Back to 1997, I became the originator of online literature

Can Chapter 538 break 10,000 views?

"That's over eight thousand?"

Cao Sheng looked at the subscription data for the first chapter and muttered to himself in surprise.

I thought to myself: At this rate of growth, could the number of first-time orders for this book in 24 hours break 10,000?
impossible?

In which year did a work with over 10,000 first-time subscriptions appear in the original timeline?
He couldn't remember, but could only roughly estimate in his mind that it was around 08.

In his memory, it seemed that around 08, it became easier for top online writers to make money. He remembered that around 08, when he was chatting with someone in an author group, someone mentioned that a certain top writer had deliberately played the victim when attending the Qidian Author Annual Meeting.

He pulled out his old-fashioned cell phone in front of the top management of Qidian.

The top management at Qidian promised on the spot to improve the writers' treatment.

Therefore, it is conceivable that before that incident of playing the victim, even the top authors on Qidian.com did not earn much in the online literature world.

Of course, not every top player was in such a bad situation back then.

For example, Xue Hong became the first online novelist to earn a million yuan a year in 04, which is something many people know.

At that time, online literature was developing very rapidly. Not only did the readership grow rapidly, but the income of top authors also rose quite quickly. In 05, many top authors' annual income exceeded one million.

However, as time goes by, some of the top authors on Qidian (the online writing platform) become outdated, slipping from their peak popularity and experiencing a significant drop in income.

Starting in the early 2000s, a wealth of talent emerged, with newcomers rising to prominence every year, stealing the spotlight from established masters and causing some veteran masters to gradually fade into obscurity.

In short, Cao Sheng estimates that works with over 10,000 first-time subscriptions in the original timeline should have appeared around 2008.

After 08, with the emergence and popularization of smartphones, many young people now own smartphones, which makes reading novels very convenient.

With the widespread adoption of smartphones, the number of online novel readers has exploded, and highly popular authors' new works have frequently seen first-day subscriptions exceeding 10,000.

And now?

It was only 2002!

Is my book going to break 10,000 first-time subscribers in 24 hours?
How can this be?

Cao Sheng could hardly believe it.

While the concept and plot of "Cultivation Chat Group" are not bad, he believes it is definitely not the best among all the works he has published since his rebirth.

In fact, he shares the same opinion as many readers, feeling that "Cultivation Chat Group" is not as good as his other book, "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts".

"The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts" pioneered the genre of Chinese martial arts, creating a completely new training system within modern fighting novels.

The plot is also very enjoyable.

And what about "Cultivation Chat Group"?

Can its level of innovation compare to "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts"?
The writing style is like everyday writing, which has a lot of fluff and filler. But when you read it, it's as enjoyable as reading "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts".

However, the current first-day subscription data of "Cultivation Chat Group" has exceeded the first-day subscription data of "National Martial Arts Romance" by about 3000.

For a moment, Cao Sheng could only look for reasons in other areas.

For example, is it because when "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts" was released, Qidian had just launched paid reading, and there were too few readers willing to pay? Now that Qidian has accumulated a lot of paying readers, the initial subscription data of "Cultivation Chat Group" is so impressive?
For example, "Cultivation Chat Group" was published on two platforms. This time, Qidian was the first to release it. Did it attract some of the die-hard fans on Rongshu to subscribe and support it?

For example, the comedic style of "Cultivation Chat Group" naturally has a larger audience than the martial arts-themed "Romance of Chinese Martial Arts".
Just like in the film industry, many meticulously crafted blockbusters are often outperformed at the box office by a lighthearted comedy.

The most typical example is Stephen Chow's Chi Nian!
In 1992, Stephen Chow had seven films released, five of which dominated the top five spots on the Hong Kong box office charts.

Is it because these five films have such high artistic value that they surpass all other films released in the same year?

It can only be said that comedy films have a large enough audience.

Cao Sheng's novel, "Cultivation Chat Group," is a comedy-style novel.

Readers who enjoy any genre are likely to become readers of this book.

"It probably won't break 12 by midnight tonight..."

Looking at the subscription data on the author's backend, Cao Sheng muttered to himself again.

His past experience had taught him that the growth rate of subscriptions for any book after it is released tends to decline over time.

but……

He also knew that there would be another peak in subscriptions from evening until around 10 p.m.

This is because this is when many people are online.

He estimated that by 10 p.m., the first chapter of the book should have over 9000 subscribers.
However, 10 AM to 12 PM is likely to be a low-paying period, with very few subscribers. It might not even be possible to gain 200 subscribers in two hours.

But the initial order data of over 9000 is still quite astonishing.

