About 12 years ago, I serialized a novel I was writing on my website blog. I had only a few readers, but what a difference it made in me actually completing that novel. For quite some time, I've been thinking of updating my book, and including some illustrations or even comic pages of some of it. What you write here - and what I'm seeing about how you and others post serialized fiction, is helping me pull other ideas together. Of course, I have a bunch of stories I've written that I'd love to put forth. Hm ....
When you’re serializing your novels in this week by week way, are you concerned about getting professional edits, are you getting beta readers, or are you just doing the edits yourself?
I find the hardest part for me to be the editing stages. I’m so nitpicky about my own work that it takes waaaay too long to get anything done.
Thanks, this was helpful. I am in the early stages of doing this. My current plan is to have a set of "adventures" the hero's embark on while gradually revealing the back story of the main characters. My goal is to have each story work as a stand alone piece while building up the back story. I like your idea of completing a few chapters before hand. I am part of a critique group and I plan to use their feedback. I am still not sure of the details, we will see what happens.
"Serialisation is an incredible productivity hack for anyone who is prone to procrastination or becoming distracted. For me, the knowledge that there are readers waiting for more is all I need to keep writing." --> ME! Seriously.
I actually published serial fiction around 2005 or so. I wrote a novel in public for 2 years, and when I reached the end, my readers cheered! It was addictive, the community and the rapid feedback. I loved it. I hope to get the same thing again ... somehow ;)
Hello Simon, I just discovered and subscribed today! I wanted to know your thoughts on serialising short stories on Substack - would an 8 part, 10 part+ story work as well as a novel? I’ve been writing short stories to practice while working on my full length WIP, but am discovering the short wins with finishing a short story very satisfying! The peak of the novel mountain just seems a bit too out of reach at this point. Thanks! MJ
As is typical in my life, I fall in the middle ground of how I am planning to write my serial. The safety net strategy sounds perfect. I can totally relate to having only a few readers as enough motivation. When my writing group is jazzed for the next chapter of my WIP, I am so jazzed to write!
Hello Simon! This is exactly what I needed to read. Thank you. I'm working may way through your tutorial on serialisation. I'm a newbie here and write about Mexico, the Maya, moving to a fishing village in the Mex-Caribbean and opening a bookstore. Readers like my back story and I've written a memoir a while back and am little by little putting out posts on my trajectory, the story of how I got there. I haven't called it a serial at this time, b/c I also want to include in my stack researched articles on things like Maya culture, archeology, women MX artists, historical stuff. Things that interest me. Do you think I should mention that it IS rather like a serial (I've written roughly 4-5 posts beginning my journey. I'm a little flummoxed and actually don't want to include entire chapters from memoir as I think they're perhaps too long. I'm trying to bring things down to 4-5 min. reads. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, and it's awesome that you put together this PDF on serialization. Thank you! jeanine Mexicosoul.substack.com
I'm considering publishing serially and have found your posts very interesting. Question...have you ever tried going back and retconning something that you had previously published? If so how did readers react?
Hi Simon, thank you for this post. I am planning to serialize my novel, in a couple of months time. Have earmarked this post for rereading.
A quick question - Did you post anything other than the novel during that period?
About 12 years ago, I serialized a novel I was writing on my website blog. I had only a few readers, but what a difference it made in me actually completing that novel. For quite some time, I've been thinking of updating my book, and including some illustrations or even comic pages of some of it. What you write here - and what I'm seeing about how you and others post serialized fiction, is helping me pull other ideas together. Of course, I have a bunch of stories I've written that I'd love to put forth. Hm ....
When you’re serializing your novels in this week by week way, are you concerned about getting professional edits, are you getting beta readers, or are you just doing the edits yourself?
I find the hardest part for me to be the editing stages. I’m so nitpicky about my own work that it takes waaaay too long to get anything done.
Thanks, this was helpful. I am in the early stages of doing this. My current plan is to have a set of "adventures" the hero's embark on while gradually revealing the back story of the main characters. My goal is to have each story work as a stand alone piece while building up the back story. I like your idea of completing a few chapters before hand. I am part of a critique group and I plan to use their feedback. I am still not sure of the details, we will see what happens.
"Serialisation is an incredible productivity hack for anyone who is prone to procrastination or becoming distracted. For me, the knowledge that there are readers waiting for more is all I need to keep writing." --> ME! Seriously.
I actually published serial fiction around 2005 or so. I wrote a novel in public for 2 years, and when I reached the end, my readers cheered! It was addictive, the community and the rapid feedback. I loved it. I hope to get the same thing again ... somehow ;)
Hello Simon, I just discovered and subscribed today! I wanted to know your thoughts on serialising short stories on Substack - would an 8 part, 10 part+ story work as well as a novel? I’ve been writing short stories to practice while working on my full length WIP, but am discovering the short wins with finishing a short story very satisfying! The peak of the novel mountain just seems a bit too out of reach at this point. Thanks! MJ
As is typical in my life, I fall in the middle ground of how I am planning to write my serial. The safety net strategy sounds perfect. I can totally relate to having only a few readers as enough motivation. When my writing group is jazzed for the next chapter of my WIP, I am so jazzed to write!
Hello Simon! This is exactly what I needed to read. Thank you. I'm working may way through your tutorial on serialisation. I'm a newbie here and write about Mexico, the Maya, moving to a fishing village in the Mex-Caribbean and opening a bookstore. Readers like my back story and I've written a memoir a while back and am little by little putting out posts on my trajectory, the story of how I got there. I haven't called it a serial at this time, b/c I also want to include in my stack researched articles on things like Maya culture, archeology, women MX artists, historical stuff. Things that interest me. Do you think I should mention that it IS rather like a serial (I've written roughly 4-5 posts beginning my journey. I'm a little flummoxed and actually don't want to include entire chapters from memoir as I think they're perhaps too long. I'm trying to bring things down to 4-5 min. reads. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, and it's awesome that you put together this PDF on serialization. Thank you! jeanine Mexicosoul.substack.com
I'm considering publishing serially and have found your posts very interesting. Question...have you ever tried going back and retconning something that you had previously published? If so how did readers react?