BENIGHT: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE Beyond the 100th Chapter
These written serials, stylized as text-based soap operas, are hardly new. They're places for lovers of the soap genre to immerse themselves into old school love stories, mysteries and even a witch's curse or two. It's truly a labor of love by the writers of these works and for any series creator to continue to produce episode after episode, year after year it is no small feat, considering it's all done for free and as a hobby.
Case in point, series like FOOTPRINTS and ONE DAY AT A TIME have been in the game more than 20 years. Imagine the challenges in keeping with continuity for that long. Any show with various writers could recognize the magnitude of such a body of work, much less one person doing it all themselves. Other series like LIBERTY CITY, ON CONCRETE SHELVES are hitting their decade mark too with no signs of slowing down.
That is why, after 12 issues, The Phix Files will still be a place to celebrate, enjoy and encourage the world of WebSerial creators and their readers to keep going, keep entertaining and most of all keep the drama flowing for as long as we have fingers to type, and eyes to read.
Now more than ever before we need these imaginary worlds to save us, even if for a minute, from outside reality. To share in the romance, to experience new ways of telling stories, to join an entertaining place where we can all root for our favorite 'ships, love to hate the best villains and most of all keep the soap genre alive!
On that note, if you’re not reading these soaps you are missing out BIG TIME. Here are the 5 best moments of the week: August 3rd -- August 9th.
THE CHANGING TIDES — Daniel discovers Sarah’s Past.
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| Daniel |
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| Richard |
FOOTPRINTS — Natalie and Sonja’s Lunch.
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| Sonja |
BLISSFUL—Zach's Emotional Fairwell.
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| Mason |
ONE DAY AT A TIME — The Future is Now.
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| Madeline |
**HONARABLE MENTION**
FOREVER YOUNG — A Major Secret Exposed.
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| Louie |
August 4th marked the final chapter of BOOK7 that saw a witch trial consume the village like a plague, a live burning-at-the-stake with a bewitching twist and the continued tug of war love triangle between vampire Sebastian Lord his ex-wife Evie Jordan and Evie's lovelorn hero Matthew Winterborn.
The threesome has survived a myriad of treacherous events! Assassination attempts, witch curses, several asylum stints, kidnappings, live burials, shipwrecks, vampirism and anything else under the gloomy full moon of Welshport. And no one has suffered more than Evie; costing her romantic relationships, time with her child and almost her life and sanity at every turn.
At the end of BOOK7, however, our heroine was finally seeing her life through a pair of modern glasses for a woman of early Edwardian New England. Tired of choosing between the two men who love her to no end, Evie chose to focus on herself & motherhood by deciding she'd have no partner at all-- for now. Her desire to be a good mother to her son Gabriel, who has been without her for so long, finally overshadows her romantic wants.
But the 100th chapter cliffhanger may end her wish!
You see Evie's decision did not sit well with Sebastian who fell back into his darker tendencies. The final scene of BOOK7 put readers in the preverbal shadows not knowing what he'd done to his wife and child after breaking into their beach house and taking them away into the night. Plus Sebastian BIT Evie!
Come BOOK8, the center romance of Benight, Evie and Sebastian will add yet another epic chapter to their very unconventional and volatile relationship even by soap opera standards. Readers will begin to learn details of their mysterious and very dangerous disappearance and what Sebastian's lethal vampire's bite has done to Evie.
As Benight enters it's fourth year and into it's fifth -- passed it's centennial chapter-- the island of Welshport has many more stories to tell. This WebSerial world, crafted to entertain your most imaginative senses, hopes to continue to send you to a place where anything can happen in the realm of a Gothic Soap Opera.
What's to come: Evie and Sebastian's story is far from over. They'll see each other in a much more dangerous place both physically and romantically. The Lord family will continue to be the center of the Island's attention and myth, for better or worse. Sorceress Jacqueline Gray will discover a possible ally she thought long gone and madness is never far from Welshport's shore as one man in particular will see a mind-splitting crisis consume his life. Romance too is always laced with lethal undertones as a woman’s betrayal of her lover leads to a death that will send Welshport society into a frenzy.
BOOK8 of TO BENIGHT & BEGUILE begins publishing later this fall. Catch up on all seven BOOKS with the updated recap page by clicking the image below.
The best thing about creating a place where this type of creative work get's celebrated is discovering new writers and their serials. Not too long ago I accidently came across the X page of OUR LITTLE WRITER'S NOOK and was pleasantly surprised to discover three more serials from across the pond: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, HOLE STREET & FOREVER YOUNG. Each serial distinctively written with dedicated writers with their own points of view on soapy drama! They've since added THE CHANGING TIDES, which has only added a fantastic extra layer of old school drama that plays out on your screen like a UK gothic noir of family secrets and mystery.
In this month's PHIX SIX we get to know our friends from the UK a little bit closer.
