Tektoonics redesign ideas

[jpholding]

I have a lot of plans for redesign of the Tektoonics site and for getting a wider readership once the crossover story (ST #5/RP #6) is done. For now the readership (which is mostly Tekton readers) acts as an effective crucible for feedback.

Here's the first idea I want opinions on.

At the present rate I'm able to produce one Hearthstome comic about every 75 days.

Would it be better to finish and then post each one as a whole, or would it be a positive thing to post the stories in installments of say 10-15 pages, divided at logical plot points (maybe a cliffhanger, but not always)?

I guess another way to put it is, how often do you need a Hearthstone fix. :hehe:

[Teallaura]

I admit I haven't read it - I don't really do webcomics (It's a concept thing - namely, I don't get it. :shrug:) but I am a comics fan.

If you wish to increase readership, then story arcs are the way to go. New readers aren't gonna wait 75 days to see the next installment - they'll simply wander away.

Old fans will hang around for the wait, so while they want it more often, they'll still be there even if it's coming slowly.

Addicts will try to find you and live on your doorstep. Consider moving every six months or so! :wink:

Seriously, inconsistent timing has killed many a TV show, cartoon and comic. All three thrive on regularity.

Make sure Sheilia takes her Ex-lax! :teeth:

























































:noid: I'm sooooooo outta here! :outtie:

[Darth Executor]

I admit I haven't read it - I don't really do webcomics (It's a concept thing - namely, I don't get it. :shrug:) but I am a comics fan.


Well, JP's web comic isn't really like other web comics. I could imagine buying it in a comic book store.

[themuzicman]

I have a lot of plans for redesign of the Tektoonics site and for getting a wider readership once the crossover story (ST #5/RP #6) is done. For now the readership (which is mostly Tekton readers) acts as an effective crucible for feedback.

Here's the first idea I want opinions on.

At the present rate I'm able to produce one Hearthstome comic about every 75 days.

Would it be better to finish and then post each one as a whole, or would it be a positive thing to post the stories in installments of say 10-15 pages, divided at logical plot points (maybe a cliffhanger, but not always)?

I guess another way to put it is, how often do you need a Hearthstone fix. :hehe:
Draw stick figures and steal story lines from "The Young and the Restless" :hehe:

[Teallaura]

I'm afraid my - shortfalling - is a little more basic....

I can't find the things and never remember to look.... :sad:

[Teallaura]

Draw stick figures and steal story lines from "The Young and the Restless" :hehe:From what I'm given to understand, I'm having a hard time imagining Shelia in a hospital cat-fighting with her comatose husband's girlfriend from his third affair over whether or not to pull the plug to save the life of the husband/girlfriend's baby, who was experimentally implanted in the husband just prior to the terrorist attack on the plane he was flying back in from his summer place in Alaska where he'd gone to get away from both Sheilia and the girlfriend, only to realize he couldn't live without Sheilia and had to break it off with the girlfriend, which, of course, he had to do face-to-face so he didn't get a chance before becoming the sole survivor of the failed hijacking induced mid-air plane explosion.

[Ryokan]

I'm afraid my - shortfalling - is a little more basic....

I can't find the things and never remember to look.... :sad:
For alternative comics, go here http://www.moderntales.com/. Action comics http://www.graphicsmash.com/. popular comics http://www.keenspot.com/ New comics: http://www.comicgenesis.com/
Ones sure to offend: www.somethingpositive.net http://www.petprofessional.net/. Anime comic: www.megatokyo.com (I hate this one, but you may get it). Videogame comics: http://www.penny-arcade.com/, http://www.pvponline.com/
Comics that deserve more readers: http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/index2.php , http://www.robandelliot.cycomics.com/ , http://www.bohemiandrive.com/comics/npwil.html ,
http://www.catandgirl.com/
www.americanelf.com.
Commentary: http://www.comixpedia.com/, http://webcomicsreview.com/, http://www.websnark.com/, http://www.fleen.com/

Finally, my favorite: http://www.sluggy.com/

Okay teal, all you have to do is click. I admit, I am somewhat of, if not alot of, a webcomics enthusiast. I love them. I read them alot more than regular comics. I think they are good. SO try it out, and see what you think

Ps: Some of these links are not kid friendly. I don't think any of them are usually hideous beyond belief, but moderate if you must. Sorry in advance.

