OotS 258 posted

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

I
I don't think most webcomic artists have material done ahead of time because they don't HAVE to. No syndicate is paying them, generally, and there is little or no penatly for being late with a strip.

Well, I would imagine that irate readership could be considered a penalty for being late with a strip.

Consider two of my absolute favorite webcomics:

1. PvP: http://www.pvponline.com
2. Schlock Mercenary: http://www.schlockmercenary.com

The first practicly defines webcomic commercial success.

The second is almost there, but not quite.

And yet, Howard Tayler (the author / artist of Schlock) is the most professional web comic artist I have ever virtually encountered. He's been going since June of 2000 without missing a single day. He regularly updates his readers on the status of his buffer (which tends to hover at or around two weeks). For the majority of that time, comics were his sideline (he used to work full-time at Novell). Recently, he quit his job to do Schlock full-time.

Scott Kurtz (of PvP fame), on the other hand, has made it. And yet his update schedule is more erratic.

Hrm. Looking back over this, I think I kind of lost my point. Oh well, I'll just leave it as a chance to pimp Tayler's work.

[omminousss hummmmmm]

 

[humble minion]

Scott Kurtz erratic? I can't even remember the last time he missed a single day. If only more web-comics were as 'erratic' as PVP!

 

[WizarDru]

Scott Kurtz erratic? I can't even remember the last time he missed a single day. If only more web-comics were as 'erratic' as PVP!

Then your memory is somewhat short. Heck, he missed a day this week, due to a broken monitor. Even this year, he's missed several days, and filled them with liner notes and sketches. He's also had several days where he didn't post the comic until almost 24 hours later than normal. He does get caught up, but he stated quite clearly on more than one occasion that he'd fallen behind or had 'cheated' as he did with the sketchbook days. The comics is great, but Kurtz IS erratic.

 

[Elephant]

Enough webcomics don't seem to do this that I've reached three possible conclusions:

a) Webcomics are harder than they look
b) Webcomic artists/writers are inheriently disorganized
c) I am smarter than every single webartist on the entire planet and parts of the Moon.


I'm hoping the answer is "C" but I have a feeling it is "A". Though the guys who draw syndicated comics for the newspaper have to have things done weeks in advance. (kids: newspapers were like websites that were published on the corpses of trees)

Building up a buffer of strips in case of emergencies is all fine and good, but once you get such a buffer, it is very easy to justify any and every excuse as sufficient to raid from the buffer.

Unless you have superhuman discipline, which isn't something that usually gets associated with artsy types.

 

[Dagger75]

While I love OOTS I do find it funny than since he has gone full time it seems every other week some strange catastophe hits him. Sick, broken fingers, hospital stays, landlord breaking into his aprtment. He should just script his life.

 

[Dark Psion]

Curious he gets "Sick" just after Rocket skates are mentioned.

 

[Sledge]

Coming to Pick & Mix: d20 Rocket Skates!

 

[Corinth]

I missed Thog. He rules.

 

[Cheiromancer]

The bad thing about having a buffer is that you only get delayed feedback on your work. I imagine it must be very satisfying to write a comic and get reactions to it immediately. When the reaction is to something that you wrote 2 weeks ago, and you are already working on the next story arc- well, that's less fun.

So I can see not having a buffer.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Isn't this the second time he's ill in the past few weeks? I hope he's alright...