Chapter 322: Do your best before disobeying destiny
Kaiyuan has been a little troubled recently.
Colleagues can see that he is under great pressure.
He resolutely signed "Nangong Boy" and resolutely recommended it, which is a symbol of the editor's vision. As a result, he produced a masterpiece that can leave a name in the history of Internet literature. This is very eye-catching. score.
So he currently has a strong presence in the Origin Company, has gained the false reputation of prestige, and has also enjoyed the candy of promotion.
As the saying goes, there are many popular people and right and wrong, and big trees also attract the wind.
There are rumors in many companies, and the most questioned one is naturally the issue of "luck".
To be fair, Kaiyuan's business ability is naturally not bad. No matter how many prerequisites were involved in selecting Li Yan's works, he at least took a fancy to the potential of Li Yan's works and made a semi-annual project. I highly recommend this kind of courageous operation.
But he can’t be said to be very top-notch.
At least after Li Yan's book, within a year, the best results of his books were no more than small masterpieces.
Because the level has gone up, the amount of book signings has increased sharply, but the proportion is not very good.
There are ups and downs, and it is inevitable that some colleagues with similar abilities will complain privately.
“Didn’t he and I just miss one copy of "Nangong"?"
And now "Nangong Boy" is coming to an end, no matter how you look at it, it will happen at the end of this month or the beginning of next month.
Everyone believes that Kaiyuan's pressure stems from "losing his trump card". By the time Li Yan's book is finished, Kaiyuan will have entered the stage where "a hero does not mention his former bravery".
By then, it’s hard to say whether Kaiyuan can maintain its position as a “gold medal editor” based on the author resources it has and its book signings in the past year.
But Kaiyuan is not worried about this.
The editor’s job is not only to sign books, but also to give opinions.
Control the plot, provide ideas, and even modify some content when necessary.
A great editor can even change the title of a book to make a book’s performance explode.
But in the book "Nangong Boy", Kaiyuan has no sense of existence.
He really wanted to participate, but the way of participating was not like an editor at all, but like a reader.
I enjoyed reading it and discussed the plot with the readers...
That’s not right!
But he can’t keep up at all!
Every time he read Li Yan's latest chapter, he would summarize some possible "lightning points" and unreasonable plots. As a result, the next day's update shattered his unspoken worries.
In the final analysis, the writing difficulty of Li Yan's book has reached a level that Kaiyuan cannot guide.
At that time, Li Yan refused to transfer the follow-up work of this book to the senior editor. This was not only a great affirmation for Kaiyuan, but also a huge pressure.
Just like what the editors said jokingly: "It seems that Kaiyuan has a good way of coaching."
No one, not a single trick.
Although in the Internet literature circle, it is common to start high but not finish well, and it is inevitable for super-long novels to suffer from aesthetic fatigue, failure to fill holes, and collapse of combat power.
For readers, it’s great if a multi-million-word online text can be written smoothly. As long as it has an amazing start and an impressive plot in the middle, it can bring a very enjoyable reading experience. experience.
This can be considered a good book or even a masterpiece.
Seeing the later period, most readers just do it out of habit.
Become the protagonist, or be friends with the protagonist, watch the entertainment time every day, and chase an ending.
It can also be regarded as an explanation for what I have seen along the way.
Even if it is slightly unfinished, everyone can accept it.
As the finale of Li Yan's "Nangong Boy" gets closer and closer, the number of words in the final stage becomes more and more, and everyone gradually realizes a terrible thing.
This book is still responding to the foreshadowing that was laid at the beginning of the book.
This thing in itself is not that great. Some authors will rebel against Tiangang, seemingly echoing the previous article, but in fact they don’t look at the pitfalls until the end. This is not about hiding a thousand miles, but It's patching.
It has become a cultural phenomenon for readers to discuss the plot of this book, and naturally they will not be confused whether Li Yan is patching it up or whether he really thinks so.
So everyone gradually has an expectation in their hearts:
Can a book of more than two million words be able to achieve high results without digging holes and not filling them, without losing combat power? , or even a big sublimation at the end?
This expectation has been raised by some people, and then it was judged as "praising".
Because people who really love this book dare not imagine this result.
It's too difficult to write a wonderful ending that is reasonable and unexpected when so many readers are guessing the story.
This is what Kaiyuan is really distressed and nervous about.
He cannot intervene in the final chapter of Li Yan's story, and like the readers, he looks forward to the final step of his official ascension to the gods.
But he was afraid to face his own expectations.
What if... it collapses?
Looking at the direction of Li Yan's plot, everyone can probably guess the fateful showdown between Nangong Li and Yu Bang's emperor Yu Tiandan, and the possible development of each branch line.
But the disappearance of two hundred years of history, the world outside the thick fog, and Nangong Li's ending, the most important mysteries have not yet been resolved.
If this is not explained well, or if it is written at the end, it will cause a big wave...
Kaiyuan will go from heaven to bottom.
