Chapter 53: Some Issues with the Book

Some Issues with the Book

Answering the scattered, preachy, and argumentative issues in the writing.

Uh, originally after the Wolf-Slaying dungeon ended, there was a Chongzhen side plot concerning the court, alongside a side plot about Song Jinyin and the Xing family as commoners; these two plots were meant to mirror and contrast the class and ideological opposition of the time, planned to be twenty to thirty thousand words.

But at the time everyone felt the pacing was unsatisfactory, so I deleted it and merged it into the straightforward narration of 【Chapter 50】; looking at it now, it was also a failure, still affecting the reading experience; arguments, preaching, and chicken soup for the soul are, in the end, pale.

But there is no way back now; this plot has been deleted, and since deleting it last time, I haven't dared to add side plots, leaving a disconnect in the characters' mental states and growth! Furthermore, delaying the side plots for too long without inserting them makes the initial side plot seem abrupt.

From the very beginning, the main plot and side plots of this book were intended to advance in parallel; for instance, when writing about Chongzhen in 【Chapter 11: Eighteen Sons】, it wasn't just to extend the character "Li" from "Eighteen Sons"; actually, several things were foreshadowed:

The Fifth Imperial Prince: The Fifth Imperial Prince involves the "aristocrats demanding tribute" and serves as the lead-in to the Zhou Kui incident.

Empress Zhou: The "aristocrats demanding tribute incident" allows one to interpret that this woman, by coordinating the inner court with the outer court, might have been supporting the Donglin faction; even if it cannot be proven she supported the outer court, the fact that she transmitted messages to the outer court via inner court eunuchs reveals that the political struggle in the court at that time was terrifying and severe: imperial consorts and nobles, inner court eunuchs, and outer court officials were exchanging information!

Even if these three did not become allies, it at least proves they were exchanging information, or rather sharing information; sharing information naturally creates a certain possibility for an alliance.

Suppose, just suppose, these three joined forces as an alliance, then who were they trying to counter?

Obviously, it was Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian!

A queen, a wife, unable to fully unite with her husband in spirit, further highlights Chongzhen's isolated and helpless situation at the time, which in turn led to his increased paranoia and rash executions in the later period.

Tian Fei introduces Chen Yuanyuan; Chen Yuanyuan is a medium to introduce the character Wu Sangui in the later period, while also refuting Wu Weiye's lie about "furious over a beauty"; the truth is that many descendants of the Fu Society whitewashed Wu Sangui, turning the great crime of treason into a joke about a lovesick man and a resentful woman, lowering the severity of the crime, and even gaining some favor among women; rationally a criminal, but emotionally a hero... this kind of discourse is truly deserving of death!

Princess Zhaoren

Wang Dehua of the Directorate of Ceremonial

Although much has been deleted, actually many foreshadowings have been *** away; currently they are not unveiled, so it appears bloated and superfluous; for instance, this 【Chapter 52: Tobacco】 is definitely too scattered and excessive; actually it also has a side plot echo, wait for me to insert the side plot and unveil it...

Of course, I have deleted many plots, such as "Xu Lifang," whose uncle was Xu Dingguo, titled "Marquis of Pacifying the South" by the Qing; also 【Beheading】 introduces the quite powerful "Xiao Yuan Camp" and Yuan Kaitai of Yuan Shizhong; also Wang Tingxing, who used a Han name but was actually from the Haixi Jurchens; and Zhou Yin's resume, echoing Jin Guofeng, who died in battle at Beishan Gang in the tenth month of the twelfth year of Chongzhen.

Some old friends know I am a dull person in life, even somewhat socially anxious; when book reviews were not open for a while, I replied, but now I don't know how to reply, afraid I won't make myself clear, afraid of arguing, afraid of making readers unhappy...

Now, how to put it, my mindset has become somewhat indifferent, because this book has basically flopped!

One hundred and thirty thousand words, favorites just over a thousand; usually books go on sale at two hundred thousand words, so the new book period has basically reached its end; with these data going on sale, there is no possibility of subscriptions; I don't hold any illusions anymore.

In terms of writing, the main reason is still my own lack of ability.

Actually, many things readers say, once mentioned, I can think of and understand; but I just can't write it properly, can't write it well; thinking about it all the way home from work today, this is lack of ability! This really cannot be washed away.

Secondly, the pacing is not handled well, the writing is not smooth; perhaps I shouldn't have deleted the side plot scenes; if I had inserted the side plots earlier, everyone could have seen many things; it was written usefully, it echoes the side plot or intersects with the side plot, and wouldn't leave people confused in clouds and mist now.

But the problem is, if I don't delete, the pacing has a huge problem, so there is no solution. This is still a major defect in my own ability, unable to find suitable methods and techniques between "gratification" and plot foreshadowing.

Another point, from the writer's perspective, when I write, I involve the later layouts of many characters, so in many places I spend ink, leave ink, or even add events for supporting characters to appear, strengthening their image characterization; for example, the character Xiao Juzi, from her initial appearance to later familiarity, is a constantly progressing detailed process; many readers have scolded me multiple times for this supporting character, and many may have abandoned the book.

I think writing this way allows readers, during the reading process, to subconsciously transform the supporting character's image from fragmented and one-sided to gradually three-dimensional and solid, planting a flesh-and-blood image, so that the supporting character can in turn help push the main plot.

For instance, 【Teaching and Writing】, 【Wolf-Slaying】, and 【Picking Persimmons】, these few small dungeons or plots; could they be passed over in a single stroke? Yes, definitely yes; one sentence, two sentences, three sentences could all convey the information.

But then the character image of Xiao Juzi would be very thin; on New Year's Eve of the twelfth year of Chongzhen, she is a crucial lead-in. If her image is too thin, I worry it won't be able to leverage the plot.

The above are the misunderstandings between the writer and the readers; I feel I am enriching characters and enriching the plot, while everyone thinks I am padding... Of course, many capable authors do not have the problems I mentioned, so ultimately, this is a matter of personal ability; I must admit, with no intention of whitewashing or making excuses.

I have chatted a bit; everyone can read it in their spare time after meals; as for me, I will still write to the best of my ability, and at the same time, I hope for a slightly better return; although currently it is basically bleak, after all, royalties are the driving force of writing (this is not playing the victim, not begging for tips, there is no need for that; results are the hard truth).

Suggestions, opinions, errors, if you want to mention them, mention them; if you are unhappy, scold as you please.

Best wishes.