I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 177
Chapter 177: Stealing Stars in September
The relationships between authors can be somewhat extreme at times and, on other occasions, quite amicable, existing overall at a rather peculiar level.
Vaguely recalling a prior investigation by the individual known as Su Yunjin, who explored relevant data concerning the relationships between authors of different genres and subsequently authored a similar paper, the central theme of the paper was the interplay among authors across various genres.
During our gaming sessions, Su Yunjin shared the approximate findings of his investigation, indicating that although, in a general rational sense, authors may be considered in a “colleague” relationship, more often than not, they function as “coworkers.” Unlike product development or local shops such as noodle or rice stalls, where one might use a product or enjoy the taste of noodles and decide to replicate the recipe, opening a similar shop nearby to compete for business, the relationship among novel authors is not analogous.
This distinction arises because in endeavors like product development or noodle shops, customers can be viewed as “one-time” consumers. An individual seeking to eat noodles for the day would likely choose one place to eat and not revisit another place with an identical taste. In the realm of novels, however, readers, if unsatisfied with one book, may actively search for another with a similar theme or narrative approach. In the domain of “reading novels,” it does not conform to the finite nature of “having a meal,” lacking a strict upper limit.
Readers who subscribe to one novel are highly likely to subscribe to another, indicating that, strictly speaking, there is no rigidly adversarial relationship among novel authors. At that time, Su Yunjin specifically investigated several genres of novel themes: fan fiction, yuri (including Shoujo Ai), and harem.
According to Su Yunjin, authors of novels in these three genres give off an impression of being akin to a group of youthful, beautiful girls. Their manner of speech and character designs fall into the “adorable” category, seldom engaging in disputes with one another, and generally indulging in a cute and charming demeanor, often using cute or loli-themed expressions.
As for authors of fan fiction, their interactions resemble more of an alliance, where they mutually share various settings and information. When a particular work or game gains popularity, they vaguely analyze whether it has commercial value, if it’s viable to write about, and whether it can generate income. They also discuss the next type of fan fiction they should create.
Regarding authors of harem novels, Su Yunjin mentioned that he once infiltrated a harem author group and found the atmosphere to be somewhat peculiar. It either involved daily posts of a QQ voice message saying, “APEX is missing one player, new chess mode, come quickly,” or the sharing of various peculiar jokes, or posting humorous memes. Discussions about writing were rare in such groups.
If there is any form of “opposition” among novel authors, the only possibility is when two authors of the same genre are in an editing group, and both need to be recommended or boost their data in a particular month. However, since the editorial recommendation slots are limited, only the one with better data gets the slot. This situation can lead to both authors competing against each other, engaging in mutual promotion and rapid updates, but it rarely escalates to an actual conflict. In essence, it is a competition where the more capable author prevails, and the one with weaker data tries again next time.
This competitive dynamic is observed among authors of the same genre, let alone those who write in different genres, where there is generally minimal conflict of interest.
The current classification of novels can also be described as “new media literature,” characterized by a tone of “fast, enjoyable, and lengthy.” The pacing is rapid, with an immediate introduction of conflict, revealing the protagonist’s powerful abilities, creating intense contradictions. Subsequently, authors construct enjoyable moments and a sense of anticipation, drawing readers into an infinite loop of nested repetitions of enjoyable elements.
This trend is not limited to novels alone; it extends to games as well. Game advertisements lure players in with promises of free gameplay, and in the early stages, they provide a thrilling experience of defeating monsters effortlessly. In the later stages, the temptation to spend money arises, with well-designed event templates that can be reused by simply changing the theme, while the core remains unchanged.
Currently, most authors venturing into novel writing tend to gravitate towards the realm of new media literature. As a relatively ordinary author focusing on serious isekai male protagonist narratives, it is uncommon for me to encounter peers, let alone meet fellow novel authors sharing the same editor in real life.
Naturally, I refer to the guy in the couple who boarded the same taxi as me as a “colleague.”
“Really? You also write novels on Honeydew? Is that true?”
After boarding the taxi together, perhaps deeming it unusual for a girl of such a young age to be writing novels, the guy bypassed his girlfriend and directly addressed me, “What’s your content? How are your results?”
“Well… it’s mediocre, just a typical isekai theme.”
Taking my usual spot in the back seat by the window, I continued, “I submitted a trial, but the editor said they would only consider it after I reach around forty to fifty thousand words.”
“Does that mean you’re a newcomer?”
The guy seemed relieved, pulling his girlfriend to sit in the front seats ahead of me, “You scared me. I was just thinking, if this young girl writes novels… and she’s a big shot on the website, then I’ve wasted these past few years.”
