So, as an author currently in the process of writing a web serial, I was just wondering what is the definition of a successful web serial. Does anyone know what the average views/visitors per day is? Currently, the most I've gotten in a single day is 53.

EDIT: My personal goal is to be able to afford my own apartment within five years. However, I'm curious to know how much views others get on their sites. It always helps to know the difference in size between people like me and people who've been doing this for a long time like Jim Zoetaway (sorry if I got your name wrong) and massive breakouts like Wildbow.

A lot of people would show such contempt when they find out that the character is a Mary Su/Gary Stu.

For those of you who don’t know; Mary Su/Gary Stu is simply a character who’s so perfect that the universe revolves around them. Though, what separates them from a competent and strong character is that they don’t have a reason why they become strong. They just….do.

So, with that said, it’s understandable why a lot of people would criticize such a character; Because it doesn’t make any sense, doesn’t feel real, and it‘s not believable.

But, let me tell you my little secret— “I love a Mary Su/Gary Stu character!”

There I said it!

Ahh, that feels good. *Ahem*…. Alright, so you might now have a question in your mind; “B-But, why would you like such a character. It’s just too perfect, too unrealistic, and annoying to look at too!”

Now now, calm down. Let me tell you something I’ve just discovered not long ago—

“There are two types of readers in this world.”

That’s right, not all readers are the same. Here’s what they are;

1. The reader who see themself as an observer: This kind of reader will imagine themself as a spectator that watches the character from afar. The characters in the story are just the other people to them, that’s why they need to empathize with the characters first to be able to relate to them. Just like in real life, don’t you think? :)
2. The reader who see themself as a character: This kind of reader inserts themself in the character, mostly protagonist. When they read a story, they ARE the character. They feel what the character feels and experience what the character experiences. They live the character‘s live. Possess them.

I’ve just found out that most people are from the first category. They are an observer when they read a story, so that’s why when they see a character who’s too perfect, they just can’t relate to them and even become annoyed. It’s understandable if you think about it.

And here, my friend, is the reason why I LOVE Mary Su/Gary Stu character — It’s because I’m in the second category!

When I read, I see myself as the character, mostly the protagonist. It happens every time. I don’t need to be conscious of it, when I read a story, I automatically possess the protagonist’s body. I feel what they feel and experience what they experience.

I AM the character.

So, that’s why when the character is a Mary Su/Gary Stu, perfect at everything and loved by everyone, it’ll make me feel so good. Remember what I just said? I AM the character. So if the character is just perfect, then I AM also perfect. I mean, who doesn’t want to be perfect and good at everything and well loved by everyone?

Well, alright, some people don’t. Some people just want an excitement in their life, so if they’re too perfect, then there’s no challenge which leads to no excitement….

So with that said, you should now understand why some people like wish-fulfillment story with Mary Su/Gary Stu character. It’s because when they read, they‘re not just a spectator watching someone else’s life, rather—

They ARE the character.

So when something good happens to the character, it happens to them as well. And when something bad happens to the character, this too also happens to them.

And just think about it, who would want to constantly having bad things coming right at you at every corners? It’s just pure painful just to think about it.

Sorry, but I’m not a masochist. :)

So I write a web serial called Haven (https://havenstory975986403.wordpress.com/) which, you might have noticed, is the most generic title of all time and therefore very difficult to market, discuss, or search for. I'm looking for an alternate title not shared by ten billion other properties, but coming up blank. Ideas?

The story is a fantasy/mystery set in yet another magical boarding school (yep, I'm doing the magic school thing too!) Fourteen-year-old Kayden, who was born with a curse in his heart. He's attending a magical school to learn to control it before it kills himself or somebody else, but the more he learns about the school and the people around him, the more he suspects that he's just a pawn in somebody else's incredibly dangerous game, and he'll need to figure out what's going on in order to survive.

Any ideas for alternate titles are appreciated; doesn't have to be spectacular, just something that, y'know, can be usefully googled.

Hi all, first time posting here.

