Instant Serials - Popular Questions

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Instant Serials is a utility on the web that helps you connect with the people you know, by sharing a good story as it unfolds.

The company creates and presents serialized literature written and illustrated for a general audience. Serials tell a story over a period of time in successive parts, a format ideal for sharing. During the pauses and breaks between installments, lively conversations can occur.

InstantSerials.com features a digital tool that enables you to schedule the pace of an unfolding story.

You decide how much of a story to share at a time, and when to do so. Your decisions will influence the flow of reading and conversation.

Use Instant Serials to socialize with friends, to connect with family, or to work together with peer groups and classmates. Our serial format makes it easy to move between the story world and your group’s reactions, thoughts and ideas.

What is the price?

Option 1:

Stream Instant Serials Stories on your laptop, computer, iPad or smart board. It’s free when you sign up.

Option 2:

OR, use our Story Sharing platform to create a reading group. We’ll stream your choice of story to everyone—wherever they are.

Subscribe to one story for one group. Then use these features.

Subscription price: instant story streaming for $5.95/group (any size).

• Schedule story episodes for any size group.

• The story will unfold at the same pace for everyone.

• Chat with your group during episodes.

• Dynamic search tools manage your discussions.

• Extra privacy for young people under 13.

• Special privileges for educators.

How do I schedule a story for sharing?

1. Click schedule story episodes or schedule story episodes for sharing on the site toolbar.

2. Pick a story.

3. Set a start date for the first chapter.

4. Set a time of day for each chapter release. (e.g., 8:00 AM worldwide.)

5. Automatically schedule the release of new chapters for everyday, weekly (e.g., every Tuesday), weekday (m-f), or during weekends (f-sun).

6. Click confirm to reserve your choices and to display the chapter schedule.

7. To change the dates of individual chapters, click [edit] which is located to the right of each scheduled chapter. Click the calendar box to open a calendar. Choose another date. Click [update] to finalize the schedule change.

8. When you finish scheduling the story, click reconfirm.

9. The story title will be listed on the Your stories & groups page. Click > go to story to access each episode.

How do I create a group?

1. Click Story Sharing on the home page. Then click schedule story episodes for sharing on the site toolbar.

2. Start by inventing a group name (e.g., Dream Team

3. Click save group name. A member list will be associated with the group name, which is displayed on the right side of the screen.

4. Enter each member’s full name.

5. Click update member list after adding each name.

6. When the member list is complete, click add to cart.

7. A message box will ask, “Do you want to be a member of this group?” Click “okay” or “cancel”.

How do I place my order? (3 different ways)

1. Click subscribe on the site toolbar.

- Schedule one story and then click continue to create a group.
- Form the group.
- Click add subscription to cart.
- Click Check Out Now.
You can also remove the subscription, or save it for later use in “saved items.”

2. Click saved items (top right corner of web page) to view a list of groups and a list
of scheduled stories that you set up.

- To build a reading group, select one group and one scheduled story (click circles).
- Click match and save.
- The group’s subscription details will be displayed under “Saved Subscriptions,”
which is located below “match groups with scheduled stories.”
- Click add to cart to place your order.

3. You can also use saved items to review your “saved subscriptions.”

- Rest your cursor on the icons (people or calendar) to view a member list, or
schedule of each chapter’s release date.
- To remove a subscription click “remove.”
- To place your order, click add to cart.
- Proceed with checkout.

How do I invite my group?

Instant Serials automatically emails an invitation to everyone in your group. You must provide email addresses when you subscribe.

OR, use our promotional art to create your own email. Please log in and go to support/promo art.

If you are lost for words, you might use the sample letter below as a guideline.

Hi, John—

I've purchased a subscription to share a cool, illustrated serial story with you online. Starting on September 01, 2011, A Long Walk to Water will be privately presented to our group (Laura, James, you and me) in daily installments for three weeks. Each chapter takes less than 6 minutes to read.

To get started:

1. Go to www.InstantSerials.com and enter our group name—Doe Family—on the homepage. Click “join now”. Registration page will follow.

2. Complete the registration form. I pre-registered you as John Doe. Please use this exact spelling.

3. Afterwards, log in (top right corner) whenever you wish to resume reading and discussions with us. Enter your username and password.

I'm looking forward to this!

How do I join a group?

Each group member must sign up on Instant Serials' homepage to join a reading group.

1. Complete the registration form. Then click create an account.

First and last names must match the spelling listed by the organizer.
Enter the group name assigned to your group.

2. We will send a confirmation email to the address you provide.

3. Afterwards, log in (top right corner) whenever you wish to resume reading and discussions with your group. Enter your username and password.

4. OR, if you already have an Instant Serials account, log in and enter the group name on the right side of “Your stories and groups” page.

How does Instant Serials coordinate story-sharing?

Every time you sign in, we’ll take you directly to that place in the story where your group is spending time.

Sharing is synchronized. The story unfolds at the same pace for everyone.

For example, say on Tuesday of a particular date, the sixth chapter is scheduled to be shared. When you sign in on that day, Instant Serials will bring you to Chapter Six. You may view past chapters. But you may not speed ahead. Requesting Chapter Seven will display a notification message of its schedule, e.g., TO BE CONTINUED IN 2 DAYS ON MAY 14, 2010 AT 8 A.M.

How does Instant Serials coordinate group conversation?

Our stories always give you something new to talk about.

Move back and forth between the story world and your social world.

If you are in a story, click “connect with group” to join the day’s conversation.
If you are talking with your group, click “back to story” to resume reading.

Testimonials

My students think Instant Serials is awesome! I am delighted with the evolution of their thinking
and the responses/predictions they shared with each other (588 posts from 25 students).

-- Jan M., 6th - 7th grades, Academy School District 20, CO

One of my students called Instant Serials academic Facebook!

-- Yvonne F. - 8th grade, Connelly Springs, NC

I have enjoyed "Long Road Home" immensely. I think that you have the format just right.
I would have given up long ago, due to time constraints, if I had to digest this enjoyable reading
in larger bites. I don’t get a chance to do much reading simply for the enjoyment of it.

-- Daniel T, Engineer, age 45, Male, and Student age14 and Male

The “Rockies” group has loved sharing the site! We also love the interactive responses and replies . . .
just like instant messaging!

-- Heather W., 3rd grade, Cherry Creek School District, CO