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[Sheora]

I don't mind sites that update sporadically.  What really bugs me is sites that say they have a schedule and then regularly don't deliver.  I've been reading Marry Me, and I really like their story but they are only in their first first issue and are updating two or three days late on a regular basis.
Dead in Dreamland posts full episodes at a time, which is wonderful to get the whole thing at once.  Only problem is she's gone upwards of 8 months without an update because of how long it can take her to complete an episode.  If Eph had waited until episode 4 was complete to show us (no offense Ephie, I know you've been working hard), when would we ever get to see it?
In the end, I think the update schedule should be what makes the artist happy and keeps them interested in the comic.  Last thing we want is for our Eph to burn out on us.

[eph]

(Well, the reason Marry Me's late could well be that the author - not the artist! - is way too busy writing lengthy posts at comic community forums about how stupid, dense, insane, immature, unprofessional, dishonest and hopeless we others are in contrary to him and how he will sell Marry Me to Hollywood - for that's the only reason why he made it - that he doesn't have time left to tell his artists what to draw. His arrogance is one of the main reasons why I a) don't read his stuff anymore and b) why I stay away from comic communities these days. I've read so many snotty remarks about how my comic is utter junk for being the way it is that I currently prefer to do Sims and not think about comics. The other reason is that I have been called words by other comic artists. A slapworthy, dense, jealous idiot like me who doesn't know a slightest thing about art should never touch a pencil.
Sorry for the rant, maybe it explains why I feel so burned out about comics lately.)
I noticed that I have lost track of all comics not listed on OnlineComics.net. I just can't keep up with anything without a reminder. So I can understand how boring it is to check a website every day for an update, especially when the page is "just" about a comic. I think many of you would not read Seekers anymore if you wouldn't come here anyway to check for other things too or hang out at the forum.
I have two very contradicting problems with the update schedule.

On one hand, I hate deliviering on a specific weekday. It really puts me under big stress because there is still that giant heap of 51 pages waiting for remake. I have nothing on the pile, so I have to sit down every Tuesday afternoon and spend all my time until wednesday night on the comic. Often I'm not done before 3am on Thursday, and so I'm late. And it only takes me so long because I *always* have something on my mind that I would much prefer doing at that very time. When I'm motivated I can work much faster.
This time, for example, I was ill and spent most of the time on the toilet or fighting with a fit of hay fever. Additionally, my brother was over here for a visit and I couldn't even talk to him much, lest join the guys in their videogames. And I couldn't go to the doctor either for my test results because I needed the time for drawing and didn't have time to take a bath and whatever it takes to prepare.
So once again I had to hurry, and when I hurry I often end up with average pages with boring layout, just because they must get finished.
I would have *much* preferred to make Sims yesterday. Sims don't mind if you're hand is all sweaty. Today, today I would love to draw another page, but that's the next problem:
Much in the same way, I hate it when I have stuff on pile and can't show it off right away. That's always getting in my way when I'm really in the mood for drawing. I draw one page and then I think "You'd have to wait 3 weeks to show them if you draw any further, better go and do something that you can show them right away..."

On the other hand, when I would only update monthly my stats on the comic lists would drop into oblivion. And I must admit I grew fond of being in the better ranges of those lists, because it makes me feel like not only the 5 or 6 people who comment here enjoy Seekers.
And of course there's once again the problem that I would have to hold back for an enormous amount of time. Complete chapters are impossible, for Sheora is right, they would take too long, especially since it's hard to keep up the motivation with no comments inbetween pages. Probably not 8 months now that I invested in all those screentones and such, but certainly 3-5. *nods*
For a while I thought about updating every two weeks with all pages I happen to have done. Sometimes maybe just two, sometimes maybe 5.
But then I have another problem. I need donations to go on, and I haven't recieved any for over a year (and before that, I recieved only 2.) So I wanted to do it like roofpig (when the remakes are all done and I have more time), update at a fixed schedule and promise instant extra pages whenever the donation meter exceeds a specific amount (backed up by donator wallpapers and stuff). Now, "extra pages" is a very loose term when people don't know how many pages I would have done regularly, right. So if I go for a wonky schedule I need to work out another plan.

I honestly don't know what to do. Everything I decide for is wrong in some way.
All I know is, in the past 4 years I always updated when I was motivated. And I usually got motivated by nice comments. (You noticed how the updates grew sparse when Eloya/Nico lost interest? I was close to quitting it all together because the word "Travar" made me retch. Until KAnne took over the cheerleading and I switched to my own background world.) I drew a page, someone said "yay, can't wait to see what happens!", I said "yay" and sat down to draw the next page. And so on until I got bored of comic drawing and went to do something else for a while, like KiSS or Sims or coding games, until I got bored of that too and returned to the comic.
The month prior to the anniversary where I updated so much was fun.

Today I'll try to get another remake page done (haven't worked on those for 3 weeks now -_-), and I'll just try to stick to the weekly update until I get a better overview of my time schedule...

[sharm]

I'm sorry Eph.  If I sounded harsh, I didn't mean it.  It's just my opinion that webcomics should have a set update schedule, because that's part of doing a webcomic.  Anything else leaves the readers up in the air.  But that is just one person's opinion, and your readership is more than just me.  I understand the need to get a drawing done right and waiting for motivation.  I live off feedback myself.

If you can't stand to be sitting on the latest comic, would it work to show just a select few the newest things so you could have some backlog?  I've heard from multiple sources that backlog makes all the difference in being able to keep a schedule.  Or maybe you could say you'll update once a week (or every two) but let the day be vague.  So one week it'll be Monday and the next week, Thursday?

This whole balancing act is hard.  Good luck in finding what's best for you.

[eph]

In the end I might just go back into the "whenever" mode and scrap schedules, doing the comic whenever I feel like it, just like my other hobbies. At least until the remakes are all done.
Don't know yet.
Sad but true, given my current health, life and work schedule there is absolutely no chance to make any kind of backlog before early 2009.
Maybe I should change to friday updates though, tuesday is the only day of the week with good tv progam. Bad for preparing comics. ^^;

And yes, I definitely miss having a spoiler-restistant acquaintance such as Nico was. Everything was easier when I could show off new designs and pages to someone to get some instant commentary without spoiling the fun for the whole audience. I could tell whole chapters and ask for opinion. Those were great times.

[eph]

Hoho, I forgot to mention: There are comics that only update when at least a fixed number of comments has been made (e.g. 5 or 10).
Maybe I should switch to something like that and make you guys work for your updates. 

[eph]

Updating on Saturdays works very well so far, and usually I have the page done on Fridays already. So I intend to stick to the weekly schedule.
Furthermore there's now a donation bar on the website, and every donation I will recieve counts towards the total. I'll make an extra update whenever the bar reaches 25 Euro.

[Lirael]

I only just read your post from June 07, 2007, and it made it even clearer to me how important motivation is and so, i shall now start to comment after reading the comic pages, after all, i do read them =] but the saturday schedule does seem like a good idea eph, especially if you find it work for you