I'd Like To Serialize The Stories on Life of Fiction.

...I'm wondering if you will support me in this reorganization plan. Here's the reason why I've come to this idea.

Good morning, my friends, this is Jaime Buckley, and I really wanted to start a conversation with all of you in the community. This has to do with some pretty big changes that are likely to happen here on Life of Fiction, because I want to give you my very best.

Since I started here on substack, I've been searching for a way to write openly, and honestly. I’ve also sought a way to create a balance in my life. To meet my responsibilities and duties of every day life so I can do this long-term and full-time. Each paid subscriber lifts a weight off my shoulders in having to work for somebody else. I’m confident that over time, writing will allow me to pay all my bills and to dedicate all my creative time to you.

 Writing stories is not a problem. Consistency is not a problem. Organization, however, is a nightmare for me.

So I've been on this personal quest, trying to look over the shoulders of many writers here on substack.

Each and every writer I have met or partaken of, has provided some form of insight to my problem. Tips or examples to help me take another step forward. It’s almost been a year since I started, and Life of Fiction is on track for another successful year of publication.

Yesterday I discovered a new writer.

He's not actually new, he's just new to me.

His name is Simon K Jones, and I think he’s extraordinary. 

To show you what I mean, I bought a year subscription to his substack after 90 minutes of reading his publication. I simply had to have it all. If you're looking for good fiction, quality fiction, and clear, concise information on writing, I would recommend you checking out Simon's work.

[Here’s the link…]

The reason I bring Simon up is simple. Out of the hundreds of substacks that I have looked at, after a year of searching, Simon is closest to the perfect example of what I want to become on this platform. Not the way he writes, though, it's brilliant, but the way he organizes things. When you go to his substack, the first thing you may notice is that you can find what you want.

In case you missed what I just said, I’ll flip it around.

When you go to Simon K Jones’s substack, you won’t get lost. 

As a new reader, you will know exactly where to start because Simon has placed "Start here" boldly on the front page. I think it's amazing. The funny thing is, it's so simple, which is what makes it amazing. There are so many examples of how to set up your fiction substack, and I used someone else's set up as the example for Life of Fiction. 

It has worked…until now.

Life of fiction is ready to connect rubber to the road. My personal speed has always been top speed. It’s always been my plan, and that's what I've always been working towards.

I have found my writing groove, which is a wonderful thing. It means that I can maintain this pace for quite some time. 

The critical question is, can YOU, the reader, find what YOU are looking for? 

I was going to ask the community that question, but I didn't have to. 

Know why?

Because as the owner of Life of Fiction, I couldn't find my own stuff on the website. 

There Are Things That Need To Be Fixed

I realize that sub stack is not perfect.

I never thought that it was perfect.

What it did have was the tools that I required to be able to tell stories, and that's a wonderful thing.

These tools continue to get better and better over time, so I'm not worried about that. The things that do need to be fixed is the organization, so that you, as a reader, and all those who come looking at this platform, can find what you're looking for. 

You need to be able to find the stories you want to partake of.

That means fixing how I deliver these stories.

You all know that Wanted Hero has been a published novel series.

I am rewriting these stories, from scratch, this time from first person point of view. I’m filling in all the holes, making lists of all the offshoot stories, tracking everything with every creative fiber of my soul.

Do I have to change the format from novels to something else?

Not really.

However, once I saw what Simon was writing, and how it was so clean in its delivery as a serialized story, I was convinced and converted. 

I believe that these books need to be broken down into bite-size chunks.

Easier to make, easier to distribute, easier to consume, and easier to publish once they are complete.

Simon describes in his posts that serialization of stories should be delivered like a TV series. 

The book series will be the name of the TV show. 

The individual books, will be the seasons. 

The individual chapters of the books, are the episodes.  

Does that make sense?  

My Proposed Plan

Many of you are paid subscribers. You are the world to me, and you are my priority. I just want to make sure that each of you understand this is exactly why I am doing what I am doing. This is about providing a better reading and interactive experience for you. But it is also organizing things to be more manageable for me, the writer. In doing this, I will be able to produce more, and complete side projects for you, which I have had planned, but had no idea how to accomplish.  

I believe serializing the stories is the answer.

I've run out of time.

I am rushing to meet each deadline now. I don't mind doing this, and I can do this. I love this job. I love each of you. 

I just want to do more. 

So my proposed plan at this point is to take the published works already done and posted, and break them down. 

There will be alterations to my writing schedule, so I can maintain the publication schedule I use each week.

So you know, I also want to provide an audio version of each chapter each week as well. It’s a perk I’ve wanted so badly to provide, but I don’t have any time left. This will grant me that time. 

Makes me so excited!

What Happens Next?

Hmmm. Good question.

I’m not sure I fully understand how Simon has done what he’s done, so I’m going to reach out and ask him. 

Between you and me, I’m going to do whatever it takes to make this shift and reorganize the whole of Life of Fiction. I know it’s a lot of work, but it’ll be worth it.

That being said, the writer in me won’t let me stop. 

That means I’ll have to go backward as I continue forwards.

I’ll do my best not to split myself in half in the process.

…I just don’t want you to go without stories.

That would be…wrong.

Okay then, that’s about it…and I would love to get your feedback, suggestions, questions and/or concerns.