Posting Multiple "Seasons" as a Book

[cherrystark]

I am still trying to figure out what I want to do, so I am in need of some outside opinions.

I have been working on a scifi-dystopian series for a couple of years now that I can't seem to "finish". I've been publishing it online as a way to "motivate" myself to actually finish the book. The problem is that despite how much I love it and how relivant it is, no one reads it. *People DO read it but they tend to stop after chapter 3.

The question, since a lot of people consider one "season" of their series as one book, would it be too weird to compile multiple "seasons" together to publish them as a book? I'm trying to figure out the best way to keep going, since my current method of "publish as I go" on top of my other writing projects, is burning me out. I don't want to waste time on a story no one will read. You know?

Edit: My thought - each series/season would constitute one section of the story. So if I released 4 "seasons" of the story, each season would be one quarter of the completed book.

[CarltonIsaac]

You need to plot the story from 'start to finish' to write and publish it as one book with a definitive ending.

After you have the plot in place, write a skeletal draft of each chapter and flesh it out.

Once you have a complete story done from beginning to end, you can publish it as a book and also post it on sites like this in small segments, which you have been doing.

The two novels I have running on here are also published as complete novels for sale.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

The question, since a lot of people consider one "season" of their series as one book, would it be too weird to compile multiple "seasons" together to publish them as a book?

I'm not sure I understand...do you mean like, publishing an entire multi-book series under the name of just one book...? Because I don't see what's weird about that (I've done it myself), especially if no one's reading it anyway. Why bother setting up multiple series URLs and making separate banners/covers and synopses and all that if you don't need to?

Now that I think about it, I format all my series like that nowadays-- I really don't expect any of the few readers I have to be willing to jump from book to book, so I just add onto the first book with each new 'season'. ^^; I make an announcement page with some promo art, and from then on I label all the new chapter titles with the name of the new book (e.g. 'Book 2, Chapter 1').

...What I don't understand, though, is how this will help you avoid burnout. ^^; I guess not having to jump through all the hoops of starting a new novel series could help make the work more relaxing and casual, but somehow I still feel like I'm missing something here...

[Spectorium_1]

Well, a series is technical just a bunch of books in order, so yes, you can post multiple books under a single book. Think of it as one of those special edition trilogy books that has 3 books within. Just make sure that you keep it separate so you have an easier time taking out the single books when you need them.

[cherrystark]

I'm not sure if I understand... do you mean like, publishing an entire multi-book series under the name of just one book...?

That's pretty much it. Except instead of Book 2 being the sequel to Book 1, it would contain the next "chunk" of the story and not a completely new plotline.

In regard to burn out, I've been doing what a lot of people do and publishing the chapters when I have more ready. The problem is is that no one readers. So I've been jumping through a lot of hoops getting new chapters ready when no one is looking at them. While I agree that multiple links is time consuming, on some of the other platforms I'm on, more links can mean more money into my pocket.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

So I've been jumping through a lot of hoops getting new chapters ready when no one is looking at them. While I agree that multiple links is time consuming, on some of the other platforms I'm on, more links can mean more money into my pocket.

I think the key word there is 'can': if it WILL mean more money, and you need the money, I guess you kinda have to. But if 'can' is literally just a possibility that may or may not even come to pass, I think you should prioritize your comfort and do what's easier. After all, nothing 'can' make money for you if you can't find the motivation to make it exist. ^^;

[system]

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