Do I need to reveal everything till the end of my series.

[AncestorDuck]

Let's say the main character of my current series is part of a larger multiverse. The current series takes place in a single world, where the MC needs to unite this world. The series concludes once the MC accomplishes this, and then it begins with a new MC in another world. The old MC will still have some importance in the multiverse, but their story is told for the time being, until the worlds merge.

Do I need to explain everything in the first series, or can I keep some secrets that are only revealed later on? Secrets which involve some of my mcs power.

 

[Daitengu]

Keep secrets. Theory crafting readers need the blanks for community discourse.

PS: Star Wars was worse for explaining 'The Force".

 

[Kigol]

later, i believe, maybe in the book of the merging? like when the new mc make it his goal or like like right at the end like a cliff hamger...

 

[Clo]

You can handle it in any way that fits your story best. You could open Book 1 by outright promising multiverse shenanigans but only show the first glimpse of it in Book 2.

You could sprinkle hints throughout book1, foreshadowing the multi-dimensional elements without explicitly naming them until the reveal, whenever that happrns.

Or you could keep it entirely under wraps and pull off a giant reveal near the end.

Each approach has its pros and cons, appealing to different audiences. Check out story_marc's latest video on the topic if you can. Ultimately, you decide not just the story you tell but how you tell it. The key is to accept the challenges that come with your choice.

Solution 1: Openly Set Expectations

Readers will wait for the multiverse elements because they know they’re coming. Some may stick around specifically because they anticipate a big payoff.

Solution 2: Subtle Foreshadowing

Some readers might miss the hints and drop the story before the reveal. Others will pick up on them, feel rewarded when proven right, and appreciate the slow build-up.

However, some readers may enjoy the surface-level story, and when the multiverse twist arrives, they could check out if it’s not their thing.

Solution 3: A Sudden Twist

Without foreshadowing, some readers may feel blindsided and accuse the story of jumping the shark.

Others might be positively surprised, making the twist an exciting hook to get them invested in the whole series.


Each method works for different kinds of stories and audiences, so choose what fits your vision best!

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Best bet is to drop hints of the larger story without committing to anything that is not part of the current story - in both stories - until they merge.

 

[Heartmint]

Okay commenting as a reader here. You don't need to reveal everything even if it's a single series books. I love books that still leave it's mysteries even after the end. Make it more realistic. You don't know everything in life, and books that does that gets extra point from me

 

[NotaNuffian]

Let's say the main character of my current series is part of a larger multiverse. The current series takes place in a single world, where the MC needs to unite this world. The series concludes once the MC accomplishes this, and then it begins with a new MC in another world. The old MC will still have some importance in the multiverse, but their story is told for the time being, until the worlds merge.

Do I need to explain everything in the first series, or can I keep some secrets that are only revealed later on? Secrets which involve some of my mcs power.

No.

Keep up the mystic like @Daitengu said.

I think my example is Bear Wolf Dog's first three works.

Mind you, I was tad bit shocked and surprised as I read finish book 1 and jumped to book 3 by accident and noticed a bunch of reference for book 2 that I missed. I only went back to book 2 after seeing reference for book 1, paused book 3 and read finish book 2 before continuing with book 3.

It is a fun ride. just make sure you don't go full Andur.

 

[Placeholder]

> Do I need to

For any rule, observe what skilled writers have done. Especially traditionally published writers with editors and stuff.

Start with Iain M Banks, Barbara Hambley, and so on.

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I think any hard and fast rule is bullshit. What matters is more feel and tension and so on. Your heuristic then, should be, "does this paragraph serve the story". "Does this explanation serve the advancement or resolution of narrative tension?" "Does this blasted listing of cultivation stages or coinage advance the story or engage reader interest?" "If it slows it down and is not necessary, is it worth it?"

More broadly, reading Japanese webnovels in translation, and the manga based on them, I've noticed they are so formulaic they fail to surprise me, and as such I've lost interest in them.

---

I just read three western webnovels which overexplained things to the reader and dropped them because they lost narrative tension.

 

[CheertheSecond]

Let's say the main character of my current series is part of a larger multiverse. The current series takes place in a single world, where the MC needs to unite this world. The series concludes once the MC accomplishes this, and then it begins with a new MC in another world. The old MC will still have some importance in the multiverse, but their story is told for the time being, until the worlds merge.

Do I need to explain everything in the first series, or can I keep some secrets that are only revealed later on? Secrets which involve some of my mcs power.

Only tells what is necessary for the current stage of the plot.

I didn't even tell my readers how my mc died and reborn. I didn't tell them why. I didn't tell them anything if it is not necessary for the current stage of the story.

If someone in your story asked if there are anyone stronger than the mc, do you make a paragraph 3000 words telling all 21 characters, factions and their history to explain why those 21 people are stronger? You keep thing as simple as "there are people stronger".

 

[The_Lover]

Let's say the main character of my current series is part of a larger multiverse. The current series takes place in a single world, where the MC needs to unite this world. The series concludes once the MC accomplishes this, and then it begins with a new MC in another world. The old MC will still have some importance in the multiverse, but their story is told for the time being, until the worlds merge.

Do I need to explain everything in the first series, or can I keep some secrets that are only revealed later on? Secrets which involve some of my mcs power.

I don't believe so, there's an author (Andur on royalroadl) with a multiverse of reincarnated souls, it has the same 2 main characters but doesn't give all their lives away in one book. It's one of my favorites.

Edit: all the details of their multiple lives and how they connect.