THE PHIX: Hello! It was so great to discover your X page! I was so pleased to get to know the writer's work and explore each serial. I've still got a lot of work to do in that part, but I'm almost there. Can you tell us a little bit of background to conception of OUR LITTLE WRITER'S NOOK?
HANNAH: Hi there! Thank you so much, I’m really pleased you found the page and thank you for welcoming us into the web soap community. It really means a lot to put ourselves out there, we are a small but committed and friendly community and so much heart and time has gone into each project.
I have been writing since I was 18 (now heading into my late 30s) and it has been a huge part of my life since. I was first inspired by a project called The Tide on Walford Web, which led me to create my own series, City Girls, based on myself and my two closest friends. Over the years, I rewrote City Girls as my writing developed, and went on to create and then co-write High Hopes with Joe, as well as create Behind Closed Doors in 2016, which I relaunched a year later and is still going strong. I’ve also explored drama through projects such as Cross My Heart Hope to Die, a police series, and Saying It Out Loud, which was deeply personal and inspired by the loss of my dad. My most recent drama series was The Nook’s first project called Time Heals All Wounds which is set in a duel timeline and explores a group of friends reuniting at a school reunion.
Our Little Writer’s Nook came about during a time when I was ready to move onto something new. I wanted to create a space that felt supportive, welcoming, and creatively open, where writers could share their ideas, collaborate, and grow without pressure. It was born out of a desire for community, encouragement, and freedom and it's become a place I’m incredibly proud of.
JACK: I joined the Nook as soon as it opened, having known Hannah and Joe online for ten years prior, but it has helped my writing to flourish in ways that it never has before. Having such a supportive group of people sharing their thoughts and opinions on my work, while helping to guide me through what isn't working, has been crucial to FY lasting as long as it has. Seeing the new members such as Joseph and Jade joining has also been great, allowing fresh voices and giving us some amazing new stories to become invested in.
JOE: For me, Our Little Writers Nook represents everything that writing should be; fun, freedom to explore, the space to make mistakes, the opportunities to learn and grow. It is a safe place to tell stories, create characters and embrace the beauty of writing. It is friendly and supportive forum where encouragement allows budding writers to thrive.
Since joining the Nook, I've not yet posted a protect (Apart from a Doctors Fan:Fic and two short stories) but I adore reading projects such as Behind Closed Doors and Forever Young. Two wonderfully brilliant text-based soap operas. I am in awe at the talent of Hannah and Jack. Two wonderful people that I view as friends.
The community feel to the Nook is just fantastic. It is such a supportive network of writers who truly believe in each other and support each other’s endeavors.
THE PHIX: UK soaps have a very distinct feel to them in the best way. They're often more down to earth than US soaps and often feature a bit of comedy here and there which is really a breath of fresh air. Is this something your series wanted to represent too?
HANNAH: UK soaps have always had a huge influence on me, both as a writer and personally. I grew up watching them and they really became a lifeline during a difficult time in my life. The soaps always offered some kind of comfort and escape. There’s something so powerful about the way UK soaps balance heavy, emotional storylines with warmth, humour, and day-to-day realism. They never shy away from tough topics, but there’s always heart…always a sense of community, resilience, and even laughter in the darkest moments. That said, I do dip into the US soaps from time to time, I have a soft spot for The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, and General Hospital. They’re very different in tone and style, but there’s something so bold and addictive about the storytelling that I enjoy.
In my writing, I try to reflect that same tone. Whether it’s City Girls, Behind Closed Doors, or any of the projects on Our Little Writer’s Nook, I aim to tell stories that feel rooted in real life. I want the characters to be flawed and relatable, the drama to mean something, and for there to be moments of lightness, even in serious stories. Because that’s what life is like. And that’s what UK soaps taught me growing up.
JACK: I had gotten into DAYS OF OUR LIVES around the time I was creating this version of FOREVER YOUNG, and while it helped me devise the idea of 'contract' and 'recurring' cast for the series, I didn't want to include too much, as the possessions, masks and the likes don't really interest me as a writer. UK soaps were definitely my inspiration, and while I dislike the outlandish comedy plots on the likes of CORONATION STREET, incorporating humour through my characters was important to me. Whether that's Bev Daniels making a sarcastic quip or Louie Renshaw shamelessly flirting with men he shouldn't, I wanted the characters to be funny at points - as people are in real life.
JOE: I am a fan of UK soaps but my favourite soap is Neighbours. I feel that with Hannah's Behind Closed Doors, she has created a series that is emotionally powerful and character-driven. With Jack's Forever Young, I feel he has created a modern soap for modern audiences while leaning into the classics that made soaps what they once were. Both shows are truly exceptional.
JOSEPH: The Changing Tides is definitely based on UK soaps, specifically drawing on Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Brookside as inspiration.
