When do you post your story/chapter?

[NinaWrites]

I'm in the process of writing my very first story for Tapas. Just wondering, out of pure curiosity, who here post as they write each chapter? I'm trying to determine the pros and cons of posting chapter to chapter or have a back log of at least 50,000 words.

Thanks!

[MShadowlawn]

I rarely post anything before I have the entire work finished. For side projects, I'm willing to do ad-hoc releases, but this has almost never been the case in my experience. Waiting to have the whole thing done makes sure that you have all the time you need and zero pressure to make sure everything's just right. After all, a killer first impression is quite important.

In terms of posting schedule, I post every 2 days. That keeps me in range of the new page a little longer, albeit with a little less intensity and rapidity.

Addendum: Here's the story I didn't really post any of until it was complete. Unfortunately, being my first project, it was still kind of a mess. The next one will be different.

Urban Wolf: On The Run | Tapas

[joannekwan]

I like to have at least 75% of a story done before I start posting.

For comics it means having 75% of the script finished and I may draw each episode every week and post every week without a buffer of finished pages.

However, for novels I like to have 75% finished prose with a 100% finished outline before I start posting the episodes. And that finished 75% had better be in the first parts of the novel.

[NinaWrites]

I could definitely see the appeal of finishing everything before posting. I guess, if writing is a hobby, then minimizing the pressure would be nice for sure! Thank you for your input!

[domisotto]

I don’t start to post till the whole book is done or nearly done.

[NinaWrites]

I'm leaning to that option as well. I like the instant gratification of posting a chapter - but from what Im gathering, unless you're part of tapas premium its sort of hard to get engagement with the readers.

This gave me a lot to consider. Thank you for the input

[NinaWrites]

That makes sense - you upload more consistently that way. What if you have an epic? Would u still consider only posting after its done?

[domisotto]

The longest book I have is 140K words. My books normally range between 60 and 80K words. But if I wrote something longer, I would do the same. Each book has a very meager chance of success and I am not a social media darling. I don’t want to fail because I am posting infrequently or abandoned a book.

[NinaWrites]

Thats actually a good point. I do have a very bad habit of abandoning projects ( I don't think I ever finished writing a story)

[MShadowlawn]

I actually plan to go legit one day with my writing. Even got beta readers lined up and whatnot for my works, just trying to find the motivation and whatnot to write the next prequel.

[TheOddFungi]

I like having a large portion done before I start posting. It helps to have a buffer in case something happens that keeps me from writing for X amount of time. I also like that it gives me the opportunity to edit earlier chapters more and add foreshadowing that may not have been there before instead of posting as I write and having to go back and edit. Because then the readers who have already read that part may not want to reread chapters if they require updating and then they may miss out on certain aspects of the story that would have been great to read earlier.

[domisotto]

Well, that doesn’t mean I don’t feel like posting raw chapters once in a while… but usually I think better of it

[LunarScyphozoa]

I like to have all the main details sorted out first

[Tanako]

For my recent comic 'Since I met you', I have 100% of the script and sketches done. and have about 65% of the illustration done and I am way ahead in regards to buffer. Matter of fact, I have so much buffer I'm able to create another comic and not feel overwhelmed working on "SIMY". and also, patrons can read ahead while free readers wait a bit.

Honestly the key is to have script completed then have about 25 to 35% of illustration completed. this way you can be constant in posting and not have to rush. also, you can gain more patrons to view the early stuff.

[LittleFoodie]

I guess I’m an anomaly? Even though I do have a buffer of about 5 chapters ahead, I am far from completing the story, mostly just write as I go and update once a week

[cherrypopint]

I update mine every Thursdays and Saturdays. So it's like 2 chapters a week! I always write ahead of my chapters so it can lessen the pressure when the deadline is near haha

If anyone's interested in BL, the novel I'm currently working on is this one. You can check it out if you want <3

Stand In | Tapas

[burgundy]

I don't recommend posting as you write. Before I posted anything I had six months worth of episodes written, the first 15 of which were fully edited. That's probably a bit over kill, but you never know when something is going to come up and mean that you can't write or post for a while and losing your rhythm can lose you readers. You definitely need a safety net.

[LunarScyphozoa]

This thread is quite a good example of plotters vs pantsers. Some people do all the sketches and scripts before they even think about making their story, some people just sort out the big plot things then just do it.

[yumeryuu]

I release every which way, so there is no correct way. Finished the manuscript and release chapter per chapter. Write and release as you go. Self publish the whole thing and sell it as a novel.

I absolutely love writing and releasing. Its like wanting to share the high with everyone. The only problem is the glaring editing errors that will stick out at you when you reread it.

ATM my manuscript for THE SOUL COLLECTORS is complete so it makes release so much easier.

[DesiredUsernameTaken]

We're in the same boat! I'm writing my first story for Tapas, too. It was originally a comic, but seeing as I don't have the time to make a full-fledged comic, I've novelized it. I intend on having a huge backlog of about 60-90k words, if only because I take into account everything that could go wrong:

1. I change my mind about the direction. I realize there's a better way to go about things.
2. It gives me time to edit the chapter that will be released and make sure it is polished. Nice and shiny.
3. Things are constantly happening in the world outside of the web, and then I don't have any time to write.
4. Sometimes the problem is me. Writer's block, motivation loss overall, depression, anxiety, you name it, it's a problem.
5. Computer could break, and then I have nowhere else I could write the story, unless I use my phone. Those things are irritating for writing...
6. And so much more!

It's important to me that if someone decides to devote their precious time and attention to a story I'm sharing here on Tapas, my hypothetical audience knows they can trust I always update on time, regardless of what may or may not be going on.

Congratulations on starting your first story ^-^. I hope it goes well.