Huh? Is there a direct correlation between writing novels and age?
Stunned for a moment by the guy’s remark, I responded with a faint smile, choosing not to comment.
From what I understand, the most crucial elements for writing online novels are “talent” or, more accurately, how well your aesthetic aligns with the “public” taste.
Online novels have relatively low demands on writing style. As long as the written content reads smoothly and lacks obvious grammatical issues, sentences like “????????” (I want to buy a television) being rearranged to “????????” or “????????” are acceptable. The meaning remains consistent, allowing ordinary readers to comprehend the content. Such a writing style is deemed sufficient. [1]
The primary differentiation among novel authors lies firstly in “talent.” Some individuals, despite reading numerous books, struggle to grasp what contemporary audiences prefer or what content they should write. On the contrary, some effortlessly navigate the keyboard, producing a coherent and enjoyable narrative that resonates with both themselves and readers, naturally leading to financial success.
Secondly, the popularity of a novel depends on the author’s alignment with the aesthetic preferences of the “public.” For instance, in a setting like the Wujia Apartment mentioned here, individuals with a more “unsavory” disposition may enjoy pursuing a lifestyle of instant gratification, engaging in smoking, drinking, and adopting a slightly rogue demeanor. Conversely, authors who dislike smoking and drinking, emphasizing the depiction of female personalities with respect, might create characters with depth rather than mindlessly adhering to the male protagonist. Consequently, the works of such authors may not resonate with the audience of the Wujia Apartment.
Similarly, if out of the Earth’s population of seven billion, three billion prefer white stockings, and only two billion prefer black stockings, an author with a penchant for fishnet stockings would have lower alignment with the public’s aesthetic preferences, resulting in a smaller audience. In such cases, authors may either adjust their writing to cater to a broader audience or treat their writing as a hobby while seeking alternative means of livelihood.
I recall an instance in the Ai Luodi group where the 20th best-selling author was a 17-year-old high school student. He excelled in his class, serving as the representative for Chinese class, possessed an elegant writing style, and exhibited a somewhat “masculine” personality. Venturing into the genre of male protagonist harem stories with a touch of invincibility, he incorporated his innate sense of “brotherhood and camaraderie.” His first book skyrocketed, earning him a monthly income of over three hundred thousand. Over the next couple of years, he managed to buy a house and a car for his family during his senior year in high school.
That 17-year-old high school student, in the eyes of editors, is considered a talented writer with a high level of skill and alignment with popular aesthetic preferences.
“So, who’s your editor?”
Seeing my hesitation to respond, as the car started and the smooth hum of the engine filled the air, the guy in front turned around, “It’s rare to meet another author, especially from the same website. Want to exchange contact information?”
“Hey?”
As the guy spoke, the girl next to him was clearly displeased. Without hesitation, she pinched his thigh hard, “Are you rebelling?”
“Ouch!”
In pain, the guy turned to console his girlfriend, “Yan’er, I really didn’t mean to flirt with her. You know it yourself. With so few authors nowadays, especially female authors, and we’re all tenants in the Wujia Apartment, and she happens to be a Honeydew writer. It’s just too coincidental…”
“What’s so coincidental about it?”
The girl clearly wasn’t buying his explanation, “Let me tell you, I know all about your tricks. I shouldn’t have accompanied you to that exhibition today.”
“It’s a misunderstanding…”
With a mournful expression, the guy pleaded, “I really don’t have any such intentions. My writing is pure one-on-one romance. This kid looks like she’s not even 14, I don’t want to end up in jail!”
“True.”
As the guy spoke, the girl seemed to realize something. She turned towards me at the back and curiously asked, “Are you of legal age? How else could you be writing books?”
“I’m already under contract.”
I vaguely responded, “Signed an internal contract.”
“Wow! You actually got signed!”
Upon hearing this, the guy became even more eager, “Honeydew, if I recall correctly, it’s a male-oriented website, and there are very few female authors, right?”
“There are some.”
I recalled the notice Catnip posted in the group earlier about not recommending starting transformation or yuri novels recently, “There are quite a few books with female protagonists.”
“You’re talking about transformation or yuri, right? Those are written by male authors. Nowadays, girls love to read BL novels.”
The guy gestured towards his girlfriend, “Look at her, going to that Xijiang Novels site every day to read BL novels, and she even wants to drag me into it, forcing me to write BL. I’m almost going crazy…”
“You’re just talking nonsense. Even though I read BL, I can accept yuri too, okay?”
