How do you update on a regular schedule

Okay, sounds like what you need...is a BUFFER!

Basically, a buffer is extra pages that you don't publish until the day you say you'll update. Normally, the creator would probably build up a buffer before publishing their first page, so they are 10-20 pages ahead before anyone even sees it. this way, if a creator runs into technical difficulties, is uninspired, or is too busy, they can still stick to their schedule, and build their buffer back up when they have time.

But as for sticking to an update schedule, it's totally okay if you update a day late or miss one altogether. Lots of people will understand. But having a buffer generally eliminates these issues.

It bears repeating, you should really have a buffer before publishing. Depending on the story, you should be several pages ahead with your ideas too. In my case, it's a humor-type webcomic, so I try to keep ideas in a place. If I'm not two weeks ahead on ideas, and one week ahead on drawing, I'm in a dangerous place. You never know when life is going to happen.
It's one of those things that varies per person - find your buffer happy place and you'll be on schedule before you know it

This is probably going to sound incredibly harsh, but the way to update on a regular schedule is to actually work on your comic. If you're thinking about browsing tumblr, maybe go work on your comic instead. If you're gonna just sit down and play video games for three hours, maybe that time could be spent working on your comic. If you're not feeling motivated, maybe that's your problem, and you should push past it and work on your comic.

I've got moderate to severe depression, and there are days where I really don't have the energy to work on Ennui GO!. Or I'll have other days where I'd really like to procrastinate and do anything else. But I drag myself out of bed and work on it anyway, because there's an update to be made and I'm not going to let my own stupid butt and face get in my own way.

Another vote for buffers, here. They are really nice to have, because we ALL at some point run into being unmotivated, or busy with other things, or fall ill, or maybe we get technical problems with our drawing tools - and then you can still update on time, because you have a bunch of pages already finished!

But getting yourself a buffer means actually working on your comic. If your problem is that your attention wanders too much, you need to practise on your discipline and keeping focus on one thing. I'm not saying you need to quit doing fun stuff - in fact, I encourage you to keep it up; doing stuff for fun keeps us happy and sane - but I'm suggesting maybe working out some kind of work-schedule. Set aside a couple of hours at regular intervals that you've already decided are going to be used for drawing your comic, and then stick to them.

Rule of thumb on setting a publishing schedule: estimate how many pages you think you'll honestly get done in a week without killing yourself. Then subtract 1.

Another buffer benefit is pre-scheduling when the pages go live.

Tapastic allows you to set a future date and time of day when the page will become available to readers. That way you won't have to remember to be around to push "go". For example, I have mine set to 2:00 am Mondays and Thursdays so when people wake up the pages are there.

Yep, seconding the buffer thing. Although I have to say from experience, starting with a huge buffer can be a little discouraging because you'll find that your art will change and improve as you work on your comic, and it sucks to have work that you did months ago up and representing your comic. I think a month long buffer is a healthy buffer to have!

I already have episodes scheduled until like christmas; at this point I coud die and it wouldn't affect my comics :'D
but if you aren't completely insane, then a lot less that that should be good too O_O

What might help with that 'distracted, unmotivated' part- wake up 30 minutes earlier and make drawing your series be the first thing you do in the morning. If you're drawing traditionally, don't turn the computer on till you're done. If you're drawing digitally, open only your drawing program and nothing else for that 30 minutes. This is what helps in my case, as I have a really short attention span and everything can distract me, so it might also work for you c:

if you want to do a webcomic that updates you're gonna have to adhere to some sort of schedule that allows you to put out pages on a somewhat consistent basis- especially if you want people to read your comic. People arent going to stick around if the comic updates inconsistently; so if you say an episode every 2 weeks(for example) then try to stick to it. I understand that things will come up and things can happen, but if you factor in the possibilities as well as your ethic & speed- you should be able to do it. The key is try to make the experience of creating a comic page(as well as a webcomic in general) a fun challenge for you; one that you enjoy doing.

I had to look to see if I started this thread.
I, too , am new and just starting out. I didn't begin with a series though but a few short jokes. Thought I could at least do that much. Worked until I ran out of ideas.
The name of the Series is The Old Man and I am an old man so I figured I could think of something humorous in my life. Ran out fast or at lease the aches drowned them out.
You mentioned you like games. Have you tried making a game in between comics for something to change to as a relief valve?

