Chapter 166 165 A novel has been revised nine times! (Second update)
After introducing each other, the four of them entered the restaurant.
Wooden floor, snowflake roof, pine tower lamp, carved columns, fountain,... full of Russian style, four people came to a private room, all the dishes were served, and the four of them chatted while eating.
The two beautiful girls both studied dance and had a common topic, talking about dance. Fang Minghua and Wang Shuo were drinking and chatting. Perhaps because of the alcohol, Wang Shuo's chatterbox opened up, and the true nature of "Kanye" was suddenly revealed.
From the interaction with Song Yuemin to some interesting stories about eating at Lao Mo restaurant, of course, Song Yuemin must be praised a lot.
"Among our group of brothers, he is the most promising, and he is now a deputy regimental cadre!"
Fang Minghua just listened quietly without saying anything.
Wang Shuo was not drunk and was not talking nonsense. He just wanted to get closer to each other by "talking" like this. You must know that Song Yuemin is the elder brother-in-law of the editor-in-chief in front of him!
But it seems to have little effect.
So he quickly gave up this strategy and shifted the focus of the topic to novels.
"Editor Fang, I recently wrote a novel, would you like to read it?" Wang Shuo said.
“Okay.”
Wang Shuo immediately took out a manuscript from his bag, one thick and one thin.
Fang Minghua took it over and saw that they all had the same title: "Stewardess"!
Sure enough, this is Wang Shuo’s chapter of fame.
It was this novel that Wang Shuo truly opened the door to literature.
Just
Why are there two "Stewardess" books, one thick and one thin?
Seeing Fang Minghua's surprised look, Wang Shuo explained:
"Editor Fang, I'm not an outsider and I'll tell you the truth. I originally submitted this novel to "Contemporary". An editor from Long looked at my first draft and said that the plot was a bit thin, so I revised it and expanded it to 90,000 words. This is the thick one.”
After Wang Shuo finished speaking, he pointed at one of the books and continued: "It turns out that before the novel was published, the editor named Long resigned and was replaced by an editor named Zhang. He also said that my writing was too wordy and asked me to streamline it, going back and forth. After trying it 9 times, it still doesn’t work.”
After finishing speaking, Wang Shuo picked up a glass of wine and drank it in one gulp.
It seems that there is resentment in my heart.
But yes, a novel of only 40,000 words has been revised 9 times, which is probably not good for anyone.
Fang Minghua didn’t say anything. He picked up the thin draft and read it silently.
It was not long at more than 40,000 words. After reading it, Fang Minghua picked up the thicker one and looked at it carefully.
Wang Shuo looked at Fang Minghua's focused eyes. He wanted to ask several times but held back until he saw that the other party had finished reading the last page and then asked quickly.
"Editor Fang, what do you think?"
Fang Minghua looked at his nervous eyes and smiled: "As far as these two versions are concerned, I think the one with the smaller number of words is The writing is better, the writing is concise and touching. "
"Hey, this is actually the first manuscript I wrote." Wang Shuo said with a bit of self-deprecation in his tone.
"Well, let me take it back and take a closer look. How about I give you a reply in two days? I will give you an accurate reply if it works or not, and I won't let you change it nine times."
"Sure! I will I just like having fun!" Wang Shuo became happy.
After eating, the two parties said goodbye and left.
Fang Minghua and Song Tangtang left first. After seeing them off, Wang Shuo went to the counter to pay the bill.
“Forty-eight yuan and fifty cents, a pound of food stamps.”
The waiter reported a number. The flesh on Wang Shuo's face couldn't help but jump, but he calmly took out five ten-yuan tickets from his pocket.
Looking at it, Shen Xujia felt heartbroken.
Nearly fifty.
One month’s salary for an average worker’s family!
After the money was paid, Wang Shuo sent Shen Xujia back to school. "Wang Shuo, eating here is really expensive." The girl couldn't help but say.
"It doesn't matter. If that novel is published, I can earn 400 yuan according to the general standard of 10 yuan per thousand words!" Wang Shuo comforted.
"Then do you think the novel will be published this time?" Shen Xujia asked.
“I think I can!” Wang Shuo cheered himself up.
At this time, Fang Minghua and Song Tangtang took the bus back to the General Political Courtyard.
In the car, Song Tangtang suddenly said: "Minghua, I don't like Wang Shuo very much."
"Huh?" Fang Minghua turned his head and looked at him.
“Actually, he doesn’t know my brother very well. We just had a few meals together as friends, but today we talked at the dinner table as if we were close buddies, and they were extremely affectionate.”
"That's because you are my girlfriend, and your brother is my uncle. If you get to know him well, you will get closer to him and me." Fang Minghua replied with a smile.
“That’s why I don’t like it.” The girl continued: “Look at Teacher Chen and Brother Lu Yao, have you never heard of getting close to that editor?”
"People are different, not to mention that Wang Shuo is now at a low point in his life, so there is nothing wrong with doing so." Fang Minghua explained: "More importantly, Wang Shuo is different from Lu Yao and Chen Zhongshi. He is not a pure literary writer. , belongs to social writing"
"What does it mean?"
“Writing is not a hobby, but more for survival. Think about it, he revised a short novel 9 times without complaining, at least he didn’t complain in front of the editor, because there is only one Purpose: If the novel is published, you will receive royalties."
Fang Minghua said lightly.
"And his novels are not pure literature like Chen Zhongshi, Lu Yao and others, but they are not popular literature, but somewhere in between. If you go back and read this "Stewardess", you will see Can feel it.”
"Then you want to publish such a novel?" Song Tangtang was a little confused.
“Because this is a trend, there will be more and more novels like this in the future.” Fang Minghua explained patiently: “If I am a simple reader, I don’t have to like it, but if I am an editor, I will Consider public adaptability. After all, readers will buy the novel after it is published."
"Ha Minghua, grandma is right, you are a qualified editor," Song Tangtang said with a smile.
Fang Minghua smiled and said nothing.
From the bottom of his heart, he couldn't say how much he liked or disliked Wang Shuo, including his novels.
In a word, they are not people in the same circle.
"However, I quite like Shen Xujia, and we can talk pretty well." Song Tangtang changed the subject.
“That’s a good girl, but it’s a pity that she’s with the wrong person.” Fang Minghua sighed.
"Minghua, what do you mean by this?"
"No, I just said it, it's nothing." Fang Minghua quickly covered it up.
After returning home, Fang Minghua read the novel carefully twice. Don't tell me, although Wang Shuo didn't read much, he was indeed very talented in writing.
The novel is about a love story between an innocent female flight attendant and a demobilized navy soldier. It is fresh, lovely, and truly touching.
Wang Shuo is still very cute at this time, and there is no such arrogance in his words.
After reading it, Fang Minghua carefully revised some plots and asked Song Tangtang to notify Wang Shuo the next day that the manuscript was accepted.
In order to be recommended, the editor said that we must publish 20,000 words today and tomorrow, and the number of VIP words is enough. Let’s work hard! I will release all the saved manuscripts and publish 10,000 words today.
(End of this chapter)