should the "table of contents" be its own article?

I think that the best way to handle serial content is to create a editable page on a web site outside of HIVE.

Each of the articles would link to the ToC. As you release the articles you can add links to each of the chapters.

If you know to create internet redirects you can create "next" buttons. Since you can change the destination of redirects, you can create a structure where the next button would initially go to the ToC. When the next page is online, you could change the buttons to go to HIVE article.

Creating an external page with links to your HIVE articles has an SEO benefit as you are creating links into HIVE as you publish your articles.

!WINE