What to do if you miss an update?

[GrimRose]

So currently comics are a hobby rn. I work fulltime and i dedicate pretty much all of my spare time to trying to work on new pages. Currently I am entering the Line Webtoon Contest and I have set out a goal for myself of a weekly episode that is updated on the weekend. So far i have kept up with it and i've also met the contest minimum requirements. But over the last week I had to go to the doctors after getting seriously burnt at my workplace (it meant i couldn't work with my hand for several days) So now I'm behind my goal.

What do you guys do if you miss an update?
Apologize and continue making weekly updates?
Do a special episode/extra
or make a longer update next week to make up for it?
Or do you think it doesn't matter as much and that you should update whenever you can?

[BobbyjoeX]

if i feel i wont finish in time, i'll notify the readers that it might be late

[hjfsdh2222]

I have a really good buffer so luckily this hasn’t happened to me. I would just apologize, explain what happened, and maybe do a couple quick fun character sketches in that update. Then just continue as normal.

[Penni]

I don't think it's a big deal if you miss an update, though I do recommend letting your readers now why it happened. If you give sometime a set time that your product will be released and it doesn't happen, it may cause your readers to question your reliability. That's not to say that happens with all readers, of course, some may not even notice you missed the update, but you never know. Plus, it's just polite.

Life happens! I can't imagine anyone blaming you for missing an update for legitimate reasons. Just say "hey this happened, I'll update on this date" and be done with it

[dawgofdawgness]

I just update a week later and thank my readers for being violently patient.

[DiegoPalacios]

Sometimes, if i realize earlier than i won`t be able to update, i inform them beforehand explaining the situation and apologising. Also, if i have time after the missed update, i would upload during that week and then upload as usual.

[kaiwang868]

Don't worry about it man! I think missing one or two updates is fine (well, unless you're under contract to deliver chapters). As long as the story is good, anything can be forgiven. Although if you don't update for weeks on end, then readers might forget about the story...

[Wumbl]

I normally just drop an apology at some point, but I try not to sweat over it too much.

[shazzbaa]

Just let your readers know! It's honestly not a huge deal to miss a single update.

I think if you're missing update after update after update then it's time to change your update schedule to something you can manage. But if you just miss something every once in a while when something big happens, you can just say "sorry for the lack of update guys! Had some personal stuff come up, but next week the update should be on time like normal!"

Here on Tapas, I'd post a "heads up, I'm going to have to skip this week" on my wall, and just make a note of "sorry for the missed update last week, but HERES THE PAGE" in the episode description the next time I update, rather than sticking a filler episode in the comic itself to announce the missed update. Some folks have posted bonus stuff that went over well (like if you have concepts or extra world-building info that you can sketch up more quickly than you can create an entire comic page), but as a reader I tend to find that getting notified for Updates That Aren't Actually Comic Updates is frustrating if they happen more than, like, once. And I feel like trying to do extra stuff to "make up for it" can sometimes just put you further behind!

On sites like Tapas and Webtoon, I'm subscribed! I'll be notified when it updates again -- it's not like a comic on a personal website where I'm gonna check the site and be disappointed if there's nothing there and maybe forget to check back; I'm just gonna wait until I get the lil' notification.

[Shanny8]

Nothing. I just explain to my readers that the next update will be late, and then keep working to ensure that I can get the next update ready ASAP.

Things do happen and sometimes they can affect creator's schedules. I went through a bout last chapter where I was fighting off a slight ongoing sickness most of last year, fighting off a slight case of burnout, fighting off carpal tunnel pains, and had to find a new place to move to. Chaotic as hell, but I fought through it and tried to deliver my updates as quickly as I could.

[ashersz]

I have missed an update a few times due to work and school and I let my readers know. I also gave them two updates back to back to make up for it lol

[jarzebiny]

Don't be so hard on yourself! Maybe set it so you update every other week or every week and a half. Something that's more manageable for you, or you'll burn out. I'm updating weekly right now for the contest but I'm thinking about pushing it back to every week and a half, or two weeks until I have a good buffer. It pays off in the long run - the quality of your work will be improved, you'll enjoy it more, less likely to burn out, etc. Make your schedule work for you, not the other way around. Something that will be easier for you to keep up with. And remember that building interest/a fanbase takes time.

I think someone else said to just upload some extra art or something with a brief apology and carry on. Don't get all hung up on it or beat yourself up. You don't owe anyone anything. If people like your work, they will stick with you. If they don't, they're probably not your target audience.

[CarolRiverArt]

I have things ready usually. But Is kinda sad for me , I don't even know how to apologize, because, I want to draw but blackouts appear almost every single day and there's goes my time for digital drawing. I want to keep a schedule but life has been hard on me.

[GrimRose]

I used to have a buffer, but i'm more prone to getting sick and so i ate through the small one i had.