By Ream Team
The serial fiction market is booming, providing authors with a fantastic opportunity to build a community, connect with readers, and even kickstart their subscription models. Wattpad alone had over 80 million readers as of 2019, and the demand for serial storytelling has only grown. But with so many options, it can be overwhelming to decide where to publish, understand payment structures, and figure out which genres perform best on each platform.
Below is a guide to the top serial fiction sites for authors, from payment details to popular genres.
Note: For most of these platforms, clean drafts are often enough to start posting—you usually won’t need the polished editing that traditional publishing requires.
Platforms for Serial Fiction
Ream
What is it?
Ream is a community-driven platform where authors can publish stories, build a fanbase, and monetize through subscriptions. Think of it as a hybrid of Wattpad, Patreon, and Facebook Groups, tailored for fiction authors.
Best Genres:
Romance leads on Ream, with LitRPG and other fantasy genres quickly gaining traction. Mystery, science fiction, and horror also have an audience, though they are smaller.
How You Get Paid:
Authors earn 90% of subscription revenue (minus processing fees). Ream also supports direct sales, so authors gain access to subscriber emails, with options to manage sales tax and VAT.
Radish Fiction
What is it? Radish is a serial fiction platform that specializes in romance and steamy genres. Readers purchase virtual coins to unlock episodes (chapters). Authors must apply to join Radish’s writer program.
Best Genres: Dark romance, paranormal romance (PNR), and new adult romance perform particularly well.
How You Get Paid: Authors are paid quarterly based on coin usage per chapter. Options include a freemium model (first three chapters free), premium (all chapters paid), or wait-to-unlock. Radish pays approximately 50% of revenue to authors, though exact details and percentages vary. Start writing on Radish.
Royal Road
What is it? Royal Road is a free-to-read platform where readers can follow stories, leave feedback, and discover new works.
Best Genres: LitRPG (all subgenres) and portal fantasy thrive here.
How You Get Paid: Royal Road operates on ads and reader subscriptions (to disable ads), but authors do not earn directly from this revenue. Authors often link to subscription platforms, offering early access to chapters. Start writing on Royal Road.
Wattpad
What is it? As one of the largest serial fiction sites, Wattpad attracts millions of young adult and teen readers. Authors can join paid creator programs if accepted or use Wattpad as a launchpad for other revenue streams.
Best Genres: Young Adult and New Adult Romance perform best, as do paranormal romance, fantasy, thrillers, and science fiction. NSFW stories also have a strong readership.
How You Get Paid: Unless in a paid Wattpad creator program, authors monetize through subscriptions, publishing deals, or self-publishing series on platforms like Amazon. Start writing on Wattpad.
Scribble Hub
What is it? Scribble Hub operates similarly to Royal Road, with a focus on serialized reading experiences.
Best Genres: LitRPG, fantasy, and anime-inspired fiction attract large audiences.
How You Get Paid: Authors can accept donations via PayPal or link to subscription platforms where readers can access chapters early. Start writing on Scribble Hub.
Tapas
What is it? Known for webcomics, Tapas also hosts serialized novels. Authors can turn their stories into comics to reach Tapas’ vast readership.
Best Genres: Fantasy romance and general romance perform well, as do other fantasy subgenres.
How You Get Paid: Tapas shares 70% of ad revenue with creators, and authors can offer merchandise or receive reader tips.
Other Platforms to Explore
Webtoon: Great for authors interested in adapting stories into webcomics.
Wuxia World: Known for Chinese web novels translated into English, perfect for fans of Chinese fantasy.
Serialized Audio Podcasts
What is it? Serialized audio stories or voice-acted fiction chapters, often distributed via platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, attract a growing audience.
Best Genres: Crime thrillers, mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, and romance have dedicated audiences in this format.
How You Get Paid: Authors can monetize through sponsorships once their podcast reaches over 1,000 listeners per episode, or offer early access via subscription platforms.
Social Platforms for Serial Fiction
What is it? Posting stories in serialized form on social media can build a readership. Twitter threads, TikTok short stories, or YouTube series are effective for discovery.
Best Genres: Poetry thrives on social platforms, but any genre can work if tailored to a short, engaging format.
How You Get Paid: Authors with substantial followings on platforms like YouTube or TikTok may earn ad revenue. Many authors use this approach to funnel readers to books or subscription platforms.
Final Thoughts
We hope this guide helps you find the right platform to share your stories and reach new readers. This space is rapidly evolving, with new platforms appearing regularly. We’ve curated this list for quality, but always check the terms of any platform before committing your work.
Want to learn how to turn serial fiction readers into paying superfans? Join Ream Academy on Ream! We share weekly Q&A posts and insider tips, and have a ton of exciting discussions. It’s a great place to learn, connect, and have fun while growing together. See you there!
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