: Re: How to traditionally publish a fantasy-fiction novel serial in our modern era of publishing without the use of zines? I am about 3/4 finished with the first "volume" of a novel I desire to

@Sue2132873

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What you may be looking for is an anthology.

Anthologies are similar to magazines and, in some cases, may overlap. But they have significant differences and are often done by different types of publishers.

A magazine:

Comes out on a defined schedule (monthly, quarterly).
Usually more than once a year.
Has an indefinite run.
Paper stock is thin.
Cover is only slightly thicker than the main pages.
Has a variety of material which can include: fiction, articles, letters, editorial statement, ads, vignettes, and art.
Table of contents is optional.

An anthology:

Is a one-off or a series.
Comes out when enough material has been collected and the publisher has everything lined up.
Rarely comes out more than once a year, and it can be every 2-3 years.
The run is usually limited.
Issues may be themed.
Paper stock is better quality, and it is bound like a book (smaller anthologies may be bound like a magazine).
Cover is thick. Can be paperback or hardcover. (Some exceptions)
Nearly every page is a story (or other contribution) by an author or creative team.
There is almost always a table of contents. There may be an introduction or other pages, but the focus is on the contributions.
No ads (generally). No (or little) in-house contributions or space fillers.

Most anthologies don't use very long works. But some will consider it. In a current case I know, a publisher is considering using a 40 page story (comic, so the page count is exact).

There is a risk of an anthology not doing well enough to justify continuing, and your story is left partially unpublished. But that's true of a magazine as well.

You ask for specific publisher suggestions but that's not really possible, and is out of the scope of Writing.SE. "How to find an anthology accepting submissions" would be a different question. If you manage to find one who accepts your genre(s) and is willing to feature you over multiple issues, you're golden. But it's not easy.

Anthology publishers are usually individuals, small groups, or small presses. Most pay in copies or pay a small amount (for comic writers who don't do their own art, the payment is almost always a fraction of what they've paid their artists). But it is traditional publishing and you don't have to do all the marketing.

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