Fri. May 3, 2024: Sorting Through the Information
image courtesy of Jill Wellington via pixabay.comFriday, May 3, 2024
Waning Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Partly cloudy and warm
I can’t believe it’s already Friday again.
Yesterday turned into a gorgeous day, sunny and in the 70’s.
Today’s ANGEL HUNT episode:
Episode 134: With Zeke
If Lianna’s going to die anyway, she wants to go out happy.
Today’s DEADLY DRAMATICS episode:
Episode 118: Zack Tells It Like It Is
Zack’s not bothered by Nina’s proximity to death, and he has some of his own revelations.
Only TEN more episodes left in this season!
Saturday’s DEADLY DRAMATICS episode:
Episode 119: Misty’s Despair
Nina is worried about Misty and Geri.
Sunday’s DEADLY DRAMATICS episode:
Episode 120: Zack’s Ploy
When the concierge won’t let Nina and Zack up to the Watsons’, Zack plays the charm card with a neighbor.
Only EIGHT more episodes left in the season!
Monday’s DEADLY DRAMATICS episode
Episode 121: Mrs. Van Der Platt Demands Answers
Hilda Van Der Platt has a long history with Jamie, Tess, and even Geri.
We’re in the homestretch of the DEADLY DRAMATICS season. Monday May 13 is the final episode, and then people can binge.
Now, if I could just get the episodes for the LEGERDEMAIN season completed. , ,although I got up next week’s episodes yesterday, so we’re all good, provided they don’t get stuck in review. (Which they did not; they cleared by the end of the day).
I wrote 2 ½ pages on the Playland Painters play.
Meditation happened, and it was fine, although Charlotte was busy elsewhere and missed it.
I did some work on the June newsletter. I did some admin work on the serials. I did some cleanup on the Coventina Circle website. The Mailerlite form isn’t working properly to do the newsletter signup on the individual sites (I suspect it has to do with the API key), so I’m sending people through to the signup on the DE site and which does work. I did some cleanup on the Nautical Namaste website.
I dashed down to the post office, because something had to go out before noon. But it was a lovely day and a nice walk.
Did the next marketing cohort workshop, which was good. Everyone’s work is so interesting. We discussed a way for me to expand the Devon Ellington social media to cross promote the Cerridwen Iris Shea material where appropriate, without having to start over under that name on social media channels. Once I get the content on the CIS site updated and add regularly, I think I can make it work.
There was also a suggestion to start a Discord channel and offer “office hours” regularly to talk with readers about writing. On the one hand, I like the idea; on the other hand, I am not a fan of Discord, as you well know. With my last computer, I could either have a working computer or I could have Discord on it. I also don’t think I have the following yet. I should ask Lilith St. Crow about it. I know she has her own Discord (which I think is part of her Patreon). I’m leaning more toward doing a Secret Room for newsletter subscribers at this point. I also need to start promoting the newsletter the week or so before it comes out on social media to encourage new subscribers. We also learned a lot about relevant SEO keywords.
I was all excited about my TikTok numbers and conversion rates and then, when I went into TikTok (I hadn’t yet downloaded it to this new computer and THAT was a nightmare) to share it with the workshop leader, the account was a darned mess. The numbers in my analytics board are high (and the money I made last month proves conversions). But the forward-facing numbers don’t add up. So I don’t know what’s going on. Plus, TikTok blocked some videos and some audio. First of all, I’m careful about rights and acknowledging the creators of the music I use. Second, there’s nothing nasty or inappropriate within these 15 and 30 second videos; they are far milder than a great deal of the content on that channel, much of which is stomach churning. But, of course, TikTok can’t be bothered to answer individual questions. I heard some rumors that several serial authors are having similar issues; one of them is going to deep dive to try to figure out why.
So now I feel bad, because I don’t want the workshop leader to feel I misrepresented myself. But I can’t control what anyone else thinks, and I just have to keep on keeping on.
I turned around only one coverage (which means I have two to do today). A disturbing trend in submissions I’ve noticed is that writers open up a script software package, import their novel, add a few sluglines, and then submit without going through to make sure the dialogue box contains only dialogue, the action lines build scenes, or the storytelling is appropriate to the medium. Also, not every novel should be adapted for screen. It’s not a get-rich quick scheme.
I did a bunch of contest entries. I think I can finish up my final category today and get that out. I have a pretty strong idea about the winner and the finalists, and want to go over the material one more time before I make my final decisions.
I designed the new Fearless Ink postcard. I will do some tweaks, and send it out for printing next week, so I’ll have the postcards in time for the Expo, and then do the mailing after.
I ordered bagels from Hexagon Bagels to pick up next Wednesday at tarot.
Our cohort manager sent out the news for May. The local Farmers’ Market is hosting artists and educators to run workshops during market season. I put together a proposal that’s a longshot, but I had to at least try. It’s very lowkey, people can flow in and out, ekphrastic and prompt-based writing practice.
Haven’t heard back from the mechanic yet. A friend who read about the mirror situation here told me that the law in this state means I can drive without the passenger mirror (although I’m not comfortable driving on a highway without it). But at least I won’t be cited until I get it fixed, provided I stay in the state.
Woke up around 1:30, worrying. Some is worry about juggling everything and expanding client work; some is sense memory stress, and I really, REALLY need to move past that at this point. I don’t need to be in survival mode all the darned time.
On today’s agenda: write an episode of Legerdemain, work on the play, finish the final category in the contest and submit my scores, pick up a few things at the grocery store, library drop off/pick up, two script coverages. I’d like to get next week’s videos done and scheduled (even with the TikTok issues), but that might not happen until tomorrow.
I’m watching some individuals, on Instagram especially, monetizing parts of their lives in ways that makes me uncomfortable. I believe people should be paid for their work and their skills, but there are also some aspects of ourselves that can’t be defined by a price tag. Yet we’re all scrambling to make a living. I mean, I can always unfollow if it becomes too much (and I have, in a few instances). Ultimately, it’s not my business, but I can learn from everything that works and everything that doesn’t.
Lots to think about.
Since tomorrow’s storage run to the Cape is cancelled, it gives me a day to do stuff around the house, which will be good. I should wander around First Friday tonight downtown, but it all depends on whether or not I can get both coverages turned around this afternoon, along with everything else.
Have a great weekend, and we’ll catch up next week!
