I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 7

During the time I waited for the delivery person to bring the clothes, I started making significant revisions to my novel.

I have to admit that the editor, Tuzi, provided very insightful feedback. In the past, when I wrote novels, I simply thought, “I think it should be written this way.” But now, thanks to her reminders, I realized that writing a novel isn’t a selfish endeavor. We authors are like waiters, only when we serve every reader well can we reap the rewards in the form of royalties.

“Clack, clack, clack…” In the quiet little room, my mechanical keyboard, which had been in use for several years, resounded under my typing fingers.

The hands of a girl, especially those of a little girl, are quite different from a middle-aged man’s. The familiar sensation of my previous typing skills disappeared with my bodily transformation. While I used to be able to touch type while gazing at the computer screen, I was now forced back into the novice mode of looking at the keyboard and then at the screen. My typing efficiency also suffered a noticeable decline. Nevertheless, this did not dampen my enthusiasm for signing the contract.

It’s just a matter of re-adaptation, not a big deal!

As a man, I must face life’s blood and bitter reality boldly!

Three days to solve the novel signing problem and the rent issue! The rent problem can only be placed on the upcoming author meet-up tomorrow. As for the novel signing problem, it depends on whether this second draft can pass or not.

As long as I can resolve these two issues, three days later, when that Grim Reaper jerk comes around, if her mood is good, I might even be able to return to my previous life…

“Cut out all the descriptive sections at the beginning, eliminate all useless dialogue, and jump directly into the plot with a conflict.”

I repeated the editor’s words in my mind several times while sitting in front of the computer. According to my understanding, I began to remove a large portion of the content in my manuscript and revised many of the “toxic” plot elements mentioned by the editor.

Twenty minutes later, I packaged the modified novel and the outline. I sent a message to the editor saying, “Hello, I’m the author who previously submitted, and I have made the requested changes to the opening and the outline. Please take a look at the new manuscript.” Then I sent the packaged file.

As a former signed author, I understood very well that it’s crucial not to send casual messages like “Are you there?” or “Hello” to editors during this stage and then wait for their response. This is because my previous editor had once warned me about this – “Talk business when you have business.” If I ever messaged editors with trivial questions like “Are you there?” and said nothing else, they would remove my recommendation for the next month.

After that experience, I learned the importance of “talk business when you have business.” Each editor has hundreds, if not thousands of authors under their supervision, and there are numerous authors requesting to connect and submit their work every day. If everyone began a conversation with “Are you there?” and then said nothing, editors would be overwhelmed.

?The recipient has accepted your file for the in-house submission novel and the outline.rar?

As expected, within ten seconds of sending the file, the editor named “Tuzi” on Honeydew Light Novel Web had already accepted my manuscript.

?This is much better this time, and you seem to have some talent?

A few minutes later, I received a highly exciting response from the editor:

?We can sign the contract. I’ll send you the signing process and some notes in a while. Have you written books on other websites before??

?Yes, I have?, I quickly replied, ?I’ve written one with over two million words, but the website shut down?.

?It shut down? Was it Yae-do Light Novels??

?Yes?

?Alright, so have you decided to sign the contract with us??

?I’ve decided. Thank you for the editor’s guidance?

?Good. Create your author account backstage and publish your book. I’ll send you the contract and related documents?.

Finally, the editor added: ?Once the contract is signed, I’ll add you to the signed author group. If your performance is good in the future, you might even join the elite author group?

Is there even an elite author group?

?Just think of it as a character’s journey in a novel. You can join the regular author group once you sign the contract. The elite author group only accepts the best, it requires an average of 1000 subscriptions per work to join?

An average of 1000 subscriptions? That’s an impressive number of subscriptions.

I quietly calculated in my mind.

An average of 1000 subscriptions can be understood as an author earning 1000 subscriptions, or readers, per day for each chapter they update. This means that when they release a new chapter, there are 1000 people buying that chapter on that day.

In the context of the current novel industry, a 1000-character chapter typically costs around 5 cents, and many websites offer discounts for higher VIP levels. Assuming no discounts at 5 cents per chapter and an average chapter length of 2000 characters, the earnings from 1000 subscriptions translate to 0.1 yuan per chapter multiplied by 1000 readers, resulting in 100 yuan.

With an average of 1000 subscriptions, it means that an author earns 100 yuan for every chapter they update. If an author updates twice a day, accounting for discounts and some readers not subscribing, they might still get around 1500 subscriptions. For three updates a day, they would typically have around 2000 subscriptions, which amounts to 200 yuan.

The time it takes for a regular person to write 2000 characters is approximately 2 hours, so three updates per day would take around 6-8 hours, similar to a regular working day, and without any days off.

Taking all of this into account, an author with an average of 1000 subscriptions, writing full-time, would earn around 200 yuan per day, which translates to 6000 yuan in monthly income – definitely enough for a decent living.

Do I…qualify to enter such a high-end author group?

?Oh, by the way, there’s a “God-tier Author Group” that is even higher than the elite author group, and currently, it has only 19 members. The requirement for entry is an average of at least 3000 subscriptions.?

?I just casually mentioned it to you. After all, maintaining an average of 3000 subscriptions is quite high. Our God-tier Author Group has had 19 members and no changes for three years. Can you become one of them? Young one.?

I…

For some reason, as I read these slightly challenging words on my screen from the editor named “Tuzi,” I felt an inexplicable surge of determination.

Could it be because she’s an expert in manipulating words? This editor is really skilled…

?I’ll make becoming a God-tier author my goal.?

After a few moments of silence, I replied with excitement:

?Please guide me if there’s anything I need to improve.?

The editor didn’t say much about this matter and instead sent me a website link and a contract.

?One photo of the front and back of your ID card, each must be clear enough to read every word. Additionally, one photo of your bank card and the phone number associated with it. Today, take a look at the contract, submit your book, and I estimate it will be approved tomorrow. Then, you can sign the contract on this website.?

?Fill in your name, pen name, book title, bank card number, ID number, address, and so on. Be sure not to make any mistakes.?

?After you submit the contract tomorrow, let me know, and I’ll invite you to the regular author group.?

?Also, remember to update your work on time every day, adhere to the conditions for full attendance, as too many breaks may affect the promotion.?

So professional!

Is this the top beauty editor on the biggest 2D website?

“Do you still remember saying that home is the only castle as the scent of rice drifts away with the flowing river…”

In surprise, my phone suddenly lit up on the desktop and began ringing from an unfamiliar caller.

I hastily picked up my phone, entered the passcode, and pressed the answer button.

“Hello?”

“Hello, this is the delivery person from the Likelong Supermarket in the Central District of Shenzhen City. Your order has arrived.”

On the other end of the phone was the voice of a middle-aged woman.

“Are you… the one who ordered the package? Can you come out to pick up your order?”