[Ryokan]

I have a lot of plans for redesign of the Tektoonics site and for getting a wider readership once the crossover story (ST #5/RP #6) is done. For now the readership (which is mostly Tekton readers) acts as an effective crucible for feedback.

Here's the first idea I want opinions on.

At the present rate I'm able to produce one Hearthstome comic about every 75 days.

Would it be better to finish and then post each one as a whole, or would it be a positive thing to post the stories in installments of say 10-15 pages, divided at logical plot points (maybe a cliffhanger, but not always)?

I guess another way to put it is, how often do you need a Hearthstone fix. :hehe:
Honestly, JP, we never talk, but I know alot about webcomics as I read alot of them. And.... YOu want to post every new page as soon as it comes out. Strips, unlike the long form comic you do, are generally more successful because they post every day. THe successful online longform comics still post twice a week. People have an attention span on the web of a pretzel, and the truth is even crummy comics that update regularly have readers and great comics that don't have none.

[Teallaura]

For alternative comics, go here http://www.moderntales.com/. Action comics http://www.graphicsmash.com/. popular comics http://www.keenspot.com/ New comics: http://www.comicgenesis.com/
Ones sure to offend: www.somethingpositive.net (http://www.somethingpositive.net/) http://www.petprofessional.net/. Anime comic: www.megatokyo.com (http://www.megatokyo.com/) (I hate this one, but you may get it). Videogame comics: http://www.penny-arcade.com/, http://www.pvponline.com/
Comics that deserve more readers: http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/index2.php , http://www.robandelliot.cycomics.com/ , http://www.bohemiandrive.com/comics/npwil.html ,
http://www.catandgirl.com/
www.americanelf.com (http://www.americanelf.com/).
Commentary: http://www.comixpedia.com/, http://webcomicsreview.com/, http://www.websnark.com/, http://www.fleen.com/

Finally, my favorite: http://www.sluggy.com/

Okay teal, all you have to do is click. I admit, I am somewhat of, if not alot of, a webcomics enthusiast. I love them. I read them alot more than regular comics. I think they are good. SO try it out, and see what you think

Ps: Some of these links are not kid friendly. I don't think any of them are usually hideous beyond belief, but moderate if you must. Sorry in advance.

You're scaring me, Ry....:twitch:

[Ryokan]

You're scaring me, Ry....:twitch:
:lol: I try. I get bored at work....

[jpholding]

Thanks for comments so far. I'll be back after the weekend to check for more and then offer any replies or counter comments.

[LilPunkishOfTerror]

JP,

I'd be happy with you continuing as you are, finishing the project before posting. I am not suffering with-with-with-drawal symptoms. ::shiver::

[Spheniscine]

Me-me-me ne-ne-neither. :lmbo:

Teal does have a point about keeping readers with short attention spans.

[Leonhard]

I have a lot of plans for redesign of the Tektoonics site and for getting a wider readership once the crossover story (ST #5/RP #6) is done. For now the readership (which is mostly Tekton readers) acts as an effective crucible for feedback.

Here's the first idea I want opinions on.

At the present rate I'm able to produce one Hearthstome comic about every 75 days.

Would it be better to finish and then post each one as a whole, or would it be a positive thing to post the stories in installments of say 10-15 pages, divided at logical plot points (maybe a cliffhanger, but not always)?

I guess another way to put it is, how often do you need a Hearthstone fix. :hehe:

For the first question:

I'm afraid I have to agree with Teallaura and Ryokan, to get more readers you need to shorten the interval between updates. However, you don't need to release the pages as fast as you can make them, an interval of two weeks would be fine. I've seen great comics like www.thewotch.com or www.elgoonishshive.com, that have gone weeks without posting new content other than some random sketch. It of course depends on how you feel it would affect the quality.

As for the second question:

Hello my name is Leonhard and I'm an Hearthstonian addict!

[Teallaura]

You might wanna consider holding back a couple of complete story arcs before you start trying to build new readership - that way you have enough work already done that you can release on a regular schedule. You'll actually be releasing work well behind where you are in writing so you really need to watch your continuity (or you'll lose track of what is going on for the reader as opposed to what's going on in your writing) but that's a minor problem and the benefit, in my opinion, would far outweigh the cost.


Now, we will have to sedate Jedi, Sphen and Leo for duration until you can get that far ahead but I hear the addiction isn't easily broken, so I wouldn't worry about losing those three! :wink:

[jpholding]

Some comments here, then another question.....

