"The most untapped, golden opportunities out there for writers"

The secret sauce for getting your serial published offline

You know there’s demand for your work. You’re not just shooting in the dark hoping someone will pick up your book. You’ve already got your audience lined up and ready to buy the moment it goes live.

We’re a few articles into this short series on serialisation now (you can find all previous articles HERE, with contributions by the one who wrote the literal book on serialisation,

☕ KimBoo York

, PLUS Substack bestseller and multiple serial writer

Sarah Fay

).

This is part 2 of an interview with

💎 Jaime Buckley

, serial writer (sharing daily instalments on Substack) and indie published author extraordinaire with a career spanning decades. You don’t have to have read part 1 in advance, but Jaime’s charisma and enthusiasm for writing is so infectious that you won’t be able to resist circling back to read his previous words once you’re done with this post. Click HERE to read part 1.

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Ok, in Part One we heard about your experience of serialising & publishing, as well as why you think Substack is uniquely placed to serve serial writers. In Part Two, let’s dive deep into the nuts and bolts of it all…

How might writers use serial writing on Substack as an inroad to publishing offline?

YESSS, now we’re getting into some strategic thinking! 

How can writers use serial writing on Substack as a stepping stone to offline publishing? This is where things get exciting, because there’s so much potential here!

Substack is more than just a platform for writing; it’s a community-building machine. 

When it comes to transitioning from online serial writing to offline publishing, that’s the secret sauce. It’s all about audience and momentum. 

If you can build a loyal readership through serialized content on Substack, you’re essentially creating a ready-made, highly engaged fan base for your future published work.

I thought about this for a while and at this point, I believe there’s roughly six basic steps.

1. Build an Audience First

When you’re writing a serial on Substack, you’re creating a direct line to your readers, and for the record, I have never personally, had SO MUCH FUN writing, as I am now.

Ever.. 

You’re not waiting on a publisher to promote you—you’re promoting yourself, every time you hit that “publish” button. On LifeOfFiction.com I publish five days a week, every week, 52 times a year. That’s 260 times I get to show my love and devotion to my readers, and I treasure every moment.

Readers aren’t just there for a one-off experience; they’re with you week after week, eagerly waiting for the next installment. 

They’re invested in your story—and, even better, they’re invested in you. This is crucial because, by the time you’re ready to take your work offline, you’ve already built a fan base that wants what you’re selling.

You can use this to your advantage. 

Let’s say you’re like me, and writing a fantasy series. You’ve got readers hooked on your serialized chapters, and you can easily start planting seeds: “Hey, I’m thinking about expanding this into a full novel.” Get their feedback, let them feel like they’re part of the creative process, and by the time you’re ready to publish the book, you’ve already got a dedicated group who are dying to see how the story turns out.

I’m doing that right now with developing my novel covers, and because I brought my wonderful community into the process, I’m creating some of the best work of my career!

2. Create Buzz with Reader Engagement

This is where Substack really shines. 

Your readers aren’t just passive ‘consumers’ [spit bad taste from his mouth]—they’re part of a community. 

Engage with readers in the comments, respond to feedback, and let them in on your writing process. You can even drop sneak peeks of your offline work, create exclusive content, or offer “insider” updates on your plans for publishing.

I even have a ‘Behind the Curtain’ video series (linked HERE) just for paid supporters, where I get personal and let them into my life and how I work.

The key here is interaction. 

Substack allows you to nurture a relationship with your readers that other platforms don’t offer as easily. When your readers feel personally connected to you and your work, they’ll support your transition from online serial to offline publishing. 

You’re not just another author to them; you’re their author.

3. Use the Serial to Test the Waters

Serial writing on Substack is the perfect way to “test” your book before it goes to print. 

You can see what readers love, what falls flat, and even crowdsource ideas for improvements. 

You’re essentially workshopping your book in real time, but with an engaged audience who wants to see you succeed. When you move to offline publishing, you’ll have a stronger, more refined story ready to hit the shelves.

Plus, publishers love seeing authors who already have a proven audience. 

If you can go to a traditional publisher and say, “Hey, I’ve got 10,000 subscribers on Substack who are actively reading my work,” that’s a huge selling point. It shows there’s demand for your book, and publishers like nothing more than knowing there’s a ready-made market for what you’re offering.

4. Create Exclusive Content as a Bridge

Another smart move is to use your Substack audience as a bridge to offline content. 

Offer them something exclusive that they can only get in your published book—maybe it’s a prequel, bonus chapters, or extended lore that expands on what you’ve serialized. You can even do limited-time offers for signed copies or personalized notes, which gives your fans a reason to buy the offline version, even if they’ve read the entire serial online.

This does two things:

• it gets your Substack readers excited about your book,

• and it gives them something they can’t get anywhere else. 

People love feeling like they’re part of an ‘inner circle’ (another exclusive group in my community), and if you’ve built that relationship through your serial, they’ll jump at the chance to get their hands on something special.

5. Crowdfund or Self-Publish with Confidence

Substack gives you another massive advantage: you can gauge interest and even fund your offline publishing efforts. 

If you’ve got a strong reader base, why not launch a Kickstarter or a Patreon campaign to fund the print run of your book? 

You can offer tiered rewards like early access to chapters, limited edition covers, or even one-on-one writing sessions. You’ve already got the trust and the relationship, so when you say, “Hey, I’m taking this to the next level,” your readers are more likely to back you.

