Progress Report 2023 Week 37

We’ve seen a trend of Real Life Family Events (RLFEs) over the last couple of months. Did that trend continue? Do you really need to ask? How’s the revamped and reinvigorated Facebook ad performing? Is there any movement on the next series? Let’s look at those questions after the infographic.

Progress Report 2023 Week 37 By the Numbers

You noticed that there’s only four digits in the word count this week, did you?

To answer the question about RLFEs, yes, the trend continued. It’s at the level where not only did it completely blow out one night of writing, the stress is keeping me “entertained” most nights. But, like I’ve said before, I think my being here is helping, so it’s worth it. And my writing’s keeping my head together, so it’s all good.

Still, just between us, I have to wonder: what’s it like for people who can just sit down and write — with an expectation that they’ll have an hour or two without an emergency text or phone call? That’s got to be amazing.

Marketing 1, Crow 0

That score represents the September 2023 games, by the way!

I throttled back funding for the Facebook ad to save funds for Evolution’s Hand Book 5: Split Infinities’ proof read. At the same time, I tried a new, improved, and (what I thought was) vigorous rewrite for blurbs. All four published books got a facelift. My hope was to improve click converions.

Unfortunately, what I thought of as “improved” was apparently “less effective,” because the the post-click purchase rate dropped. I’m not giving up (though I probably should!). I’m three modules into The Writing Wives’ “Write to Market” course. I’m not writing to market, but the material includes modules on blurb writing. The next modules, in fact, is exactly that.

This might sound odd, but I hope to come out of the other side of that module with a clear knowledge of why my blurbs suck. Knowing why is the first step to fixing them. The second step probably involves knowing what actually works. Boy, I hope I learn that!

The Next Series

In my 30 minute consult with The Writing Wives, the consultant suggested the Evolution’s Hand as a series title didn’t evoke a sense of science fiction or thriller. Since the series titles I had been considering were based around it (Evolution’s War or Volition’s Hand, for example), I’m rethinking them.

Research continues into titles for my next series. Scene is dramatized; actual research scenarios may different. Image from Pixabay.

In one of his comments here, Lynn suggested I be careful about trying to write a military science fiction. I think he’s right. I’m going instead to call it science fiction/space opera. The latter is a respectable (and fun!) genre now. I think my next series might be what I had called Evolution’s War, but I’m thinking of a more suitable title.

Epsilon Eridani Ascending? The Eminence at Epsilon Eridani? I’m not sure. I’m still kicking ideas around.

Progress against Last Week’s Goals

Here’s how I did against last week’s goals:

1. Finish Mariam Al Khatib’s Pinch 2: Done! Also, I figured out I’ll need a bridge chapter before her Plot Turn 2 — it’ll serve as a bridge for all of A Plot.
2. Finish Melchizedek Conrad’s Pinch 2: Not done! I shuffled a couple things around, so this got pushed back.
3. Finish Matsushita Sachi’s Pinch 2Not done! I shuffled a couple things around, so this got pushed back.
4. Finish Mariam Al Khatib’s Pinch 2: Ack! Duplicate! Someone, I duplicated this goal.
5. Monitor the performance of the new Facebook ad: Done! Discussed above.
6. Select the next outlet for advertising: Done! I have a couple of options I’m going to explore.

I finished Noam Katz’ and Magali Suarez’ Pinch 2, which were two of the pieces I reshuffled.

Goals for the Week in Progress Report 2023 Week 37

Here’s what I hope to accomplish this week:

1. Finish Mariam Al Khatib’s Pinch 2 Part II
2. Finish Melchizedek Conrad’s Pinch 2
3. Finish Matsushita Sachi’s Pinch 2 (parts 1 and 2)
4. Finish Catalina Ojeda’s Plot Turn 2
5. (Stretch) Start Magali Suarez’ Plot Turn 2

What Do You Think?

If you’re a writer, did you have as much trouble with marketing as I have? If so, how’d you keep your spirits up? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!