Back to 1997, I became the originator of online literature

Chapter 419 was very effective.
Cao Sheng spent over two hours writing and revising his author's note before it was published, longer than he usually spends writing a single chapter.

But he felt it was the right thing to do.

Based on his past experience, a well-written launch message can significantly impact subscription performance.

Good product launch announcements usually involve playing the victim.

For example, in his book launch speech, O'Brien successfully played the victim card, which resulted in impressive first-day subscription numbers for his new book.

In his book launch announcement, Old Man Ao mentioned that he lived in a bare-bones apartment. Photos of that apartment were even posted in the fan group. It truly was bare-bones; even the door was just a tattered piece of cloth hanging there.

He also said that his wife suffers from numerous illnesses and has to undergo many tests and take many kinds of medicine every month.

The tragedy was so poignant that it would break the hearts of anyone who heard of it and bring tears to their eyes if they saw it.

This made some stingy people who never subscribe to his books feel guilty and, for the first time ever, recharged their subscriptions.

Of course, some attempts to elicit sympathy failed.

For example, some authors say how miserable their lives are, but... many book fans say that their lives are not as good as his.

There are also those who take bizarre approaches to elicit sympathy.

Cao Sheng remembered that in the original timeline, there was a relatively unknown author who took an unconventional approach. In his author launch message, he played the victim, saying that he went to meet his readers and ended up being sexually assaulted by them.

……

It's around 3 p.m.

Huang Qingya came to find Cao Sheng.

When I came, I brought him a freshly roasted duck.

"Why are you here today?"

While they were enjoying roast duck together, Cao Sheng casually asked a question.

Huang Qingya casually said, "Your new book went on sale today, so I came to see how it's going."

Cao Sheng was a little surprised and looked up at her. "Are you curious?"

Huang Qingya looked up, smiled, and nodded. "Of course! Paid subscriptions were first created by Qidian.com, and many people are curious about it, right? I'd like to see how you put your book on the shelves. Also, how are the sales of your book after it was released?"

Cao Sheng smiled. "So, you're not planning to go back tonight?"

Huang Qingya nodded. "You said on QQ that it would be released at midnight, so I definitely can't go back tonight. What? You don't welcome me staying at your place?"

Cao Sheng chuckled, "It's good that you're not afraid."

Huang Qingya rolled her eyes at him, "You scoundrel!"

evening.

After updating the last free chapter of the new book's release period, Cao Sheng also posted the author's note that he had written that morning.

Letting everyone see the launch message in advance might encourage more people to pre-subscribe.

"A launch message? What's that?"

Huang Qingya, who was standing nearby, was surprised to see Cao Sheng give his acceptance speech for the book's release. This was something she had never seen or heard of before.

After Cao Sheng finished giving his acceptance speech, he got up and handed the computer to her.

"See for yourself! You'll understand after you see it."

Curious, Huang Qingya sat down in the computer chair and looked at Cao Sheng's post announcing the product launch.

"Author's Note on Launching the Product"

Dear friends:
When you see this announcement, it means you'll need to pay to read the following chapters of this book. Yes, you read that right, reading books online now requires payment.

Many of you have probably noticed that Qidian recently announced the launch of paid subscriptions. Many of you have expressed strong opinions, opposition, and protests. I have seen some of these posts, but I remain unmoved and will continue to release this new book as planned for everyone to subscribe and read.

This isn't because I'm stubborn!

It's not because I'm short of money.

As many of my friends know, I'm not short of money. In fact, I should still be the highest-paid writer in the online literature industry, bar none!

So here's the question: why would I, Zhongyuan Yidianhui, charge for my new book online? Why can't I continue to offer it for free to everyone?

why?

Because I know—I'm full, but countless colleagues are starving. They're destitute, unable to pay rent, utilities, or internet bills. Some haven't even been able to afford two dishes since they started writing online! Those who are better off might be able to eat instant noodles often, but those who are worse off are probably eating plain noodles every day. Plain noodles in broth won't kill you, but they'll definitely make you want to vomit.

While I was preparing this new book, Baojianfeng from Qidian called me, hoping that my new book could be published on Qidian.

They said they would arrange for my new book to be one of the first paid works on Qidian.

He said he knew I wasn't short of money, but he hoped that I could help countless writers who couldn't earn royalties through this method, and pave a way for them to make a living.

He said, "The starting point needs me, and many of my peers need me even more."

