Do you write multiple books in a series before publishing the first? Do you plan arcs for the series?

Answering the "Writer's Advice" TikTok thread...

I was writing my third book before I realized that finishing the entire series first would’ve been a better approach. Releasing them one at a time is fine, but having them all completed and in the hands of an editor before launch makes the process so much smoother. I wouldn’t have thought to do that if I hadn’t already been halfway through the third book in the series I was writing wishing I had done them all at the same time before turning to my editor.

When I do ARCs [Advanced Reader Copies], I plan them ahead of the project. So if I’m working on book one, I’ll send them out close to its public release—sometimes weeks in advance, sometimes even a month. I work with readers to see what they can handle; life happens, and not everyone gets through the book on schedule. Flexibility is key—both in timing and in adapting to reader feedback.

Giving out ARCs is common practice. I’ve done it for smaller works as well—it really depends on the project. Sometimes beta readers double as ARC readers, and that works perfectly too.