Google Search - How often...

 

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How often….

 

Like many of you, I am a child of the internet. Most of my useless information comes from middle-of-the-night Google searches and YouTube video black holes that send me spiraling from “how to boil an egg” to “did Catherine the Great really get down with a horse.” I know much of the information on the internet is dubious at best, but I am still (always) amazed at how much knowledge we have at our fingertips, and how little of it we use, content to scroll our lives away.

(No judgement. Give me Twitter or give me death.)

Before we dive neck-deep into the intricacies of the paint strokes in the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, let’s start with something simple.

How often should I poop?

Not only is this first on the list, it’s listed twice. I get it—most conversations don’t start with “Hey, are you regular?” We’re not all Jamie Curtis clutching a cup of DanActive. I poop once a day, twice if I’m lucky, and almost always after my second cup of coffee. You’re welcome.

 How often do you rotate tires?

This is also on here twice and, honestly, something I’ve never thought about. Being on the phone with a mechanic makes me break out in hives, but because it’s for ALL OF YOU, I called my repair guy who told me you should rotate your tires when you get your oil changed, about every 3,000 miles. YOU’RE WELCOME.

 How often should you wash your hair?

Do you stink? Feeling itchy? No? Then don’t worry about it. MOVING ON.

 How often to water grass seed?

If you ask the people who own the EXTREMELY POMPOUS apartment building down the road, you water your grass when it’s raining, after it rains, and just before it rains. (Can you feel me rolling my eyes?) Grass pretty much takes care of itself. If it’s going a little brown, give it a spritz. If it’s green and lush and a carpet of itchy wonderful, leave it be.

 

Go forth and adult. Tell ‘em Kat sent you.

Serial Offender: Writing serialized fiction in today's indie market

That blog title sounds crazy impressive, doesn't it? As if I'm the expert on writing serialized fiction. News flash -- I'm not. But I've been reading up on serials and trying to study the market because -- double news flash -- I want to write one.

What are serials? Serialized fiction is a story told in installments or episodes, usually each part being 15K-25K words. For some authors, a serial could mean a complete novel that they publish in parts -- preferably very quickly. For others, a serial model a TV show. Each episode features a cast of characters with a complete story arc with the entire season having a larger plot arc. Authors could release as many seasons as they like -- just like in TV.

Historically, serials have been well-received. Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers was a popular serial that made him a household name. In response, newspapers published their own serials to hook readers and increase circulation. Stephen King's The Green Mile was a serial published in monthly paperbacks in the 90s. Andy Weir first published The Martian in a serial format on his blog until readers begged him to release the parts together for Kindle.

Writing a serial isn't easy. It's certainly a commitment since authors need to release their installments in a timely manner or risk the wrath of angry fans. This means meeting deadlines. If fans have come to expect a serial published twice a month, then authors need to keep to that deadline until the season is over. As in The Good Wife is on every Sunday night, and when it's not, my husband gets cranky.

In addition, some authors complain of getting dinged in reviews for not meeting reader expectations. Some readers want more than a 25K-word story for their 99 cents or they'd rather pay for the whole story in one go. Fair enough, this may not be the format for them. Authors can always bundle a season and customers can binge-read.

The upside to serial writing is that it can be fun, energizing, and expand an author's platform. Also certain stories lend themselves to a serialized format. I'm working on a mystery serial set in the 90s -- a Veronica Mars meets My So-Called Life. Each episode will have my main character solving a mystery with a larger mystery being solved throughout the season. I can introduce a myriad of characters, kill off a few, and grow my protagonist. But boy, is this a bitch to plot. I need to outline each episode and then plot the whole season before I even begin writing. I have to make sure if I foreshadow something, I fulfill that promise. And if I introduce a character, I don't leave that character hanging around with nowhere to go. There's lots to consider here.

There's lots of information online about serial writing. If this is a format you're considering, I suggest you check out this thread on KBoards.

If you want to read an awesome serial, check out The Debt Collector by Susan Kaye Quinn. It's addicting, the way a serial ought to be.

Do you read serials? Are there any you can recommend? Do you write one? Advice for newbies? Sound off in the comments.