Thurs. May 2, 2024: Directional Signs (on Multiple Levels)
image courtesy of Gerd Altmann via pixabay.comThursday, May 2, 2024
Waning Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Sunny and Pleasant
Yup, we’re back into retrogrades. Pluto, the planet of transformation and what’s hidden, is retrograde until October 11. Someone called it a time to “declutter the soul” which is an interesting way to look at it.
You can read about the latest on the garden over on Gratitude and Growth.
Today’s LEGERDEMAIN EPISODE:
Episode 186: Citizens Prepare for a Day of Fun and Protest
Protest Day means fun, food, entertainment, and speeches for the city’s population. Shelley is determined to keep it from getting dangerous.
Today’s DEADLY DRAMATICS episode:
Episode 117: Chatting with Charlie
Charlie warns Nina to let the police handle this murder.
I did not post my April word count/analysis yesterday, so I’m doing so today:
New material: 53,275 words
Edited material: 44,706 words
Client work: 28,077
Marketing/video time: 0 hours actively marketing, about 5 hours updating/cleaning up websites.
The new material word count is in a pretty decent spot, especially when added to client work (which is new material, but for other people). The edited material is in a decent place, especially since so many of the edits/revisions on which I worked were plays, which have a lower per page word count. That all feels like I’m in a good place.
Payment-wise, I’m much closer to my aim in April than in the previous months. A little under, but not by much, and it gives me something to build on for the more ambitious goals for summer. Even though my word count was only up about 4K on client work from March, the payment was more in alignment with my goals. Which means I’m working smarter and the freelance jobs I’m taking are in the right direction. I don’t feel overworked and underpaid as badly as in previous months. The client wordcount nearly doubled from February’s numbers, so it’s a good thing the payment’s much better, too!
The marketing is where it gets interesting. I didn’t realize that I hadn’t posted ANY promos for my own work in April. I kept putting off the new episode videos. But my TikTok numbers in particular, have gone higher, and the old episode videos are still showing a conversion rate. Putting in less time, and dumping some of the social media channels, has kept my conversion rate steady. Adding what I’m learning in the marketing cohort, and the tweaks I’ve made over the past few weeks, I see my numbers rising, even without new content anywhere other than the blog, and only fun content on Instagram. And the slightly humorous promotional marketing content skews higher than the more serious and/or business-y content. This blog is one of the highest drivers to other sites that also results in conversions.
All of that is really good information. The blog information surprised me. I mean, in business terms, it’s been around for 20 years, it makes sense to have a good conversion rate and business gurus would say it’s not high enough.
But it’s also me just being me. Talking about what excites me, frustrates me, challenges, happy moments, etc. It’s a messy integration. But that was kind of the point; when I started this blog, I was transitioning out of working backstage and in production a zillion hours a week to writing full time and moving out of New York and so forth. I wanted a more holistic life. I didn’t expect a lot of the challenges in these past years, and I was often criticized for not presenting a perfect façade. But I’m not perfect. I’m me, with flaws and facets and all the rest.
This blog, to me, is morning coffee with friends, which means we chat about anything and everything and share resources and offer support and just try to help each other get through the day. Because it draws people from a wide variety of interests, and offers links not just to my stuff, but to other people’s stuff, it makes a good web of interconnected life. A portion of that translates into the monies from my work that is part of earning a living; a portion of that goes to fellow creators who are mentioned here who get more traffic to their sites from my sites that turn into relationships and sometimes financial support. I checked with a few to make sure that was correct. I’m far from being an “influencer” and the very term makes me queasy, but people find my links to other sites helpful and the people behind those sites see a conversion rate. So everybody is happy and nobody feels pushed into anything.
It’s not viral posts and huge amounts of cash on any given day. But it’s steady growth and support, which I would rather have anyway (except in times of crisis).
For what I want out of my life and career, that means I’m on the right track. Collecting this information means I can build on it in a way that serves my vision without getting aggressively market-centric in a way that is uncomfortable for any of us, yet also allows me to make a living doing what I love.
I also noticed that when I ignore what a Freelance group I used to belong to insists are “best practices” and “the way to do things” I have a higher conversion rate than when I follow their advice. But then, it’s the same core group that are rather insular to my view and shore each other up rather than trying new ideas (one of many reasons I left the group; another is, because I write fiction and get paid for it, I’m not considered on par with the rest of them in the business field).
So that’s a big relief, and the information helps me shape further without getting caught up in a marketing “persona” that would be against my comfort level and values.
I’m going to keep collecting the data and metrics over the next few months (possibly a year) and see where it leads.
