People who update weekly: How do you do it?

[AmazementComics]

This is an unpopular opinion but:

I basically create the majority of my comics anywhere from 6 months to a full year in advance before I upload it weekly. Most people on Tapas I doubt would ever be willing to go that route as once they finish an episode, they publish it immediately. That's good and well, but once their buffer is gone, they're back to publishing bi-weekly or once every blue moon. I want my subs to have some form of content every week. Hence why I created an art series that comes out with a new piece every Saturday. So that when my comics haven't been updated for a while, they have something to consume.

[rajillustration]

So for my comic (which was weekly -- with only a few exceptions -- for 2.5 years) my big secret was just being very honest with myself of what I could finish in a week, outside of work, outside of other things in my life. My style was very simplified and I limited my updates to 1 page. There was no color (for a long time I didn't have half-tones) and I just focused on making a comic.

sometimes we compare ourselves to teams making these webtoons that are 30-90+ panels an update and like...that isn't possible for one person who's just starting out. Even if they have a background in animation--you gotta do other work than your comic, youknow? the time just isn't there. And, if you're just starting out with comics you want to go easy on yourself, and give yourself a project that you can do in half the time it takes for your update schedule. You don't want to make pages so massive that they require all your time to finish.

I also did a few other things that helped a ton--I had a years worth of buffer before I started, 52 updates. This meant I fully understood how long a page took to create, I had plenty of time to rewrite my beginning if I so desired (most people do), and it also meant that if I had to take time to move to another city for a while, or if something bad happened, or I got really sick--I'd be good. And after the last few crazy years I used up all that buffer. It's gone now, so make a buffer.

You don't want to be spending time re-inventing the wheel and trying to figure out a new technique like how to shade stuff on a weekly deadline--you want to have already learned that stuff when you have it in your comic, so just making that buffer without the stress of a deadline is a great way to...get fast at your technique, and then embrace your pipeline and let that be your style until the comic is done (or until you feel you have enough time to give it a revamp, which I did a few times, but never a huge revamp)

Also, when you do a pipeline that is always the same for every page--you can start making actions and hotkeys to make your process even faster. Mine was so simple I didn't make many, but for my next I'm making a wholllle bunch because color comics are kind of a lot of steps that feel like busywork. Try and get your computer to do as much for you as you can.

The other thing that helped a lot is that my script was fully written and my concept art was totally done. That way I could just focus on the art.

[Prisim]

It's not the same as a comic, but I would build up X amount of chapters prior to posting the first chapter of my novels. It's the only way I could have a regular update schedule even before I was struggling to write anything. I have to be able to write at my own pace, especially right now, and creating the buffer allowed me to do that and be able to give regular updates. Right now because I'm struggling so much I'll probably finish the entire third book of my series prior to posting it anywhere because there's just no way I could keep consistency while dealing with my personal struggles.

So if you're finding yourself unable to keep with a regular schedule then consider doing that. Create x amount of parts of your comic and then upload when you feel you have a good enough buffer to keep the regular updates as you finish the rest of it.

[borzoiteeth]

Rajilustration has great advice here! For my comics I do not draw in my "normal" style I simplify things. No way would I have my schedule if I did things in colour.

Make sure whatever your comic is about, make it focus on things that are easy/fun for you do draw. If you put in your plot something that you have never drawn before or don't even like to draw- that will slow you down immensely!

[Cavechan]

I work a full time job and have two comics I update once a week each, two pages each. My weekends are spent on drawing the 2 pages for one comic, the more detailed one. That takes up a good chunk of my weekend. Sometimes I have a bit of extra time to do a few other things but anything big such as a cleaning spree day or going out with friends is usually off the table. Also for this comic, I have it completely written out save a few tweaks I need to work on here and there. I do have a few designs yet to do also.

For my other comic, I do it on weekdays after I get out of work and honestly, it's tough. I try and keep it more simple, less detailed and draw like a bat out of hell to get it done. Nowadays it's been a bit easier as I changed my schedule up a bit. I used update on Thursdays to have Friday "off" to either do something else or get a start on my weekend pages. Now I changed it to update on Friday and it's been going much better so far so sometimes on Thursdays I'll have extra time to do something else or I can finish up that day instead if needed.

