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Time management for webcomics

Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, June 14, 2019
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When producing a webcomic, it is good practice to stick to an uploading schedule. Not only does this mean that readers know when to expect the next installment of your story, but it also helps you plan around the general activities of life. So here are some tips to help you plan and schedule your comic.

Be realistic with how much time it takes to make a page/episode
When you start out creating comics, particularly your first project, it’s going to take some time to put a page together. The time it takes to put together an update depends on whether you’re creating a short comic strip or a longer form narrative. Take note of how long it takes to write, rough sketch, ink and colour your pages and be sure to allow for that time in your scheduling so that you can balance it around your life.

If you need help keeping track of time, consider a time-keeping app like, RescueTime. This lets you know how long you’ve spent on a program or app and can help you get a more accurate idea of how long you spend creating a comic.

Create and keep a calendar
It is very easy to lose track of the days, particularly as your life becomes busier. For me, I keep a simple desk calendar that I scribble on. This includes my work schedule, comic activities and social events (as I realised I was double booking myself a lot). By keeping track of when you are releasing your next update as well as other commitments you will be less likely to miss deadlines.

Find a balance between your quality of life and your art
Dustin Rogers of Dustinteractive said,
”One thing I had to teach myself is that it’s okay for a comic to be less than what you consider perfect,”
Finding a balance between perfectionism and getting the work out is imperative if you want to do webcomics long term. There will be times where the artwork or writing will not be perfect and that is okay. Agonizing over every detail will not only cause you to burn out over your project, it will also take you away from your life in general.

Remember to take breaks
You’re going to exhaust yourself doing major comic making marathons. On average, you can only concentrate on work for up to 3 hours at a time. Make a habit of getting up every 2-3 hours and going for a walk, cuddle your pets or even stretching or breathing. Doing an activity that increases your oxygen flow is incredibly beneficial to not just your work but mental health as well.

How do you manage your work habits and schedule? Let us know in the comment section below! And join us on Sunday evening for our Quackchat at 5:30PM(EST)!

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PudgyPup at 8:18AM, June 14, 2019

Great tips, thank you!

bravo1102 at 7:38AM, June 14, 2019

I recommend buffers. Have at least three to five pages done to allow the comic to continue if there are real life issues. That way the comic takes care of itself and you're free to plan ahead. And never mass upload pages to all go live the same day. Give the reader a break. Let them ease into it rather than dump a whole manuscript in their lap the first time they click on a comic. Readers have lives too and often follow a dozen updating comics. We like regularity but also breathing room.

bravo1102 at 7:32AM, June 14, 2019

Every three hours? I take breaks every fifteen minutes to avoid wear and tear on my hands and to keep the creative juices flowing. If I'm doing it at work, there are interruptions every three-five minutes. And I often have another project going concurrently to keep from getting stuck. And you wonder why I've adopted the media I did recently.

ShaRose49 at 7:13AM, June 14, 2019

@ozoneocean same here! Sometimes I can do it twice a week but usually just under a week is what happens, unless the page has to be a lot more detailed or something. I really needed to hear that Dustinteractive quote, I struggle with this. And I definitely need to take at least a bit more breaks, I tend to have trouble getting the page going until later, and then I wanna finish it all at once so it’s not late! I’ll definitely check that app out, I have trouble timing myself ‘cause I get so caught up in the page. I think it took me an hour and a half just to do the inks on my latest page

Ozoneocean at 6:39AM, June 14, 2019

Good advice! My fastest at the moment seems to be a week or just under... I can't work any faster than that on a full comic page. :( Also, the less panels the easier it is.


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