Serial Analysis: Four Lives

~ beetleypete

My recent serial Four Lives concluded yesterday with the 30th episode. As usual, I like to look at how it was received, and the stats it generated on my blog.

This serial was written mainly from the point of view of four very different women, not that easy for a 70 year-old man. It was inspired in part by those women who are badly served by the justice system, and others who befriend and marry prisoners, denying their crimes and background.

Although it contained themes of domestic violence, controlling behaviour, and sexual assault, I tried to make sure it was not graphic enough to upset readers. As usual, I had the ending in notes first, and worked back some years in the story timeline to get to that ending.

So far, it has achieved daily views averaging 50. So not one of the favourite serials with readers. Views for the later parts are still coming in, but if I take 50 views as the benchmark, then the story generated a total of 1,500 views.

Reader interaction and engagement was good; with regular comments, some involvement with the characters, and also guessing of the outcome. That is the most satisfying thing for me as the writer.

I would like to thank everyone who followed it all, and shared parts on social media.

The complete story is now available for those who like to wait to read the whole thing at once.

28 thoughts on “Serial Analysis: Four Lives”

  6. Always interesting to look back on a project to see how it resonates…sometimes it’s a disappointing feeling, sometimes surprising beyond anything you expected…still, as the effort is done as a creative outlet first and foremost, there’s enough satisfaction in that!

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      1. I might write a little fan fic follow up.
        “Where should we go if (the police) you can’t help us?” “You didn’t get this from me.” He pushed a notecard across his desk. “What can this Shauna, Shana, ” “Show-nuh”. “Right. Shona Nevill, DS, no location and a phone number do for us.” “It’s DI now. Her location, by choice, is Northumberland, less than 20 miles from the Scottish border. It’s not what Shona can do. It’s who she knows.”
        “We don’t want to be responsible for a murder.”
        “Long before the likes of Lee Fowler takes a naked spin on the Eye, alive, barb wired to a strut, he’ll be wishing they’d murdered him. I’ll send her the files.”

        Liked by 1 person

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