This kind of work that still maintains exaggerated discussion in the late stage is often very dangerous. The possibilities are almost guessed by readers. The author will forcefully change the direction just to prevent everyone from guessing, and then there will be no more.
Kaiyuan actually thought about whether to ask Li Yan for an ending first, but he also felt that it was too early to talk about it now as there were still about 200,000 words.
There are so many things that he is struggling with:
The old author who likes acting is so unpredictable. Will he be unhappy because he seems distrustful of him for the ending?
As someone who is an editor, I must love reading online novels. It is rare to find such a novel that is so comfortable to follow, and I really don’t want to be spoiled.
If the ending is really unsatisfactory, do you have the ability to help change it?
After thinking for a long time, he sent a test message to Li Yan:
"How is the writing going?"
"It's done."
Kaiyuan should not have taken this sip of coffee. I was choking and my nose was filled with the smell of coffee.
“It shouldn’t end like this recently, right? You won’t just dig a hole and not fill it, right?”
Li Yan: Smile.
Kaiyuan suddenly became nervous: Brother, my dear brother, my dear eldest brother, you must not do that kind of operation of "If you want to know what happens next, please listen to the second part for explanation"!
Li Yan: It’s me you’re scolding, not you.
Five thunders struck the head, and Kaiyuan suddenly broke out in sweat.
After hesitating for a long time, I typed out a line: Then you must sign the second part for me.
Li Yan: There is no second part.
Kaiyuan finally reacted: How many words?
Li Yan: I agreed with you, 2.7 million words, no more, no less.
Kaiyuan: Damn it... are you saving the manuscript? In this case, let me review the manuscript first.
Li Yan: From the editor’s perspective or from the reader’s perspective?
Kaiyuan was stunned again. No matter how you look at this sentence... there is a trick, right?
Say it's the editor, does it mean he doesn't trust the ending?
As a reader, do you feel that the editor has not played a role at this stage, and are you disgusted?
When you encounter situations like this where neither left nor right works, just follow your original intention.
"Edit."
Li Yan readily gave it over.
Kaiyuan: Wouldn’t you give it to readers?
Li Yan: Give it too, I’m just asking.
Damn! Those who worry about gains and losses are the easiest to be manipulated!
Kaiyuan did nothing else that day but read the ending in detail.
Seeing the moment when the truth was revealed, even though he had already expected it, he was still shaken in his heart.
I even had to stop and walk outside the office and then come back to see it.
By the time he finished reading it, all his doubts were gone.
However, the expected excitement came a bit slowly - the excitement that this book will completely become a god, the excitement that I will use it to consolidate my position, the excitement that I will get the bonus, etc.
What was replaced was a feeling of despair.
There is a feeling of sadness after reading a shocking work. So much so that he even poured a glass of wine to drink when he got home.
Unfortunately, I am not good at drinking and can only drink a little red wine.
Then I couldn’t help but talk to Li Yan: I used to think you were a famous author, but now I don’t think so anymore. This work is not among any famous works. I began to believe that I had found a genius.
Li Yan: Gold mining also requires skills.
Kaiyuan: This update of yours can be completed before the annual meeting. I will ask you for a pre-completion recommendation and a final push. If you come in succession, you will be treated well.
Li Yan: It is to be completed before the annual meeting.
Kaiyuan: I’ll go, I’m afraid you won’t have to sit in seat C by then!
Li Yan smiled: Are you so confident about the result?
Kaiyuan: That’s not it, what a masterpiece, a masterpiece! But I’m a little worried. You wrote a bit in depth later on, and I feel that many readers can’t understand it. Mainly because there are too many interactions with various clues in the previous chapters—even the details of the “historical materials” compiled by you yourself. This is a big problem. Some people probably can’t see it and won’t study it.
Li Yan: One out of 10,000 readers did this, and I was so happy. For most people, a revenge story will do.
Kaiyuan: Isn’t this a waste?
Li Yan: [laughing] Yuanda, what do you want me to do? Write more plainly? Self-appreciation directly at the end of the article?
Kaiyuan: No, I just always feel it is a pity...
Li Yan: Is it because everyone likes "Dream of Red Mansions" that it became the pearl of Ming and Qing novels?
Kaiyuan didn't know how to reply. Is this guy so angry?
Li Yan: Even "A Dream of Red Mansions" has a special selection of romantic content, but so what? Sometimes it’s just a matter of waiting for that shudder, a shudder when something feels better, and a shudder when something is discovered through research.
Kaiyuan could only smile and nod on the other side of the screen, but he still had a question to ask:
I just don’t quite understand, why do you save so many manuscripts? Wasn't it a scumbag before?
Li Yan: No contradiction, the manuscript was also saved recently.
Kaiyuan: Are you inspired?
Li Yan: I am more focused.
Kaiyuan: ...Why are you concentrating now?
Li Yan: Because I have to do other things.
Kaiyuan laughed loudly and kept filming at the computer table at home: Are you still coming? Tell me, what is the competition for?
Li Yan: To change the world.
