A healing writer? No, it's a depressing writer!

Chapter 124 The Tragic God! Are you ready to subvert the traditional literary world?
This week has been a long and busy one.

As the end of the semester approaches, Jiang Hai is not only preparing for various exams for his Chinese Language and Literature major, but he is also busy with something very important.

That is the release of "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood"!

To say it’s unexpected, maybe it’s not that unexpected?
As expected, since the release of "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood", it has not caused much response in the domestic book market.

Although, on the promotional interface of the book, a line of large words has been printed:
[Another masterpiece by Jiang Hai, the author of "No Longer Human"! ]

However, when book lovers go to major newspaper offices, bookstores, or roadside book kiosks to buy books, they see this line of big words and immediately feel confused -

Who is Jiang Hai?

What kind of book is "No Longer Human"?

That’s right, Jiang Hai might be somewhat famous among college students, that is, among college teachers and students.

As the first Chinese who suppressed the young generation of Japan in the [Asian High School Literature Competition] and defeated Yayoi Kusama, Ringo Shiina, and Masako Himekawa in succession, he is indeed very famous among teachers and students in colleges and universities.

But, outside of college, how many people still know him?
College students are, after all, just college students. How can they influence society?

This is, of course, still a bit superficial.

In fact, the dismal sales of "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood" has certain reasons, which are related to the subject matter of the book.

"Xu Sanguan Selling Blood" is essentially a period piece, and the story it tells includes a series of major historical events from the 1950s to the 1980s.

The target readers of this type of article should be mostly middle-aged people, that is, people in the age group of 35 or 55 may feel more involved when reading it?
After all, everyone has actually lived through that period and experienced life in that era.

Let’s take a look at this book that is full of a sense of age.

Naturally, there will be different feelings and experiences?
But Jiang Hai's fame can really be considered negligible in front of these older uncles and aunts?

We are usually busy with work and life. Where do we find the time to pay attention to the [Asian University Literature League]? Where do we find the energy to pay attention to "No Longer Human", which dominates the Japanese literary world and is known as the "masterpiece of sad literature"?
Young people do not have a strong sense of immersion in a book like "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood", so naturally few people will buy it.

Middle-aged people don’t even know your name, Jiang Hai, and are not familiar with you as an author, let alone buy your books?

As expected, within a week of the release of "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood", sales were very high across the country.

He only sold over 3,000 copies?

If you are just doing something small, writing books just for fun, and selling more than 3,000 copies of the book
Maybe that's acceptable?
But Jiang Hai invested several million dollars in "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood".

Without the backing of a publishing house, you can make millions in a matter of minutes. Do you call this a small thing?
"This is the sales of "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood" last week. Take a look."

Looking at the sales statistics report sent by Yang Shuman in the mailbox, Jiang Hai suddenly felt a chill in his heart?

With an investment of 3 million, 150,000 copies were printed. In the first week when the momentum should have been the strongest, it actually
Only over 3,000 copies sold?

The printing cost of "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood" is 18 yuan. After deducting the publicity fees of major newspapers and bookstores, and the agency fees for listing the book, the total cost of an authentic book should be 22 yuan.

The cost is 22 yuan and the selling price is 32 yuan.

This means that by selling a copy of "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood", Jiang Hai can make a net profit of 10 yuan without deducting royalties.

After one week on the shelves, 3,000 books were sold, but the profit was only 30,000 yuan.

The key point is that this is before tax?
Looking at the dismal sales data, Jiang Hai couldn't believe his eyes:

"No wonder so many book manufacturers are going bankrupt. With such thin profits, isn't this just a case of who comes and who dies?"

In fact, it is quite difficult to develop genuine books in the country.

The cost of an authentic book, including taxes, publicity, and promotion, is at least a few dozen yuan.

Naturally, these costs cannot be borne by publishers and manufacturers, and will ultimately be shared by consumers.

This results in the selling price of an authentic book easily being dozens of yuan.

Do you think that publishers and authors can earn a lot if a book is sold at a price of thirty or forty yuan?
This is not the case.

The cost of printing a book is already high, and the profits from sales have to be divided equally among the distributor (publishing house), the seller (bookstores, newspapers and other channels), and the author himself.

This means that the author himself does not make much money from selling a book.

This time, both the distributor and the author belong to Jiang Hai, so he can get the 10 yuan net profit from selling a book.

If the two identities of [publisher] and [author] are separated, Jiang Hai can't even earn 10 yuan for selling a book?
"No wonder so many authors are less and less interested in publishing books nowadays." Jiang Hai looked at the dismal sales data and fell into deep thought, "The risks and benefits are totally out of proportion?"

“If you have the spare time to publish a book, you might as well write a couple of online articles.”

Although he complained, Jiang Hai also knew what he should do now.

The current priority is -

Just find a way to increase the sales of "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood"!
Even if this thing doesn't make money, at least it won't make you lose money, right?

After all, the initial investment of three million is not a small amount.
"I think the quality of the book should be fine." Jiang Hai looked at the sales statistics and immediately began to reflect, "The problem should still lie in the early promotion."

