I've written 15 chapters so far. Should I publish now or wait for 20?

[PBJ_Time]

The word count for each of my chapters is 1.5k-1.8k, so I'm worried if I'll run out quickly on the first month. This is why I'm also considering a MWF schedule to give me enough time to write two or more chapters (and to edit the tables that are a staple in litRPGs).

 

[John_Owl]

it's up to you. Many people would say whatever you can do long-term. if you can't write 3 chapters a week, then figure out how many you can write in a week (without quality drop) and upload that many on a solid schedule.

there's no real big issue with a patchy schedule, however, as long as you stay in contact with your readers and let them know how the next upload is doing (Your profile wall is a great place for this!) I do this nearly full-time, and even still, I can't get out more than 2 chapters a week.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

15 is a good backlog. What rate do you intend to release them and what is your writing speed? Depending on that, you may need more or it could be more than enough for the time being.

 

[ArtBusterBeeze]

Choose an amount you are comfortable with and one you believe that you can maintain. I think you have a good number but it does not hurt to have extra assurance in the amount of chapters.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Not sure if this is relevant but between three sites I have four stories active right now. I publish one new chapter in each of three different ones each week, and one chapter in one that is finished here on another site. Each chapter is from a story with at least four chapters beyond this written (one has 40, one has only about five, and one has 7), except the one that has a deadline (been pushing out a chapter a day on that one - but may wind up "catching up" with my backlog on other stories while it takes my focus!). But I am currently out of work and have been at this for a few months to build up said backlog.
When/if I start working again, the pace may slow down.

 

[Goodmann]

Holidays are coming up, a little more backlog will keep you sane(r) on those days & previous/post day; particularly if younger generation shows up

 

[PBJ_Time]

if you can't write 3 chapters a week, then figure out how many you can write in a week

I can write 5-6 chapters a week, actually, but it gives me a massive migraine. The long and laborious part comes with editing all of them as meticulous as possible, sometimes even rewriting everything from scratch. Technically, I have 35 chapters in my backlog, but they're all very unpolished.

15 is a good backlog. What rate do you intend to release them and what is your writing speed? Depending on that, you may need more or it could be more than enough for the time being.

My writing speed is 35 words per minute but only if I push myself. Otherwise, it's usually at 18 or 20. As I've said to another user, I have no problem writing fast per se, but editing and sometimes rewriting is a different story.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I can write 5-6 chapters a week, actually, but it gives me a massive migraine. The long and laborious part comes with editing all of them as meticulous as possible, sometimes even rewriting everything from scratch. Technically, I have 35 chapters in my backlog, but they're all very unpolished.

My writing speed is 35 words per minute but only if I push myself. Otherwise, it's usually at 18 or 20. As I've said to another user, I have no problem writing fast per se, but editing and sometimes rewriting is a different story.

Then I think with a release rate of 3-4 chapters a week you have plenty of backlogged chapters.

 

[Spacerunner357]

I think you should upload two or one chapter a week unless you can keep up with that then do every Four or and Five days because, that will keep people reading and have it up on the frount page for longer without Burning You out.
Have an absolutely Amazing Day and Night Everyone!!:D

 

[Neo-Maker]

I think you should upload two or one chapter a week unless you can keep up with that then do every Four or and Five days because, that will keep people reading and have it up on the frount page for longer without Burning You out.
Have an absolutely Amazing Day and Night Everyone!!:D

I agree with the one above. Uploading one to three chapters is enough once you have more than twenty chapters. It only matters to upload many chapters at the beginning to gain visibility.

 

[John_Owl]

I can write 5-6 chapters a week, actually, but it gives me a massive migraine. The long and laborious part comes with editing all of them as meticulous as possible, sometimes even rewriting everything from scratch. Technically, I have 35 chapters in my backlog, but they're all very unpolished.

Have you used Grammarly? It's far from perfect, but it can help speed up editing considerably. I still use the free version. The lack of a dark mode is annoying, but it's still useable. I use it to catch most of my issues. And it simply tells you the issues rather than force-fixing them.

 

[PBJ_Time]

Have you used Grammarly? It's far from perfect, but it can help speed up editing considerably. I still use the free version. The lack of a dark mode is annoying, but it's still useable. I use it to catch most of my issues. And it simply tells you the issues rather than force-fixing them.

I do use Grammarly, lol, but editing still takes time because I go "goblin mode" when writing new chapters. Now that I mention it, they're more like manuscripts since they're full of errors and wonky pacing. It's just my way of remembering all the outlines and details before the final touch up.

Then I think with a release rate of 3-4 chapters a week you have plenty of backlogged chapters.

Thanks. Btw, I thought you meant my handwriting speed instead of typing speed. My typing speed is 56 words per minute on average and 68 if I'm really pushing it.

 

[John_Owl]

ahh. Well, to each their own. I toss the whole writing process and just outline primary points. Beyond that, I just kinda sit and write and take notes of lore I've included.

 

[Tsuru]

The word count for each of my chapters is 1.5k-1.8k, so I'm worried if I'll run out quickly on the first month. This is why I'm also considering a MWF schedule to give me enough time to write two or more chapters (and to edit the tables that are a staple in litRPGs).

1) Do what feels COMFORTABLE (body, mind, imagination, happiness, sleep, fun, etc)
2) MAKE IT so a schedule is followed. THIS, is the best way to attract more readers. YOU MUSNT break it. At worse warn beforehand if a break. Or you can simply write smaller chapters for a limited time. Or bonus chaps.
3) Expect small viewership with so little chaps (50+ it start to go up)
4) Verify the quality by someone else with a reader mentality. In fact yourself should keep a reader mentality, like game dev should be a player
5) There isnt a limit to backloging, heck some have 100+ or finished 3/4 of their books.

2.5) Bad example If you write like 1ch/week but publish 2/week, then if you only got 10 stashed, then sooner or later it will be problematic.

 

[ScarletWeeb]

I had 15+ chapters in backlog, 2 weeks back. Now I have 5. I post 5 chapters per week. So, I essentially didn't write anything last 14 days. So yeah. Take writer's block, lethargy, and procrastination in count as well.