To be honest, his words touched me.

Because I know that in this industry, very few writers can make a living, and only a very small number of authors' works can be published. Many works that are clearly well-written have never had the opportunity to be published, for many reasons, such as not meeting the publishing standards of publishers.

But we are writing online novels, so why must we use the publishing standards of publishing houses to measure the value of each of our works?
Is it reasonable for a TV station to use movie standards to judge every TV series?
In the years I've been writing novels, I've met some fellow writers in real life.

Some of them live good lives, are talented, and quite handsome. Writing online novels brings them both fame and fortune, greatly enhancing their ability to choose a partner. They live a very carefree life.

But many of them lived in poverty. When they went to the canteen, they would always buy a few steamed buns with chili sauce. When asked why they ate steamed buns, they would stubbornly say that they had been eating steamed buns since they were a child and could not get used to rice.

When they go out, they never take taxis or stay in hotels that cost 20 yuan a night. Instead, they live like homeless people in the waiting room of the train station.

Therefore, I decided to participate in Qidian's paid reading program and make my new book one of the first works on Qidian's paid reading platform.

I hope all my book fans will subscribe and support me.

It's not that I'm short of money.

Instead, tens of thousands of my peers are watching the sales performance of my book. Imagine: if my book had very few subscribers, would they still have confidence?

I personally believe that paid reading is of great significance.

Because it can provide a way of life for countless authors who love writing.

It enables them to afford rent, utilities, internet, and food. During the Spring Festival, it also enables them to afford train tickets home and even buy one or two New Year's gifts for their parents and relatives.

The subscription fee is not expensive; Qidian stipulates that it costs two cents per thousand words.

However, it takes a lot of time and effort for each author to write a thousand words.

I hope that you can light a ray of light for countless writers.

Let them have hope and courage to keep writing and produce more and better works!

—A speck of gray in the Central Plains.

In front of the computer.

After reading the launch message, Huang Qingya turned to look at Cao Sheng, who was sitting at the dining table, smiling and drinking tea, with a complicated expression.

Cao Sheng met her gaze, smiled, and asked, "Finished reading?"

Huang Qingya nodded, got up and walked over, pulled out the chair next to him and sat down. As she reached for his teacup, she said, "So you made your new book charge on Qidian for the sake of other authors? Why do I suddenly feel like you're a bit noble?"

Cao Sheng smiled wryly and shook his head slightly, "I'm not that great."

Huang Qingya was surprised, "Huh? You didn't write your true feelings in your launch message?"

Cao Sheng: "Some of these are my true feelings, and some are not."

Huang Qingya: "For example?"

Cao Sheng: "For example, the purpose you just mentioned."

Huang Qingya: "???"

Staring blankly at Cao Sheng, she opened her mouth, then asked in surprise, "Really? You're not doing this for other colleagues? Then what are you doing this for?"

Cao Sheng: "It's not just for my peers, it's more because I want to make money myself. I have shares in Qidian." Huang Qingya: "???"

……

Tian Zhi is 21 years old this year. He entered the workforce after graduating from junior high school and currently works in a factory making screws. Today is his day off, and he habitually went to an internet cafe near his dormitory to surf the internet.

He likes to read novels online.

He is also a fan of the novel "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts".

He logged into Qidian and noticed an update notification for "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts" in his personal bookshelf, so he casually clicked on the book.

I saw an update to the main chapter, and also a statement about the book being published.

"Author's note upon release?"

He muttered to himself in confusion, thinking to himself: "Forced into doing something against one's will."

I thought to myself: Could this be the sentiment of a duck being forced onto a shelf?
The thought flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Out of curiosity, he clicked on the author's announcement to see what the author had written in it.

In a short while, he finished reading the acceptance speech.

He felt something similar to Huang Qingya's—the image of Zhongyuan Yidianhui seemed rather majestic.

In order to pave a way out for his peers, he actually went so far as to use his own new book as an experiment?
For that, you'd rather be criticized by so many readers?

Such a touch of gray in the Central Plains... we must support it!
Overwhelmed with enthusiasm, Tian Zhi couldn't resist taking out his phone and recharging 20 yuan using one of the recharge methods announced by Qidian.com, using his prepaid phone credit.

Then, to his surprise, he found that his 20 yuan had increased—it had become 2000 Qidian coins.

