Do you do a buffer? - Update!

[Gossam]

Do you guys do a buffer before you post, or do you just wing it?
I got the cover for my comic done as a sort of temp-promo that something is coming, but I don't know if I can hold back the excitement for 10 pages of buffer before I start posting, lol. So here's a WIP for the very first panel of it.

:EDIT: Holy cow, the unanimous vote is that folks here do buffers. 8| I was originally not intending to do that, but now I think I will, definitely. So NEW QUESTION - when your buffer goes down, do you take month-long breaks to not post while you fill it back up? I know the author of Unsounded, Ashley Cope, does that. Does it affect your readership when you do??

My Indifferent Goodbye | Tapas

[Coati]

I...had a good one, but burn it down fast because of depression /o/
But its good to have and hold the excitement, I'm lucky to have a few patrons on patreon so I post there first the moment I finish it

[apexdraws]

Having a buffer is good- you never know what might come up. You might get sick, go out of town, or just get stuck on a tough page. It helps to have a backup so that you can rest and take time off if you need.

I try to have a buffer of around 2-4 weeks (right now I'm steadily at 3) but there have been times where it's burned up pretty fast.

[doublemelon]

I plan to make a buffer just so I have content for my patreon

[ninjashira]

Yup, I keep a pretty big buffer actually. I'm usually anywhere between 2-6 months ahead of my update schedule. It's really nice for me, because I'm in college, so I take my time between quarters to draw a ton of pages and get super ahead on my schedule, so when class is in session I can focus on my classwork without worrying about missing my comic deadlines.

[crowstories]

I'm writing an illustrated novel, and while I have a 10 week buffer on the actual writing, I'm still doing the illustration the weekend before each chapter publishes, which I should probably fix...

[Darth_Biomech]

I didn't, then I began to do it, and now I believe everybody must as well. It allowed me to go from "a page a month" to "a page a week" and finally even "a page a week and I even have some free time leftovers!". I can afford to waste a week or sometimes even two not touching the comic. Lets me recharge.

[rumpenstiltzkin]

I actually didnt start to post my comic until the whole first chapter was done, so I had a good buffer and could work on the next chapter without stress.
So far Ive managed to pretty much be one chapter ahead all the time which feels good caus Im often having big dips in my creativity where I dont draw for weeks or months so that buffer sure feels good to have then

[Aleksei]

Oh yeah, buffer is your friend. Do buffer.
The only problem I see is that when you see your latest chapters, and compares them with your oldest, you are like 'how I could not draw like that back then!! I want to do everything again', but no, you must resist the urge.

Also, very nice cover! It looks very sailor moonesque in my opinion.

[GumshoeComix]

yea i'm usually 3 -4 chapters ahead which usually lasts month and a half and It takes me typically a month to make a chapter
ex. The updates are on CH3 but I'm currently coloring Chapter 7 and lining CH 8
I've been focusing on the script lately though oof gotta finish that coloring.

[Scarlet_Cryptid]

Oh I didn't post until I had 30 pages of buffer. If I stopped drawing now, I'd have enough pages to last me until New Year's. But I know what you mean about the desire to post more-- I'm drawing a scene that's MONTHS away from the one I'm posting, and I really really really want people to get to see and enjoy it...but I know I can only comfortably draw one page a week.

So I behave myself. And post once a week.

[Bokyongyo]

I think it should be essential for the well being of the creator at this point lol. I try to keep a buffer that keeps me at least one to two chapters ahead of the one I’m posting just to have a daily upload schedule.

Easier said than done but when it happens it for sure feels good to be ahead of things.

[Darth_Biomech]

The only problem I see is that when you see your latest chapters, and compares them with your oldest, you are like 'how I could not draw like that back then!! I want to do everything again', but no, you must resist the urge.

But that will happen regardless of you buffering pages or not.

[Aleksei]

Yeah, but with a buffer the tension is BIGGER!

[Tailzkip]

I post in batches of 15+ pages and I'm 7 chapters ahead. It sucks to hold back sometimes, but it's nice because when I want to take a break it doesn't effect posts that much. Plus life happens so it's also nice to have the knowledge that you have something to post in the meantime.

[mirbernheim]

I have about a half month/month buffer for pages. I kind of go in periods where I draw constantly for a few weeks and then do nothing, so I take advantage of my drawing mania and pump out a bunch of pages then, lol.

[TunaPrincess]

I have a buffer! I totally understand being excited to post, but I really don't think I'd be able to keep up with my posting schedule if I didn't. My buffer will take me through to November because I post once a week, and I'm just thankful for it because it gives me time to write and script the next chapter without having to stress about needing to work on my comic every day.

I honestly would recommend having one. It helps keep the stress down, and at least for me it was good to make sure I stayed interested in the project.

[Tanako]

My buffer is up tp 5 months long for Patreon. so If I wanted, I could take a break for that long, and as for Tapas, lol even longer.
when I first started my comic, I went Hardcore. the first thing I did first was to come up with the story till the end. second, I sketched out the whole comic till the end. third, I am illustrating it and 5 months ahead. I even went on ahead and started a new comic since I needed a break from my current one due to how much I was working on it, and even with the new comic, I'm already 24 pages deep with each page containing 4 panels which Is 96 panels. but to be honest, I pay a colorist to color it so it's less work on my end. LOL, so yea...

[Dialusion]

I absolutely buffer in two different ways. I buffer in terms of actual releases, each chapter being completed and ready well in advance, as well as a buffer time wise. I release my story bi-weekly with at least 4 chapters and about 16-20 files average per batch. Meaning I get at least 8 weeks to plan out, write, storyboard, draft, ink, color and add text to the next batch. If one chapter ends up being too long, I'll cut it in half, giving me another 2 weeks.

I do this purely because I know how much time I have to work on this story a day and need to maximize it, but releasing weekly is way too much pressure. Bi-weekly is easier on the mind, body and heart. At the moment, my next deadline is the end of July, which I am well ahead of. This gives me more breathing room in production for the next batch or extra time I can take off and recover.

[sefra114]

Oh yes! I always do a buffer! For my current comic, Space Pack, while it's at the 2nd chapter here on Tapas, I'm actually very close to finishing up work on the final chapter, so the buffer consists of practically the entire story. I know if I hadn't done it this way, I would have undoubtedly burnt out.