The girl pinched the guy’s thigh again, “I see through your intentions. You guys, these otakus, always like to pull this move.”
“I really didn’t! Talking about little girls is just an online thing, at most existing in the second dimension. I’m not looking for a real-life loli…”
The guy raised both hands in surrender, “I’m not trying to end up in jail. The highest penalty for that is death!”
“Alright, alright.”
Seeing that the couple seemed affectionate, I felt a bit sorry, “I’m of legal age, and… I also have a girlfriend.”
“Ah?”
This time, the girl widened her eyes, “What did you just say?”
“I’m of legal age.”
“The second part.”
“I have a girlfriend.”
“Hiss…”
The girl exaggeratedly made a gesture as if taking a sharp intake of breath, gave me a thumbs up, and said, “I wish you both well.”
“Well, since that’s the case, I won’t tease you anymore. This is your academic field, you guys talk.”
Patting her boyfriend’s shoulder, the girl turned around, “Don’t you have that group for new authors who signed contracts? You can introduce each other and help one another.”
“Oh, right.”
The guy turned directly with his phone, showing great enthusiasm, “Little sister, since you’ve signed a contract, which editor did you sign with?”
“Catnip.”
“Catnip? Who’s Catnip?”
“Huh?”
The guy looked utterly confused, making me wonder if I had time-traveled, “It’s just Catnip. Aren’t you a Honeydew author?”
He claimed to be an experienced author, earning two to three thousand a month on average, and could get around four thousand with recommendations. A writer of that level should at least know the name of their editor, right?
I used to be an author at Yae-Do, and I’ve been with Honeydew for less than a month. Logically, Honeydew should have significantly more traffic than Yae-Do. The signing process and getting featured are more stringent. Earning two to three thousand a month might place me in the lower tier of authors, but it’s already enough to surpass more than 80% of others.
The minimum monthly payment is two to three thousand, and with recommendations, it goes up to four thousand. Currently, Honeydew has a recommendation system with a major recommendation every three months and a minor one every two months. Considering this, the person’s monthly income is just above three thousand. If the girlfriend also has a salary of two to three thousand, the two can share rent in the Wujia Apartment, with rent and utilities costing around a thousand each month. This leaves enough room for daily expenses and savings.
In this era, there aren’t many girls willing to stick with a guy whose monthly earnings are only around three thousand, so I find this couple quite rare.
“I’m a Honeydew author, but I haven’t heard of Catnip… wait a moment.”
Saying this, the guy took out his phone, seemingly typing a few lines and asking someone a few questions. Soon after, he looked up, “Oh, I got it. Catnip, that… the new editor who took over the Editor Tuzi’s authors?”
“Is Catnip a new editor?”
Curious, I asked, “It’s my first time writing on Honeydew, and I’m not very familiar.”
“You got an internal contract on your first try, not bad. It’s evident you have talent. Is it a yuri novel or a transformation novel?”
“Male protagonist.”
“A girl writing a male protagonist novel?”
The guy became even more curious, “So, does this mean… it’s your first time writing a book, and your debut got noticed by a new editor for an internal contract?”
“Ah… no.”
I quickly shook my head, “I was previously…”
“No worries, I understand. Being a newcomer myself, I’m actually a moderator in the New Authors group. The group owner is a pro averaging over 2000, and you can seek guidance from him.”
The guy gestured towards my phone, “How about adding me on QQ? I’ll invite you to the group. Except for me and the group owner, everyone in there is a new author. Most haven’t signed contracts, and we can discuss any issues together.”
“I… I think I’ll pass.”
Considering I had already written several million words on Yae-Do, knew many editors, and even interacted with top authors earning millions a month like Pipi and Jiang Wei, joining such a “New Authors group” felt a bit inappropriate. “My books…”
“No need to feel embarrassed. Data doesn’t matter, just get a recommendation, and you’ll soar.”
The guy seemed to misunderstand my hesitation and continued to “encourage,” saying, “We had an author in our group just like you, went for an internal contract. Originally, only 10 collections per 10,000 words. After the recommendation, it skyrocketed to over 2000 collections in three days, and the book got featured.”
Uh…
I cautiously took out my phone, opened the Honeydew app, and glanced at my book – almost 30,000 words with over 3,000 collections.
“I think I’ll skip joining that group.”
Putting away my phone, I tried to express politely, “I write as a part-time hobby.”
“Are you looking down on us struggling authors?”
Even though the tone seemed playful, I sensed a hint of displeasure in the guy’s expression.
“Alright then.”
