Like the title says, though it's not even close to as personal, but it's something important to me that I enjoy doing.
Basically, if you've seen my signature and know me on my social media accounts, you'll know that for about nine months now I've been making a web-comic. It started out goofy and more comedy-centered, but has since become more serious, action-oriented, and drama-centered. In fact, the 44th chapter just released about an hour ago on Facebook (still working on releasing a .pdf download and finding another place to host it).
Anyway, now that I have much more time on my hands lately, I've wanted to expand the series into something more, through the use of spin-off comics. I know it's an ambitious tackle but I planned it out before doing it, and I've come up with a way for them to be totally doable and still have their weekly release. These spin-offs include both a short prequel mini-series and another mini-series taking place in a time gap between chapters 30 and 31.
The interquel mini-series between #30 and #31 is like the main series in that it's an action/drama combination, and stars two completely brand new characters. While the prequel is more like the original comics in that it's more focused on character relationships and comedy, though drama is still a big part (but action is planned to be almost non-existent in it). And I didn't want these to feel exactly like the main series, so I looked to getting some people I know to help me.
For the interquel, I talked with my brothers, who are both also aspiring writers like me, and they both hopped on board. I got them to be the writers for it, and I would handle the art. Aside from a few conditions, I would give them complete creative freedom on it. For them to really make it properly, however, they need to read the first 30 chapters of the comic so they know what's happened up to that point. It's been almost two months now, and they still haven't even gotten past the 15th chapter. I know this sounds kinda fickle of me, but the entirety of the first 30 chapters can be read in less than an hour. Chapters 1-30 are all really short, with a total of 5 pages each (aside from 15 and 30, which are 20 and 26 pages each). It definitely doesn't take more than two months to read.
And for the prequel, I asked one of my friends to help me write it, since she is better at working with drama/comedy stories than I am. And she jumped on board and was really excited for it. However, based on her attitude around it, she just doesn't seem to really think of it as all that important.
The way I handle my main series is that it is in "seasons", kinda like a TV series. Every 30 chapters makes a season for me. So basically what my issue is, is this: I want these comics to at least START before the end of Season 2, which is the one I'm currently on. I just released Chapter 44, and I do weekly chapters, so there's a grand total of 16 weeks to get at least ONE chapter out for both of these.
My reason for wanting that is that their story elements in these spin-offs become more and more irrelevant with each passing chapter. The interquel was brought up in Season 2's first chapter (Chapter #31), and that was way back when in October. Even though I have an extremely small fanbase, I'm still sure that even THEY have forgotten the mentions of it by this point. And it will be COMPLETELY irrelevant once I start Season 3 later this year. The prequel is in the same boat, in that by the time Season 3 starts, I don't think anyone's really going to care about the main cast's pasts by that point.
So here's what I'm asking: Should I keep pushing the people I'm working with and hope that I can produce these stories? Should I find someone else? Or should I just say "screw it" and develop these spin-offs on my own?
-If I do keep pushing, I could eventually get what I originally hoped for in that the spin-offs have a largely different feel from the main series. But this could also result in me not getting them out in the time I want them out.
-If I find someone else, there's a chance I could get what I hope for, but there's also the opposite. I don't know too many people that would be willing to work on this with me, and finding someone I don't know might spell disaster for the concepts.
-If I develop them on my own, they will more than likely just feel like the main series, which is something I want to avoid if I can.
So yeah. Thoughts? If more info is needed, I'd be happy to provide.
(PS: I know this post seems like a jumbled mess but I really have no clue how to make it more concise.)