Don't Write A Web Serial Without These 3 AI Prompts

In 2021, Elle Griffin quit writing novels to write a newsletter.

She had a simple plan:

Serialize her novel on Substack and charge $100 a year to follow along. With 1,000 subscribers, she could make $100,000 annually—more than most novelists earn from traditional publishing.

She wasn't inventing something new.

• Travis Deverell was earning $28,000+ monthly on Patreon.

• Emilia Rose was making over $120,000 yearly serializing erotica.

And 190 years earlier…

Charles Dickens published the “Pickwick Papers” chapter by chapter in the newspaper.

It makes sense.

We consume everything else in episodes—from Netflix shows to podcast seasons.

Your Brain Is Wired For Serial Story

The market has only grown since Elle’s 2021 experiment.

Today, over 75% of readers prefer consuming stories on mobile devices, and serialized stories maintain a 70% retention rate (compared to just 40% for traditional novels).

But…

A Web Serial <> Writing A Novel

Think about it:

• You share your story before you know how it all ends

• You can't change the parts people have already read

• You have to let your characters change slowly over time

• You get comments from your readers right after they read each part

• You need to remember what happened in all parts of your story so everything makes sense

The entire process is more like producing a TV show than writing a book

Your First Decision: When To Publish?

You have 3 choices.

• Option 1: Write And Publish Daily You write something today and post it today. This is fun because readers can tell you what they think quickly, but it's hard work.

• Option 2: Build A Buffer Write about 10-20 chapters before you start sharing. This is like having a piggy bank of chapters saved up. This way, you won't feel rushed, and you can fix small mistakes as you go.

• Option 3: Complete First Write your entire story before sharing any of it. This means your story will be very neat and clean. But you won't get to use one of the best parts of sharing stories online—changing your story based on what readers tell you they like. And the reality is, if you’re listening to your readers, you’ll end up making changes to your story anyway.

Whichever approach you choose, you’ll need to keep your story on track by remembering what you've written, staying true to your characters, and listening to your readers as you plan what happens next.

This is where AI becomes invaluable.

Let’s break it down.

The Serial DNA Framework

A successful serial needs strong core elements that can sustain dozens of chapters.

Think of it like building a house:

• First, you need a solid blueprint.

• Then, you can start laying bricks.

Here’s a simple prompt that helps you map out these essential elements:

You are a story consultant.

I want to write a serialized story about [premise].

Help me define my Story DNA by answering:

1. What's the core conflict that could sustain 50+ chapters?
2. What does each main character want vs. need?
3. What are 3 unique rules/constraints of this world?
4. What 3 promises am I making to readers?

Push back if any answers feel generic or overdone.

The Story DNA creates clear boundaries for your story.

Like guardrails, it keeps everything on track as your story grows.

Then, to manage all the moving pieces, you'll need 3 key tools:

1. Scene Map

With your foundation in place, the next challenge becomes writing scenes that keep readers hooked.

Every great serial combines forward momentum with character development while leaving readers eager for more.

Here's a prompt to evaluate your scenes before publishing:

Scene Map:

1. How does this scene move the plot forward? List 3 specific developments.
2. What changes internally for [character] during this scene?
3. Generate 3 ways this scene could end that make readers want more.

Highlight any missed opportunities or weak points.

2. Story Bible

As your serial grows, keeping track of all the moving pieces becomes increasingly complex.

The solution?

Create a detailed record of each chapter's key elements.

After publishing each chapter, use this prompt to build your “story bible:”

Extract and organize from [chapter]:

- New plot developments
- Character revelations
- Promises made to readers
- Questions left unanswered
- World-building details

Create a Google doc to keep track of your notes as you progress through the serial.

Then before starting you next chapter, double-check your direction: