Tim Hawken

Blog

Pen to paper for your eyes to enjoy

Best Serial Fiction on Substack: 6 Reads You Need in Your Inbox

If you think Substack is just for political rants and tech bros giving marketing advice, you’re missing out on the good stuff.

There’s a quiet revolution happening right inside our inboxes. Serial fiction is back! Like the old newspaper serials from the Dickens era, or Fahrenheit 451 being first being published in Playboy, this format has resurrected again. Instead of getting ink on your fingers, you now get a fresh chapter delivered to your phone while you’re waiting for your flat white.

I’ve done the digging so you don’t have to. Here are 5 of the best serial fiction newsletters on Substack right now—from a dystopian sport that feels like Formula One on steroids to a cozy sci-fi guide on how to tame humans.

1. Dracula Daily

By Matt Kirkland

Dracula Daily Banner Substack

If you haven’t heard of this one, you’ve probably been living in a crypt. Dracula Daily is the OG of the Substack fiction wave. It takes Bram Stoker’s classic novel—which was originally written as letters and diary entries—and emails them to you on the exact date they happen in the story.

Some days you get a long, spooky entry from Jonathan Harker. Other days? Nothing. It’s essentially "real-time" reading. It turns a classic text into a communal event where thousands of us freak out together over email.

2. The Cog That Spins The Wheel

By Ian Patterson

The Cog That Spins the Wheel Serial Fiction Substack

Imagine if Rollerball had a baby with Formula One and raised it on the moon. That’s the vibe Ian Patterson is serving up.

The Cog That Spins The Wheel explores a dystopian future where sports are the only glue holding society together. It’s high-octane, gritty, and asks a pretty wild question: what happens when you throttle out just to survive? If you want action that hits you like an energy drink, this is it.

3. Station 2-14

Station 2-14 On Substack Serial Fiction

By Cameron Scott

A shoutout to a fellow Aussie writer from Melbourne! Cameron Scott is weaving something special with Station 2-14.

The story follows Ley, a fighter desperate to save her dying mother. To do it, she has to test her special abilities in the brutal "Games of Station 2-14." It’s got that classic underdog energy, but with a twist. Ley isn’t the only one with everything to lose. If you love character-driven action with a bit of heart (and Aussie grit), give this a go.

4. Intergalactizen's Guide to Taming Earthlings

By JW Ellenhall

Taming Earthings Serialized book cozy sci fi

Need a laugh? Intergalactizen's Guide To Taming Earthlings is a "Planetary Domination Made Easy" series that flips the script on alien invasions.

Here’s the hilarious blurb: Most of the galaxy wants to destroy Earth for being an utter nuisance – except for one group of Intergalactizens, beings who thrive on betting against unpredictable odds and disguising themselves as cats.

5. Mechanical Pulp

By Liza Kuznak

Mechanical Pulp Serialized Fiction Substack Short Stories

Liza Kuznak is doing the lord’s work keeping the short story format alive. Mechanical Pulp is an eclectic mix of short stories, vignettes, and "other stuff" that keeps you guessing.

It feels like opening a mystery box every time a new email lands. The writing is sharp, the tone is unique, and it’s a great example of how flexible the newsletter format can be for fiction writers. Worth dipping into.

6. The Apocalypse Will Still Have Coffee

By Tim Hawken

Best Serial Fiction on Substack The Apocalypse Will Still Have Coffee

You didn't think I’d write a whole list about Substack fiction and leave myself out, did you?

The Apocalypse Will Still Have Coffee is my latest serialised project. It’s fun, it’s gritty, and it asks the important questions, like how to get a decent caffeine hit when the world has gone to hell. If you like your dystopian fiction with a side of noir and audio chapters included in the paid tier, come join me for a cuppa at the end of the world.

Got a favourite serial fiction read I missed? Drop it in the comments—I need something new to read while I procrastinate on my own writing.

Tim Hawken