Novel Series Bible Template
-Free, Downloadable, Customizable-

About a month ago I decided that I wanted to revise my trilogy to get it ready for publication of some kind. As I read through my first book, years after writing it, I was kicking myself for not having put together a “series bible” while I was writing to remember all the details and descriptions I included in the books. Now I was hunting down specific passages in my 900+ pages of writing trying to find character names, descriptions, and scenes.

I didn’t want anyone else to struggle with this issue, including future me, so I created a basic template for a series bible. But what is a series bible? It is a document where all your details and plans are kept, so that you can keep everything straight as you continue to write your series.

For the document I created, I used the Hero’s Journey template, which is what I used for The Deathless Trilogy, but since the document I created is fully customizable, anyone can feel free to change it. The Hero’s Journey goes something like this:

For the other parts of the template I created, I included sections for notes on different character archetypes you may have in your own story, which again, can be changed and customized to fit your story’s needs.

To preview the template I created, I’ve included the text below. If you’re interested in downloading it, please enjoy the FREE Novel Series Bible Template you can use to plan out your series.

Overarching Notes

Series title and book titles:

Elements/rules of the world:

Setting notes (create a new section for each setting):

Book 1 outline (utilizing the Hero’s Journey template):

• Ordinary World:
• Call to Adventure:
• Refusal of the Call:
• Meeting the Mentor:
• Crossing the Threshold:
• Tests, Allies, and Enemies:
• Approach:
• Ordeal:
• Seizing the Sword:
• The Road Back:
• Resurrection:
• Return, but changed:

Book 2 outline (utilizing the Hero’s Journey template):

• Ordinary World:
• Call to Adventure:
• Refusal of the Call:
• Meeting the Mentor:
• Crossing the Threshold:
• Tests, Allies, and Enemies:
• Approach:
• Ordeal:
• Seizing the Sword:
• The Road Back:
• Resurrection:
• Return, but changed:

Book 3 outline (utilizing the Hero’s Journey template):

• Ordinary World:
• Call to Adventure:
• Refusal of the Call:
• Meeting the Mentor:
• Crossing the Threshold:
• Tests, Allies, and Enemies:
• Approach:
• Ordeal:
• Seizing the Sword:
• The Road Back:
• Resurrection:
• Return, but changed:

Primary conflict notes:

Secondary conflict notes:

Clues and twists mentioned throughout the series:

Connecting ideas between books:

Motifs:

Themes:

Characters

Protagonist descriptions, notes, inspiration:

Antagonist descriptions, notes, inspiration:

Side-kick descriptions, notes, inspiration:

Side-kick descriptions, notes, inspiration:

Side-kick descriptions, notes, inspiration:

Mentor descriptions, notes, inspiration:

Love interest descriptions, notes, inspiration:

Book 1 Specifics

Character notes at the beginning:

• Protagonist-
• Antagonist-
• Side-kick-
• Side-kick-
• Side-kick-
• Mentor-
• Love interest-

Character notes at the end:

• Protagonist-
• Antagonist-
• Side-kick-
• Side-kick-
• Side-kick-
• Mentor-
• Love interest-

Setting(s) notes:

Theme:

Book 2 Specifics

Character notes at the beginning:

• Protagonist-
• Antagonist-
• Side-kick-
• Side-kick-
• Side-kick-
• Mentor-
• Love interest-

Character notes at the end:

• Protagonist-
• Antagonist-
• Side-kick-
• Side-kick-
• Side-kick-
• Mentor-
• Love interest-

Setting(s) notes:

Theme:

Book 3 Specifics

Character notes at the beginning:

• Protagonist-
• Antagonist-
• Side-kick-
• Side-kick-
• Side-kick-
• Mentor-
• Love interest-

Character notes at the end:

• Protagonist-
• Antagonist-
• Side-kick-
• Side-kick-
• Side-kick-
• Mentor-
• Love interest-

Setting(s) notes:

Theme: