Moving On to Other Subjects...

[the_gneech]

I wonder if I could get to a point where I could squeeze out four SJ strips a week, instead of the current three. I have actually been drawing effectively four a week for a while now, with occasional weeks off that then eat up the reserve.

As my depression works itself out and I get more usable time and energy, my productivity has gone back up considerably. However, I don't want to bite off more than I can chew and end up regretting it, either. Particularly if I want to start trying to put some more NN content up, as well as starting up the kung fu again whenever this much-anticipated promotion ever shows up, I need to carefully watch to make sure I don't overextend myself.

At the same time, I would really love to get SJ onto a M-Th schedule like TCM has now. Besides the fact that Vince is THE MAN *kowtow, kowtow*, I suspect that a lot of the constant hum of activity in the TCM forum comes from the fact that there's something new almost every day.

Sluggy, of course, updates every friggin' day, and Sluggites are insane. I'm not sure if those two facts have any kind of causal relationship, but I feel there must be a correspondence in there somewhere.

Putting out more strips would make new books come out faster, too ... hmm...

-The Gneech ("Must ponder.")

Comments

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

I'd stay with the 3 strip format. Put the energy into making a cushion of done and ready strips so when you have emergencies or days of complete exhaustion you can still put up strips. You can also make some "filler" strips that have no story arc and are one-shot funnies for the same purpose and you can run them at anytime should you fall ill or something.

My understanding is that the cartoonists for the newspaper are required to do this by their syndicates.

[level-head.livejournal.com]

I would have to agree with ShockWave77598; you risk trading consistency for frequency.

If you feel that you really must do something with a fourth strip every week (in addition, obviously, to getting ahead!) you could do a once-per-week Never Never along the lines of Ralph Hayes' "Tales of the Questor". That seems to work fine, and Ralph has other more frequent strips to keep folks occupied, just as you do.

But getting a month ahead would be very cool, and would change your entire outlook.

===|==============/ Level Head

[lady-anne.livejournal.com]

I fully agree with the sentiments expressed above - they just said it before I read it.

Be good - The Lady, Anne

[chef-troy.livejournal.com]

I would do almost ANYTHING to take Scandal Sheet! to a daily schedule. Well, except spend more time drawing on the weekends. *grin*

I am so with you, gneech. I look at my own list of favorite comics, and most of them are either daily or M-F. It makes it easier to maintain a story arc and draws bigger crowds.

But I decided for myself that it's better to mostly stick to a MWF schedule than to aim for m-f and fail, fail, fail. At least for now - if I ever get to the point where this is a business thing for me instead of just a hobby, I'll have to upgrade my production schedule.

Which isn't to say that I wouldn't love to see YOU go to M-F. And more underwear modeling jobs for Tiff, mmmmkay? *wink*

[nekomimikun.livejournal.com]

Well, I used to do M-W-F, and then I decided to add Sunday to it. It gave me some breaks inbetween, (being spread out n'stuff), and yet it helps me do my monthly "Ask Torrey" comics, as well as making it easier to do storylines that require some good length.
And if you get to plug (;P) (http://goforit.keenspace.com)
XD Sorry for the plug, the balance of the universe is now in order.

[chipuni.livejournal.com]

I agree with everyone else...

If you have the time and energy to do four strips a week, do it... but let the fourth be a 'one-shot' comic strip, not necessarily part of the plot line, that you can use to fill in when emergencies come up. Place them in the Watering Hole In The Wall, or somewhere else that you can switch to and not break continuity.

Of course, to get our attentions, all you need is Tiffany or Conrad in an alluring pose. (*vavavooom!*)

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

I think there may be some connection to the character of the strip. TCM appeals specifically to the college-age group, which garners a lot of rowdy activity. SJ, on the other hand, appeals more to the Gen-X crowd, which is more thoughtful. This is not to say there is not crossover, but that it is a tendancy, and that the main appellate group tends to control the methods on the forums. As you can see, the bleedover from TCM onto your forum has livened things up as more college-type readers come on board.

If you're looking to do more strips and get in some time on NN, here's a thought to consider. Why not continue to do SJ on the M-W-F format for a while longer, and do NN once a week, Tuesday, or Sunday or what have you, and see if writing the fourth regular strip does not eat your time too much. If that seems stable, then go to a M-to-Th schedule with SJ and observe again.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

More strips per week would be nice, but don't kill yourself! (img src="http://www.livejournal.com/img/talk/sm01_smiley.gif"> I'm happy with things as they are if it means you feel better about it and won't burn out. Shockwave and the esteemed Level Head have good suggestions.

[nekomimikun.livejournal.com]

HEY! THIS IS MY SPIEL!!
I JUST went to a 4-day schedule! *pout*
tonikaku (anyways), it would be nice to see more SJ, but don't stress yerself! =D

[katayamma.livejournal.com]

Stick with 3 strips a week for now. If you want to feel productive, make one a dobule strip occasionally or something similar.

Keep in mind that when something happens and you fall behind or feel "rushed" to get a strip out, your art suffers.

*hugs*

[rhanlav.livejournal.com]

*waves a gold watch in front of TG*

Stick with a M-W-F schedule... and if you wanna throw something in on Sunday, that would be ok. Maybe like an all-sketchbook Sunday? Doesn't have to be an interesting sketch either. Not that the 3 day schedule is bad. I think its fine. :) And yeah, if you crank out 4 comics a week, but only release 3, well, build yourself up a nice stock pile, and if you wanna crank them out sooner, maybe have a special sunday comic (normal format), just to help speed it up, if you get too many in storage.

--Rhan, "Here's a cheesie."