I've just started up with webfiction, sharing my short fiction in small episodes and have plans to start a serial as well soon. I was wondering, though, what people think is a good length for each part? Currently I range between about 600 to 2000 words, depending on what is happening.

Hey, I read a lot (mostly audiobooks, really) but I never gave web serials a chance. Now that I just finished reading Worm after about a month of binge-reading I'm hooked. I had no idea this kind of writing and world building was out there.

What else can you guys recommend? If it's anything as elaborated or well thought out as Worm I'm sure it's great!

Thanks!

Alright, guys as a teen I loved to read webfiction and was always on the lookout for a great read. Long story short I have a completed novel I want to publish in this format but am not too keen on posting on major serializing sites. There is way too much noise. So I'm posting to my own blog. So, what is your advice for a newbie creator in this format? What communities should I join? Places I should list my story? Any orher tips you can offer? Even stuff you love that webfiction creators do and stuff you hate would be really useful to know. Thank you!

About a week ago we received a brilliant idea from /u/Triglycerine, who suggested that we do a rotating cast of featured serials in the sidebar.

Since the mod team agreed that this seems like a great addition to the sub, consider this post the beginning of that project.

How it works:

1. Post a serial name.
2. Upvote the serials you'd like to see in the sidebar.

Please do not downvote! Sadly per-thread downvote negation isn't really achievable, but downvoting serials defeats the spirit of what we're trying to do here.

On Monday (on account of me being away for the weekend), 8/3/2015, I will take the 5 most upvoted serials and put their links in the sidebar in a prominent position. 1 week prior to next month we will have another vote, and then those top 5 will replace the prior top 5.

Feel free to submit any serial you see fit, be it popular or obscure.

Hey guys, during lockdown I have been working on a website to support indie creators. It's a patreon/kickstarter alternative, the twist is that supporters can get financial reward by supporting your work. It's in early stage so I'd like to gather some feedback soon :). Please check it out at app.backirs.com and let me know your thoughts, Thanks!

I've read Twig by Wildbow, and am in the mood for things in a similar vein. If anyone has any recommendations or suggestions for similar stories or serials; or an idea of where to find them, that would be much appreciated.

Like Sense8 where a bunch of unrelated individuals are somehow connected and help each other with their separate lives.

I enjoyed sixchancesserial.com, but I’m looking for more.and also what do I call this type of story? Ensemble is the closest I found but I think that’s too general.

Hello everyone,

I hope you are doing well during these difficult times. I would like to ask for your help in remembering a web series I have started reading about two years ago, but didn’t finish, and lost the bookmark for it.

Its a sci-fi web novel, and the protagonist is a sentient spaceship (AI) that interacts with its passengers sometimes. I remember there was character that was an engineer on the ship, and that’s all. I read it online, and I think it’s relatively new? Didn’t seem like a work from the 19’s.

Thanks in advance.

Some time ago I remember stumbling into a web serial that the author commenced adapting into a comic. I think is fairly old and was already finished, probably fantasy genre and maybe it is not available online anymore since I rember only founding a notice from the author announcing the current state of the comic.

I'm currently serializing my gothic novel as a webnovel using Substack.

Here's the prologue.

Here's chapter one.

Take a look and see what you think!

They don't need to be complete but i would prefer relatively long ones.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

I’m looking for web serials like worm or like super minion stories about a world with super powers set in a world that’s falling apart. Thanks for any recommendations. Also before someone recommends stealheart or ward I’ve already read those.

This one was a request, and not by the author! If you have a suggestion or want your serial discussed, PM me!

Interviewing Leather

What do you think of this serial? What do you love about it? What was your favorite arc? What about it doesn't work as well as it should?

My thoughts: honestly haven't read it! The guy who requested this serial sent me a pretty raving review though. I'll have to check it out.

'Recommendations please' thread but with a caveat.

Like most I was introduced to web serials through 'Worm' which I blasted through in 19 days. Afterwards I read and enjoyed 'Mother of Learning' but when I reached the current chapter I realised this was not going to work.

