One of the most common mistakes authors make is treating every book like a completely separate project. They finish a story, publish it, market it for a while, and then immediately start asking: What's my next idea? At first, that seems perfectly logical. New books require new ideas, right? But many of the most successful authors aren't constantly reinventing themselves. Instead, they're finding new ways to expand the worlds, characters, and stories they've already created. T

One of the most interesting things about readers is that they are constantly looking for new stories while simultaneously wanting more of the stories they already love. At first glance, that sounds contradictory. If readers always want something new, why do so many of them reread favorite books? Why do they immediately pick up spin-offs? Why do they spend months or even years following a series, a shared universe, or a cast of interconnected characters? The answer is that rea