How much of a buffer should I start with for my comic?

[AshanaArt]

I plan on doing longer chapters (likely 100+ panels) since I think it would fit the pacing of my story better, so I’ll only be able to update once per month though I still want to maintain a consistent update schedule. How many chapters would you recommend I have ready before I start posting it?

[IndigoShirtProd]

Enough that would allow you to comfortably make chapters without missing an upload date. So, if it takes you a month to make 100 panels, just a hypothetical, then you should plan ahead about 2-3 months just in case life gets in the way (work, school, illness, etc.) Some people do more, like six months buffer or even a year, but it really comes down to what you are able to do in a comfortable and non-anxiety-inducing manner.

[AshanaArt]

Thank you! I’ll finish the first couple chapters and the prologue then.

[kyupol]

I personally do about a month buffer

[wolflu66]

Unless you have pressure from commercial serialization or something similar, why not go at your own pace and publish as much as you draw?

Even if you can't publish new episodes on schedule due to other matters, just delay it.

At least that's how I am XD

I think that drawing of yours is very good. It looks like it took quite a bit of time, and if you put pressure on yourself to publish on schedule, I worry this might cause burnout.

[AshanaArt]

Thank you! The drawings for the comics themselves are slightly less polished, this is going to be a cover for my first chapter. The main reason I want to have a consistent upload schedule is that I want to finish the first book/season of my series before I graduate high school/start collage, which gives me a little over 2 years. The first book is planned to be 25 chapters, though I might split it up further since I don’t want any chapters over 200 panels and some of them are longer then I’d like.