There was once a saying, “Always leave them wanting.” This was more often used by stage actors and performers who after one hell of a show would maybe give one encore then leave with a wave and a smile while the audience continued to roar and applaud. The audience was excited! The audience was enthralled and begging for another encore! In short, they wanted more.
And what are writers, the authors of fiction? They are performers and the story that they are slaving over and pouring out hearts and souls is their show. Now there are plenty of articles and books about getting published in New York and London but this is NOT one of them. This is for those authors who just want to perform, just want to show the world what they can do and enjoy the company of those who enjoy it.
Many readers love Online Fiction and have whiled away many a night reading and rereading the short stories and novels of so many talented writers. There is a real feel that comes with authors who write online a freedom that just isn't found in published books. Unrestricted by the editor’s pen and the marketing department they are free to express their vision the way they see it.
An all time favorite style of online fiction is the good old serialized novel, each piece revealing a little more about the character, dragging the reader a little deeper into the story and, of course, leaving them wanting. readers will hang out all week waiting for the next update then squeal like a school-girl when it shows.
But How to Write Serial Novels and Stories – That is the Question
When dealing with Serialized Fiction the following rules apply:
- Less is More.
- Take time, what’s the rush?
- Love those characters, even the bad guys.
- Grip that Cliffhanger
Less is More: Short Tightly Written Entries Make for Great Serial Fiction
The key and indeed the fun of Serialized fiction is small bite sized chapters: 300 – 500 words and 600 – 1000 word formats work best, but which ever is chosen it is importance to be consistent. Don’t have one update with 300 words then the next with 1000 words. Both sets of styles have a rhythm of there own and should not be mixed up.
Take Time, What’s the Rush? Importance of Timing and Pacing in Serial Fiction
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because the updates are short that they need to fit whole scenes and events into each. No! Reading through some of the popular serials (which is a must - All great writers are avid readers.) It can be noticed that all the writers take their time. A scene can stretch over several updates while showing the various characters actions and reactions, their feelings and the setting (location/timeframe).
Love Those Characters, Even the Bad Guys: Make all the Characters Interesting and Unforgettable
J.J. Abrams has it right. Strong, interesting characters with issues and back stories make readers want to watch them do anything! Think of those favorite characters, Sweeney Todd, Jack Sparrow, Sawyer (Lost) – Now what if the article in tomorrow’s paper was that the said character was going to be letting people film him paint his apartment then watch the paint dry… now that sound pretty boring, but still quite a few views would show up to watch the character doing it, he’s an interesting guy after all, how could it be dull? Make them larger then life! Give them a history that the reader would like to know more about, a personality that makes the reader want to listen when they speak and a voice that reader could spot in a crowd and know who it is.
Grip that Cliffhanger: The Art of Ending an Entry and Leaving the Reader Hanging
The Cliffhanger. The word is self explanatory. When writing serialized fiction the cliffhanger is what will keep readers coming back. Think of Arabian Nights, King Shahryar, under the belief that all women are inherently unfaithful, murders each of his wives after the wedding night until he is married to his Wazir’s daughter, Scheherazade. To avoid the wedding night and the inevitable murder she tells him a story but each night leaves each story unfinished so he would wait to hear the rest and thus holding off her death. Alright so a writer's situation isn’t so dire, but the point is still valid, end each update with something hanging, a question unanswered, a character in danger, words unsaid.
Serial Blog Fiction Can Work in Several Genres
There aren't many genres that can not be serialized but the most popular seem to fall into horror, adventure, science fiction, romance, fantasy and mystery. The best way to find a niche in online serialized fiction is to jump in and have a go. Read, write, brainstorm characters and scenes then just let them flow from the mind to the fingers to the screen.
Sandra Fowke - Hi there! I'm Sandy, self confessed book worm and a writer through and through. I'm a thirty-something single mother of three, freelance ...
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