Multi-work Series?

[teacup_creations]

So, errr to give context, I'm a serial short comic maker so I'm considering making a new "series" to showcase all future stories just to avoid clogging up the page but I'm kinda worried that, since my stories and style are vastly different from story to story that people wouldn't be interested in a multiwork collection.

So, How do you feel about serieses that are a collection of multiple unrelated comics? Or do you prefer for each separate story to be a separate comic?

ALSO! What do you think about creators who have a bunch of separate series?

[punkarsenic]

anthology comics do exist on this site, idk how i feel about them. there are two major cons to anthology series

1: readers might turn off after the story they tuned into ends, but not unsubscribe, leading to the donutholing problem that short comics are sposed to circumvent (maybe even worse bc people are more likely to disengage when the story changes)

2: similarly, short comics are really good for trending! and putting them together in an anthology loses that brilliant new comic magic that can do you so many favours in exposure

i understand your concern about a clogged page. i dont think you have to worry about that too much because the most recently updated series come to the top. but if youre still worried, you could always start a new series for each comic, and then archive all the comments a couple months after it ends and move it over to an anthology series. that way, you get the benefit of both

[fakey]

I think an anthology series leaves room for lots of interesting little short stories and creativity. As long as it's apparent that each story is a stand alone piece (so readers don't go in expecting a continuation) then I don't see the problem. The changing of styles from story to story also keeps the visuals varied which is a plus!

As for having them all fall under one series, I don't see why that wouldn't work. Just categorize them under one series title and set up the idea that they're stand alone pieces. Think of series' like "The Twilight Zone" which have it's main title but also the individual stories that make up the whole as a whole.

[teacup_creations]

@punkarsenic I hadn't considered getting trending! I was also kind of worried that making a new series would mean losing certain subscribers (particularly on mobile) since Tapas doesn't have an option to follow creators as a whole, rather than just a series. But I see what you mean about losing interest in anthologies c:

@fakey Thank you for replying c: ...but I suppose I'd always considered anthologies to have at least one thing in common- with the twilight zone they're still connected by a style u..u I don't wanna feel like I've cheated people into seeing a comic that they thought would be something else?

[jpnakashima]

As said above, I do think Tapas systems encourage you to have each series separate. There are advantages in exposure, as said. Also, it's somewhat easier to navigate many short stories than find one you like amongst 200 episodes. I don't think it's a problem to ''clog up'' the page.
That said, I do think that if people subscribe, will be because of what they see in you as an author too, so I don't think having really different styles is a problem. It keep things fresh. I think the question is more in the advantages of doing so.

All in all, to me, anthologies are better with a common theme running among them. It makes sense for Ghosebumps, Tales from the Crypt, Twilight Zone or Black Mirror to be anthalogies, since they share not similar styles (sometimes they do), but similar themes. I've read your stuff and I think that's a similar approach to how you already to things, with one for chinese legends, one for slice of life stuff, the ''Matcha'' (still not over how great of a name this one is) one, different themes for different stuff. I think you shouldn't worry!

[punkarsenic]

osing certain subscribers (particularly on mobile) since Tapas doesn't have an option to follow creators as a whole, rather than just a series.

this actually works in your favour! idk abt mobile, but certainly on the desktop subscribers are notified when the creator makes a new series. that big ol carry over gives you a massive boost from the beginning.

and the people that dont follow over? therye mostly people who are already disengaged, so shedding that weight every so often saves you from donutholing (being weighed down by disengaged subscribers, keeps you from getting in trending)

[teacup_creations]

Mobile isn't really great for user interaction if I'm honest- neither the app nor the mobile page shows user notifications so even with comments and with new series they don't know.

Most of my subscribers come from being part of the daily snacks and they're surprisingly engaged but it'd be a shame to lose them I suppose u..u

[punkarsenic]

ahh that makes sense, ig as someone working only in short comics it could have a negative effect...

would promoting the new comic in an episode on the old comic work?

[fakey]

Ooh that's true! Well alternatively there's a series of graphic novels called "Flight" that are basically anthologies of a bunch of short comics just compiled into bigger issues. I mean I think that could somewhat be considered an anthology? I haven't seen anywhere that states anthologies HAVE to be connected by a theme or style though. It could be an assumption on the audience's part when they're told something is an anthology, so I think what you're wanting to do could still work, so long as it's clear to the audience that the stories you have won't be connected.

[lil-sea-salt]

I have a bunch of separate series. It's helpful in that my fans can tell me what works and what doesn't; what they want more of and what they don't really like.

[teacup_creations]

That's definitely true- it helps new followers to see what's available c: