I love writing serial fiction and recommend this format for authors who are short of writing time. A novel requires a serious time commitment; one you can’t make if your life is full.
Consider that readers are busy too. They often prefer snack-sized fiction.
Serial fiction for the win: write and publish shorties
I refer to snack-sized fiction such as short stories, serials, and novellas as shorties. You can write a short story in an afternoon; a serial while you’re writing the novel; a novella over several weekends.
Aside from the time commitment, there are many reasons shorties work for professional authors:
- Short fiction builds your audience painlessly. Today, it’s harder than ever for your readership to find you. Shorties help them.
- Readers just want a story. That is, characters they enjoy and the fun of reading. Essentially, they want to know what happens next. Have you noticed that even with endless entertainment options today, and social media, you can scroll forever without finding joy? Give your readers joy.
- Serials help you to build a strong publishing career, story by story.
Let’s look at these reasons in a little more detail.
1. Short fiction builds your audience
Promotions take time and cost money. Why not promote your novels for free? While writing your novel, think about how you might use serial fiction to promote it.
I’ve spent much of my career as a copywriter and ghostwriter because I enjoy both. Paradoxically, however, although I enjoy promoting others, I’m less than enthusiastic about promoting my writing.
When a novel is done, so am I. Setting up advertising campaigns for novels takes time and I don’t enjoy it. As far as I’m concerned, the novel’s done; I don’t want to think about it.
Writing short fiction as promotional material, on the other hand, is pure fun. What’s not to like? You can spend an hour or two writing a story and use it as promotional material.
Here’s a tip if you’re a ghostwriter too: sell packages. An example: offer your clients a novel, combined with a promotional package of five short stories and a serial. Many clients appreciate these kinds of packages.
2. It’s the story: think goals and conflict
Bestselling author Michael Connelly says that he tries to remember this great advice from Kurt Vonnegut while he’s writing:
“Make sure on every page, every character wants something, even if it’s only a glass of water.”
This is wonderful advice for your serials too: ensure that all your characters want something, and that conflict happens on every page. Your main character’s big goal is resolved in your final episode, but there are conflicts in every episode: on every page.
Although setting up constant conflicts can seem challenging, it’s a lot of fun. Consider your own life. You have a goal, but a million things get in your way. It’s one thing after another, so when your character confronts one thing after another, not only are readers entertained, your fiction seems more real to them too.
3. Build a publishing career, one episode at a time
If you’re a beginning author, you’re struggling to find readers. Serial fiction helps you to build an audience, one reader at a time. It’s a huge benefit: quick feedback.
Reader responses build your confidence, motivation, and craft skills.
