tokyo writer

While eating, the two chatted about what happened in the editorial department recently.In Asano Aiko's description, Akihara Yuto learned more inside information.

Because of the sharp increase in sales in recent issues, the performance wages of all employees in the editorial department of "New Novel" have been increased to a certain extent. In addition, Kikuchi takes himself even more seriously. Before Aiko Asano came, He repeatedly told her to take good care of herself in life and work.

In addition, according to the reader feedback collected recently, the popularity of my work has further increased, reaching 93%, which has never been encountered since the establishment of reader feedback in the magazine.

Men Xieyou really doesn't know if it has been affected. Recently, his works have become more interesting, and his popularity has reached 44%, but the gap with him is still very large.

In addition to these, the magazine cover design of "New Novel" was outsourced to an outside design company, which even caused dissatisfaction among some American editors.

Speaking of this, Asano Aiko paused, but continued: "Recently there have been rumors that there is some interest transfer relationship between the editor-in-chief and that design company."

Hiroto Akihara frowned, and asked, "Did Editor-in-Chief Kikuchi say anything?"

Asano Aiko put down her chopsticks and replied, "Editor Kikuchi said that the company's design style is more suitable for your work."

When Akihara Hiroto heard this, he couldn't help thinking about it.

He has read the covers of these issues, and found that except for "Poetry to the Sun", the other covers are all horror-themed.

To be honest, he was a little dissatisfied, because he thought that what he wrote should be a glimmer of humanity in the darkness, not just pure horror.

Moreover, if the main content is horror, the American editor inside Mandansha should be able to do the same level of cover in theory, so there is no need to spend extra money to hire people, right?

He was a little confused, but he didn't say anything after thinking about it. After all, Kikuchita had just entrusted Asano Aiko to send 200 million yen, so it would not be appropriate for him to make an opinion now.

But when the booklet is released in the future, he still has to take the initiative to communicate with editor-in-chief Kikuchi to adjust the style of the cover.

After all, the sales volume of the booklet is directly related to his specific income.

After talking about this, the food on the table was eaten up. Akihara Hiroto wanted to take the initiative to clean up the dishes, but was rejected by Asano Aiko on the grounds that "this is a woman's job", so he could only look at her obediently Take the bowls and chopsticks back to the kitchen one by one.

Hearing the sound of washing dishes coming from the kitchen, Akihara Hiroto was a little emotional, thinking of what Mrs. Asano said to him before, he couldn't help being a little curious.

Such a good girl, why has she been single before?

[58.Chapter 58 Please]

After Asano Aiko packed up the dishes, it was almost 1 p.m. She said she had to deal with work in the afternoon, so she said hello and left.

Hiroto Akihara returned to the desk, took out a piece of paper, wrote his name and other information on it, put it together with the manuscript he had written before, and put it into a yellow file bag that said "Newcomers reward contributions".

After repeatedly confirming that there were no missing items, he left the house and walked for 15 minutes, arrived at the nearest post office, filled out the receipt at the reception desk, and confirmed that the receiving address was the Mystery Writers Association established in Chiyoda District , Handed the file bag to the courier brother.

Akihara Hiroto watched the courier brother put away the document bag and put it into a specific work bag, and felt a rare feeling of uneasiness in his heart.

Before that, he had always been based on the attitude of not wasting, so he didn't show the best works in his memory.I just chose a fairly good foreign work, adapted it with neon localization, and submitted it.

But unexpectedly, the adaptation work was much more difficult than he had imagined. In order to successfully complete the content, he not only went to the library to check a large number of materials, but also entrusted Aiko Asano to match and questioned the corresponding police personnel.

In order to complete the work, it can be said that he spent about a month and a half, consuming a lot of mental and physical energy.

No one wants their efforts to be in vain, and neither does he.

Therefore, he hoped that the results of his adaptation would successfully pass the audition of the judging committee for the New Talent Award for Mystery Literature, and allow him to successfully win the honor of the Grand Award!

Talk to Asano Aiko after receiving this award, it should be able to scare her, right?