Well, that's pretty well a unified consensus, isn't it? :rofl: So it is. When I get to the later stage after the crossover issue, regular updates it is....divided at logical story points should work well. Someone else also noted in email that it's a way to increase site traffic, too....

Every day, as Ryokan suggested, doesn't seem quite right to me given the complexity of the tales. Too much angst might result. But I can probably manage every 3-4 days easily at logical story divisions. It won't affect the quality....even now I manage an average 2 pages a day, I just don't post 'em....


You might wanna consider holding back a couple of complete story arcs before you start trying to build new readership - that way you have enough work already done that you can release on a regular schedule.

If you mean what I think you do, that shouldn't be a problem. On the "mega" level there are four storylines I have in mind:

* the Cartel cycle (the present one)
* the Planet in Rebellion cycle (where the weather controls break down)
* the Breaking of the Gates cycle (Gen'a'too and his bunch get loose and have to be put back)
* the "final" storyline


You'll actually be releasing work well behind where you are in writing so you really need to watch your continuity (or you'll lose track of what is going on for the reader as opposed to what's going on in your writing)

As much as these storylines go through my mind, losing track of continuity shouldn't happen! :hehe:



Darth, just how much ARE comic books these days, anyway??? My Captain Carrot books say 60 cents and I know THAT'S way out of date.





Here's the next matter....

Right now the stats show that Tekton readers are the majority of Tektoonics users. The parody page is the one that gets the most traffic, about 900 hits a month. Maybe 80-100 people read the Hearthstone stuff. That's what I expect at this stage.

In the redesign I think I'd like to make the parodies a subset of the Etc. section -- no longer linked on the front page directly. Reason: When a wider readership is in view, there'd be too many people who'd have no idea what the parodies are for. But of course it would keep the same URL and I don't think any Tekton readers would lose track of it.

Thoughts? (And more on the other issue is welcome anytime.)

[Ryokan]

Every day, as Ryokan suggested, doesn't seem quite right to me given the complexity of the tales. Too much angst might result. But I can probably manage every 3-4 days easily at logical story divisions. It won't affect the quality....even now I manage an average 2 pages a day, I just don't post 'em.... For your format, everyday is too much. I thought I said that. But something like every monday an dfriday could work, maybe.





Darth, just how much ARE comic books these days, anyway??? My Captain Carrot books say 60 cents and I know THAT'S way out of date.


$3.00 or so.

[Leonhard]

Every day, as Ryokan suggested, doesn't seem quite right to me given the complexity of the tales. Too much angst might result. But I can probably manage every 3-4 days easily at logical story divisions. It won't affect the quality....even now I manage an average 2 pages a day, I just don't post 'em....

I think once a week preferably at the same day would be optimal. However you should put it out as you feel like.

Darth, just how much ARE comic books these days, anyway??? My Captain Carrot books say 60 cents and I know THAT'S way out of date.

I you wanna know about a case of internet webcomic beginning to sell its material check out www.elgoonishshive.com (http://www.elgoonishshive.com) (click the picture link in the upper right corner) He sells about 200 pages of webcomic including some stuff he didn't release on his main site of comic for about 10$ a comic. I think however you would need an ok fanbase before selling stuff that way.

[QUOTE=jpholding]Right now the stats show that Tekton readers are the majority of Tektoonics users. The parody page is the one that gets the most traffic, about 900 hits a month. Maybe 80-100 people read the Hearthstone stuff. That's what I expect at this stage.

In the redesign I think I'd like to make the parodies a subset of the Etc. section -- no longer linked on the front page directly. Reason: When a wider readership is in view, there'd be too many people who'd have no idea what the parodies are for. But of course it would keep the same URL and I don't think any Tekton readers would lose track of it.

That would be pretty hard.

[{Tim}]

I think I said once before, that I wasn't sure that the Hearthstone stories would work well for posting very often... but if you can work out significant points to break it at, then yeah, sure. :shrug: Personally I wouldn't go for more than once a week... if only because I would definitely not *read* it more than once a week, or possibly once a fortnight even. :ahem: So I really wouldn't care if there was no new stuff for that long.

But I'm sure others need their fix... :hehe:

[JB]

I personally have no problem waiting a while for the next Hearthstone to be posted, because I know from experience that the quality is worth it, but I can see how the wait could be a bit too much for some. If a logical point for a break presents itself so that parts can be posted more frequently, I won't object to that, either. Once a week sounds like a pretty reasonable frequency to me.