Seeing that the conversation had reached this point, I reluctantly shared my QQ number, and I was pulled into the ?Honeydew Struggling Authors Exchange Group?, which had nearly a thousand members.
In reality, there are many such groups on the website. I’ve joined some in the past, but due to a busy life, I ended up blocking them all. Gradually, the group admins kicked me out for not participating.
?A newcomer!?
?Another pro joins, group status -1?
?Another cute avatar with a cute ID, looks like this newcomer is also a second-dimensional otaku uncle?
Just as I clicked to join this new group, various welcoming messages left me feeling a bit bewildered.
?You’re talking nonsense! How can a second-dimensional otaku uncle use this kind of avatar? Look at mine, it’s Billy King?
?Why don’t you ask Strawberry Sauce??
?Meow? Asking everyone to give my book a collection. It’s at 150 now, just 50 more, and I can apply for a contract?
How… how should I respond?
After contemplating by the window for a while, I casually sent a sticker saying “I’m ready, do as you please” from this new phone and sent it.
?The newcomer doesn’t seem very smart?
?Alright, cute avatar and cute ID, even sending cute pictures, this is undoubtedly an uncle?
?The admin brought another uncle in?
“[Little Xia Nuo Does Not Hide in the Cardboard Box] Your nickname is interesting. Is that also your author name?”
At this moment, the curious guy in front asked, “Which book is yours? Can you tell us?”
“I…” Not wanting to bother, I just replied, “I’ve just written less than 30,000 words, and the content is… well, let’s not talk about it.”
“Male lead harem, chasing husbands at the crematorium, or yandere throwing themselves at you, right? I get it.” The guy looked like he understood perfectly. “My editor is October, the most handsome female editor at Honeydew. You must have heard of her, right?”
“October?” I shook my head. “Never heard of her.”
Before, during Honeydew’s booth at the Shenzhen City Comic Expo, I observed their editorial team and came to a conclusion – almost all Honeydew editors are female. Of course, except for the Chief Editor Big G, who had a classic image: a bald muscular guy, giving off a friendly and amiable vibe of a fit man.
Then there was Lu Xinjian, who should now be the Deputy Chief Editor at Honeydew, responsible for the operation of the website’s novel authors, adjusting mainstream themes, arranging recommendations, and so on.
As for the other editors, at that time, I only had some impression of Ai Luodi, who slept in the tent the whole time and ate spicy strips, and the mature “motherly” bunny lady, Lan Jiajia.
As for the other editors, even if they walked right up to me, I might not be able to recognize them. Around the booth, it seemed like only Lan Jiajia had a sign hanging on her chest.
“October’s favorite thing is to pretend to be a macho man or an uncle in the group. Many authors who joined the signing group thought she was a man. The result was last year when Honeydew held an event, October went on stage in a handsome suit, and when she spoke, it was a cute girl’s voice, shocking us authors.”
The guy in front was somewhat excited, saying, “Back when I was just a small author without even the qualification to get on the shelves, seeing October for the first time… Damn, so handsome. When she spoke, I instantly widened my eyes, damn, a woman?”
Short hair, wearing a suit, with a cute voice – the editor?
I began to recall the bits and pieces of the previous Honeydew expo in my mind. Still couldn’t remember.
This editor named October probably didn’t come to the booth at that time. But even if she had, I likely wouldn’t have remembered, as my attention was entirely on Ai Luodi and the booth at that time.
Later, on the bus heading to the expo, the guy in front started chatting with me sporadically about his “past” and the “development history” of Honeydew.
He mentioned he wasn’t an author initially. Later, when work wasn’t going well, he started writing novels at his girlfriend’s suggestion. He originally wrote on the “Origin” website. In the first three or four months, he wrote five or six books, none of which had the qualification to be signed. Eventually, he moved to Honeydew, known for its relatively relaxed signing process.
The first book didn’t get signed, the second did, but the data after it went on sale wasn’t great. He reluctantly completed it in a few months and earned less than 2000 yuan. During this time, he basically relied on his girlfriend’s salary to get by.
“Later, following the editor’s requirements, I carefully read the novels on the rankings. With experience, the results improved a lot when I started the next book. With an average contract of over 500 yuan, I can support myself by writing a bit more every day.”
From this author, I could see a bit of my past self. The difference was that I didn’t have a girlfriend willing to accompany me through life’s lows at that time.
Speaking of which, if my previous workplace boss had run away, and I, penniless, relied on Weibo’s manuscript fees to survive, what would have happened if Xiao Mo had come over during that time?
I don’t know.