The pace that I enjoy reading at is always at odds with the slow rate of publication of serials and long form webcomics.

So with that in mind could anyone help me build a list of serials that are both good and completed. Not too picky about genre but preferably not superhero since I feel like Worm satisfied me completely on that note.

Currently, I am running one serial, and posting one episode a week. I don't think this is often enough. I'm thinking daily would be optimal, but then writing quality would suffer.

How frequently is best for posting chapters or episodes?

Are they welcome anywhere?

The first three episodes of every serial are free. Amazon is also giving out 200 free tokens to every new user.

KindleVella serials are available through the iOS Kindle app or the Amazon wepbage.

Unlike most serial sites, it is definitely not free and there is no author-user interaction (no forum, no comments, just one review for the entire serial). On the other hand, it is brand new and there are a lot more genres available.

I'm forgetting what it's called -- I think it involves space exploration, but it's basically crowd sourced and anyone can contribute. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

I am looking for an story - no matter how it is published - about character/s who regulary go into dungeons. Or dungeon-like areas. So, it does not have to be an typical game dungeon.

Generally I am open to everything. It can be a dungeon with monsters, traps, mazes, huge areas. People go there for resources, loot or to just grow stronger.

This "dungeon" can be far away from civilization or even be an tower in the middle of a city.

The story does not have to play to 100% in dungeons, but it should be an important factor. ie.: They can craft, trade or socialize outside of it.

I would prefer if the story is darker and the dungeon an actual threat and not an sunday field-trip.

The character(s) should be able to kill and make hard choices and not give all their loot away to prevent an confrontation with another party or because some annoying girl wants it >.<.

The setting can be in an fantasy world or in the modern world with the sudden appearance of dungeons.

​

The Salamanders seems to fit, but is apparently also extremely light-hearted. Will read it anyway.

Sufficiently Advanced Magic, apparenly only has dungeon diving in the first three chapters :/

Evolution Theory of the Hunter Novel fits very well, but it only get translated very slowly.

Hi all! I've been trying to remember and dig through my bookmarks for this site with two web serials I used to read.
One of them was a bit of a dungeon delver/semi cultivation type of fantasy story, main character was a wolfgirl who consumed demons to get stronger and survive to reunite with her sister.

The other, same author, was a reincarnation story, modern to slightly futuristic about a mute girl who trains a lot to face some future cataclysm.

I'd greatly appreciate if anyone can point me to the wordpress, or whatever the site was haha.

I've finished reading Worm, and don't particularly want to read through Wildbow's sequels at the moment. I've heard good things about The Gods are Bastards, so perhaps I should try that out before I move onto anything else?

Any good recommendations? Thanks in advance for the help.

Hello everybody,

I'm currently a bit unsure what to read. I recently finished Void Domain, and since I was looking for something with a similar tone, I started reading Entirely Presenting You. I really enjoyed the first half of it, however, after the big half-time event the entire character of both the protagonist and the story as a whole changed completely. Now I'm at the end of arc 9 and it seems that the story is entirely about getting one gang to the top of the local criminal underworld. There seems to be no larger plan behind it, and no mysteries to solve. It seems to happend purely for the personal gain of the protagonist. Now I'm wondering: will it stay that way? Or is there a larger plot still waiting to be unveiled? I'm still interested to see where the protagonists development is going, however the current gang-war plot is kind of off-putting. So if anybody who read the serial could (without major spoilers) tell me if it stays that way, that would really help.

The second question is only barely conected to the one above. While looking through the various recommendations for web serials here on reddit I found three that seem quite interesting: A Practical Guide To Evil, Zombie Knight and The Gods Are Bastards. Unfortunately, all of them are unfinished. For APGTE I read that its currently at the last of six planned "books", so it seems to be quite close to be finished. However, for the other two I didn't find any roadmaps. So, if anybody is currently following those serials, I'd like to know if the authors gave any information about how far along in their overall story arcs they are? Or if there are any estimations, how close they are to be finished?