Crowdfunding: Connecting Creators and Patrons

>> I've just joined this community, after a friend pointed it out to me. <<

We're happy to have you here.

>> She pointed it out to me because in a couple of weeks I'm going to launch a serialized novel on my writing blog! <<

Congratulations! Please post an announcement here when you start that project, so folks can come see it.

>> I honestly hadn't even considered crowdfunding, probably because I'm convinced that I'll be lucky if I can get a dozen people reading the story. But I've also been thinking that maybe I should at least be prepared to put up a tip jar...<<

I highly recommend putting up a tip jar. That way if people like your work, they can show it with donations. You might also want to browse the Memories section for how-to articles, such as these:
http://crowdfunding.livejournal.com/88166.html
http://crowdfunding.livejournal.com/102299.html

>>So yeah, I'm a creator! Also, a patron, although previously on Kickstarter and via private author initiatives. I'm quite happy to have discovered this community!<<

That's good to hear. We can always use more of both. This is generally a good place for discussions of crowdfunding in general, or projects and techniques in particular.

>>Lately I've been reading discussions about the difference between 'serialized novels' and real 'serial fiction', and... and probably I should save some of that for a blog post. <<

Actually that would make a great conversation to start here. We have lots of folks who are into serialized novels and/or webserials. I do serial poetry myself:
http://penultimateproductions.weebly.com/serial-poetry.html