How I Keep a Nine-Book Fantasy Saga From Falling Apart

In-Between started as a game between my sister and me.

During long summers in Canada, we invented fantasy worlds, imaginary kingdoms, and characters who felt as real as our friends. I had no idea then that those childhood stories would eventually become a nine-book saga.

One of the questions I get asked most often is:

How do you keep track of everything?

The honest answer is: with a lot of planning, hours spent on Miro, and the use of numerous notepads and lists on Trello, Dabble, and Excel.

When I first began seriously writing In-Between in 2020, my process was chaotic. I had pieces of paper covering the walls, rough outlines, maps, and notes scattered everywhere.

The more I wrote, the more I realised I needed structure.

I have talked before about being much more of an architect than a gardener when it comes to writing. I outline extensively, although I am constantly surprised by how much the story still evolves on its own.

As a plotter, I invested in Miro and later in Dabble, two tools that have become essential to my process.

But keeping track of an epic fantasy saga isn't just about plotting.

It's about keeping track of:

• history
• politics
• magic systems
• relationships
• foreshadowing
• future books
• character arcs spanning years. 

Fantasy readers are incredibly attentive, and I always wanted In-Between to feel as though everything mattered.

Because in a saga, every decision becomes canon.

Once a book is published, that's it.

A throwaway comment, a political decision, a magical rule, even the existence of guns in the world (a decision I long debated, but I wanted In-Between to feel non-medieval and different from other epic fantasy books I had read)- everything carries consequences that ripple through the books that follow.

That is both exciting and terrifying.

My process usually follows three stages.

First Draft

This is where I tell myself the story.

It is messy, full of comments, contradictions, and notes saying things like: CHECK WITH BOOK 1. or IS THIS HIS NAME? 

Second Draft

This is where I tell the story to readers.

I will:

• fix plot holes (a dreadful process...)
• strengthen character arcs (my favourite part)
• ensure consistency with previous books 
• refine emotional journeys 
• make sure the entire puzzle fits together (OCD me loves this part)

Third Draft

This is where I step back and look at the saga as a whole.

I reread previous books, revisit future plans, and make adjustments to ensure every character continues to grow and that every thread still leads where it should.

It's a process I genuinely love.

It's also occasionally terrifying.

One thing I never wanted with In-Between was for anything to feel random.

My hope is that every mystery, every relationship, and every seemingly insignificant detail will eventually matter.

Because my favourite fantasy stories are the ones that reward readers for paying attention.

And hopefully, one day, In-Between will do the same.

Did you enjoy this glimpse behind the scenes?

Would you like more posts about writing fantasy, worldbuilding, and building an interconnected saga?

Let me know in the comments.