Partly by chance, partly out of curiosity, and partly out of recklessness, I started following a webinar by *Rotte Narrative* on Web Novels. It's a writing format I'm not familiar with at all, but it has some potentially very interesting features. Needless to say, it's already piquing my curiosity. So, armed with this new perspective, I'm sifting through my notebook of ideas to see which of the dozens of concepts I've collected might be suitable for this format. Summarizing my notes, I've distilled five fundamental characteristics that a good idea for a web novel should have (or at least, this is what I've understood so far). ### 1. An Obvious "Serial Engine" The story needs a clear, intrinsic mechanism that can generate chapter after chapter without losing momentum. This could be a power progression in the style of *progression fantasy*, a sprawling investigation, a series of obstacles to overcome to reach a distant goal, or a constantly evolving relational conflict. As I wrote in my article, "[The Story's Compass](https://stranianelli.com/the-story-s-compass-goals-and-mcguffin)", you need a defined objective to guide the action and give the narrative direction. ### 2. A Crystal-Clear Promise The reader must immediately understand what kind of story they are about to read (Fantasy, Romance, Thriller, LitRPG) and what they can expect. This is what the course calls the "Promise-Triad": the **premise**, **genre**, and **serial engine** must be crystal clear from the very first chapter. This clarity is crucial for attracting the right reader and not betraying their expectations. ### 3. Potential for Scalability The idea must be able to grow and expand. Can the protagonist become stronger? Can the mystery reveal ever-increasing levels of complexity? Can relationships deepen and change? Can the world expand with new regions, cultures, and challenges? This scalability is the secret to keeping readers glued to the story for dozens, if not hundreds, of chapters. ### 4. An Unescapable Hook The core idea must be intriguing and easy to summarize in a single sentence - the classic *logline* that makes someone say, "Okay, I have to read this." This concept ties in perfectly with the importance of a **broken equilibrium**, a theme I explored in "[From Stasis to Action](https://stranianelli.com/no-change-no-story-breaking-equilibrium)". The story must begin with an event that throws everything into question and launches the protagonist (and the reader) into the action. ### 5. Adaptability to Serialization Finally, the very structure of the idea must lend itself to being divided into short episodes, ideally between 1500 and 2000 words. Each chapter should function as a mini-story with its own arc, but most importantly, it must end with a hook or a full-blown *cliffhanger* that creates an irresistible tension, compelling the reader to click on to the next chapter.