How to Write Serial Fiction

• Do you want to follow in the footsteps of literary greats like Alexandre Dumas, H.G. Wells, and Frank Herbert?
• Does the idea of breaking your novel into bite-sized pieces sound appealing?
• Would you like to share an epic story that goes on … potentially forever?

I’ll spare you the cliffhanger… you, my friend, should consider writing SERIAL FICTION!

Serial fiction is a form of storytelling which has hooked the imaginations of writers and readers and kept them coming back for more – for generations.  In this post, we’ll look at examples of episodic storytelling, reveal the best places to publish your work, and get advice on how to write consistent, irresistible serialized stories.

Curious about writing web novels and serial fiction? Then stay tuned for what’s next!

What is Serial Fiction?

Serial fiction is a storytelling tradition which may be as old as stories themselves. Instead of getting the whole thing at once, tales unfold in a series of installments or episodes. These episodes are usually released periodically, allowing readers to follow a story over time.

Think Scheherazade, spinning tales without end like her life depended on it. (Because it did).

Some of these stories, collected into “seasons” or “chapters,” can be republished as an anthology, web novel or even a series of novels.

In other media, such as comics, audio dramas, or television series, there may be no predetermined end to the story. To quote Tolkien, the road goes ever on, until the muse stops providing new material or the audience loses interest.

Serialized Novels: a Pulp Fiction Past

The roots of serial fiction can be traced back to the 17th century when it gained popularity in newspapers and magazines. Charles Dickens famously serialized many of his novels in this manner, including “Oliver Twist.”

Classic speculative novels produced as serials include 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, and The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

This method of publishing allowed authors to build anticipation and hook readers in an ongoing narrative. It also provided a steady income, which was a rarity for writers of the time.

Exploring Modern Serial Fiction

Whether it’s web novels, audio dramas, or web comics, serial fiction has found a new lease on life in the digital age.

Digital publishing has opened up new avenues for serialized novels. Readers can access stories on smartphones or computers, making it easier than ever to follow their favorite serials. If you want to explore serial fiction as a reader, there are several places to look. And one of them is World Anvil! You can publish serial fiction and share it with our community of 2 million users, through Manuscripts (a Guild feature).

Beyond our platform, if you enjoy fantasy and sci-fi, you might check out Royal Road. Fans of romance can check out Ream, Wattpad, or Kindle Vella. Websites like these have given authors a way to share their stories with a global audience. But be aware – some cater to certain audiences. Your ideal readers might not be on every one.

Also, some require exclusive distribution of your story. World Anvil doesn’t require exclusivity – so you can co-publish here to maximize your visibility. Just saying.

You can see some examples of our Community Manuscripts here. People can like, bookmark, and leave comments on individual chapters, as well as following a particular story or author. And engaged readers can dig deeper into the lore of the world in between episodes.

Why Write Serial Fiction?

Serialized fiction is a good choice for authors who like to see results from their efforts quickly. It’s a great option for pantsers or discovery writers, because they can get quick feedback from readers while the story is in progress. That feedback can also serve as powerful motivation for sticking with the story.

Writers with ADHD – this kind of writing might just be the steady dopamine feed you’ve been seeking.

It’s also a good choice for writers who have tons of ideas, but struggle with knowing which ones are worth pursuing all the way through a full novel draft. You can market test ideas … before spending an entire year or more toiling away on each one. You can also get reactions from real readers – and build up a passionate following – very early in the process.

There’s another good reason to learn to write episodic narratives well – it can expand your career horizons. Serialized storytelling isn’t limited to literature and novels. You may have also noticed, serialized storytelling is how television series, comic books, video games, audio dramas, and a variety of other storytelling forms naturally play out. So learning how to write a web novel can give a writer valuable experience if you want to expand into those other media.

Tips for Serial Writing Success

The biggest challenge in writing serial fiction is delivering a satisfying experience, while still keeping your audience curious about what happens next. If you drag plot resolution out too long, people get frustrated and give up. But if you deliver all the answers too soon, they have no reason to go on. It’s a tricky balance to maintain! And there are other quirks, as well.

Writing serial fiction comes with its own set of unique challenges and opportunities:

• Consistency: Maintaining worldbuilding consistency and plot continuity across multiple episodes can be a challenge, but is essential for keeping readers engaged.
• Feedback: Reader feedback can be a valuable tool for shaping the story as you go along. Embrace this interaction with your audience.
• Planning: Having a loose plan for the overarching narrative can help you stay on course while allowing for organic story development. (Our novel planner can help!)
• Cliffhangers: Use these sparingly to keep readers eagerly awaiting the next installment. Too many can exhaust readers or create a “boy who cried wolf” situation.
• Character Growth: Consider the long-term development of your characters. Resolving character arcs can give readers a sense of progress without ending the main story.

As you might guess, worldbuilding can be a fantastic tool for writing engaging serial fiction! As you interweave and resolve character stories, the mysteries of your world can keep pulling readers deeper into your narrative.

Worldbuilding in Serial Fiction

Worldbuilding is an essential aspect of serial fiction. When you create a rich and immersive setting, readers are always ready to explore what may wait around the next corner – or in the next episode. World Anvil can be invaluable to serial fiction writers, helping them organize and document the intricate details of their plot and lore. This allows writers to maintain consistent worldbuilding and avoid continuity errors as the story progresses for months or even years.

Manuscripts

Did you know that World Anvil’s Manuscript feature is designed for serial fiction and web novels? For some writers, that means they can offer sample chapters for free, while keeping subsequent chapters exclusive to subscribers or patrons. For others, it can be a way to maintain motivation and publish segments of their story on a regular schedule – all while getting helpful comments and encouragement from readers.

Manuscripts are a paid Guild feature, but you can learn more about them here.

World Bibles

To maintain consistency and avoid plot holes, serial fiction authors frequently create world bibles. These are comprehensive guides that detail every aspect of the story’s world, from the geography and history to the rules of magic or technology. World bibles serve as reference materials to ensure that the worldbuilding remains coherent throughout the series. World Anvil allows you to create and publish a manuscript, and build and update your world bible, all in one software platform.

Conclusion

Serial fiction is an ancient form of storytelling that has adapted beautifully to the digital age. It offers authors a chance to engage their readers on a continuous basis and build deep, immersive worlds.

Whether you’re an author or a reader, the world of serial fiction has much to offer, and it’s only getting more exciting with each passing episode. But for now, you know what to do. Grab your hammer … and GO WORLDBUILD! (Until the next episode…)