Let me pose a question. First of all, the irregularity of updates is not going to change. I simply have other things I should be doing, even in my free time. So when I'm not feeling the urge to do another Craving Control, it feels irresponsible to force it. It's always going to be a project I do when the impulse strikes me. So, would you prefer that I post lots of episodes during those times I feel like working on it, with gaps of inactivity in between? Or would you prefer I save a backlog and post episode regularly, even if they're really spaced out?

I'll tell you my answer ... I'm inclined to do the former. This is pretty much what I've always done, anyway. But see, I would rather have readers coming back for new episodes and enjoying it during a busy month (like December was), and taking vacations in between, than stopping in every couple weeks to see if maybe I've updated. There just isn't a lot of communal excitement in the latter option.

So, that's my bias, but I'm interested in what you all think. And I wanted to let you all in to my thinking to help you understand what's behind the erratic update schedule (which I know frustrates people sometimes).

I have to agree on the larger chunks of comics appearing with vacation time in between. I think what dragged the party story on for myself anyway was that it tooks months to conclude it. So by the time we got to the end, you had pretty much forgotten how she got in the whole mess lol.

Posting big chunks of comics keeps the story tied together aibt more. And as proved by the fan arts, or even little doddles by yourself during vaction time you can still keep people interested. Your never gonna be able to make everyone happy. Im sure we would all love for it to be updated everyday :D Just keep doing what your doing, things are just starting to get interesting

Thanks for the comments, Discodave. I will try to get you some new images for your animated gif avatar in the new year!

I agree with Discodave. I'd also rather see splurges followed by gaps.

Haha nice one. Good excuse for me to fix and slow down the avater next time i add to it :D Have to keep an eye out for new tongue action lol

Don't change anything. If Craving Control is forcing you to work at some unappropiate hours, it won't be good for both the author and the comic, because it could lose some of his magic if the author isn't in the mood for drawing but forces himself.

We love the comic the way he is, don't change anything that would make it different !

Don't ever force yourself to try and make something you don't want to. I mean i'm a writer (flaming-hades.deviantart.com) or w/e the links is. I absolutely hate when I try and force myself to keep writing. It just ruins all the enjoyment of doing what you do. So keep your updates more bundled up together but with breaks inbetween like everyone else has been saying.

I think it would be good if you posted new comics at the same pace as you make them. As you have already noticed, your fans give you quite much feedback. So, my point is: if you post often, you also receive much feedback which can sometimes inspire and make drawing new panels easier and more fun. Possibly.

I would go with the former, but when you are less inclined to do a new comic, you should tell people. Say, "I expect they'll be something here in 3 weeks" or whatever.
The most infuriating part of the gaps in between is not knowing when they are going to end.
Of course, its hard to do that, but a little note would be more than suitable, one you could change later if necessary.

I will try to be more clear to the audience and err on the side of caution when it comes to stoking expectations. Unfortunately, when I'm not in CC mode it's usually hard to predict when I will be again! So gaps are usually indeterminate while they're happening.

If you're asking my advice with updates--I'm no expert on "fast" but my two coppers':

a) Never force anything in the story, take your time and enjoy it!

b) Post your own sketches of characters in the story. Rough pinups. Lots of cartoonists do this, it throws eye candy to the viewers, and it's still your own art.
The (excellent) DD comic "Between Failures" does this all the time, and it updates very often.

c) Collaborate with a team in production the way they do in print comic books. You've done this experimentally and most times it has worked out.

d) Reduce the size of the strips. You're already doing that now, in the current page, but you could go to one horizontal row of 2-5 panels, like you did back in April-May 2007. Hero by Night does this and it is a very popular comic.

Above all have fun, and don't give a hoot what anyone else thinks.

I agree with TitanOne with a comic about 3-5 panels.
I think it should be updated every 2-4 weeks. To give CC some time to create the next update.