Somewhere between a Dickens cliffhanger and a Substack subscriber list, a curious thing is happening. Fiction is going serial again.
Once the domain of Victorian magazines and pulp weeklies, serialised storytelling is seeing a new wave of popularity, only this time, it’s landing directly in readers’ inboxes. From Substack to Beehiiv, Ghost to Revue, platforms once reserved for thinkpieces and hot takes are now hosting fictional universes, unfolding one email at a time.
What’s driving the renaissance? Partly, it’s the appeal of creative control. Writers are no longer waiting for gatekeepers to greenlight a novel. They’re publishing as they go, shaping stories in real time, and cultivating communities as much as plots. Weekly or monthly instalments are building momentum, drawing readers into rhythms that feel both intimate and immediate.
There’s also nostalgia at play. Fans of Little Dorrit or The Age of Innocence may recognise the thrill of instalment fiction—waiting for the next chapter, gossiping about the latest twist, feeling the story stretch across time like a shared secret. That old-world pacing is finding new urgency in an era of digital saturation. A slow burn can feel like a gift.
Writing an evolving draft of a novel
Of course, this isn’t just an aesthetic throwback. It’s a model with teeth. Freemium formats let writers offer a taste for free while monetising deeper access. Think: public installments, paid character diaries, behind-the-scenes annotations. For some, it’s sustainable. For others, it’s a proving ground—an evolving draft that might one day become a novel, a deal, or something stranger still.
And the feedback loop? It’s not just comments; it’s collaboration. Writers are responding to reader theories, tweaking arcs, and inviting polls. There’s a sense of fiction being forged in public—a dynamic that’s more theatre than print. It’s messy, alive, and strangely tender.
Of course, not all stories are built for the slow reveal. Serialisation favours tension, character evolution, and a sense of propulsion. But for writers drawn to that structure—or willing to experiment—it’s an exciting canvas.
So where should a curious reader start? Right here.
Newsletters and serial projects worth exploring:
• George Saunders’s Story Club – A masterclass in the short story form, Saunders offers commentary, writing prompts, and the occasional bit of fiction. It's thoughtful and deeply writer-centric.
• Elif Shafak’s experiments on Substack – Thoughtful, hybrid in form, and often poetic, Shafak’s newsletter blurs the lines between fiction and essay.
• Elle Griffin’s The Novelleist – A gothic novel released chapter by chapter, paired with essays on the publishing industry and creative life. Griffin is also one of the most vocal advocates of the newsletter-as-novel format.
• P. Djèlí Clark’s serialised stories on Patreon – Known for genre-bending historical fantasy, Clark occasionally shares chapters and exclusive short works that build on his published universes.
• The Pigeonhole – A platform in its own right, Pigeonhole partners with publishers to serialise both classic and contemporary books in digital instalments, complete with reader comments and author interaction.
• Alice Bishop on Ghost – This lesser-known but beautifully written project explores climate and community through lyrical short stories, each one self-contained yet echoing the last.
And of course, Reddit and Discord communities continue to host sprawling epics, especially in genres like fantasy, romance, and speculative fiction. Wattpad may be old news to some, but it’s still thriving—especially for younger readers.
Ultimately, what we’re seeing isn’t just a shift in publishing. It’s a storytelling shift. One that breaks the fourth wall, rethinks pacing, and invites readers to become more than consumers.
Serial fiction is no longer just something you wait for; it’s something you’re a part of.
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