NOVEL NEXT Chapter 81: Author’s Note - Thoughts on the Book's Release
Chapter 81: Author’s Note – Thoughts on the Book’s Release
As the title suggests, it’s finally here~
This is actually my first time writing a release statement as a newbie author, so let me just share some heartfelt thoughts.
If you’re reading this chapter, it means you’ve likely been kind enough to stick with the story this far—thank you so much for your support and for giving my book a chance.
My collection numbers have been growing steadily, and I’ve received quite a few comments, but my follow-up read data has been… well, utterly abysmal. It’s honestly embarrassing, making it seem like I bought those collections myself, haha. But in reality, I’m just a struggling writer trying to meet deadlines after work every day. Since the recommendations haven’t even finished running their course, I figured I might as well release the book early.
However, this situation also highlights an issue with the book—it doesn’t give readers much incentive to keep following along, or perhaps more accurately, it lacks that “thrill factor” many cultivation novels thrive on.
Looking back at these 180,000 words, the protagonist hasn’t really grown much, nor has he provided readers with much positive emotional value. Low follow-up reads were almost inevitable.
What runs through these pages feels more like self-indulgent writing meant for myself rather than for others. One particular scene stands out as proof of this—the part where Gu Qiang forces the protagonist to admit fault.
Let me explain what I was thinking when I designed that scene.
I essentially projected my perspective as a fresh office worker. Imagine having a superior who mistakenly blames you, but because of their pride, they can’t admit their mistake. You, being the lowly intern, swallow your dignity to save face for them.
After all, you think, “My dignity isn’t worth much anyway since I’m just a rookie, and besides, this boss seems decent—they’ll make it up to me later.”
In real life, this might feel like a pragmatic trade-off, even if it stings a little. But in fiction? Totally different ballgame.
Not only did this fail to establish Gu as an upright and morally righteous character, but it also left readers feeling frustrated instead of satisfied. After all, no one picks up a xianxia novel expecting to see such stark realism.
If I had written it differently—if Gu had taken the initiative to apologize, shocking everyone with the protagonist’s cleverness—it would’ve worked much better. Gu’s image would’ve been solidified, the protagonist would’ve earned validation through others’ reactions, and readers would’ve felt that satisfying surge of triumph.
So yeah, I’m truly a novice. If I had more experience, there’s no way I’d have written it this way. Even if I insisted on doing so, I should’ve made Gu a female character who could be romanced. After all, gentlemanly readers are always willing to endure a little grievance for their waifus, knowing full well she’ll eventually repay them by wearing black stockings, right? ~
Aside from that, there are plenty of other rough edges—suspense reveals, character development, and so on. If you have any suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments. I’ll definitely take them into consideration, and I’ll do my best to improve where I fall short.
My dear readers, is there anything more satisfying than seeing someone transform into the shape of your creation? (Covers my butt)
The style of the first volume may feel somewhat oppressive, which was an experiment in my writing style. Things will change moving forward. If you’re looking for that “Mom, I can’t tell the difference!” vibe, you might be disappointed. In my mind, the protagonist has always known the difference—I just deliberately didn’t write it out in the earlier chapters. Rest assured, there will be even more exciting developments ahead!
Thank you to all the readers who’ve supported me, whether through follows, comments, donations, recommendations, monthly tickets, or anything else. Honestly, the fact that anyone is reading this book at all leaves me feeling incredibly grateful.
A huge thanks to my editor, Li Xing, for putting up with me. I’m such a pure newbie, socially awkward, and too scared to chat in groups. I probably don’t pay close enough attention to the teaching updates either, so answering my questions must’ve been a headache, haha.
Finally, let’s talk about updates. I’ll be pulling an all-nighter tonight to write. I don’t have any stockpiled chapters—I’m literally writing everything on the fly—and my typing speed is akin to a turtle crawling. It’s painful.
Tomorrow, I’ve already requested all my sick leave for next year. Whether or not I lose my bonus doesn’t matter anymore—I’m aiming for ten thousand words!
After all, I’m just an ordinary person. The only way I might leave a mark on this world is through writing books. That realization hit me during my hospital stay for appendicitis a while back, which is why I decided to start writing. (Though I’ve teetered on the edge of abandoning it countless times, haha.)
For now, I plan to update around 6 PM tomorrow. I hope everyone will support the first subscription and full subscription—I really don’t want my subscription ratio to look too pitiful, haha!!!
There’s a group link in the synopsis—feel free to join and hang out!