Well, I'm staring down a bit of a dilemma here, on how to update my webcomic, Vile Withering. Its story-oriented with a typical story arc spanning over seven pages. My current policy is a loose rule of about three pages over the weekend, when I usually have time to cluster my thoughts together into a humorous skewering of reality (I hit my head as a kid), but, as my overscheduled life fails to permit, I can't always make the update on time, and offer an "apology" of sorts, upon my next update with approximately eight pages, often settling down the story arc. As such, I have a few theories. And I'm looking for the public consensus on what's the best tactic? Full arc updates, weekly updates, or a update with muliple pages?

Multiple pages on a single day probably isn't the best idea since the reader can easily overlook them. Your best bet is to slow down the updating frequency to a point where you can handle it (and possibly get some surplus pages in).

Naughtelos
Well, I'm staring down a bit of a dilemma here, on how to update my webcomic, Vile Withering. Its story-oriented with a typical story arc spanning over seven pages. My current policy is a loose rule of about three pages over the weekend, when I usually have time to cluster my thoughts together into a humorous skewering of reality (I hit my head as a kid), but, as my overscheduled life fails to permit, I can't always make the update on time, and offer an "apology" of sorts, upon my next update with approximately eight pages, often settling down the story arc. As such, I have a few theories. And I'm looking for the public consensus on what's the best tactic? Full arc updates, weekly updates, or a update with muliple pages?

My story arcs tend to be around 12-14 pages, and I like to update one page at a time, preferably 2-3 times a week. Updating multiple pages makes it harder for people to figure out where they left off. Full arc updates means more sporadic updating, so people are less likely to continue reading or stick around. One page updates several times a week keeps people interested and coming back, as well as wondering what's going to happen next.

Oh, and I always try to have at least a 10-15 page buffer to accommodate for when life gets hectic. So if I have at least that many pages done ahead of time, then I have several weeks of buffer within which I can either get ahead or have some slack time when things get crazy. That's what I do and what I'd advise.

As BlkKnight said, it's probably best that you slow down your update schedule to the point you can handle things, post one page and just save those extra pages you get done all at once for a buffer so you can get through until the next time you can sit down and do more work.

That's my best suggestion. It's all a matter of working your timing.

I agree not to do more than one update a day. Most readers like a regular update schedule, so they know when to check and expect a new page, and they will see your most recent page first, so it's best not to do multiple pages.

One good way to work is to draw your pages whenever you have time but upload them (one each time) on a regular schedule. If you end up with more pages than usual, just hold them until the next regular update.

For example... If you set your update schedule to MWF, draw your three pages on the weekend or whenever you have time. Then upload them either preuploaded to update on MWF or do it manually on those days -- rather than as soon as you finish a page. If you are especially productive one weekend and make 8 pages, then you have two and a half weeks of updates ready. (And if during those weeks you can't draw for some reason, your updates are already covered.