……

Xu Yang is an ordinary writer on Qidian. He is so ordinary that he has written three books, none of which have been published. His three books are also not very popular on Qidian and he is unknown.

His latest serialized work, which has 32 words, has only 2200 followers.

But he still loves writing.

Because apart from writing, he could find nothing else to be proud of.

Average academic performance, average family background, average looks—average in everything.

He was just an ordinary audience member at all the school's parties.

He was also very unremarkable in class.

He confessed his feelings to the girl he liked, a classmate for three years, as graduation approached. She frowned, showing neither surprise nor shyness, only an annoyance at being disturbed.

He knew it was because she didn't like him.

He always felt inferior.

I feel like I'm completely worthless.

It wasn't until he started trying to write online novels that he felt he had some talent. Therefore, even though his works could not be published and his popularity online was only so-so, he was still reluctant to give up writing.

Because if he gives up on doing his homework, he will return to a state of being useless.

In his spare time, he has always maintained the habit of reading and studying.

They weren't looking at textbooks.

Instead, they are works by popular online authors.

For example, works by Zhongyuan Yidianhui are a must-read for him.

He hopes to learn more writing techniques from Zhongyuan Yidianhui's works.

And today, it seems he's learned how to write a launch message...

The author's note on the launch of Zhongyuan Yidianhui's new book seemed to touch his heart, bringing tears to his eyes.

I thought to myself: He understands me! Zhongyuan Yidianhui actually understands me; he knows my difficulties.

Impulsively, despite his already meager living expenses, he got up and went to the internet cafe owner to ask if he had any Qidian game cards for sale.
Yes, Qidian prepared for paid reading for a long time in advance, one of which was the launch of Qidian Points Card.

It imitates the game point cards that have become popular in the last two years.

They are sold directly to internet cafes.

Let internet cafes sell Qidian game cards.

Readers who buy game cards can then recharge them into Qidian coins.

When Xu Yang bought a 30-yuan game card and recharged the money into Qidian coins, a famous saying flashed through his mind: "Those who carry firewood for the masses should not be left to freeze to death in the wind and snow."

He felt that the slightest bit of gray in the Central Plains represented "those who carry firewood for the masses."

Despite enduring countless readers' criticisms, Zhongyuan Yidianhui has been trying to promote paid reading for numerous writers. Even though Xu Yang doesn't have much money, he wants to support such a great author with his actions and not let Zhongyuan Yidianhui feel disheartened.

……

There are many readers like Tian Zhi and writers like Xu Yang.

They were all moved by Cao Sheng's acceptance speech.

Even the Third Young Master, who was far away in the capital, was stunned for a long time after reading this announcement.

A feeling of being moved welled up in his heart.

He has always pursued the realization of his personal value, wanted to catch up with Zhongyuan Yidianhui, wanted to prove his value in the online literature industry, and more importantly, wanted to get rich.

But today...

He was actually moved after reading Zhongyuan Yidianhui's author's post about the book's release.

I actually wanted to do something for this industry.

He has already published his works and earned a considerable amount of royalties thanks to his superb typing speed, so he doesn't need the meager electronic royalties he earns online.

But moved by Cao Sheng's post about the book's launch, he couldn't help but go out and find a place to buy some game points.

He thought: "Zhongyuan Yidianhui's move is beneficial to all writers. If paid reading is successful, it will also benefit me. My book can earn royalties online. Therefore, I can't let the subscription data of 'The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts' look too bad. I have to contribute my own strength."

He is not short of money.

So he bought 500 yuan worth of starting points cards at once.

After returning to his residence, he spent more than an hour registering dozens of reader accounts and topping up each account with some money.

I plan to use these dozens of reader accounts to support Zhongyuan Yidianhui's "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts".

……

Qidian Headquarters.

Even though it was already past the end of the workday.

However, many people in the Qidian editorial department volunteered to work overtime today.

It's not because I like my job.

The problem is that some of them don't have personal computers, so once they get off work, if they want to keep up with the evening's release schedule, they have to spend money to go to an internet cafe.

It's better to stay at the company and work overtime.

They could also ask Baojianfeng to treat everyone to dinner.

While we were eating boxed lunches together, someone suggested that everyone top up their accounts and subscribe to support every book that was released that night.

The proposal was agreed upon by everyone.

Even Bao Jianfeng, after dinner, returned to his office and topped up his reader account with some money.

(End of this chapter)