There might be a more technical term for it, but one thing I rather enjoy doing for my bigger series (so far it’s only Petal and Finding Elpis that lend themselves well to this) is a half or canon spin-off. Which is to say, the continuity is different but it still nonetheless is part of the main story.
For example, my comic Conviction is a canon spin-off of Petal proper (novel), in that even though it’s about an entirely different character and circumstance, it still deals with canonical events that were simply implied in the novel. Kind of like a parallel story; the choices and events of one directly impact the other. It helps too that both protagonists are foils to each other, playing key roles in the events of the universe, and neither is complete without the other. I’m working now on a joint half/canon spin-off for both of them (a quarter spin-off? lol), probably in screenplay form, step by step.
Have you done this with your own projects?
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That's a fantastic idea and really interesting, Banafsheh Esmailzadeh!
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Thanks Maurice Vaughan! It’s fun to do when your world is big :D
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You're welcome, Banafsheh Esmailzadeh. Thanks for the idea!
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I think that’s a great universe connection you’ve made Banafsheh Esmailzadeh! I love that spin-off approach and I do it as well—it often helps sharpen the main project even more. I especially enjoy exploring spin-offs through TV and games; what’s your go-to format when you’re developing them?
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You’re welcome, Maurice Vaughan~
And thanks Dwayne Williams 2! I think so far my go-to is comics. After nothing but words I crave pictures to tell my story hehe. Drawing takes longer but it’s so relaxing~
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Love this framing — “parallel canon” is exactly how it feels.
I’m doing something similar with my Cougarverse: feature/TV/novel/game versions that share the same emotional truth and key events, but let different characters take the wheel depending on the format.
It’s been a powerful way to deepen the universe without repeating story beats.
Curious — how do you track what stays canon vs. what can flex?
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Nice job, Charmane Wedderburn! It’s fun, isn’t it?
And to answer your question, so far what’s non-canon is usually a contained plot point that doesn’t echo. For example, for Finding Elpis I’ve decided that Les Goobs’ Dino Nuggy Hunt is non-canon because at no point does anyone in the main story even mention the Vulpecula Galaxy, and the story is closer to a fictionalised nature documentary rather than a proper intricate plot. It’s a little trickier in Petal because technically everything is canon, it just depends what timeline you’re focusing on (there is a canon timeline where literally everything that happened in the other timelines never actually happened lol [which is quite arguably, if you know your RPGs, the “bad ending”]).
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Banafsheh, that makes a lot of sense — I love the idea of “echo” as the canon test. If it doesn’t ripple outward, it can live as its own contained expression without breaking the spine of the world.
The timeline approach is fascinating too — especially the idea that a “bad ending” can still be canon depending on the lens. Feels very honest to how stories (and memory) actually work. Thanks for sharing your process!
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Yeah, absolutely Banafsheh Esmailzadeh! Visuals can really help deepen the story and bring out details you might not catch in pure text. It’s such a perfect way to shift gears creatively. Can’t wait to hear more about your projects as they grow.