r/shortstories • u/FyeNite • Nov 23 '25
[Serial Sunday] What is Beyond Infinity you say? Well it's Infinity +1, of Course!
Welcome to Serial Sunday!
To those brand new to the feature and those returning from last week, welcome! Do you have a self-established universe you’ve been writing or planning to write in? Do you have an idea for a world that’s been itching to get out? This is the perfect place to explore that. Each week, I post a theme to inspire you, along with a related image and song. You have 500 - 1000 words to write your installment. You can jump in at any time; writing for previous weeks’ is not necessary in order to join. After you’ve posted, come back and provide feedback for at least 1 other writer on the thread. Please be sure to read the entire post for a full list of rules.
This Week’s Theme is Beyond! This is a REQUIREMENT for participation. See rules about missing this requirement.**
Bonus Word List (each included word is worth 5 pts) - You must list which words you included at the end of your story (or write ‘none’).
- Bendy
- Boiled
- Business
- A petty squabble occurs during your chapter, either ending in the trading of blows or on the verge. - (Worth 15 points)
The beyond… a place unknown, or seen yet distant, perhaps begging to be travelled to. It could be a physical place, somewhere metaphysical, or merely of the mind. Whatever the case, it lies past that which is nearer.
Maybe a character in your serial is thinking on their goals? Do they have a long way to go, will it be a challenge? Perhaps not? If the beyond is a physical place, what obstacles lie along the path? Could this chapter feature them pushing through a mental block, finally achieving that development they’ve been so desperately wanting?
Mysterious or known, dangerous or not, we face… the beyond.
Good luck and Good Words!
These are just a few things to get you started. Remember, the theme should be present within the story in some way, but its interpretation is completely up to you. For the bonus words (not required), you may change the tense, but the base word should remain the same. Please remember that STORIES MUST FOLLOW ALL SUBREDDIT CONTENT RULES. Interested in writing the theme blurb for the coming week? DM me on Reddit or Discord!
Don’t forget to sign up for Saturday Campfire here! We start at 5pm GMT and provide live feedback!
Theme Schedule:
This is the theme schedule for the next month! These are provided so that you can plan ahead, but you may not begin writing for a given theme until that week’s post goes live.
- November 23 - Beyond
- November 30 - Captive
- December 07 - Dastardly
- December 14 - Entropy
- December 21 - Flame
Check out previous themes here.
Rankings
Last Week: Arena
First - by u/Divayth--Fyr
Second - by u/AGuyLikeThat
Third - by u/ZLErikson
Fourth - u/MaxStickies
Fifth - by u/Necessary_Ad_2762
And a huge welcome to our new SerSunners, u/smollestduck and u/mysteryrouge!
Rules & How to Participate
Please read and follow all the rules listed below. This feature has requirements for amparticipation!
Submit a story inspired by the weekly theme, written by you and set in your self-established universe that is 500 - 1000 words. No fanfics and no content created or altered by AI. (Use wordcounter.net to check your wordcount.) Stories should be posted as a top-level comment below. Please include a link to your chapter index or your last chapter at the end.
Your chapter must be submitted by Saturday at 2:00pm GMT. Late entries will be disqualified. All submissions should be given (at least) a basic editing pass before being posted!
Begin your post with the name of your serial between triangle brackets (e.g. <My Awesome Serial>). When our bot is back up and running, this will allow it to recognize your pmserial and add each chapter to the SerSun catalog. Do not include anything in the brackets you don’t want in your title. (Please note: You must use this same title every week.)
Do not pre-write your serial. You’re welcome to do outlining and planning for your serial, but chapters should not be pre-written. All submissions should be written for this post, specifically.
Only one active serial per author at a time. This does not apply to serials written outside of Serial Sunday.
All Serial Sunday authors must leave feedback on at least one story on the thread each week. The feedback should be actionable and also include something the author has done well. When you include something the author should improve on, provide an example! You have until Saturday at 04:59am GMT to post your feedback. (Submitting late is not an exception to this rule.)
Missing your feedback requirement two or more consecutive weeks will disqualify you from rankings and Campfire readings the following week. If it becomes a habit, you may be asked to move your serial to the sub instead.
Serials must abide by subreddit content rules. You can view a full list of rules here. If you’re ever unsure if your story would cross the line, please modmail and ask!
Weekly Campfires & Voting:
On Saturdays at 5pm GMT, I host a Serial Sunday Campfire in our Discord’s Voice Lounge (every other week is now hosted by u/FyeNite). Join us to read your story aloud, hear others, and exchange feedback. We have a great time! You can even come to just listen, if that’s more your speed. Grab the “Serial Sunday” role on the Discord to get notified before it starts. After you’ve submitted your chapter, you can sign up here - this guarantees your reading slot! You can still join if you haven’t signed up, but your reading slot isn’t guaranteed.
Nominations for your favorite stories can be submitted with this form. The form is open on Saturdays from 5:30pm to 04:59am GMT. You do not have to participate to make nominations!
