Chapter 338: Author's Note on Launch

Author's Note on Launch

It’s time for an author’s note on launch again; I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve written this stuff.

Where should I start?

I entered the industry in 2004, and this is my 21st year in the business.

During this time, I’ve had to change careers and go out to work for a few years because of consecutive flops.

In the last two years, the thought of changing careers has appeared in my mind time and time again.

I feel like I can’t keep up with the times, my writing style is outdated, the generation gap between me and the new generation of readers is growing, and what I write is becoming harder for people to resonate with.

Therefore, the urge to quit the industry has become increasingly strong.

A cruel reality lies before me—when my performance was good, I called myself an old flop, but these past two years, it seems I’ve truly become one.

I used to call myself "Old Wood," and now that has become a reality too.

I am truly old. Even if the memories of my childhood remain vivid, and even if I haven't yet been young and reckless, I have already reached my 40th year of life. The gray hair at my temples reminds me—you are no longer young.

Before publishing this new book, my old readers had almost all scattered.

Because I had too many consecutive flops.

Of my last three books, one lost its first round of recommendation rankings, and another lost its second. Even though I gritted my teeth under the pressure and insisted on finishing those two books at 940,000 and 800,000 words respectively to give the readers who followed them closure, everyone still gradually left me.

Facts have proven that as long as you flop, no amount of responsibility matters.

The longer you persist, the more ridicule you will only harvest.

I don’t know how many times in these past few years I’ve heard people call me an old flop or a small-time loser.

I didn’t refute it.

When my performance is poor, I have never refuted any humiliation; I just silently taste the bitterness of failure, then reflect, reflect, and reflect again.

Time and again, I hypnotize myself in my heart: I am suited for uphill battles, and I will definitely be able to make a comeback.

I know I don’t have the qualification to put down my pen, because my two children are still small—one is 6, the other is 3. They need me to earn living expenses, and they need me to help them "compete with their father."

Once a child is born, you can’t stuff them back in, so I can only grit my teeth and keep moving forward.

And then, as you all can see, I started this current book.

Some say this book is written too plainly.

Some say I’ve regressed.

Some say I’m living off my past glory.

Some say I’ve finally returned to the track I’m good at.

Some say I’m writing an autobiography.

Some say I’ve gone crazy wanting to become a god, and this book is my fantasy.

People say all sorts of things.

Actually, I wrote about this theme ten years ago, and later I wrote "Return to 2006."

Ten years ago, when I wrote "Rebirth 2003," I didn’t think about making money; I just wanted to write a story to commemorate my youth in this industry.

I wrote "Return to 2006" because my book "Countercurrent 2004" was banned, and at the time I was still in debt. I didn’t have a single cent of savings on hand, yet I had to pay off debts, cover mortgage payments, and raise my children. The pressure of life was immense, so I rushed to start "Return to 2006." That book was indeed aimed at making money, and it had the best first-subscription data of all my works.

After that, I didn’t dare touch this theme again, fearing I would ruin it.

It wasn’t until two months ago that I suddenly had new inspiration for this theme and felt confident I could write a different one, which is why I started this current book.

What you see is the finished product I published. You might not be able to tell, but for this book, I changed the writing style I was most familiar with.

In the past, when I wrote things, I liked to express myself.

This time, I am trying to write the content you want to see.

Moving from expressing myself to serving you all is my biggest change this time.

If it’s not written well, that’s a matter of my skill, not my attitude. I hope everyone will be understanding.

When I published this book, I had some confidence, but I was also mentally prepared to abandon this author account if it flopped again.

If I changed my alias, no one would ever use the standards of an old author to demand things of me again. After all, I’m just old, not a god; I can’t write at the level of a platinum god, and no one would chase me to call me an old flop anymore.

Then, amidst a chorus of insults and praise, this book has so far received about 11 recommendation slots, more than all the recommendation slots of my previous three books combined.

When the data was at its best, the number of followers just broke ten thousand, and the number of daily readers broke five thousand.

Because of this, I was given several more recommendation slots later on, which basically means I’ve eaten through every recommendation slot available during the new book period.

So, I must thank everyone for your support.

I didn’t dare mention these figures before because I was afraid that if you knew your reading was helping me get more recommendation slots, this book would be delayed in launching and I wouldn't be able to release massive updates, and then you would stop reading.

Here, I sincerely say to you all: thank you very much.

It is your support that allowed this book to never lose a single time when competing against contemporary works during the new book period.

But...

It’s been over two months since I prepared and published this new book, and I haven’t even earned enough to cover my internet bill.

Electricity bills, living expenses, the children’s tuition, and milk powder money—I’m eating through my savings.

I can’t hold on much longer financially.

The book launches after 12:00 tonight; I hope everyone can subscribe and support it.

Three consecutive flops is already miserable enough; please don’t let me have a fourth.

Give me some motivation for massive updates and give me the mindset to keep writing.

Thank you all!

Today’s two free chapters are presented in advance. The book launches after 12:00 tonight; I look forward to your support.