How to Write Serial Fiction for Reading Apps
Michele Bardsley's Workshop Handout
What is serial fiction? Serial fiction is a story told in installments.
So it’s a novel parsed out in chapters, right? No.
Recommended Reading: How to Write Serialised Fiction by Simon K. Jones
Serial Fiction 101:
Every reading app has a minimum word count, but generally each installment should be around 1,500 words.
Each installment should end with a cliffhanger/hook.
Installments should be released consistently. Consistency is more important than any other aspect of serial writing. For most reading apps, authors should post at least once a day.
Always write ahead. If you can, be 10 episodes ahead of your posting schedule so that you always have a buffer.
Any genre can become serialized fiction, however, there are built-in audiences for romance, romantasy, and fantasy.
Popular Romance Tropes
Billionaire, CEO, Secret Baby, Secret Marriage, Contract Marriage, Enemies to Lovers, Best Friends, Dump the Nephew and Marry the Uncle, Rebirth, Royalty
Popular Fantasy/Romantasy Tropes
Rebirth/Reincarnation, Transmigration, System, LitRPG, Time Loop, Xanxia (pronounced shyan-shya)/Cultivation, Villains, Isekai (pronounced ee-sea-kigh)/Portal, Royalty, Gaming
Reading Apps:
Radish
Tapas
Royal Road
Wattpad
Webnovel
Substack
Keep in mind that readers don't care about your talent or how beautifully you write. They want three things from you:
Consistency (posting at least once a day)
Cliffhangers (bring on the drama!)
Fulfillment (tropes and character types)
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