Length of Updates

[GrimRose]

Hey, if you are entering the webtoon contest, you probably know that there is a minimum panel limit per episode for your entry to be eligible. In my case I have to make sure that the first 4 episodes have at least 35 panels. I update weekly. While i usually might not be able to make 35 panels per update, i am trying my best to do this to make sure i'm eligible.

My question is though. After the contest round ends, I will probably have to change my length of episodes.

As a reader or comic creator what do you consider too short an update?

I want to try my best to be consistent but I also want to make each update worthwhile reading.

[Rosso]

as a new creator i try to keep a 20 panel per update minimum.
as a reader, panel count doesn't really matter as long as the update properly presents a meaningful action/conversation/idea across.
(actually the only times i count the panels is just to gauge what an acceptable panel count per update would be for at least the Webtoons audience)

Keep in mind your readers will always ask for more no matter what you do so don't worry too much about it lol.

[Kittosaurus]

I have been thinking the same thing! I have already uploaded my minimum of 4 episodes with 35 panels so now I have let myself relax a bit and not be as concerned with the Episode length.

I don't think there is any easy answer to this question though. I think the most important thing to consider is the story. Readers would much rather have 10 well thought out panels that further the story then 20 "fluff panels" that really don't add anything new...

[fischhead]

I think in terms of print media, where a story-driven page consists of roughly 5-7 panels. If you're doing one weekly update, 15-21 panels, or 3 pages, seems perfectly reasonable. In the end, it really comes down to staying consistent, so go with what your schedule allows.

I personally prefer smaller, more frequent episodes thanks to the annoying scrolling nature of current webcomics. I simply lose interest if an episode is more than 10 panels.

[Blast]

Funny, I tend to not think a story is worth my time if it doesn't have the content to fill more than ten.

[Wumbl]

Well that's your personal problem I guess. No 4-koma for you. I'm gonna make every scene I write 1000 panels long because that means there's more content right? Not like being concise is important.

[fischhead]

Funny, I tend to not think a story is worth my time if it doesn't have the content to fill more than ten.

I understand wanting more content, but I'd rather read a story that gets straight to the point than one that takes all day to say nothing. If panels are not necessary, get rid of them.

[Jenny-Toons]

Before I got into creating comics, I didn't really focus too heavily on the update amount? I mostly just focused on the story at hand, and how ever many panels there were didn't really occur to me.

Now that I am both a reader and a creator, I will definitely say that it can depend on the genre you're working with.

Are you going for a gag comic? Generally those updates are a bit shorter.
Are you going for a in-depth story? Generally, those updates are a bit longer.

I'm working with horror, so my updates are going to be more than 4 panels (which would work better with, say, a gag comic).

Yet, at the same time, it also depends on the story you're going for. Even though I am working with a horror comic, I want it to be concise -- I don't wanna drag the story on with unnecessary details. Hence, my updates probably won't be more than 10 - 15 panels an update.

At the end of the day -- I feel the length of the update shouldn't ruin the story. If you've got a good story going, then the length really shouldn't matter. It's your story-telling skills, and your ability to bring someone back to read more. Because someone who enjoys your story won't focus too heavily on the quantity versus the quality.

Well...at least, that's how I am as a reader.

You will get people who expect you to do "more", and I say "bunk that!".

You go at the pace you know you can do without burning out.

[Hodge]

Hmm I'm gonna just do 15-20 panels per update and see how that goes. Got multiple comics I'm working on, so that's the best I can do, even with a buffer.

Personally, I'm not a fan of short updates. 19 Days is basically the only comic I read where that is the case, and it's probably only tolerable for me because its comedy/romance. However, I'm not a frequent reader on Discover but from what I've seen shorter updates aren't much of a problem as long as they're sufficiently frequent and regular.