...Huh?
Then it was really impossible to answer the conversation, Kaiyuan yawned hard.
After reading it, the editor said there was nothing wrong with it, so Li Yan was not ready to continue revising it.
The finale has already been polished for several editions according to the standards of serious literature, and there is little point in polishing it further.
If you really want to change it, you might as well change some of the previously updated content that was more casual, but Li Yan thinks this is pointless.
For him, the update at that time was also a way to save time. If you want to change it, just wait until the physical book is released.
The novel is completely over, and what the results will be is not something Li Yan can change now.
But with him writing like this, the influence of luck has been minimal.
As the saying goes, do your best to obey fate.
Li Yan said that you must do your best in human affairs before you disobey fate.
He wants to turn some things that are influenced by luck into formulas.
“As long as I am good enough and can do XX, I will definitely be able to do XX.”
Next step, it’s time to find the busy Boss Huang.
Boss Huang really didn’t expect Li Yan to call him. He did give him a business card, but he thought it was enough to meet Li Yan’s needs.
No money is required, just let a few children study the conditions for mobile phone systems. Another boss wouldn't be able to do it.
He thought Li Yan was coming to thank him.
It turned out to be a date?
He is not easy to make appointments with.
CEO of Chuangzu Technology Co., Ltd., Huang Zhan, was 34 years old.
A relatively thin man with thick eyebrows.
Obsessed with electronic products, he is a technical guy and has his own ideas.
In the eyes of many people, Huang Zhan has a special personality charm.
In his early days, he served as the general manager of someone else's MP3 company. He clearly developed unheard of powerful features, but he left the company because the management philosophy was inconsistent with the shareholders.
He believes that products need to rely on excellent technology and superior functions to win word-of-mouth, rather than relying on indiscriminate advertising.
So when he returned to China, he founded a family brand and made MP3 famous.
He is keen on interacting with consumers on forums. As a CEO, he is always the first to discover and propose solutions to problems and complaints raised by users on forums.
Li Yan is a hundred times colder than him on the "Knowledge Planet".
What’s even more ruthless is that this person saw the decline of the MP3 player industry in 2006 and directly gave up his position as the leader and entered the smartphone market.
His point of view is the same as that of Li Yan. MP3 is nothing more than a small function of smart phones in the future, and there is no need to be independent.
Li Yan only learned about these things about Huang Zhan through Fang Shu and some scattered interviews.
As for what he is like, I only had a superficial contact with him last time.
Fang Shu said that Boss Huang has never been interviewed, and everything known so far is just rumors. He is very passionate and controlling at work, but very little is known about his life.
However, judging from the above stories and decisions, Huang Zhan is a very controlling and paranoid man.
Technical perfectionist.
If you want to have a heart-to-heart talk with this kind of person, you must have something you can offer.
It is best that he is also in a low period.
Exactly at this moment.
The popularity of Chuangzu w8 spread overseas. However, just when the rising momentum was at its strongest, it was hit hard in the head by a personal letter from Joe, the CEO of Pineapple Company.
Appearance infringement is difficult to comment on, but Pineapple Company’s current influence is much greater than that of Chuangzu. The two mobile phones are indeed very similar in appearance - maybe the smart phone is not like a functional phone. There are so many changes in appearance. Maybe in a few years, everyone will find that all smartphones have the same appearance, and they will not be able to perform as well as Nokia did back then - and the pineapple phone was released earlier. This shit basin is a slap on the head. Even if you take it off, it will still stink.
What matters is not what the law says, but what consumers think.
Especially foreign consumers.
Whether Boss Huang has referred to it or not is no longer important.
After this move was made by Qiao, the Chuang clan was defeated.
Whether he is going to die depends on what other tricks Huang Zhan can use.
But judging from the current feedback from Chuangzu, he should be in a state of despair.
This is already the most cutting-edge mobile phone. The production line has taken so long to build. How easy is it to directly "create" a more futuristic appearance and put it into production?
Huang Zhan has been at the company recently and sleeps in the office - he doesn't actually sleep for long every day.
Some forces in the company who are dissatisfied with him are also ready to take action.
He is obsessed with technology and product thinking, no matter what, he will still have a fierce collision with some marketing ideas.
Huang Zhan is right, he is the CEO, so others can only shut up.
But now if something goes wrong, he will have to take the blame.
Faced with the accusation that "negligence in marketing work has led to today's passiveness", it is indeed difficult for him to refute.
Sigh.
He declined Li Yan's interview invitation on the grounds that he was busy with business, but in the past few days, he actually did not do anything practical - because he made marketing concessions and did not see it. What comeback point do they have in terms of public opinion?
When he thought about being tired, what Li Yan said on the phone a few days ago suddenly rang in his mind:
"I want to talk to you about the future of smartphones."
This Li Yan... seems to be true He's a magical boy.
"Li Yan, right? If you have time, come to Chuangzu Building, negotiation room 88 on the third floor, and let's chat."
(End of this chapter)