Too many queued episodes?

60Six 2016-10-31 19:30:25 UTC #1

So I like to queue my episodes. By a lot. Normally I see most people only queuing one or two episodes ahead, no matter how big their buffer is, but I've been doing this for a while:

I mostly do this because I get some weird satisfaction of seeing my buffer, but also just because having some sort of actual visual indicator of my buffer helps me stay on track and on schedule. Like, for example, if I don't have to scroll to see all of my queue, I know I'm getting behind and I need to step up my pace. Absolutely isn't necessary for me to work, but it just helps me a bit? PLUS, I also did it as a sort of hint hint to my readers to pledge on Patreon. Like "Hey, see all these episodes? You could see them all already for only $1!"

Well anyway, I didn't give this too much thought until I got this comment yesterday...

Now, I know the queued pages do look different than locked pages, but for someone just kind of browsing through Tapastic, I can kind of see how they might just automatically assume those are locked pages if they just take a quick glance.
So my question is, do you think it's possible that more people are mistaking my large queue as locked? And even if not, do you think there's some downfall to having so many queued pages? Is it a turn off in any way?

It's really not a big deal for me to go and delete them and start just queuing one or two at a time, but I'd still kind or prefer not to, mostly just so I can have that visual marker to keep myself on track.

joannekwan 2016-10-31 19:35:24 UTC #2

I didn't even know you had so many queued eps! DANG!

I wouldn't worry about it too much because readers can only see one queued episode at a time (at least I'm only seeing one!), and queued eps don't even show up on mobile.

EDIT: See, just one!

60Six 2016-10-31 19:45:27 UTC #3

OH! I had NO idea! I guess that explains why I never see anyone else with so many queued episodes (Though I SWEAR I've seen people with two or three queued before? But maybe that changed after some update or I'm just mistaken).
Well, I feel silly now. : P Thanks for letting me know, though! I still hope too many people aren't thinking queued episodes are locked though (Which goes for everyone with queues).

joannekwan 2016-10-31 19:51:15 UTC #4

Yeah I think it changed after the big update this spring. I don't think there would be too much confusion, since locked eps have a little lock icon on the right of the bar, like so

and queued eps say "scheduled in so-and-so days" with the thumbnail grayed out with a clock on it. : v

tayo_rafferty 2016-10-31 19:58:15 UTC #5

Well I personally only queue the next episode and that's only once I've started making it, otherwise I don't queue. I think it serves as a nice indicator to anyone visiting your comic that you keep to a schedule however I think too much of anything is bad.

dojo 2016-10-31 20:20:08 UTC #6

Yeah I mean I suppose if people aren't paying attention I could see how they mistake it, but... yeaah I'm like you, I'd rather have a lot of stuff queue'd up >>;; I have a really awful memory and am constantly spacing out and wouldn't trust myself to get everything up in time if it weren't for being able to schedule pages (for example I forgot to even let my tumblr followers know the new page was up on Friday...I should really be scheduling those too, but... well.. I keep forgetting to, HAHA) .

indagold 2016-10-31 22:50:22 UTC #7

I'm guilty of having a big queue for one comic, but then again I've got 600+ comic pages to begin with. I'd wish they'd get rid of the queue icon because your readers don't need to know that. It's really stupid and pointless and I don't know how it helps readers. I feel it makes them confused or suspicious. No other site I know does that for queues.

spooktacularprize 2016-11-01 00:29:10 UTC #8

I always have a buffer, but the buffer is generally only 6 fully-colored pages with maybe 1-4 that are sketched or in some kind of progress so now I'm like ,wait am I behind? x'D

I queue one at a time, and generally the day before the page will be posted; because for some reason I don't like the idea of seeing more than is actually visible to people?? I have no idea what that is, but honestly there should be no problem with queuing so many pages, esp as people have said if others can't see them.

In fact it also kind of guarantees if something happens to a page it'll still be there on tap and uploaded at the appropriate time.

I've never confused a queued page for a locked episode, as I have used keys for a locked episode before; and...I recall I was asked about using the keys first, so I don't think it would be too difficult to figure out that the ep was queued and not locked?

Kawaiiyusra 2016-11-01 00:32:35 UTC #9

I queue like 12 eps once a month

VexinglyYours 2016-11-01 02:05:57 UTC #10

i think it's helpful for them to see when the next episode is coming out. yeah, they get notifications if they subscribe, but they can get excited and see "ooh the next one is coming out in two days, i can't wait to see!" i think it also helps in cases where updates are sporadic and random and dont have set update days, so the readers can know when the author finally will update.

60Six 2016-11-01 02:13:52 UTC #11

I agree normally but according to what Joanne just said, it looks like nobody else sees that long queue? :o Just 1 page.

Yeah! Honestly same. I really like to have a pretty big size buffer too, in case anything should happen and I can't work on pages. I use my queue to keep track of that buffer. I know I can just technically keep track of it myself, but having something very blatant and visually there really helps keep me on schedule.

DANG now THAT'S a queue (You're comic is complete though, correct?). I do agree with @VexinglyYours and @Mythos though where I think at least seeing the next queued episode is a good sign for potential readers. I know I've personally not subscribed to some comics I was really interested in because I saw there were no signs of an update any time soon. If I saw something queued though, I'd probably subscribe to see that episode.

We're definitely opposties there! Like I said, in addition to it helping me stay on track, I get a really weird satisfaction out of it? Like "aw yeah, look at how ahead of schedule I am."
And yeah, I'd hope not too many people wouldn't mix up queued and locked episodes. They are pretty different.

Ooh, so you do like a bunch at once?

indagold 2016-11-01 02:27:47 UTC #12

lol yeah it's done. I think I queued half. Got the other half to upload in a few months.

dojo 2016-11-01 03:11:20 UTC #13

Yeah, I have one comic right now that doesn't have a buffer because I started it a month ago and decided to start posting pages immediately instead of waiting and it's making me so worried I'm going to miss a deadline especially since this month's been pretty unexpectedly busy. LUCKILY this week is supposed to be fairly uneventful for me, so I can finally sit down and work on extra pages and change that and get prepared especially for the holidays when things are always busy whether I'm planning on doing anything or not.

And I agree, having that visual thing there is a really good reminder of how on track you are. It alleviates so much stress when I feel like I haven't gotten anything done to just look at that and be like yo, hey, I'm good for awhile,.

Kawaiiyusra 2016-11-01 12:53:20 UTC #14

Yeah, because I am so busy with my work throughout the month I just don't have time to dedicate every day or even every week to work on it. Once a month I get a bout of inspiration I sit down and I just work on multiple pages.