Hiroto Akihara stood and thought for a while, and the TA-Q-BIN brother next to him was a little confused, so he took the initiative to step forward and asked, "Do you need any other services?"

Akihara Hiroto shook his head to say no, and expressed his thanks, then turned around and opened the glass door, and walked towards home.

As he walked, he thought about other issues.

Although the sales volume of "New Novel" is very good now, he also knows that there are too many chances and coincidences in today's results, and it is not entirely due to the work.

And a very important question is, now that the serialization is coming to an end, what should happen next?

The content he serialized before comes from Yiyi's "ZOO", and there are only 11 articles in total. Now it has been serialized for 10 issues, so the editorial department has already called to ask about the following new works.

Although he promised to make up his mind as soon as possible, he still has doubts in his heart, what should he choose for the new work, should he choose a short story or a long novel?

For short stories, the collection of short stories by Edogawa Ranpo seems to be good. For long stories, you can only consider the works of Keigo Higashino or Miyuki Miyabe.

But are these works really appropriate?

He can't just consider sales, but also his own future.

Although he is already somewhat famous, in the eyes of many people in the literary world, he is just a rookie who can only write thriller literature, and has no other works in hand, let alone any literary awards.

Newcomers like him who are dubbed "geniuses" are rare in the neon literary world, but there is one every few years.However, many of them have just shown their heads, but because there are no follow-up outstanding works, they are lost to everyone.

These authors who have lost the title of "genius" have either become writing machines for some small periodicals and magazines, relying on their meager fame to compete with others, or they have completely quit the literary world after seeing no way out. other jobs.

Taking this as a reference, Hiroto Akihara's new works must not only satisfy the tastes of readers, but also impress the eyes of literary critics.Otherwise, not only may the sales of "New Novel" decline, but it will also make the outside world think that he is exhausted.

Hiroto Akihara thought for a while before making a decision. He planned to make an outline as soon as possible after returning home, discuss it carefully with Asano Aiko, and start writing as soon as possible.

Only by writing the works as soon as possible can the existing works stop serialization and be continued, avoiding too long a blank period.

After all, readers are very realistic. As long as they feel that the magazine is boring, they will leave soon.After a long time, I guess I don't even remember the name of the magazine.

In addition, the main buyers of "New Novel" are all for his works, and the works of Menxie Youzhen and others, to be honest, are still difficult to meet the tastes of the vast majority of readers today.

Akihara Hiroto was thinking about something, but his walking speed was not much slower.But as soon as he walked to the door of the house, he found a young man in a professional suit ringing the doorbell.

Akihara Yuto took a few glances, and found that he didn't know the other party, so he asked in confusion, "Excuse me... who are you looking for?"

The young man immediately reacted, stopped his hands, and asked Akihara Yuto very politely: "Excuse me, are you Teacher Akihara?"

Akihara Hiroto did not reply immediately, but looked at the young man.

The other party looks a little handsome, with relatively regular facial features, and has short fluffy hair.Although the suit on his body is baggy, he still looks slender because he is about 1 meters tall.

Hiroto Akihara nodded, responding to the other party's conjecture, and at the same time asked: "Excuse me, are you..."

On the other side, the young man got the answer he wanted, bowed immediately, took out his business card from his pocket, and handed it to Hiroto Akihara respectfully.

"I am Hideki Awazu, the editor of "April Youth". I have admired your name for a long time, and I am sorry to come here."

Hiroto Akihara was a little surprised. "April Youth" is a literary journal of the Kejiaokan, and it is recognized as the fourth literary magazine in the literary world. However, this magazine has been a bit miserable recently. "Novel" exploded the chrysanthemum.

But in other words, the opponent is a competitor of "New Novel".

Hiroto Akihara was a little confused, why did the other party come to the door, and what was his intention?At the same time, he thought again, how did his address get leaked?

Although confused, he still took the business card and said politely: "It's the first time we meet, please give me your advice."

At the same time, he asked back: "Editor Awazu, is there anything special about your visit?"

It stands to reason that Akihara Hiroto should welcome the other party into his home and politely ask why.But he still wanted to ask clearly before considering whether to invite the other party in.