Proof of Life

Crafting serial fiction part 1: What is it?

It has begun! The first part of a live video mini-series about crafting serial fiction, hosted by myself and S.E. Reid [https://substack.com/profile/80396624-se-reid]. We’re going step-by-step through the process of writing serial fiction, from ideas to audiences. Before diving into the nuts and bolts, it seemed sensible to define what serial fiction is, at least from our point of view. What define serial fiction, and what isn’t serial fiction? Where did it come? What is its history? Is it a new concept, or has it been around for a while (spoiler: it’s very old). In part 1 we cover some of this: * What is the difference between a series and a serial? * How 16th century serial fiction isn’t all that different to 21st century serial fiction * The golden age of serials in the 19th century * Why many of the canon classic novels are the DVD box sets of their time * Why publishing forgot all about serials in the 20th century * The impact of television, film, radio and comics * How the arrival of the internet took us right back to the 16th century * My hot take on why publishing made a huge error when it abandoned serials in the 20th century in favour of The Novel In June we’ll be back with part 2, which will be focusing on ideas and prep. Subscribe so you don’t miss it! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe [https://simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

We finished our books! Now what?

Well, this was delightful. Just having got back from her US book launch, Eleanor Anstruther [https://substack.com/profile/92328611-eleanor-anstruther] joined me for a live chat about the mixed feelings that always accompany the completion of major projects. We discuss: * Fallout’s winding road to publication and how it caught the attention of Empress Editions * How the Tales from the Triverse finale took longer than expected * Trying to host a book launch when London’s transport network goes on strike * My print plans for Triverse * Online communities and meeting cool people * The button you really shouldn’t press during a live stream Thank you Mona Mona [https://substack.com/profile/139176269-mona-mona], Cherry Coombe [https://substack.com/profile/203072143-cherry-coombe], Ever Blue | Serial Romance [https://substack.com/profile/390127230-ever-blue-serial-romance], CPro99 [https://substack.com/profile/281645508-cpro99], Kell Willsen [https://substack.com/profile/312936695-kell-willsen], and many others for tuning into my live video with Eleanor Anstruther [https://substack.com/profile/92328611-eleanor-anstruther]! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe [https://simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

'Serialising your Novel on Substack' with Orna Ross & Simon Jones

Orna Ross 📚 [https://substack.com/profile/422575374-orna-ross] invited me onto her regular salon live session to talk about serial fiction. It was a whistlestop and detailed examination of the form as it exists on Substack. * Why I moved from Wattpad to Substack * Why Substack is an excellent platform for serial fiction despite its many quirks * Promotion and finding readers * Structuring a serial and onboarding new readers This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe [https://simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Proof of Life

Last week I wrote about the importance of knowing the rules before trying to bend them. By being daring and breaking new ground, we can take some active measures to keep our heads above the slop tide. Here’s that post: It still might not be enough. There’s also the reality that we can’t all be genre-redefining creative geniuses. Sometimes we just want to write what we want to write, without the pressure of reinventing the artform. If there’s a challenge, it’s in proving that we’re alive in the first place. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe [https://simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Breaking the rules is more important than ever

It’s getting increasingly difficult to be mediocre. Being average used to be a solid career path, and often would yield far greater financial success that being an outlier at the top or bottom of the quality curve. What does it take to stand out in 2026? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe [https://simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]