Would you still read a comic if the writer didn't update often?

[infectedbloodcomics]

Well, I must really the comic to keep following it - which doesn't happen too often, so... probably not, I'd drop it.

[Ringarune]

Once every 3 weeks isn't really that bad. I read comics that update every other month.

[69Michi]

It depends. I rarely put thing on my reading list, and once I actually do put your comic on my reading list, I rarely drop it no matter how inconsistent your schedule is. As long as you have a reasonable excuse, your reader will understand. Don't just go poof for months and come back later with an excuse. That excuse gotta be very serious for you to not even take 10 sec of your day to write a note down for your readers, as a readers I will feel like you don't care enough for us.

[Michelle]

It's ok to have an inconsistent and infrequent update schedule if you're up-front about it with your audience. What you don't want to do is promise a new page every week, then consistently miss your scheduled updates.

Also, if you're worried, aim to make each update a good chunk of the story. I would probably get bored/lost if a comic updated very infrequently with a only tiny little blip of the story each time, but if there was noticeable plot development with each update, I wouldn't mind.

[Inspector_Spinda]

I will read it and unfollow once it doesn't update for a bit (like several months)

[WintreKitty]

The only time I unfollow is if I'm not longer interested in the comic. I have comics on my reading list that haven't updated in years.

[agentfink]

I've been on hiatus for 3 months... been gaining subs... most people will wait and understand delays if you're upfront about it.

(I'm going to be posting soon, but won't make an announcement until I'm done with a convention at the end of the month) so planning when to actually engage with patiently waiting readers, is vital as well.

[punkarsenic]

honestly, yeah, id still read. it makes v little different to me; i sub to a fair amt of comics and the way i am i forget about them until theyre there again - so im not sat drumming my fingers unless its something im Really hooked on. and then, the waits worth it. my very favourite webcomics barely ever update but when they do catch me shouting from the rooftops.

on the other hand, a regular updating pace can give you a familiarity with readers - oh, look, its thursday, theres that comic again. they get to know you & that youre reliable, and that could pull you more subs from the 'fresh' page or the like.

[timinabox24]

well if I am really interested in a comic and notice it didn't update in a while then I will go check and especially make sure I am still subscribed and it's just the comic that didn't update and I didn't just accidentally hit the unsubscribe button :'D
I don't get those update nazis who unsibscribe if you don't post often ehough (also on youtube or other sites)
I have a life outside of reading comics and I'm sure you have a life outside of posting comics, so I don't get upset over how often someone posts somehting

[quakeulf]

I don't work chronologically so the next part of my comic Lemonade might take a while to get out. However, the following parts are nearly done so once the chronological part is done the rest will be out right afterwards.

And I have no problem with comics that take a long time.

[Potoh]

Ye, I would still read it. We all have a life outside the internet, and lots of unexpected things can happen. Just let the readers know. You don't have to explain your whole situation, but a little announcment is always better than staying quiet for months.

[AliceHoffmannArt]

I keep reading them, there's so much in my list to read to pass the time anyway. If I like a series, I see no reason to unsub even if I have to wait a little longer.

It can help if you draw enough buffer pages before making the series though. That can avoid or at least delay a hiatus.

In any case: Good luck!

[Kamikaze]

I think if folks like Dresden Kodak and Lackadaisy Cats can update you know...MONTHS from one another you can too.

Perhaps if you want to start work on your comic, one of the better things you can do for yourself is build up a buffer of pages before you launch (buffer meaning you have a backlog of finished pages). With a nice buffer of pages you can update regularly (maybe twice a month), and then work on the new pages in your spare time. I'd caution you to make sure you keep that buffer page count high, especially if you know you'll be having a lot of heavy study sessions. Do the comic work when school is going slow. That way, when the crazy tests/projects/holidays come around you're covered.

[indagold]

3 weeks is nothing. I don't mind unless a person updates once a year or hiatus for 5 years, and then dump 50 new comics and expect you to be up to date. I had that happen on another site and just unsubscribed them because that's ridiculous.

[Shanny8]

I'm like this- if you're gonna update once every 2-3 weeks, at least update like 2 pages. It makes no sense to wait 2 weeks or more for one page. I understand that you're in school so it puts a limit on how much comic work you can do, but if you can give readers 2 pages every 3 weeks I think they might be satisfied with it.

Now if a creator is on vacation or a situation came up that prevented them from updating- as long as they gave notice, I'm sure the readers would understand. There's a difference between a creator having a situation pop up and explaining to their reader- and a creator dropping off the face of the earth and coming back a month later with a page(and sometimes an overdue explanation).

[ikushina]

busy readers understands busy artists B)
I would still read a comic if it updated rarely~

[insomniascrawl]

If the story is good and the updates have some structure and it's not just random long disappearances followed by a crap ton of posts. Maybe stock pile some stuff when you have time and release it slowly, and just keep contact with your readers and let them know if you're having a hard time keeping up with a schedule at the time. People can be surprisingly understanding.

[okellymx]

Shoot, I follow a comic that updated every 6 months or something.

[Rabbit]

I think all in all, what matters is you.
Making a comic would be really good for you, esp. if you want to work in animation - the two are closer linked than you may think at first. In fact, I saw a tweet by a popular story-board artist recently who said that if you want to be a story-board artist you should start making comics as soon as you can. And lots of animators work on story-boards at some point.
The only real way to get really good at comics, and to understand them, is to make one yourself. Reading comics, thinking about them, and doodling out comic ideas, are nothing compared to actually sitting down and working on one.
Even if you only get like 5 subs, what matters the most for your future career is the positive impact working on a comic, even if it doesn't update often, will have on you.

[TheVoidchildProject]

This question is almost impossible to answer in a single sentence. I follow a couple of comics that update rarely/inconsistently or such. But that's either because I reaaally like either the comic or the author. The honest answer is you'll probably get more consistent followers the more consistent you are. And probably with more frequent updates.

EDIT:

But with that said, you should make a comic that you can keep pace with and not try to worry too much about stuff like this. Everyone wants subs and followers but if you obsess about it for whatever reason, it'll make creating a comic (or whatever) a chore. As long as you're enjoying yourself I'd say go for it. This is my "hobbyist" PoV.