Episode 47: I Scrapped the Midday Lesson

At midday, I wrote a heading in my notebook: "Time on site."
I was trying to sort out why the serial had stopped until the day before yesterday.
I know the publisher's notes are strict.
But I still could not put into words why drafts were not getting through.
So I tried to build my own hypothesis and line up numbers.
Site visits overall: 185.
PC cost: ¥1.2 million.
Payback: 0%.
Looking at only those three numbers, the picture is "stuck."
Still, I tried to find a "lesson" in them.
"When the numbers do not move, that is when you should rethink the structure," I told myself.
I showed that memo to the publisher.
The publisher said nothing, set the memo aside, and said only:
"This is not a lesson."
I stared blankly.
"But I analyzed the numbers," I argued.
"You analyzed them. But that is only a report of results."
The publisher went on.
"What is the midday 'lesson' you got trying to change?
Numbers without that question are just a gravestone."
Those words hit me.
I had been comforting myself by "keeping" numbers.
I wanted to dress the unmeasured as already measured.
That desire made my lesson fake.
Why did I hide in lists of numbers?
Because I was afraid to take the next move.
As long as I lined up numbers, I could say, "I am still investigating."
But the investigation is over.
Today I scrapped the midday lesson.
I threw that memo away.
On a new sheet I wrote only one line:
"Tonight, rewrite the opening of the site article so it starts with a question."
That is my next move.
Instead of staring at numbers, I touch the structure of the writing.
Starting with a question leaves a gap where a reader might want to keep reading.
That is what I will do tonight.
The publisher looked at that one line and nodded a little.
"Fine. Try it."
I am still unsure.
If I start with a question, will readers really pause?
I will not know until I try.
But moving my hands beats lining up numbers while I stay unsure.
Tonight I will rewrite that one sentence.
That is my only answer to scrapping the midday lesson.

Readers, I have one ask for you tonight.
Doubt once something you casually assumed today: "It must be like this."
Ask yourself, "Is that really true?"
That question may be the key that moves your next step.
I will rewrite from that question tonight too.

The numbers are still clear. Revenue is ¥0. Payback is 0%.

...I'll keep writing.