This was in 2002!

With mixed feelings, Cao Sheng quickly posted two chapters of his draft and also updated a chapter of "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts".

After finishing the update, I turned off the computer, took my teacup and phone, and went downstairs to eat.

Upon arriving on the second floor, he immediately saw Jiang Xiaoshuang setting the table with bowls and chopsticks. He then suddenly remembered that Jiang Xiaoshuang had mentioned in a text message earlier that she would come to have dinner with him after get off work to celebrate the launch of his new book.

"You're here? When did you arrive?"

Cao Sheng greeted him with a smile.

Jiang Xiaoshuang turned to look at her, smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled, "You've been here for a while now. You're a bit late coming down for dinner today! Come and sit down! I specially bought some hairy crabs, which were steamed a while ago. They shouldn't be too hot to handle now. Come and try some!"

Cao Sheng glanced at the dishes on the table and saw a large plate of hairy crabs, about seven or eight in total, each one very large and beautiful.

"Do hairy crabs go well with Shaoxing wine?"

He walked over with a smile, casually putting down his teacup and phone.

Jiang Xiaoshuang picked up a hairy crab and placed it in the bowl in front of him. "Don't worry! I've already cooked the Shaoxing wine. I added scallions and ginger as you like. I'll go get it for you!"

Before she could finish speaking, Qin Xiyue's voice came from the kitchen, "Miss Jiang, please sit down and eat! I'll bring the rice wine!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Sheng raised his hand and pressed down, gesturing for Jiang Xiaoshuang to sit down and eat.

Jiang Xiaoshuang turned around and said, "Thank you, Sister Qin!"

Then he sat down, picked up a hairy crab, and while removing the crab legs, said with a smile, "I bought 20 hairy crabs. I just took the rest downstairs to Lei Zhen and Sun Liang. Should I send them some Shaoxing wine too?"

Cao Sheng took a bite of crab roe, and upon hearing this, glanced at her and smiled, "No need! They have wine! They might not even like yellow wine."

The two ate and chatted, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Cao Sheng currently does not have a girlfriend in name only.

But to him, Jiang Xiaoshuang was the one who most resembled his girlfriend.

Not only was she the most natural with him, but she was also the most familiar with the aunties and bodyguards here. Moreover, she would visit Cao Sheng's parents every week.

Cao Sheng's parents also liked her quite a bit.

When Cao Sheng occasionally visited his parents for meals, they would always speak highly of Jiang Xiaoshuang in front of him and often urge him to be with her. His parents, somehow, had learned that he and Huang Qingya had broken up.

How have you been lately? Are you still so busy with work?

Cao Sheng asked casually.

Jiang Xiaoshuang bent down and used scissors to cut off the joints of the crab legs. When she heard the question, her tone was also very casual, "It's okay! I'm already familiar with the job of a host, and the pressure isn't as great as before, so the work is naturally easier."

As she spoke, she put down the scissors, picked up a chopstick, and used it to poke into the crab leg whose joints she had just cut off. The white crab leg meat was pushed out little by little by the chopstick.

Cao Sheng glanced at her movements, chuckled, and teased, "Your way of eating is quite sophisticated! Who taught you that?"

Jiang Xiaoshuang looked over with a smile, "I told a lady at the station. She's really good at eating hairy crabs. She said she learned it from a waitress at a big hotel. How about it? Do you want to learn? I'll teach you!"

Cao Sheng shook his head, "Forget it! I don't want to learn!"

Jiang Xiaoshuang was surprised, "Why? You're wasting a lot of meat by eating like that."

Cao Sheng: "I'm afraid of trouble!"

……

Around 10 p.m. that night, Cao Sheng finished writing a chapter and took a short break. He then logged into the Qidian author backend to check the subscription data for "Cultivation Chat Group".

I discovered that the number of subscribers for the first chapter of this book has indeed exceeded 9000, reaching over 9200.

There was still an hour and forty minutes to go until midnight.

He estimated that by 12 o'clock sharp, the number of subscribers for the first chapter would probably not even reach 10,000.

I felt a little disappointed.

But overall I was happy.

After thinking for a moment, he posted another chapter from his archives.

This is his fourth chapter updated today. With such impressive subscription data on the first day of release, he naturally had to deliver on his promise of a fourth chapter in his release statement.

Even though he had very limited manuscripts on hand.

When he was publishing this chapter, a thought flashed through his mind: If I publish another chapter now, will it increase the number of subscribers to the first chapter even further?

If we can push it up a bit more, maybe by 12 o'clock, the number of subscribers for the first chapter will actually break 10,000.

