Hmmmmm. It's subtle. We have a sense of his paranoia though it's not yet manifested in an 'out of touch with reality' form. For now his concerns seem within the range of normal for an anxious person overthinking things. Looking forward to the next installation.
Within the range of normal! Thank y—er, I mean, if Alex were a real person, he’d thank you for the reassurance.
This experience took that anxious overthinking to an extreme, but I’m grateful for it because I’m better than I was before it happened. Otherwise I might’ve maintained that high-but-still-within-normal-range anxiety for the rest of my life.
In the actual book, the chapters aren’t titled or numbered. When I started on Substack, I saw an article saying if you’re serializing a longer work, don’t number the chapters because people discovering it later will see the chapter number and feel they’re already too far behind to hop aboard.
I didn’t write the book to be enterable at any point, but I do think that the weird shit happening in every chapter will compel any latecomers to find out how we got here. That’s the hope, anyway.
As the chapters multiply, you’re right, it’ll get hard to keep track of one’s progress, so here’s my question to you: Would you prefer numbered chapters and just hope latecomers give it a chance? Or do you think it’d be enough to create a “Table of Contents” post that numbers the chapters as a compromise? Maybe I could include the chapter images in the list as well, to help readers recall what they’ve already read?
Thanks for pointing this out, giving me the chance to ask. I’m just trying to figure this out as I go. I appreciate your input!
I don’t know what this means, but I’ll think on it! I’ve just made a preemptive TOC on the pub home, which’ll help already. Maybe I’ll add some descriptive captions like an episode listing, and make those entertaining/mysterious.
Good chapter
Hmmmmm. It's subtle. We have a sense of his paranoia though it's not yet manifested in an 'out of touch with reality' form. For now his concerns seem within the range of normal for an anxious person overthinking things. Looking forward to the next installation.
Within the range of normal! Thank y—er, I mean, if Alex were a real person, he’d thank you for the reassurance.
This experience took that anxious overthinking to an extreme, but I’m grateful for it because I’m better than I was before it happened. Otherwise I might’ve maintained that high-but-still-within-normal-range anxiety for the rest of my life.
Are we not supposed to have numbered chapters so it's easier to keep up? Or you like it this way?
In the actual book, the chapters aren’t titled or numbered. When I started on Substack, I saw an article saying if you’re serializing a longer work, don’t number the chapters because people discovering it later will see the chapter number and feel they’re already too far behind to hop aboard.
I didn’t write the book to be enterable at any point, but I do think that the weird shit happening in every chapter will compel any latecomers to find out how we got here. That’s the hope, anyway.
As the chapters multiply, you’re right, it’ll get hard to keep track of one’s progress, so here’s my question to you: Would you prefer numbered chapters and just hope latecomers give it a chance? Or do you think it’d be enough to create a “Table of Contents” post that numbers the chapters as a compromise? Maybe I could include the chapter images in the list as well, to help readers recall what they’ve already read?
Thanks for pointing this out, giving me the chance to ask. I’m just trying to figure this out as I go. I appreciate your input!
Table of Content. But do something innovative with it. Reward the reader for the little extra work.
I don’t know what this means, but I’ll think on it! I’ve just made a preemptive TOC on the pub home, which’ll help already. Maybe I’ll add some descriptive captions like an episode listing, and make those entertaining/mysterious.
yeah, that's all i meant. add something there or not...was just an idea.
No, I totally agree with the impulse! It’s just always a question of “what does it look like for THIS material/purpose”?
facts
yeah i seen the table of contents. already helped a lot! thanks!