The Daily Journal, Friday, February 1

Hey Folks,

In today’s Journal

▪ The Full Version of the Journal Is Back (topic).
▪ For those interested in the challenge
▪ Situation Solved released today
▪ Looking for a first reader
▪ The daily diary ramblings
▪ Of Interest
▪ The numbers

Topic: The Full Version of the Journal Is Back

The excerpted version of the Journal was an experiment, as I said up front. Turns out it was a failed experiment.

The specific purpose was to get readers to go to the website. Those who read in email don’t often go to the website to leave a comment. I understand that. Why should they?

But comments help with search results, which helps the site grow. If readers get something of value from the Journal, clicking that link on the screen, reading the Journal on the website, and leaving a comment is a non-monetary way to help the Journal. Of course, I understand some folks would just rather not leave comments. (grin)

(For the record, I do practice what I preach. I subscribe to several writing blogs. You often see them in “Of Interest.” I always click through when the blog is delivered as an excerpt, and I always leave a comment if I feel I have something of value to say.)

So that’s why I did it. And my sincere, heart-felt thanks to those few of you who have taken the time to leave a comment on the Journal. I appreciate it more than you know.

I also invited subscriber input. I asked readers specifically what they think of the “excerpt” form that requires them to click through in their email to read the whole post.

Yet despite having 60+ subscribers (yes, that few despite having published this Journal for four years), only a few responded.

Still, I appreciate those who weighed-in with their thoughts on the excerpt version vs. the full version. As you can see, your input was valuable to me.

Of the two with the strongest opinions, one was for the exerpted version and one was against it.

The positive respondent said she enjoyed seeing the excerpt so she would know at a glance whether she would want to click through. (The problem on my end is that the excerpt wasn’t large enough to let folks know what was really in that day’s edition.)

But the other respondent said there was “something negative” about having to click through to the website to continue reading. That tells me maybe the content of the Journal, to some readers, might not be worth the extra effort of that click.

So for the first respondent (and anyone else who liked the excerpt version), I’ve added the bulleted “In Today’s Journal” segment at the very top. That will save readers even having to scan down to see whether there’s a topic and whether anything in “Of Interest” actually interests them.

And for the other respondent (and anyone else who didn’t like the excerpt version) I’ve restored the full version.

So that should fix everything.

Not that everyone will know, of course.

Of those 60+ subscribers, I suspect only a handful actually read the Journal regularly at all. Another handful scan it once a week or so and catch up. Or just read the one they happen to catch every now and then.

That’s a little depressing, given that I spend (easily) an average of two to three hours a day on just the Journal. But then, that’s on me, not the subscribers.

That’s also the main reason most of my Pro Writer blog posts over on the big site come from topics that originate here. At least that way I know more than 5 or 6 folks are actually reading them and maybe getting something out of them. (grin)

Frankly, most of the time I feel like I’m on stage talking to an empty theater. It’s easy to wonder how much good I’m really doing for other writers when I hear only crickets in response.

Anyway, the full version is back. Read, enjoy, and if you find something in the Journal helpful, I’m glad.

More to the point, if you find the Journal of value, I would appreciate you sharing it with others, recommending it, and/or leaving comments.

If you do leave a comment, and if I let it through, I’ll always respond. If I don’t let it through (too personal, etc.) I’ll respond via email.

‘Nough said.
***

For those interested in the challenge, I feel like I’m in the end game of the WIP. I’d love to finish the book today (Day 15) but I don’t know that I will.

If I finish it today, I’ll still have three days in the bank against the next one. (And no, I don’t have even a clue what the next one will be.)

If I finish this one on February 4, I’m on track with my challenge. (Two novels in 30 calendar days.)

If I finish the WIP after February 4, the challenge will continue, but I’ll be into negative days.

I hope to keep the bank going, of course. Mostly because my youngest son invited me on a two-day road trip in mid-February. And I’m going. (grin)
***

Situation Solved, my first true police procedural, was released today. You can read about it at https://www.books2read.com/u/3J8avB.

I was actually approached by a New York literary agent who wanted to represent this book to traditional publishers. I declined.

I wonder how many literary agents would cease being literary agents if they were required to be licensed?

I also wonder when state and federal legislatures will enact laws to require licensing for literary agents, and to protect unwary authors from unlicensed agents and overreaching publishing contracts? I suspect we’re way down on the list.
***

I’m looking for an extra first reader for the WIP, a crime novel told in interrelated short stories. Charlie Task is my favorite psychopath. He’s also a Blackwell Ops operative. Some possibly disturbing graphic violence, some (very) light cursing in some dialogue. Email me if you’re interested.

Benefits: you get to read it first, you are mentioned in the credits, and you get a free copy of the finished product.
***

Rolled out (again) a little before 2, aided by the two lady cats, who decided it was time for a minor skirmish in the middle of my bed.

I have a late-morning or early afternoon drop-in appointment later today anyway, so I don’t mind.

Spent the first two hours writing the stuff above and researching and reading items for “Of Interest.”

Now, my first cigar is almost gone, so I’m going to play a little Spider solitaire to fill a few minutes, then take a break.

Back to the Hovel at 5. To the novel at 5:15.

Finished the novel today. I’ll go take care of my appointment and then cast about for the next novel idea.

Talk with you again tomorrow.

Of Interest

See PG’s take on “The Growing Importance of Intellectual Property” at http://www.thepassivevoice.com/the-growing-importance-of-intellectual-property/.

See “Six Days Left” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/six-days-left/. This is an unbelievable offer. I recommend you take advantage of it.

For fun, an advance look at Amazon’s Super Bowl ad, see “http://www.thepassivevoice.com/amazons-super-bowl-ad-2/.

Fiction Words: 3122
Nonfiction Words: 1130 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 4252

Writing of Blackwell Ops: Charles Claymore Task (novel)

Day 10… 3860 words. Total words to date…… 29117
Day 11… 4218 words. Total words to date…… 33335
Day 12… 1660 words. Total words to date…… 34995
Day 13… 4117 words. Total words to date…… 39112
Day 14… 6304 words. Total words to date…… 45416
Day 15… 3122 words. Total words to date…… 48538 (done)

Total fiction words for the month……… 3122
Total fiction words for the year………… 86526
Total nonfiction words for the month… 1130
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 26540
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 113065

Calendar Year 2019 Novels to Date………………………… 2
Calenday Year 2019 Novellas to Date…………………… X
Calendar Year 2019 Short Stories to Date……… X
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 39
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 7
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……………………… 193
Short story collections…………………………………………………… 31