Although he wasn't obsessed with breaking 10,000 initial subscriptions, he would definitely be happier if he could break that number.

After a short rest, he started typing again.

With fewer and fewer drafts left, and a large number of updates in the past two days, he naturally had to seize the time to write.

In order to write something tonight, Jiang Xiaoshuang suggested that he take a break after dinner, not work, and chat with her or watch TV, but he politely declined.

Jiang Xiaoshuang should be waiting for him in the master bedroom downstairs right now!
He put her out of his mind, focused on the novel's plot, and made the most of his time to write.

The rapid clicking of his fingers revealed the continuous flow of his thoughts; the faster he typed, the faster his mind raced.

Because every word he types has already flowed through his mind before he even begins to write it.

only……

He had only written about a thousand words in this chapter when there was a knock on his study door.

"Boom! Boom!"

The knocking sound reached Cao Sheng's ears as he was wearing headphones, interrupting his thoughts. He frowned and looked at the study door, casually taking off his headphones. His first thought was that it was Jiang Xiaoshuang who had knocked.

Wang Jing's voice came from outside the door, "Boss? Boss! Baojianfeng from Qidian called looking for you. He wants you to call him back right away! Boss? Boss?"

Cao Sheng was very surprised.

It was both unexpected that Wang Jing was knocking on the door, and unexpected that Bao Jianfeng would ask him to return the call at this time.
What's so urgent? Why do you need me to call back at this time?

"understood!!"

Cao Sheng raised his voice in response.

Wang Jing responded from outside the door, and her footsteps gradually faded away.

Cao Sheng put down his headphones, first saving the more than 1,000 words he had just typed, then hesitated for a moment, looked at his phone next to the computer, and finally picked it up.

The phone call log contained three missed calls from Bao Jianfeng a dozen minutes earlier.

Cao Sheng dialed Baojianfeng's number.

While waiting for Bao Jianfeng to answer the phone, Cao Sheng guessed why Bao Jianfeng was in such a hurry to contact him.
As the person in charge and editor-in-chief of Qidian, Baojianfeng must know that the period before midnight is the peak time for writers like him to write.

There's nothing urgent, so Baojianfeng probably won't call him at this hour.

"Hello? Mr. Cao? Mr. Cao! I've finally gotten through to you. So, have you been keeping an eye on the subscription status of your new book?"

Cao Sheng hummed in agreement. "I know. What's wrong?"

Bao Jianfeng: "Uh, Mr. Cao! Have you noticed that your book has already had over nine thousand first-day subscriptions? It's not far from ten thousand?"

Cao Sheng smiled and said, "Yeah, I know. What's wrong?"

Bao Jianfeng: "What's wrong, Mr. Cao? Have you noticed that since 9:30, the growth rate of your book's subscription data has dropped significantly? Let me put it this way! According to the unanimous judgment of our editorial department, at the current rate of growth, under normal circumstances, it will be difficult for your book to break through 10,000 first-day subscriptions by midnight tonight. It may be two or three hundred, or three or four hundred short. What do you think?"

Cao Sheng wanted to laugh. "Yeah, I guessed that was the case too. It's really hard to break 10,000. What are you trying to say?"

Bao Jianfeng: "Uh, Mr. Cao, I heard you have 12 fan groups, with at least 10,000 fans in them, right? How about... you go to these fan groups and shout it out? Ask everyone to subscribe and support us. I estimate that among so many fans, there must be some who haven't subscribed yet. If you go and shout it out, the chances of breaking 10,000 first-time subscribers before 12 o'clock will be much greater. If it's still a little short, then we'll try to find a way to help you boost the numbers. What do you think?"

Cao Sheng frowned and thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay! I'll go and say something in the group. But even if the final number doesn't break 10,000, don't give me fake data, okay?"

Bao Jianfeng: "Why? Your data is already close enough. With a little manipulation, it'll be easy to break 10,000."

Cao Sheng chuckled lightly, "No need! This bad habit of manipulating data shouldn't start with me!"

He can be quite stubborn at times, and has some quirks that outsiders might find pretentious.

For example, during his many years of writing novels before his rebirth, there were countless authors in the industry who inflated their data, but he never spent money to inflate a single data point.

Even when Qidian later introduced features like monthly ticket red envelopes and recommendation ticket red envelopes, he never spent money to buy these things.

Before his rebirth, he held onto this principle.

After being reborn, I was even less inclined to resort to such underhanded tactics.

Call him aloof or stubborn, that's just how he's going to do it.

reason?

Without it!

I just don't want to humiliate myself.

As a professional writer, isn't paying for data an insult to yourself?
(End of this chapter)