But at least from the current results, I feel that Miss Grim Reaper doesn’t seem as “cutesy-stupid” as she appears.
“The vehicle has arrived at the station. Please hold on and be seated. Passengers who need to alight, please move towards the rear door…”
After about twenty minutes on the bus, the couple and I got off at the bus station in Shenzhen City, where the “Cultural and Art Exchange Fair” was being held.
The destination was right in front of the station, visible without the need for a map, no searching required.
It was an imposing building, seemingly designed for promoting official programs. The square-shaped structure had a large plaza in front, featuring a beautiful fountain at its center. In the middle of the fountain stood a metal statue – an open book with a magical sphere in the center. It exuded an artistic atmosphere, reminiscent of the “traditional magic and ancient books” vibe from Harry Potter.
“You’re probably here for the first time, right? Come with us, I’ve been here a few times.” The guy in front, taking on the role of a guide, held his girlfriend’s hand and walked ahead.
“I heard there’s fierce competition among major websites during this art festival. Many top authors will be here, where just one appearance could get the fans swarming. I really hope I can reach that level someday.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t even get into Honeydew’s author conference. Sigh… Especially now that Yae-Do has merged with us. They’ve brought in a super famous author, Pipi, do you know Pipi?”
“Huh?” I, carrying a bunny backpack, pretended to look confused. “Know him.”
“He used to be the big shot at Yae-Do, a heavyweight in the industry. Rumor has it he’s coming this time and attending the author conference. I really want to get his autograph then.”
The guy showed a longing expression, saying, “The book he wrote, ‘Asking Heaven on the Path,’ is really good. In my heart, it’s the number one in traditional martial arts novels. Unfortunately, I’m just a small-time author. Others might not bother with me when the time comes.”
Is Pipi really that famous?
Carrying my backpack and trailing behind them, I felt a bit dumbfounded. I only remembered Pipi being a popular author at Yae-Do, I hadn’t realized he had fans here at Honeydew.
“To be honest, I’ve always wanted to mock the logo for this art exhibition on this side.”
Passing by the central fountain’s metal statue, the guy in front said to his girlfriend, “Look at it, a book with a ball on top. Doesn’t it mean ‘read a book and hold a ball’? Is this thing representing art?”
As he mentioned it, it kind of does seem that way. I followed the guy’s gaze and observed the statue in the middle of the fountain.
“Goo goo goo—”
Arriving at the entrance of the massive building where the art exhibition was to be held, I noticed a lot of pigeons gathered here. Perhaps they were all avoiding the sun. These pigeons were standing on the side of the building facing the sun, and none of them seemed afraid of people. As the couple and I walked through the middle of the pigeons, they just lazily made way, not bothering to fly away.
“Goo goo goo.”
“Alright, book with a ball, plus a group of pigeons, and you’ve got all the essential elements for an author.” As I walked into the building through the main entrance with them, the guy turned back and asked, “Little sister, did you come alone today? No friends or anything?”
“I have friends, but we’re in different cities, and I don’t know if he’s coming.”
“Is he also an author?”
“Yeah.”
“Just signed? How about I invite him to the newcomers’ discussion group too?”
“No need, he… uh, he probably wouldn’t.”
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, we’ve all been newcomers.”
The guy continued with his enthusiastic demeanor, “Our group leader currently has an average rating of 2000, and with recommendations, if you update more, you can earn over ten thousand a month. Since you’re good friends, let him join in.”
“Well, about him, how do I put it?”
I directly took out my phone and dialed Pipi’s number, “Wait a moment, let me ask him directly. You two can talk later.”
“Beep—”
The phone rang just once before Pipi answered, his fatherly voice coming through, “Are you here, Nuo’er?”
“I’m downstairs, there are many pigeons at the entrance.”
I glanced at the pigeon flock behind me, “Are you here?”
“I just arrived not long ago, talking to your Editor, Catnip, and another editor named October, at the second-floor Honeydew exhibition hall.”
It was a bit noisy on his side, it seems like there were a lot of people, “If you came in through the door near the pigeon flock, it should be the main entrance. Just go up the left stairs. After coming up, turn right for about 50 meters. Honeydew’s booth has a large sign with their mascot, very obvious. You’ll see me when you get there.”
“……”
……
???????? (W? yào m?i y?tái diànshìj?) emphasizes the speaker’s intention to buy a TV.
???????? (Y?tái diànshìj? w? yào m?i) emphasizes the object of the speaker’s intention, which is a TV.
???????? (M?i y?tái diànshìj? w? yào) emphasizes the action of buying a TV.