Definition
Serial fiction is any story released in sequential installments rather than as a complete work. The model goes back to the 19th century when Dickens published novels chapter by chapter in magazines, and it is having a massive resurgence online. Each installment needs to work as a satisfying unit while also pulling the reader forward to the next one. That dual demand - complete enough to be worth reading, incomplete enough to keep them coming back - is what makes serial fiction its own craft.
Why It Matters
Serial fiction teaches you to write with forward momentum. When readers are waiting for your next chapter, you learn very quickly what makes someone click 'next' versus abandon a story. You also get real-time feedback as you publish, which means you can adjust pacing, deepen characters readers love, and fix problems before they compound across a whole manuscript.
Types of Serial Fiction
Famous Examples
Originally serialized in a French newspaper from 1844 to 1846. The cliffhangers that make it so gripping were designed to sell the next issue.
A web serial about superheroes that ran from 2011 to 2013 and totaled roughly 1.7 million words. It proved that web serials could match or exceed traditional novels in scope and quality.
Andy Weir originally published The Martian chapter by chapter on his personal website, gathering reader feedback that helped shape the final novel.
Common Mistakes
Each chapter or episode needs its own mini-arc, even if it is part of a larger story. Readers should feel they got something complete each time they read, not just a fragment.
Choose a pace you can maintain for months. Two chapters a week sounds great until week eight. Build a buffer of pre-written chapters before you start publishing so you have breathing room.
Gently remind readers of key details and ongoing threads at the start of each chapter. You do not need full recaps, but a well-placed reference helps readers pick up where they left off.
Some pantsing is fine, but serial fiction punishes contradictions harshly because you cannot go back and revise published chapters. Keep a running story bible to track details.
Try It Yourself
Outline a five-part serial story where each installment is roughly 2,000 words. Plan a mini-arc for each installment that resolves something small while advancing the larger plot. End each outline with a specific hook that would make a reader want the next part. Then write the first installment and notice how differently you think about endings when the next chapter is coming.
Plan Your Serial Without Losing the Thread
Novelium's plotting tools let you map out your serial's overarching story and individual installment arcs side by side, so you never lose track of where your story is heading.