Should I release more chapters at the expense of my art?

[MR.Squabbles]

Hey everyone, I’ve been thinking about my release schedule and could use some perspective from other creators.

Right now, my process for each chapter goes like this:
I write the chapter first, then sketch/draw around 4–6 scenes from it. Once those illustrations are done, I publish the chapter.

The thing is, this takes a lot of time. I love adding visuals, it helps me bring the story’s tone and emotion to life. But it also slows down my chapter releases by quite a bit.

So here’s my question: Should I start dialing back the art a little (maybe only 2–3 drawings per chapter, or even just 1), so I can release more chapters more consistently?

I’m torn because I don’t want to lose the immersive vibe that the art gives the story, but I also know readers value consistent uploads and story momentum.

How do you all balance quality art vs. consistent storytelling?Would you rather see more frequent updates with fewer drawings, or keep the visuals heavy even if that means slower releases?

Appreciate any thoughts or advice — especially from people who juggle both writing and illustration.

Link to my story: Traveling With a Z-Rank Adventurer and My Online Package Delivery Skill

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

You know you can just do the opposite, like 4 artwork per volume or a set number of chapters.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

I dont use art myself so I respect your choice to add your own alot.

However, I would suggest maybe tone the number of sketches down, maybe 1-2 a chapter or every couple chapters, unless there are scenes you really really need more detail shown with the art.

Having 6 scenes in a chapter almost sounds like you are heading more towards a visual novel lol. Your words should be laying your scene, not your pictures...but that is just me. If you want to put a lot of effort putting pictures in your webnovel, and you have a ton of readers, you are probably doing something right.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Hey everyone, I’ve been thinking about my release schedule and could use some perspective from other creators.

Right now, my process for each chapter goes like this:
I write the chapter first, then sketch/draw around 4–6 scenes from it. Once those illustrations are done, I publish the chapter.

The thing is, this takes a lot of time. I love adding visuals, it helps me bring the story’s tone and emotion to life. But it also slows down my chapter releases by quite a bit.

So here’s my question: Should I start dialing back the art a little (maybe only 2–3 drawings per chapter, or even just 1), so I can release more chapters more consistently?

I’m torn because I don’t want to lose the immersive vibe that the art gives the story, but I also know readers value consistent uploads and story momentum.

How do you all balance quality art vs. consistent storytelling?Would you rather see more frequent updates with fewer drawings, or keep the visuals heavy even if that means slower releases?

Appreciate any thoughts or advice — especially from people who juggle both writing and illustration.

Link to my story: Traveling With a Z-Rank Adventurer and My Online Package Delivery Skill

Anyways, since I'm done driving, I can answer you properly.

As I said earlier, you can just use a few illustrations in your novel, instead of dumping lots of drawings in a single chapter.

For one, if you can do that, might as well consider creating a graphic novel instead.

Second, some novel readers prefer few illustrations to accompany the story, preferring to form mental images of what they are reading instead of spoonfeeding them with images from your imagination.

Third, yeah, as someone who did ALL the artworks for my story (covers, back cover, character introductions, in-chapter art; if you want sample how I did it, check my story "The Human Saint is Bored" and its related arcs), it will eat at your skill, or consume your time that you should be using for writing. I managed to balance both by creating a routine; a month of writing, followed by a month of drawing stuff for my novel volume (which also counted as rest) before going back to a month of writing.

However third part needs a lot of self-discipline, even when you don't feel like it.

The Human Saint is Bored, so I was Summoned to Another World

A man wakes up one day in another world, summoned by a girl who claims she’s a ‘Great Saint’—all because of boredom. Nicknamed ‘Kuro,’ he soon discovers he’s not the typical isekai protagonist: he has no powers and has no ‘cheat skills’ to rely on. How will...

www.scribblehub.com

 

[C.Details]

I've only added art in special chapters after hitting personal goals. A sorta art dump/hey this is how that works or looks like.

While your audience might be annoyed, I would hold back to only 2 pictures. So you can focus on your writing more, editing and plot development.

Then maybe either every other big holiday or reaching a personal goal could you pop out a bit of extra art.

 

[IgnitionRex]

Hey everyone, I’ve been thinking about my release schedule and could use some perspective from other creators.

Right now, my process for each chapter goes like this:
I write the chapter first, then sketch/draw around 4–6 scenes from it. Once those illustrations are done, I publish the chapter.

The thing is, this takes a lot of time. I love adding visuals, it helps me bring the story’s tone and emotion to life. But it also slows down my chapter releases by quite a bit.

So here’s my question: Should I start dialing back the art a little (maybe only 2–3 drawings per chapter, or even just 1), so I can release more chapters more consistently?

I’m torn because I don’t want to lose the immersive vibe that the art gives the story, but I also know readers value consistent uploads and story momentum.

How do you all balance quality art vs. consistent storytelling?Would you rather see more frequent updates with fewer drawings, or keep the visuals heavy even if that means slower releases?

Appreciate any thoughts or advice — especially from people who juggle both writing and illustration.

Link to my story: Traveling With a Z-Rank Adventurer and My Online Package Delivery Skill

I don’t know if this counts since I use AI Illustrations for my novel Double Dagger Delinquent — for covers, characters, and even the bestiary in the glossary. I also add illustrations to some chapters (let’s say one illustration every 5 or 6 chapters, or whenever we reach a specific part where I want to show something).


I’m currently posting three chapters a week and, of course, dropping a smut chapter from time to time. Since my story leans toward slow-burn smut, the art helps me show how I imagine the characters and monsters. But even using AI, it’s still time-consuming since I edit the images and experiment with different styles to get the result I want. I usually do that in the background while writing the story, and juggling that with my job and college — I’m barely getting by!


So I honestly can’t imagine writing the novel and hand-drawing all the illustrations yourself — major respect for putting in that effort. I checked out your work, and it looks great!


Like others in the thread mentioned, though, it really depends on your goals. If you feel like the drawings are slowing down your writing too much, maybe try reducing them bit by bit to see if it makes a difference — or even consider turning it into a comic or graphic novel instead.


Anyway, good luck!

 

[elmerstories]

As someone who barely manages to write a chapter a week between j*b and life, absolutely focus on writing first. People are here to read, after all. You can always add illustrations later when you need a break from writing and/or have a good buffer of chapters.

 

[Eldoria]

Did you know? Readers care more about regularly updated chapters than those with beautiful illustrations but rarely updated? It's best to prioritize content updates and use illustrations sparingly.