I was invited to attend an artist networking event about an hour east of here in early June. I wasn’t that excited about the panels, but I thought I might meet some interesting people there. The cost of the ticket wasn’t bad, especially since the event included lunch. However, when I went to check out there was an “administration fee” that added an additional 31% to the cost of the ticket. If one wanted a ticket mailed, they charged an additional $3.50 on top of it, meaning the combined fees added over 50% to the cost of a ticket. By a place that claims to fight for “equity.” Nope. Not doing it.
I mean, I’d do an e-ticket anyway, but 31% additional fees on the ticket price is unacceptable to me. Especially for a place that claims it’s all about “equity.” Because these additional charges put up an economic barrier for some. Could I afford the ticket price AND the fee right now? Yes. But I am not willing to pay these additional fees, especially since the day didn’t excite me all that much in the first place.
Next!
Switched out all the curtains – living room, Tessa’s room, front door, kitchen, even put up a new curtain and curtain rod in my bedroom. The summer curtains make everything feel lighter. I was worried the panels I put up in the kitchen wouldn’t work because I’d used them in my bedroom last summer and was afraid they were too bedroomy, but they look much better in the kitchen! I’d made those curtains years ago because I liked the fabric, but rarely did they fit anywhere. Switched the front door décor. Switched the table linens in the kitchen. Put up the summer light string in the kitchen, and the ones for the porch.
I still have to do the fabrics on tables, chairs, etc. throughout the house, but I figured I wouldn’t get it all done today. But it’s a start, and makes a big difference as far as making it feel more summery. A lighter kind of cozy, if you will. (And even if you won’t, that’s what I’m doing).
Submitted a play, worked on the character breakdown for a different play. Will do the cover page for that, and it will be ready for submission soon. I have to get FALL FOREVER out to someone else who wanted to take a look at it. Signed up for The Playground Experiment, which was recommended during End of Play. They probably got a ton of new signups; I’ll wait until those without follow-through fall away before I start participating.
Managed to send in the book review, now that the internet was working again. I’d been warned things would slow down over the next few months, but I got assigned two more books to review, so I’ll keep on keeping on as long as there’s work (yes, it’s paid, or I wouldn’t do it).
Set up my midpoint cohort check-in with our cohort manager for next week. I alternate between feeling like I’m on track and feeling like I’m flailing.
Started a coverage, but kept getting interrupted.
Headed out a little early for tarot, making stops for potting soil and at Wild Oats. Tarot was fun; they had a Beltane altar up and makings for mini-Maypoles. Conversation, as always, was good.
Started driving home, made a turn – and saw that the sideview mirror on the passenger side of the car had fallen out of the casing. So I have to get that fixed. Just when I thought I was getting a little ahead. So frustrated. I will contact the mechanic and see how much that’s going to cost, and when they can fit me in.
It also means cancelling this weekend’s storage run. I doubt it can be fixed before the weekend. Which I’m kind of okay with. I feel the pressure of needing to get in at least one run and wanting to get in two before Memorial Day, and dreading it.
Came home, cooked dinner, prepared to join the regional End of Play Pens Down event – and they sent the link for April 24, not for tonight’s event. Which of course, did not work. I didn’t feel like contacting them at the last minute for the correct link, so I went back and finished the script coverage instead. This year’s administration of the program has been much more disorganized than last year’s, and less sense of connection to the group, at least for me. I had the daily check-ins with two other playwrights who formed a mini accountability group, and that was great.
Started on the new month of ancestor work. The information coming through the cards does not align with known information I have on the family, but perhaps I need to do some further research. Or perhaps it’s not about a literal bloodline ancestor.
Did a simple Beltane ritual of my own.
Slept pretty well. Worked with someone named “Liza” in a dream, and I think she’s been in a previous dream about a project, so I need to pay attention and see what kind of Lizas cross my path in the coming weeks.
The lace panels make a huge difference in letting spring light into the rooms. It’s lovely.
We haven’t received the link for this morning’s ZOOM meditation, so maybe this week is cancelled, too? It wouldn’t surprise me.
Which is fine, if it is, because I have Stuff To Do. I have to get next week’s LEGERDEMAIN episodes edited, polished, uploaded, and scheduled. I need to work on the play. I have script coverages and contest entries. I have a two-hour marketing cohort meeting.
I am hugely unprepared for this weekend’s Kentucky Derby, and have generally had a bad feeling about it going on for a week now.
I’m going to try to get some writing in before the meditation Zoom link either arrives or does not, and then get on with the rest of my day.
Have a good one!
