It can be hard to balance genuine tension with humor, but at the very least your humor is good enough to keep me reading.
I have to admit, I did feel disappointed when I saw this was another behind the scenes post and not an update from Fort Hook. Not against the behind the scenes stuff, just feels like it's been a while since the actual meta newsletter from Fort Hook had an update. I'd be fine if they alternated, but it's feeling a bit like a new show took over the timeslot of one I was already watching in between seasons.
I would definitely read that. I would suggest, if you haven't already, reading Starship Grifters by Rob Kroese (part of the Rex Nihilo sci-fi series), and Dove Season by Johnny Shaw (part of the Jimmy Veeder Fiasco (not sci-fi) series). Both, I think, tick the box you are trying to check or check the box you are trying to tick. In fact, after reading one of your recent posts I remember thinking, oh, this gives me the same tingly feeling I get when I read Johnny Shaw's stuff. Shaw is currently writing one page excerpts from "little known" publications on his Patreon that you might find interesting. So to reiterate, I would read that.
I do like these behind the scenes posts, though I get why others might not be as keen.
For me, if I had access to readers willing to read iterations of a story, I'd 100% want to see what sticks at the wall. Though of course, if that's not what they signed up for, I could see tensions rising.
As for the style point, I think that kind of story could be great. I think about how Vonnegut's stories would take all sorts of shapes and how there were never clean arcs (though he was magical at making sure the endings has catharsis). Seeing these excerpts so far, I think you're absolutely on the path to having your own unique story shape and that you absolutely should go for it.
One great comedic novel with a bonkers story shape I read in recent years was The Regional Office Is Under Attack, by Manuel Gonzales. Its narrative took a lot of risks – for example, it felt like there wasn't even a character I was particularly rooting for. But all characters had their own push/pulls, which led to some nice catharsis by the end. (And the action sequences were superbly written, I should say.)
It can be hard to balance genuine tension with humor, but at the very least your humor is good enough to keep me reading.
I have to admit, I did feel disappointed when I saw this was another behind the scenes post and not an update from Fort Hook. Not against the behind the scenes stuff, just feels like it's been a while since the actual meta newsletter from Fort Hook had an update. I'd be fine if they alternated, but it's feeling a bit like a new show took over the timeslot of one I was already watching in between seasons.
I would definitely read that. I would suggest, if you haven't already, reading Starship Grifters by Rob Kroese (part of the Rex Nihilo sci-fi series), and Dove Season by Johnny Shaw (part of the Jimmy Veeder Fiasco (not sci-fi) series). Both, I think, tick the box you are trying to check or check the box you are trying to tick. In fact, after reading one of your recent posts I remember thinking, oh, this gives me the same tingly feeling I get when I read Johnny Shaw's stuff. Shaw is currently writing one page excerpts from "little known" publications on his Patreon that you might find interesting. So to reiterate, I would read that.
I do like these behind the scenes posts, though I get why others might not be as keen.
For me, if I had access to readers willing to read iterations of a story, I'd 100% want to see what sticks at the wall. Though of course, if that's not what they signed up for, I could see tensions rising.
As for the style point, I think that kind of story could be great. I think about how Vonnegut's stories would take all sorts of shapes and how there were never clean arcs (though he was magical at making sure the endings has catharsis). Seeing these excerpts so far, I think you're absolutely on the path to having your own unique story shape and that you absolutely should go for it.
One great comedic novel with a bonkers story shape I read in recent years was The Regional Office Is Under Attack, by Manuel Gonzales. Its narrative took a lot of risks – for example, it felt like there wasn't even a character I was particularly rooting for. But all characters had their own push/pulls, which led to some nice catharsis by the end. (And the action sequences were superbly written, I should say.)
For what it’s worth, I really enjoy reading this kind of stuff. Where by “for what it’s worth,” I mean my opinion counts more than others.