Jiang Hai had contacted some publishing houses and newspapers for publicity, but the result was
Seems a little unsatisfactory?
These publishing houses and newspapers themselves don’t have much traffic. How can you let a platform with no traffic publicize and promote your book?

This effect will definitely not be good.

Jiang Hai has also promoted it on his own public media platforms.

However, his personal account [Jiang Hai] didn't have many followers. When he switched to the account [Rainy Night with Umbrella but No Knife], he used the identity of Rainy Night to promote books:
[I really like reading "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood" recently. If you like to read serious literature, please support it.]

Do you want to know if the [Yuye] account has any traffic?
Yes, it is definitely true!

But it seems that most of them are black fans?
"Does anyone dare to read the book you recommend? My opinion is that you should just concentrate on writing."

"I can't support it at all! I also want to urge my friends around me not to watch it. Who the hell told you to be so mean?"

"What? You're also starting to bring in goods? It's not impossible for you to ask me to buy books. How about you hold an offline meeting first?"

"If you hold an offline fan meeting, we guarantee to buy it! Not only will I buy it for myself, I will also give a copy to everyone in my family. As long as you dare to hold it, I will dare to buy it!"

"So many people have urged you to start a book club. How about it, Yuye? Are you sure you don't want to consider it?"

In fact, Jiang Hai had thought about the idea of ​​holding an offline book club.

But every time he had this thought.
This idea would be dispelled by him very quickly!

"Is this a serious book club?"

"Do you want to start a book club, or do you want to 'fire' me during the book club?"

"I don't even dare to think about it!"

Jiang Hai got goosebumps when he thought about the book friends who would bring wreaths to pay tribute to him.

"Life is more important, life is more important"

In fact, during the sales period of "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood", there were classmates who tried to help Jiang Hai.

Among them is Jiang Hai's classmate, who also has experience in selling hundreds of thousands of copies of books -

Shen Yue, Miss Shen!
The day before yesterday afternoon, when the evening class was over, Shen Yue stopped Jiang Hai when he was about to leave the classroom:
"My father knows several editors-in-chief of publishing houses who have some prestige in the industry. Would you like me to introduce them to you?"

"Also, my uncle also knows some famous traditional literature writers. The types of books they write are similar to yours. How about I ask my uncle to find a few old gentlemen to help you recommend your books? I think it should be helpful."

In fact, Jiang Hai felt that if he followed the process Shen Yue mentioned to promote the book, it should be of some effect?

However, for some reason, Jiang Hai felt very uncomfortable with Shen Yue.

Is it really that I am born with a little bit of disgust?

As soon as he saw Shen Yue, Jiang Hai would think of Mu Tingting, and as soon as he thought of Mu Tingting, he would think of all the bad things Mu Tingting had done.
Although Jiang Hai really needs help now, he really doesn't like to owe favors to others.

especially.
Owe favors to people you don’t like at all?

"I appreciate your kindness, but you don't need to help me."

"I know what's going on."

Jiang Hai rejected Shen Yue without hesitation. Regardless of what she thought, he turned around and left decisively.

Although Shen Yue was not able to help Jiang Hai, her words -

Did it give Jiang Hai some inspiration?
If you want to make your book famous, there are only two ways:

One is to find a celebrity with traffic and popularity, use her influence to endorse your work, and let more people know about your work.

Secondly, we need to find someone who has a relatively high status and prestige in the traditional literary world and use the famous writer's recommendation to recommend the book.

Vouch for the quality of your work!
Regarding the first point, Jiang Hai has already found Kong Xi and asked Kong Xi to promote his new book "Xu Sanguan Selling Blood" when promoting the movie.

Regarding the second point, Jiang Hai was very bold and found the chief judge of the last [Asian University Literature League], a Chinese writer who was also a prestigious veteran writer in the traditional Chinese literary world.

Liu Zhenyun, Mr. Liu!
"Hello, Mr. Liu. I am Jiang Hai, the original author of No Longer Human. This is my new book, Xu Sanguan Selling Blood. If there are any shortcomings, I hope you can give me some pointers."

When Jiang Hai asked for Professor Liu Zhenyun's contact information from the organizing committee of the Asian University Literature League, he sent him this message.

Jiang Hai was a little nervous all day long:

"What if Teacher Liu ignores me?"

"There are so many students looking for advice. If Teacher Liu pretends not to see it, wouldn't it be very embarrassing?"

Just when Jiang Hai was hesitant.

Suddenly, he received a reply from Mr. Liu Zhenyun:
[Wait a minute, I'll go back and take a look at it in the evening. ]

"Yeah!" Jiang Hai was so excited that he almost jumped up when he received a reply from Teacher Liu Zhenyun himself.

Just as he was about to edit a message to thank Teacher Liu Zhenyun.

Suddenly, he received another WeChat message from [Kong Xi]:

【Come to the lecture hall, I'm already at your school! 】

"No wonder the magpie was calling this morning. I met two noble people in one day?" Seeing the replies from Kong Xi and Teacher Liu Zhenyun, Jiang Hai stood up from his seat excitedly.

"I'm fucking fine!"

(End of this chapter)