Serial Killer
Serialized fiction is so hot right now, and it’s easy to see why. The short-form, constant drip of new episodes fits right in alongside our social media habits, and short pieces are perfect for the small screen. Serialized stories also create a buzz. They supply chapters on a regular schedule, which again fits our modern reading habits. “Many serialization sites allow comments on every chapter, and following along while it uploads gives the readers a sense of finding something before it’s cool, a sense of “I was there!"—especially if the author is engaging with their fanbase,” says Frasier. “There’s also the anticipation. The wait is exciting! You’re reading a chapter and oh no, it ended on a cliffhanger and now you’ve got to wait until the next chapter comes out. “It resembles waiting for another episode of your favorite tv series, which in a time when a lot of series drop a whole season at a time, can feel a little nostalgic.” “I believe serialized fiction builds more investment in characters,” agrees Vella author AJ Arnault. “Week by week, you get excited to learn what’s going to happen next. Cliffhangers, plot twists, and whodunit moments take on a new meaning through bite-sized episodes.”
Freedom
One of the best aspects of self-published, serialized fiction is the freedom. There’s freedom to write what you want, reaching audiences that are not always served by long-form fiction that has to go through a publishing house. “There are very few gatekeepers within serialization—which, as a queer author, is a definite plus,” says Frasier. And also the freedom to play with the form: “I believe that for authors, serialized writing allows the freedom to explore aspects of writing that you can’t in a tightly plotted novel,” says Arnault. “For instance, I worry less about word count and fitting into an industry standard and allow the story to unfold in its own way and own time.” The novel is not the ultimate literary form. It’s just the form that grew to fit the size and shape of the printed book. Popular art often changes its form to fit the way it is used or sold. In his book, How Music Works, David Byrne explores how drum music fits open spaces, church music moves slowly to account for the long, slow echoes, and pop music songs shrank to around three minutes to fit onto 7-inch vinyl 45s. Today, the form of a pop song has changed to fit Spotify, often beginning with the chorus or hook, and made short to encourage repeat plays.
Token Payment
Microsoft did something similar with Microsoft Points back in 2005. This obfuscated the actual cost of games, as well as forced people to buy more points than they needed. Vella tokens look like they have similar goals.