And if you’re going the self-publishing route? Now you’re doing it with confidence because you know there’s demand for your work. You’re not just shooting in the dark hoping someone will pick up your book. 

You’ve already got your audience lined up and ready to buy the moment it goes live.

6. Leverage Data for Traditional Publishers

Let’s not forget, data is power. 

On Substack, you can track everything—how many people are reading each installment, what they’re engaging with, and which parts of your serial are generating the most buzz. 

If you ever decide to pitch to traditional publishers, you’ve got hard numbers to show them. 

You can say, “Here’s how many subscribers I have. Here’s how engaged they are. Here’s the proof that this story has legs.” Publishers love that kind of evidence, and it puts you in a much stronger negotiating position.

So, can serial writing on Substack be an inroad to offline publishing? 

Heck yes. 

It’s like having your own launchpad where you can test, refine, and build an audience before you ever hit the print button. 

Whether you go the self-publishing route or land a traditional publishing deal, serializing your work online gives you the edge—and it’s one heck of a ride for both you and your readers.

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What about if I’m a non-fiction writer, though? It only seems to be serialised fiction on Substack! Can serialised non-fiction work?

Oh, absolutely, serialized non-fiction can work! 

In fact, I think it’s one of the most untapped, golden opportunities out there for writers. People tend to think of serialization as something that’s just for fiction, but non-fiction? 

Oh, man, it’s got serious potential. 

Let me show you why—and how it could work.

First off, serialized non-fiction fits perfectly with how people consume content these days. Think about it—how often do you sit down to read a 300-page non-fiction book all in one go? 

Right, almost never. 

But you’ll read a chapter here, a blog post there, or follow a newsletter that drops nuggets of wisdom over time, right? That’s exactly why serialized non-fiction makes sense. People are hungry for information, but they want it in bite-sized, digestible pieces they can fit into their daily lives.

So, how would it work? The key here is focus and structure. 

You’ve got to think of your non-fiction serial as a journey you’re taking your readers on, step by step. 

Maybe you’re teaching a skill, explaining a complex subject, or sharing insights on a particular topic. You don’t just dump all the information at once—you layer it. You start with the basics, build on them with each installment, and keep your readers engaged by offering them practical takeaways they can apply right away.

For example, let’s say you’re writing about personal development. Instead of writing one massive book on how to get your life together, you could serialize it. 

• Week one, you tackle mindset. 

• Week two, you dive into goal setting. 

• Then you move into habits, accountability, motivation—you get the picture. 

By the time your readers finish one piece, they’ve got something to chew on while they wait for the next part. You’re giving them both the content and the time to apply it to their lives before the next dose hits.

Serialized non-fiction is perfect for storytelling. 

I know, I know, you’re thinking, “Wait—storytelling in non-fiction?” 

Absolutely. 

People don’t just want facts or advice—they want stories, real-life examples, case studies, and personal experiences they can connect with. You can hook your audience by weaving these stories into your non-fiction, leaving them waiting for the next chapter of someone’s journey. 

Think about memoir-style serials or in-depth explorations of an ongoing situation, like a business being built from the ground up or someone working through a major life challenge. It’s like reality TV for the non-fiction world, only way smarter.

And here’s the real golden nugget—engagement. 

Serialized non-fiction allows you to interact with your audience in real time. 

Yes, I know I keep bringing this up, but it’s the core treasure with substack and this form of storytelling. You’re not writing in isolation, hoping people will care when the book is finished. 

You can see what resonates, what questions people are asking, and even adjust your future installments to answer those questions or dive deeper into certain topics. 

It’s flexible, and that’s a huge win for both the writer and the reader.

Now, there’s another side to this coin—some people might say that non-fiction needs to be complete to have value. That readers won’t take it seriously unless it’s all wrapped up and presented as one cohesive unit. 

To that, I say hogwash. 

The world’s changed, and how people consume information has too. Sure, a fully polished non-fiction book has its place, but serialized content? It gives you the freedom to test ideas, refine your message, and create something more dynamic.

And think about the bonus here—once you’ve finished your serialized run, you can easily compile everything into a full non-fiction book!

You’ve already got the audience, you’ve refined your material, and now you can deliver the final product with confidence. It’s like getting paid to write your book while you’re building an audience for the final release. 

Pretty sweet, right?

So yeah, I’m 100% on board with the idea of serialized non-fiction. It’s flexible, engaging, and perfectly tailored to how people want to learn and grow these days. It’s not just possible—it’s a killer way to get your message out there, build a following, and maybe even change some lives while you’re at it.

And if you’re thinking about giving it a go, don’t wait. You’ve got all the tools, all the knowledge, and the world is hungry for what you’ve got to say.

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Have you made that leap from online to offline writing? Ever transformed a serial into a book book?

Jaime and I would love to hear from you in the comments, along with any questions you have about the nuts and bolts of serial writing.

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Next weekend is a BIG DEAL.

Yep, all in capital letters for a reason. The wonderful

Simon K Jones

(could we call him the Substack serialisation expert?) is sharing his advice on how to write serially on Substack. You don’t want to miss this, so make sure you’re subscribed to receive the interview straight to your email or Substack inbox.

Can’t wait? Simon’s recent interview with

David McIlroy

will give you a flavour of what’s to come…