Buffers-- Do you have one for your comic/novel?

Scarlet_Cryptid 2021-04-23 18:18:39 UTC #1

I know some artists/authors build themselves a substantial page/chapter buffer before they start posting, just in case. Others post as they go, putting each new page/chapter up as they finish it.

Me personally? I was so afraid of falling behind and disappointing people, I built myself a 30-page buffer before I started posting (and having all of those pages done, but being unable to share them yet is driving me bonkers).

What about you all? Do you have a buffer of stuff you're sitting on, or do you post as you go?

caelinalexis 2021-04-23 18:21:41 UTC #2

I used to have a buffer in the beginning, but that lasted like, 3 days. I'm just too caught up in other work, so I got rid of the buffer and just made updates every other day so I could have an extra day to work on the chapter. I write a novel btw. There's no way in heck I would have been able to do a comic in that short amount of time .

Rhonder 2021-04-23 18:23:03 UTC #3

I'm a firm believer in buffers. My only real "regret" (although it wasn't so serious as that) from my first comic was that I didn't stop to rebuild my buffer once it ran out around the halfway point. The rest of the comic was needlessly stressful because I had to shift to a "try and finish the page by the deadline, and if I don't just post when I'm done" arrangement and it was just... not a fun experience.

My current comic posts once a month, and I had 7 episodes readied ahead of time. I decided to lead with 3 episodes up front (like Webtoons recommends) so that still left me with 4 months of buffer when I launched~ That said my drawing pace has slowed down a bit recently so I'm aniticipating needing to take a hiatus this summer to rebuild lol

azzy-m 2021-04-23 18:23:05 UTC #4

I do but it's a 5-episode buffer, so it's about a month worth of updates.... 30 pages is really impressive tho. That shit will last you like, half of the year.

If I don't have a buffer it will be literally impossible for me to keep up a weekly schedule

TheOddFungi 2021-04-23 18:24:15 UTC #5

I have to have a buffer. I'm in college among other things and can't always find time to write. I also know I get into slumps where I can't make myself write or draw or anything, so I had to prepare for that and make sure I gave myself an ample buffer.
Currently, if I keep updating with one chapter a week I will have enough to last till the first week of November

Scarlet_Cryptid 2021-04-23 18:36:57 UTC #6

30 pages is probably excessive, in retrospect, but I regret nothing. I think at the time, I was afraid of some catastrophe making me unable to draw for months at a time. ("Oh no, what if we have to move? What if I break my hand? What if I get severe Covid? What if I lose my job?" etc.)

I think, also, though... it was a way of proving to myself that I could do it. I've never drawn a comic longer than 20 pages, so I wanted to, you know, make sure I COULD, first. It also served as a personal deadline. "Okay. Once I finish 30 pages, I HAVE to post. No chickening out. Gotta do it."

MissEljebel 2021-04-23 18:48:09 UTC #7

I USED to... then I ate through it I want to get back to having one, but with how busy life is, I'm afraid I don't have the time

30 pages is absolutely awesome!!! I wish I had that discipline lol

Azureheim 2021-04-23 18:55:56 UTC #8

I, sadly and to my own regret, do not. Which will probably come bite me in the butt later haha

childofbooks 2021-04-23 18:57:06 UTC #9

I probably wouldn't write every week if I had any buffers since I procrastinate everything. And I think I upload fine for now, sometimes shorter sometimes longer but on time.

FafasMcMelt 2021-04-23 18:59:24 UTC #10

I'm not nearly as productive if I don't have the deadline gun pointed to my lazy head

DanielRKM 2021-04-23 19:00:13 UTC #11

I had about an 80 page buffer before I started (which is WAY too long). I don't think I could do that again (mostly because the art style I'm currently working with is a lot better than the buffer material being posted now (and I'll be working my way through posting the buffer for another several months). It's painful at times. I keep thinking of writing "sorry, the art gets better, I promise" every week I post. "This art doesn't represent me now!"

It also means I'm SUPER slow to see/react to what works in the book and what doesn't. So yeah, next time I'm cutting that buffer down.

Lahin 2021-04-23 19:02:21 UTC #12

NONE! ABSOLUTELY NONE! I WRITE, GET IMPATIENT, POST, GO INTO DEPRESSION ONLY TO HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE THING AGAIN!

I have a lot of the major points planned out tho, so I just have to win the war against myself to get a scene down and put it into words. (That last thing...that's a killer)

DarkChibiShadow 2021-04-23 19:03:55 UTC #13

I used to NOT have a buffer for many, many years (they're really tough to make) but in 2019 I finally made one for both of my main comics and it changed everything for me.
Not only is it nice for if you're sick or you can't make an update, but if gives your Patreon or anything else where you can offer early access through, SO much value. I highly recommend a buffer if you can manage it! (If your comic/novel is just for fun or you just don't like the idea of a buffer, then don't force yourself!)

BreakingChalk 2021-04-23 19:09:29 UTC #14

I have one, but I kinda "cheated"

I am reuploading my comic with some better drawings and fixing certain plot-lines and dialogues that weren't as clear as I thought they were when making them on the run.

For now I still have material to upload for the next three months, storyboards for the rest of the year and the next, and now I'm just making sure I get a bigger buffer to later upload certain chapters daily to build up hype and make my first subscribers closer to the point where the story left last year and for later chapters that work better if released daily.

Azifri 2021-04-23 19:09:50 UTC #15

Sometimes I manage to have a buffer, but I also don't stress too much about it because I post my comic for free and it's the best I can do considering the little time I can dedicate to drawing. If the weeks where I have to skip posting bothers someone too much, they can unsubscribe.

Coffeeandmixtapes 2021-04-23 19:11:19 UTC #16

Wow, 30 pages, not bad!
I need some buffer episodes because I have a full-time job and other responsibilities. At the same I'm certain, as soon as I have some buffer episodes, I start to get lazy... Some people need a deadline and the stress behind it

Coffeeandmixtapes 2021-04-23 19:16:47 UTC #17

Same here!!

foxnflames 2021-04-23 19:20:54 UTC #18

For my first series, I had a five episode buffer. I updated every other day then dropped to three x a week and in hindsight, idk how I managed For my current series, I created a 20 episode buffer—while writing my first series—and I’m glad I did. My first series suffered and I ended up writing episodes the day before they were due to publish. 10/10 don’t recommended.

Now I have a 7 episode buffer and I’m working it back up to 10. Hopefully I can keep that up.

Colours_dont_match 2021-04-23 20:24:21 UTC #19

I had a huge buffer and had a schedule, where I was able to upload 1 episode, but draw about 1-2 new episodes at the same time, till the new time came up.

Then so much private shit happened, where I wasn't able to draw several times for many days and I used up all my buffer. So I have none anymore and I doubt I'll be able to produce one again.

Rhonder 2021-04-23 20:47:16 UTC #20

You may have already considered this, but just in case you haven't: don't forget that taking a hiatus to re-build buffer is always an option

As mentioned in my original reply, if there was one thing that I would go back and tell my first comic self, it would have been "Hey, in February 2019 take a break and rebuild buffer dummy! Otherwise your Spring and Summer will be schedule hell"

Of course, if you can live without one then it's up to you, but if you ever finding yourself wishing for a buffer but thinking you don't have time to make one... you can simply create time