7 pages in one day release?

[Rogo]

Hi guys I've noticed that comments and speculation has been going down the more I update during a week. I've read some theories that suggest the more frequent you update - on a story comic - the less feedback you get and less speculation can build.

So I'm in a bind because I don't want to go ahead and stop updating so frequently - I want to get the story out there - but at the same time speculation and comments helps fuel a good community amongst readers.

So I had the idea that instead of updating Monday to Sunday, I'd update 7 pages all at once. Probably steadily uploaded over the course of a day, so that you have a whole week to talk about events and speculate.

If you like this idea, let me know, or if you think I should stick to what I'm doing now, also let me know. Either way I'd like some feedback

[Feathers]

This idea is perfect! It means less daily spam in my DA inbox too. X3 I like it a lot, go with this~

[Devil]

This is a great idea Rogo! It's better to keep up with, then each page since not a lot of people log on everyday to read~ I know when I got behind I was reading 40+ pages...So yea~ Great idea! ;D

[amyofdarkness]

Ooo... I dunno how I feel about that to be honest. I hate to go against the majority, but I tend to feel overwhelmed when an artist updates so much content in one day (I'm having trouble keeping up on things as is!). I actually used to update like this when I first started out; ( I did it daily too so I drew, colored and uploaded like 8 pages a day for like a week...) and while this is nice for snagging attention when you've just started out, it's much better to have a frequent but evenly spaced update schedule once you've established an archive.

So I'm not saying in theory it's a bad idea, but just one that's better off executed when you're trying to accumulate content as a newcomer.

I think perhaps the best thing to do would be just to space out updates or pick a few days out of the week to update, some of the comics I read go for a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule, but if you want to optimize viewing time pick off days where few people are updating and thus you have a slot in a potential reader's schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Few people read weekend updates, but it won't matter because they'll likely get caught up on Monday anyway if they're hooked.

But I totally understand how you feel about wanting to get the story out more, I've been working on so much stuff that I'm only updating my comic once a week (and the other one just came out of unintentional hiatus) and it's torturous! I see speculations and people ask questions that are to be answered on the next page or next story arc, and I just have to keep my mouth shut until then!
I honestly don't think it's your updating schedule that might appear to quash speculation or commentary, that's something that will come and go as things progress in the story. There's bound to be high and low fan speculation points depending on how confident people feel in asserting their ideas to where things are going. I am constantly surprised by what people choose to pick up and speculate on, whereas other things I consider big reveals go by with just a simple "nice art on this page".

[Rogo]

I'll be honest with you I think your probably right amy, I was just getting a little worried because comments were down and trying to think of ways to fix it.

I should stick to my guns, I don't think I'll do the 7 pages in one day update.

But we'll see how I feel on Friday XD

Also I sent you a PM Amy.

[amyofdarkness]

Aw don't worry, like I said these things fluctuate. I've been kinda bummed lately that my comments are down too, the best thing to do is just to keep at it. I'm planning to go post some comments right now!

[Rogo]

Thank you

[Feathers]

I see what you're saying, Amy. And I personally would not mind either situation, however the main reason I was excited for the 7 pages on one day a week, was based on my own preference in reading. To put it simply, I understand and remember what is going on better if I have a whole section of pages to summerize until the next update v. just have one page. It feels more like a connecting story to me, rather than just a strip comic you see in the newspapers. But that's just my preference, I just figure I'd point it out since it was not mentioned. :3

[amyofdarkness]

There's nothing wrong with that reading style either, sweetsnowangel! I have heard a few people say of certain comics that they lay off it for a month then catch up on a free day, but for the most part in regards to slower-paced comics. I'm actually going to re-read the whole archive
once I get the chance

I guess I'm looking at all this from the "comic as career" perspective and not the "pleasing the established fan" perspective. It's always gotta be a good balance between doing the sound business plan and not forgetting who supported you from the start.

Since at the moment Gravston is on a community host, and the more times through the week your banner can pop up in the "just updated" list, the more potential you have to get new readers (that's how I found it!). Focusing it on one day tends to miss a lot of people who have certain days they check comics.

Though I will say, multi-updates in one day is not unheard of, it is a certain kind of comic that can pull it off. Infinite canvas format is usually how it's done (the comic Order of the Stick updates throughout the day by adding more panels in to a "page" for various reasons, some of which are simply not having enough room to pull a joke off!) and even I have on occasion glued pages end-on-end when I felt the last panel wasn't "punchy" enough to end on, or I didn't want to wait an entire week to post up the second half of a conversation (if I'd separated these all out to separate updates I'd have at least 60 more pages to the archive count!) so story-wise, I do see the benefits.

[Feathers]

That's a good point too. :O I like new peeps to come by. Hmm, certainly will be a big decision on Rogo's part. That's all I gotta say. XD

[Rogo]

I pretty much have made the decision to just keep at it as per usual as the other way would have so many disadvantages from an advertising stand point XD

Thanks for the feedback though guys