THE PHIX: FOREVER YOUNG is unique among all the series around where it focuses on the trials and tribulations of a younger cast of characters. Can you give the background and inspirations for FY?
JACK: The idea for FOREVER YOUNG came to me at a time when I was very disillusioned with writing, and not enjoying either Hollyoaks or EastEnders. I wanted to incorporate the elements of both that I liked, while also working on a project that felt right for me. The fast-paced stories, the focus on a younger group of characters, the grittiness and soapiness, as well as the focus on relationships and romance, all mixed together to create FY. After many stop starts between 2017 and 2022, I took a break from writing and posting anything, and that is when this version of FOREVER YOUNG came to fruition.
THE PHIX: I've been particularly drawn to THE CHANGING TIDES. How did the Nook come across this series and adding it to the current 3?
HANNAH: I first came across The Changing Tides on Twitter, and it was honestly a bit of a turning point, it opened my eyes to the wider web soap community out there. I immediately fell in love with the writing, the tone, and the characters. It had that same grounded emotional core I really connect with, and I knew right away it was something special.
Not long after, Joseph found Our Little Writer’s Nook and joined as a member. It was such a natural fit, his work resonated with the kind of storytelling we value at the Nook. Now he shares a link to each new episode on the forum, and it’s been brilliant to see members engaging with it alongside our original three serials. The Changing Tides brings something fresh while still feeling very in tune with the spirit of the Nook.
JOSEPH: I came across the Nook after Hannah had commented on a few episodes of The Changing Tides and I'm so glad I joined! The critiques I get here have been invaluable, and help me become a better writer. I wanted to pay it forward so I'm immersing myself in the other works here, and I'm thoroughly enjoying catching up with all the material!
THE PHIX: I love the writing challenges the page sets up! They give a little break for the writers to explore other avenues of expression. How do you choose the themes?
HANNAH: Thank you! The writing challenges are a fairly new addition to Our Little Writer’s Nook, and they've been such a fun way to shake things up and give writers a little creative breather between longer projects. We've just closed our second challenge, and the voting will open very soon.
To keep it feeling fresh and collaborative, we’ve decided that the winner of each challenge will choose the next theme and host the following round. It adds a nice layer of variety and gives different members a chance to shape the tone or direction. It also means no two challenges will ever feel the same, which is part of the fun.
JOE: We've run two writing challenges on The Nook to date. A Letter Unsent was a wonderfully thought provoking theme which set a challenge to all writers. The exploration of the theme allowed writers to explore different avenues of storytelling. I reached into my theatre background by setting my story in one location, almost like a play on a stage. I found this process really informative and reflection of my development as a writer.
I was successfully crowned winner of the Spring Writers Challenge which then allowed me to set the summer challenge. When choosing the theme, I wanted something broad yet evocative of the season. I wanted to challenge my fellow writers in creating a story that took place at summer with the tagline that everything changed that summer. All writers rose to the challenge.
THE PHIX: The final questions is always my favorite because it's a free place. We'd love to hear what's to come! Any future surprises down the line for your series or a writing challenge you'd like to plug?
HANNAH: I love that question, it’s always exciting to look ahead! For me personally, Behind Closed Doors is still going strong, with lots of big storylines developing, plus a very special milestone: the 150th episode coming this autumn. There’s also going to be a third series of my police drama Cross My Heart, Hope To Die, which is especially exciting since the last series aired all the way back in 2013! I’m really looking forward to revisiting those characters, readers fell in love with the chemistry between leads Chris and Lauren!
On top of that, I have a couple of special surprises planned over the festive period, so keep an eye out, it’s going to be a great end to the year.
As for Our Little Writer’s Nook, more writing challenges are coming up soon. With the voting just about to open for our second challenge, it won’t be long before a new theme is announced, led by a member of the community. It’s a fantastic way to keep things fresh and creative between longer projects.
JACK: FOREVER YOUNG has an upcoming scripted episode, scheduled for the 13th August. It focuses on two heavy topics, and covers the aftermath of Chelsea Harding's discovery that her neighbour Louie is her brother. It's much longer than my previous scripted special, and isn't set around one singular story, so I am excited to see how it goes down. It's an episode I am proud of, though nervous about - as I said, it covers two sensitive stories.
JOE: I spoke earlier about my love of Neighbours. I am tinkering away with the rumbles of a soap which I am dubbing 'Neighbours of the Nook'. Watch this space!
JOSEPH: For the Changing Tides, the leisure park story is set to heat up throughout the summer. I'm also working on a more serious story (slightly issue-driven but still based in character) that will be very long-term, the seeds of which have been planted in recent episodes.
THE PHIX: Thank you all so much! We can't wait to see what comes next from THE NOOK! Keep up the incredible work!
Catch up on all the series from
OUR LITTLE WRITER’S NOOK
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