Put some music on, get away from from your phone and computer, and draw. Are you experiencing writer's block? It doesn't matter. Just keep working. Maybe take a random word and try to write a comic based off it. Even if you're cranking out garbage drawings and stories through this method, those are garbage ideas that you've gotten rid of— now you can get the good ones out! Comics are hard work sometimes, there's no way around it.

i keep a buffer of one update ahead of the one that'll be posted this week which isn't a lot compared to some people's month ahead buffers but it puts more structure to the comic and lets me handle my schedule, pre-scheduling episodes also helps a ton too

Team buffer here.
Here's a break down of somethings that may help

Shorter Stories: Try doing a one shot comic. Everyone thinks everything has to be an epic saga, but if you are honest with yourself and you don't see yourself committing to a full story try shorter stories. So maybe start with 10 page as your goal, then bump yourself a little bit more every time. 24 pages is the standard dounjin/comic issue size and back in the day before manga people use to tell a complete story in under 30 pages. You'll feel more accomplished knowing that you finished something versus struggling to finish something too complex.

Try gag a day or one page a day comics If you have many ideas and can't focus on a full story you are possibly more suited to doing a gag a day comic, or one shot page stories. Set up a cast of characters and a vague premise where you don't have to commit to a story. Then it's just a mini adventure or thought of the day, conveyed in a few panels.

Set aside comic work day: Set aside a comic day, so times when you know you have down time and try to stick with it. Easier said than done because games and tumblr is tempting but you got to do it.

Get a friend to keep you on schedule: Whether it's in real life or online get someone else who is a comic artist OR someone who is maybe more focused and tell them to make sure you commit.

Work together with someone: This ties in the previous. Online artists can work (If you set up a livestream or something) although in person is better. Set up comic work dates with another artist. Artists get creative energy and inspiration from each other.

When you are motivated keep working: Whenever you feel motivated use that opportunity to pump out as many pages as you can. Don't stop your momentum because you feel you've done enough. Ride the inspiration train when it comes.

Work in sections: Instead of trying to complete a whole comic page try working on it in pieces. So example let's say you are a doing 10 page comic. Do 10 sketches, then start over and do the lineart for the 10 pages, then come back again and do the shading/coloring. For me personally this helps me out because doing an entire page takes ALOT of energy out of me, I can't do a whole page in one go anymore. Some days I feel like doing sketchy guidelines and then other days I feel like doing lineart and so on. I even skip my backgrounds and come back to them later because those are a pain to spend any effort on after you draw characters.

Be on schedule that works for you Everyone's schedules work differently so you need to decided how often you can update. Like what everyone has been saying, draw pages up in advance and queue them up and upload them over time. Don't upload a bunch of pages at once and run out of steam. Readers can wait, you just need to be consistent.

As for inspiration: I personally read other webcomics and comics I like. If you can turn envy into motivation you'll be very productive and motivated.

Reward yourself AFTER you do work I personally pace myself, so I'll work for 1 hr, then goof off for 20mins then come back and work. No need to work for a long time, just try to pace yourself, but don't get carried away on your breaks cough.

Hope that helps

I think everyone has the right idea. For me though I am not really motivated to draw till evening or night. And I work a full time job like many others which may keep me from drawing. I have three comics I work on and I admit it's hard to keep track of which one I work on at the time cause I am only able to draw a page each at a time but I do try to work at least 2 to 3 pages ahead. Although covers take a lot of time .

I write out what I want to happen this way when I go to draw I have what I want to happen so it doesn't take long to draw or scribble out. Some of which keeps me from drawing though ahead is outlining by hand and messing up just a little drives me crazy and I need to redraw. So pages are late. But I do my best with the days I have off or when I do t need to be up early to tone or color on certian days even if I need to try and force myself to tone and color on time.

My newest comic is currently in a hiatus (that I still have to tell my readers, because I can't get to a hiatus image as well, wth me!) so that I can actually work on buffers... I realized it about two weeks ago that sometimes (like currently) I am just way too busy and tired to be able to afford drawing a page ;_;