Chapter 1: A Delayed Update

Hello everyone,

I hope this message finds you well, even if it arrives later than intended. This month has been particularly hectic for me due to a personal theatrical project that I was directing, which opened around the middle of the month. This endeavor absorbed much of my attention, resulting in a delay in sharing this update and a decrease in my writing output. Just recently, I've started to regain my writing rhythm. Given that many of you appreciate my updates, I believe a personal touch is warranted, especially since several significant events have transpired since my last update.

How did April unfold? Unfortunately, there’s no proper image this month, just a rough blend of sketches from both months.

This is a composite from two periods, resized to accurately position the marker in the middle.

Interestingly, my reading statistics appear to have dipped again. This seems curious, yet it hasn’t significantly impacted my earnings or reading minutes. I suspect that the presence of a couple of lengthy pieces early in the month might have skewed the numbers—two readers engaging with a 12-minute article can weigh more than twelve readers skimming through a 1-minute piece. All in all, having my work read 986 times in a month is quite remarkable. I usually expect only about 25 or 30 reads, so this is still quite surprising. However, given the time constraints I’ve faced recently, I anticipate a further decline next month, which is perfectly acceptable as I write primarily for my own enjoyment, hoping others find value in it as well.

Objective Statistics

• Total pieces published: 41
• Pieces exceeding 4 minutes: 4

These numbers have slightly decreased from last month, where I published 44 pieces, 12 of which were over 4 minutes. I had set my expectations appropriately, recognizing that this month was particularly busy, which makes me wonder if I might have undersold my own capabilities.

Nonetheless, the drop isn’t as steep as I initially feared. I've been pulling back a bit in recent months due to returning to theater work, which was anticipated. I expect it will take until June—if not July or August—before I consistently hit the 40s in publication numbers and see more pieces exceeding 4 minutes.

Minutes Published: 86

This is another noticeable decline, though I’m not overly concerned at this stage. In March, I achieved an exceptional 130 minutes of writing, and I don’t feel the need to compete with that figure. Currently, aiming for around 100 minutes seems reasonable. Interestingly, most of those 86 minutes came from a few lengthy articles—thank you to everyone who took the time to read them.

Top Performing Piece on Medium (Most Time Read / Most Earnings)

The most engaging piece last month was a return to a favorite topic, clocking in at 2 hours and 23 minutes of reading time and earning $4.63. I can’t help but wonder if the delay in publication contributed to its popularity. It certainly dominated my metrics once published.

Surprisingly, there was a notable difference in the 'runner-up' performance. “Three More Poets of Medium” earned more ($1.55) with 41 minutes of reading time compared to “Mike’s Personal Day” ($1.40 for 49 minutes) or “Some Thoughts on Henry VI” ($1.38 for 49 minutes).

Most Viewed Piece:

In a surprising twist, my micro science fiction story titled "She was a fraud" garnered significant attention. I had set a personal challenge to write 150 stories, each 150 words long, and this piece became my first to surpass 100 views, reaching 102. It stands as the most popular of my micro fictions and the seventh most-read piece overall. I attribute this to the intriguing premise and the interplay of art and hard science fiction, alongside the provocative title.

New Followers: 27

I surpassed my expectations, bringing my follower count to just shy of 400! Thank you all! I feel I may be nearing my audience limit, though I previously thought the same at 200. Ultimately, it’s not the numbers that matter, but the engagement from those who read my work deeply. I hope you find value in your continued support, especially in the latter half of this month.

Membership Fees: Did I manage to cover them this month?

Despite a slower beginning, I successfully met my membership fees again, with some extra to spare. It took 13 days to earn my first $5, but after that, things picked up, resulting in a total of $22.62. While it wasn’t as much as the previous week, it was sufficient to cover a few months of membership fees and make progress towards this year's costs.

I see this as an essential aspect of my writing journey. While I enjoy the creative process, I aim to ensure that my writing does not become a burden on family finances. Recently, a talented writer, Amy Jasek, conducted a cost-benefit analysis of her writing and decided against continuing for various valid reasons, including her decreased output this year. It's disheartening as her work is genuinely valuable, but I can relate to her decision.

Statistical Insights

Reflections on my decision to renew my membership here

My Favorite Pieces:

While I generally appreciate all my work, this month, I want to highlight three microfictions for distinct reasons:

1. "It was time to kill Suze. She had disrespected everyone. She had to die."
   • I found this piece particularly amusing. The analogies resonate well, and I hope they aren't too overt.
2. "Take me to your leader. —Sorry, did you say ladder?"
   • I included this for its humorous timing. I joked about a translator's peculiar reference to sheep, only to discover later that a recent Star Trek show utilized a similar gag.
3. "She was a fraud."
   • This one holds personal significance for me, reflecting my feelings of inadequacy in the art world. It serves as a reminder of my artistic journey and the importance of self-acceptance.

Favorite Pieces I Read:

Though my reading was limited this past month, these selections stood out:

• "Are the Frightening Clouds We See at the Horizon Coming or Leaving?"
• "Life and Death of a Fine Blade"
• "Can A Black Elf Get Some Love?"
• "Performance Review"
• "Hips Cradling Worlds"
• "Your Balter Calls Our Rains to Heel"
• "The Bridesmaid and Me"
• "These Writers Are 'Most Likely' to…?"
• "The 'Grey Zone' of the War in Ukraine"
• "Killing a Dog"
• "The Fisherman and the Mermaid"
• "How Elon Musk Is Screwing Over Twitter"
• "Horse Racing is Decadent and Depraved"

Favorite Faces:

Here’s a list of writers I recommend checking out, some with impressive back catalogs:

• Amy Jasek
• Story Taller
• Mousie Browne
• Giedre P.
• GB Rogut
• Hayden Moore
• Janice M. Flanders
• Danielle Hestand
• Ann James
• Victoria Quinn
• D Mind Shifts
• David Perlmutter
• Sally A Mortemore
• Susan Wheelock
• Uwem Daniels
• Dan Canon
• James J. Wilkerson, J.D.
• Ilana Lydia
• TzeLin Sam
• Shanice Lawton
• Toni Crowe
• Barry Dawson Jr. IV
• Misty S. Bledsoe

Something I Tried:

I didn’t experiment much this past month as most of my creative energy was devoted to theatrical work. However, I did dabble in writing 100-word articles. Some turned out well, while others need refinement. I’m enjoying this format as a side project, but I still have more unfinished pieces than published ones. Perhaps I’ll revisit them in the future.

Looking Ahead to Next Month:

Reflecting on my previous feelings of despondency regarding my updates, I now find myself with renewed motivation to write. Following the show, I briefly felt uninspired, but I'm back to writing regularly. I have numerous ideas lined up, and things feel less daunting. Here are some straightforward equations fueling my optimism:

• Writing better leads to feeling better.
• Writing more improves my statistics.
• Regular writing enhances overall quality.

Thus, my goal is to write more and ensure that my work reaches those interested in it. It's that simple.

Thank you for your continued support. I encourage you to share your own updates in the comments—I’d love to read them!

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