When most people think of publishing a book, they think of doing it all at once- writing, editing, designing, and releasing the book to the world.
However, there is another way to publish a book- publishing it serially.
So, what does it mean to publish a book serially?
Serially publishing a book means releasing it in installments over time.
This can be done in several ways- you can release a chapter at a time or release a set number of pages at a time.
The idea was invented by Charles Dickens- he published his novels in installments in magazines.
This way, his readers could read the story as it was being released and wouldn’t have to wait for the entire novel to be published before they could read it.
Nowadays, there are several ways that you can serially publish your book. You can release it on your blog, on social media, or a dedicated website.
You can also release it in print form, either as a traditional magazine or as a chapbook.
Why Would You Want To Publish A Book Serially?
There are some reasons why you might want to publish your book serially. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons;
It’s A Great Way To Build Up An Audience
If you’re planning on releasing your book commercially, then publishing it serially is a great way to build up an audience for your work.
By releasing your book in installments, you can gradually grow your audience and make sure that there are people who are interested in reading your work.
You Can Get Feedback As You Go
Another advantage of publishing your book serially is that you can get feedback as you go. As your readers are reading your work, they can give you their thoughts and opinions on what you’re writing. This can be incredibly helpful in making sure that your book is the best it can be.
You Can Make Some Money
If you’re looking to make some money from your book, then publishing it serially can be a great way to do that. By releasing your book in installments, you can charge for each installment. This can help to offset the costs of publishing your book and can also give you a bit of extra income.
Cons Of Publishing A Book Serially
Of course, there are also a few disadvantages to publishing your book serially. Let’s take a look at some of the cons;
It Can Be Hard To Keep People Interested
If you’re releasing your book in installments, then it can be hard to keep people interested in what you’re writing. If each installment is released a long time after the last one, then people may lose interest in your book.
More Costly
If you’re releasing your book serially in print form, then it can be quite costly. Publishing a book in installments can be more expensive than publishing it all at once, so keep that in mind.
It’s Hard To Get Published Serially
It can be hard to find a publisher who is willing to publish your book serially. Most publishers are only interested in publishing books that are all finished and ready to go. So, if you’re looking to publish your book serially, then you may have to do it yourself.
Some Readers May Miss The Flow
If you’re publishing your book in installments, then some readers may miss the thread of the story. If each installment is released a long time after the last one, then people may forget what happened in the previous installments.
Planning Is Key When Publishing A Book Serially
When publishing a book serially, there are a few key decisions that you need to make. Let’s take a look at some of them;
How Many Episodes Will You Release?
First of all, you need to know how many episodes your book will be released in. This will determine how long your book will be, and it will also determine how much work you need to do.
How Often Will You Release Episodes?
The second decision that you need to make is how often you will release episodes. This will determine how frequently people will hear from you, and it will also determine how long your book will be in total.
What Medium Will You Use?
The decision you come up with here will determine how your readers can access your work, and it will also determine how much work you need to do.
What Format Will The Episodes Be In?
The fourth decision that you need to make is what format the episodes will be in. This will determine how your readers will experience your work, and it will also determine how much work you need to do.
How Much Will You Charge for Each Episode?
It’s another decision you still need to make. This will determine how much money you can make from your book, and it will also determine how much work you need to do.
Conclusion
So, what’s the bottom line? Is publishing your book serially a good idea or not?
Well, it depends on your circumstances.
But generally, publishing a book serially can be a good way to get feedback, make some money, and keep people interested in your work. Just make sure that you plan everything out carefully so that you don’t run into any problems.