A question about serials...

kaolin · Feb 19, 2009

GUD infrequently gets asked whether we consider serials--and our gut reaction from the get-go has been no--we just don't have the publication schedule to support it (one issue every six months--even with very memorable stories, that throws things like annual awards into an unpleasant limbo).

From a reader's standpoint, I'm okay with serials if I caught them from the start--but I've not run into the serial that made me want to go back to the beginning if I hadn't. That said, most magazines make it a lot harder than we do to play "catch up".

We'd love it if you were up to voting in our poll and maybe tossing in a few words edgewise (we're brainstorming in there, too). More GUD thoughts!

SirOtter · Feb 20, 2009

Hey, Kaolin,

I think twice a year is too infrequent to supprt serials. I'm going to be doing one for Main Enterprises' Dark Corridor (Abraham Van Helsing & Allan Quatermain vs. my vampire character in a race across South Africa in 1896) beginning with issue 4, and even quarterly is a little longer between issues than I'd prefer. On the other hand, that's plenty of time to devise and scribe the next segment, if that's how your writers like to work. Sort of the Charles Dickens/Thomas Prest school of serial writing.

Holly Lisle is working on something new that would involve serials. You might want to check out her site and see what she's been tinkering with.

kaolin · Feb 20, 2009

Sounds like a good romp

And I'll check out Holly's site; thanks

Aschenbach · Feb 20, 2009

I'm not keen on serials, personally. The appeal of the short story for me is that it is self-contained and gives a quick story "fix". Having to wait between installments would be a turn off for me.

I suppose if each installment was sufficiently self-contained a reader like me could still enjoy them, but I would be enjoying them as discrete shorts, rather than as parts of a serial, if that makes sense.

jvc · Feb 20, 2009

Yep, I'm like Aschenback in not being a fan of serials. And having to wait six months for the next installement of the story probably wouldn't work for the readers.

kaolin · Feb 26, 2009

Thanks

Good points.

I think (argh, I'm embarrassed--I can never remember the author or series title--about a young troll in early fantasy-esque times) there was a really well-done series that F&SF carried on and off, which could be considered a serial--but each piece was very well self-contained. Actually, they have a number of episodic pieces that are self-contained but continue "the adventures of", basically. And the more I talk about it, the more I think that's not properly considered a serial :heh:

Thanks again! Always nice to get feedback.

A question about serials...

kaolin

poemranker alumnus

SirOtter

Il Cavaliere Marino

kaolin

poemranker alumnus

Aschenbach

Moral Marjorie

jvc

Fearsome Dragon Mod

kaolin

poemranker alumnus