My schedule is usually like leave work around 5-5:30 (been putting in overtime recently though because it's the busy season). I work from home so that saves time with travel. Go from my workspace at the kitchen table to the workspace on my living room table. Facebook/social media for a bit. Dinner + watch 1-2 episodes of an anime. Sometimes procrastinate and social media some more ^^; but usually I try and get straight to drawing. Then shower. So I usually get about 2-3 hours of drawing in per day.

Then I take a few weeks off between chapters to work on other things or sketch pages so I have a better starting point.

I don't do color though so that saves some time for sure.

[darkone4587]

Having a massive backlog, I normally have written entire volumes months before I start posting them.

[SleepingPoppy]

What works for me is first, to build a buffer, so I have several pages finished before I start posting them (right not the average is 3-4). I also plan breaks, with a short 1-2 week break in the middle-ish of the chapter, and then a month or two between chapters. And these honestly go long more often than not, but its organized! I use most of these breaks to build back buffer, because I can't actually support a page a week otherwise. But I also slack off and take personal time or do other projects during this, 'cause sometimes I just need a break from my comic!

The other thing that helped was I started doing a few pages at a time. So I'll do the sketch phase of 3-4 pages, then the line art, then color, then shading and details.Staying on the same task like this helps with speedier updates, verses doing all the steps one page at a time. It's really helped me stop falling behind my buffer as often. =)

[drawnbyyannan]

Have a huge buffer...

I also tried to simplify my style and copy and paste like crazy.

[CttMaurice]

So far I have been going strong with a weekly schedule of... months-ish of episodes coming out on webtoons. But I have to say that my work-life has been struggling for it. I have around two days of an actual job. Keep in mind I'm still relatively young so not so bad. But still, it been a lot of time and effort put into the comic.

The main driving force is the 1-week buffer that I have which saves me some stress. Other than that... a lot of elbow grease, and I mean a lot. I generally make my art incredibly detailed for no other reason than my thoughts of "You don't rush art" and "Nothing half-baked."

So generally a lot of patience and work. There's no real shortcut.

But of course, I love what I do and want to keep doing it!

[HGohwell]

I have an unusual work schedule, I work less hours but more days, sometimes up to 13 to 1 ratio of work to days off, sometimes Christmas we can do a month without days off. but it's only a 5 hour work day and I'm off after lunch. So that helps with my schedule a lot. I did spend a summer churning out 30-50 panels a week and basically had to work 10 hours a day with a very strict schedule.

These days, I'm a lot more chill. I sketch the entire chapter first, I try not to get too perfectionist over it. Only one sketch really, go with instincts rather than fussing. Save perfectionism for the really important impactful panels. Also, try to break is up manageable chunks. I don't try to update 30 panels a week. I usually stick to below 10 panels a week these days and just focus on making the chunks make sense and flow but not be overwhelming. And that helps me stay ahead. Plus streamlining my work. These days with this new style and having everything sketched first, I can finish a chunk for an update in a day or two.

[jcmraz]

Depends on the person. Some people finish in advance and then piece- meal it out. Other just have more time to be able to meet that deadline. If I was able to put in a consistent 15-20 hours each week I could manage it but I just can't most weeks

[krinscoop]

I always make sure I'm 1-2 chapters ahead of what I'm publishing. Before I start publishing, I make a few chapters beforehand. Whenever I feel like taking a break or am running behind, I pop in a side chapter that takes less than a day to make for that week. I make sure to take as many shortcuts as possible and have a routine that I rarely deviate from. I always make sure each comic is 85+ panels per chapters and dedicate at least 2-3 days of straight drawing when I'm back from school. The other day's are just filler days to finish the comic which is a mixture of gaming and hanging with friends and drawing.

But the best thing of all probably is that I'm always on call with a friend when I work on my comic. That's what's been the best for my mental health I feel. WIth corona, loneliness can be a hitter, so just knowing I'm spending time with a friend whilst drawing is very soothing. I always motivate myself that I'll get to show the new chapter to my friends and followers once I'm finished wich is a very rewarding experience.

[danitasibert]

what i do is that i take time away to finish a chapter and then upload my comics, but as of late i've been
taking a break to finish what i can a least 4-6 pages then upload them ass they are uploading i work on more batches.

[sushy00]

My comic episodes usually have around 4 panels so that is less work than a full comic page with 6-8 panels.