreadsheets to keep track of everything decades ago, as my then editor recommended, but discovered that this is actual work. I prefer my writing to be mere pleasure.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

That is exactly what I am usually doing, unless I am fairly certain that I am continuing to write that story/novel in the foreseeable future.

What I find more difficult than keeping track of characters and locations is to get back into the original style (and mood) of writing, if I haven't touched a piece for a while, since I do most of my writing with some preparations (thinking about the characters, details I might want to research and so forth), but then let the story develop by itself. In other words, I need some sort of continuous flow, which is difficult to regain, once it's lost.

I used to start spreadsheets to keep track of everything decades ago, as my then editor recommended, but discovered that this is actual work. I prefer my writing to be mere pleasure.

I keep a single Excel spreadsheet with different tabs for each story I write. I use it to story board things but try to keep it organic, adding relevant details as they come to me while writing rather than prepopulating details beforehand (unless they are "carved in stone" based upon my idea for the story). It makes it easy to use as a reference for future stories too.