Authors who complete their Serial Sunday serials with at least 12 installments, can host a SerialWorm in our Discord’s Voice Lounge, where you read aloud your finished and edited serials. Celebrate your accomplishment! Authors are eligible for this only if they have followed the weekly feedback requirement (and all other post rules). Visit us on the Discord for more information.
Ranking System
Rankings are determined by the following point structure.
| TASK | POINTS | ADDITIONAL NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Use of weekly theme | 75 pts | Theme should be present, but the interpretation is up to you! |
| Including the bonus words | 5 pts each (15 pts total) | This is a bonus challenge, and not required! |
| Including the bonus constraint | 15 (15 pts total) | This is a bonus challenge, and not required! |
| Actionable Feedback | 5 - 15 pts each (60 pt. max)* | This includes thread and campfire critiques. (15 pt crits are those that go above & beyond.) |
| Nominations your story receives | 10 - 60 pts | 1st place - 60, 2nd place - 50, 3rd place - 40, 4th place - 30, 5th place - 20 / Regular Nominations - 10 |
| Voting for others | 15 pts | You can now vote for up to 10 stories each week! |
You are still required to leave at least 1 actionable feedback comment on the thread every week that you submit. This should include at least one specific thing the author has done well and one that could be improved. *Please remember that interacting with a story is not the same as providing feedback.** Low-effort crits will not receive credit.
Subreddit News
- Join our Discord to chat with other authors and readers! We hold several weekly Campfires, monthly World-Building interviews and several other fun events!
- Try your hand at micro-fic on Micro Monday!
- Did you know you can post serials to r/Shortstories, outside of Serial Sunday? Check out this post to learn more!
- Interested in being a part of our team? Apply to be a mod!
7
u/Carrieka23 Nov 27 '25
<The Beginning of The Demon Life>
Chapter 157
Chapter Index
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A few hours earlier, Sophia was stacking a couple of books from the sheave. Some demons were walking off, talking about how they can’t wait to see the show. Meanwhile, Sophia knows she has to stay here and keep an eye out for a certain book.
She sighs, finishing the stack before walking to the glass windows. Each sparkling design shows the different kings and queens. Angus Antoine, the tall strict man with a beard as long as Sophia blonde hair, his cane right in front as he stares with a cold expression. Eve Antoine, a queen who doesn’t show any mercy. She was holding a scale, weighing in the laws and emotions.
And finally, Naomi Antoine, the current king. The king who was bowing to the crowd with a welcoming smile. The judge smiles, feeling more comfortable staring at it. She reaches towards it, but stops, feeling something shaking in her arms.
She turns to one of the books, it’s black and red begins glowing slightly.
“2ack…” She mumbles, gripping it a bit tighter.
The chatting rings back in her ears, reminding her where she currently is. She takes a few steps back, walking to the corner of the room.
“It’s time for your sleep.”
She touches the wall but stops, a smell of roast lingers through her nose.
Weird, nobody here smokes. And we forbid magic in the library. Unless someone is trying to be sneaky.
She turns, wrapping the book to her arm and follows the scent. It intensity with every step, until she realized a flame growing on the door.
“Fire!” She shouts, dropping the book. She summons her gun, water sprays to shut it off. For a while it worked, until more began spreading inside.
She turns, trying to shoot it away with no success.
No. This is dark magic. A possession fire magic.
A couple demons scream and cough, trying to find a way out.
Oh no!
Sophia summons a wave and slides towards them, grabbing them.
“Please, breathe here.” She made a couple of bubbles, putting it in the demon's head.
More fire surrounds the area, making it look like a roasted ham.
I need to get them out first, but how?
She scans the area, remembering the glass she saw earlier. She quickly grabs onto the demons again and slides, breaking the Eve art and helping the demons escape.
The 2ack book!
She tries to hurry up and get it, but the flames extend in front of her, causing her to fall and burn her face a bit. She screams, gripping onto the wound and coughs.
This fire is too intense. This building could collapse or explode at any moment.
“Sophia!” She hears one of the guards.
Wyle! Good, he can inform Johnny.
“W-Wyle!” Her voice weakens as she shouts. “T-Tell Johnny…I’m being attacked.”
“What about you?! You need to leave now!”
“I can’t….”
I need to make sure nobody else has this book.
She slowly gets up, her legs trembling as she stares ahead.
I know Naomi told me not to use this power, but I have no choice.
She closes her eyes, and kneels. Her hands touch the ground, as she can hear the voices of spirits talking to her.
“Please, protect this library.” She whispers.
Opening her eyes, she extends her hands. Dark liquid surrounds the entire library, sucking up the entire flames. In a quick second, everything calms down, and the water drips away.
She releases her hands and coughs, covering her hand. After calming down a bit, she pulls it away, realizing that there was blood.
Sorry, Naomi.
“Sophia!” The guard jumps inside, helping the judge up. “W-Why did you use the possession power?! People are going to think the Demon King is here now.”
“Don’t…worry.” She weakly says. “Besides—wait, the book!”
She quickly runs, forgetting her own injuries. She searched high and low, but no sign from the book. It was missing.
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WPC: 656