Serial novels

Posted on April 22, 2013

I’m asking as much as a reader as a writer, here: Have any of you guys dipped into the serial-novel format in your reading? As a cliffhanger addict, I admit, I’m very tempted … but I would love to first hear recommendations for romantic YA or New Adult serials you guys have found. (I’m open to other genres too; those are just the first ones that sprang to mind.) How do you find serial novels? What are the pros and cons for you, as a reader? What formats work best for you? And have you ever bought a paper copy of a serialized novel after it was already out?

Yes, this is a post with lots of questions and no answers, but consider these questions from one reader to another! 

10 Responses to “Serial novels”

  1. Kaze

    Hi Claudia Gray,
    Can you inform me if there will be a following of serial evernight tome 6?
    Thanks in advance,

    kaze

    • claudia

      Let’s put it this way, Kaze — there’s going to be a follow-up to BALTHAZAR one way or another. The question is what that way is, and when. Just hang in there – when I let you know, I’ll share it with the world!

  2. Muna

    I’ve noticed that serials are particularly popular with erotic romance sub-genre. (I’ve just finish part 3 out of 6 of Opal Carew’s His to Command. Personally, it’s okay. The first part is hard to choke down, but part 2 is a little better, and three lives out it’s promise of erotic goodness.)

    Personally, I think it’s a smart marketing idea. You split a novel in parts and price them at, say, $1.99/each. This way a customer who enjoyed part one of the story, but hated part two and decided to stop, could stop right there and not (waste) any more of their money. After all parts are released (usually within a 1-2 month time frame), the author and/or publisher release all the parts as one novel for $11.99 or something. Any reader who loved the series enough to want the whole story could then buy it.

    I’m actually working on a serial idea. It’s hard because I’m thinking in parts, and I’m trying to almost cut each part off at a semi-satisfying ending. Wish me luck? 🙂

    BTW: Sidetracking here, but will Vic and Maxine ever get a story (i.e. novella or a short story)? Or perhaps a story for Ranulf? (I love Vic and Ranulf. *drool*)

    • claudia

      Thanks so much for your excellent reply — this is very informative and helpful. I can see how erotic romance might serialize a little more successfully than some other genres. Good luck with your serial idea!

      I would love to do some more EVERNIGHT material and hope to fairly soon. This is stuff I’ll know more about come autumn, I think.

  3. Melissa

    I am 30 yrs old and read all types of books and haven’t come across very many serials that are that great. However, Melissa De la Cruz’s The Wolf Pact parts 1-4 are great. I am also looking forward to Cassandra Clare’s serials about Magnus Bane. I think it helps a lot when the serial revolves around or includes characters that are already known & popular with your audience. Hope this helps!

  4. Lisa

    I have many series, and they are my favorites. I will look for them from many authors. I enjoy vampire, romance, paranormal, werewolf, supernatural and such things as them. Right now my biggest favorite is the vampire ones. Hope this helps. Also I just typed in “vampire series novels” in my google search engine and found a vampire library page.