genius editor

Zhuang Mo hurried back to Jinlong Garden's residence to see what Ren Mingqing was doing all day.There was not a ghost in the room when he entered, which did not please him.Ren Mingqing is a very talented writer, but his luck was bad and he was delayed for three years.If he has a one-thousandth understanding of his situation and talent, he should race against time to make up for the time.It's a pity that things backfired, and Ren Mingqing didn't start writing right away.Zhuang Mo thought of the resistance he had when he mentioned writing last night, and was confused about where his disengaged attitude came from.

The reason why Zhuang Mo was in a hurry to ask him for a manuscript was to confirm his current level.Zhuang Mo was able to get access to his manuscripts, and the writing was two years ago at the latest—the period when he submitted five manuscripts to "New Painting" a month.At that time, Ren Mingqing was undoubtedly full of aura.Two years later, is he still the same as before?

In the literary world, waking up to find that you can no longer write happens every day. There is also a proper term to describe this situation, which is called "Bartleby's Syndrome".Inspiration doesn't just depend on talent. To be honest, the aura in a mother's womb is like a small pot of gas, which may only burn for a few years.Using it only in and out, and all kinds of torture in life, it is easy to make the mind close to exhaustion.The author needs the highest level of spiritual nourishment, he needs to absorb and experience a lot, so that their inspiration is not a pond that will dry up sooner or later, but a spring of endless water, and they themselves become a container for training inspiration.Just like an inkstone, any water injected into it will be transformed into ink.The author's mind should be in this state.

Zhuang Mo walked into his bedroom, and decided to punish him for being careless. After looking around, he took out his notebook on the bookshelf and looked through it.On the kraft paper of numbered notation, some are endless drafts, while others are neat notes.He not only collects characters, disassembles the plot structure, records his inspirations, and even has the habit of accumulating good words and sentences.Although Zhuang Mo did not find his article, the surprise was far greater than the disappointment: Ren Mingqing consciously completed the very important accumulation and training for a writer during his absence.

He began to feel that his worries were unfounded.Maybe Ren Mingqing's life is indeed very difficult, but looking around the room of books, thinking about the things he observed in the crowd, he is constantly absorbing, digesting, and thinking, his spirit will never be barren, and his inspiration is also therefore With a solid foundation.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, Zhuang Mo covered up all the evidence before he entered, and when he sat down on the sofa, Ren Mingqing happened to open the door with vegetables.

"Are you back?" He smiled politely, but not hypocritically.Zhuang Mo in the living room made his house luxuriant, but to Zhuang Mo, his house was simple and shabby.He admired this respectable gentleman very much, and it seemed to him guilty to condescend him.So he bought a lot of good food, hoping that if the other party appreciates it, he can have a light meal together, which can be regarded as compensation for his poor hospitality.

Zhuang Mo got up and went into the kitchen to help: "You should call me when you go shopping for vegetables. It's hard work for such a big bag."

"I'll eat by myself, I don't need a pair of chopsticks for you, and let's take a ride."

"You also live during the day?"

"Help junior high school students in the same community make up lessons," Ren Mingqing wiped the splashed water on his face with the back of his hand, and said with a smile, "It's summer vacation."

"I thought your main job was writing at home."

"Write a little when I'm free. When I'm busy, there's nothing I can do." Ren Mingqing didn't dare to think about being a full-time writer.

"What are you writing? Can you show me?"

"It's not well written, and it's easy to laugh in front of you."

"No, in fact, there is still a big difference between a script and a novel. I can't write a novel, so I went to become a screenwriter. Screenwriting is more of a technical job."

"Really? You're too modest." Ren Mingqing smiled with a small canine, "The lines are good or not, there is a big difference, and it can't be explained by technology alone. What scripts have you written?"

"...There are two TV dramas under preparation, and with luck they will be broadcast next year." Zhuang Mo didn't know how to get himself into it.

"Be sure to tell me when the time comes, and I'll go after the show."

"it is good."

After dinner, Ren Mingqing turned on the phone and planned to write for a while, but found another letter of invitation to write in the mailbox.Zhuang Mo spent time in his bedroom under the pretense of reading a book. As soon as he heard the notification tone of a new email, he knew it must be his email. He took a look and said with a smile: "This editor is persevering and energetic. I must appreciate you very much." .”

"I don't know why..." Ren Mingqing was a little embarrassed, and quickly closed the page, as if he had done something bad.He was an insecure man, apprehensive of the compliments of others, fearful of their extreme disappointment when they realized they were worthless.

"Aren't you going to answer him?"

Ren Mingqing had lingering fears about the series of rejected manuscripts a few years ago: "Actually, I have submitted to their family before. Their standards are relatively high, and I can't meet them no matter what."

"Standards are dead, but people are alive. Things have changed. Maybe they have new standards now. The editor also read your manuscript and thought you were a suitable candidate, so he invited you again and again. It doesn’t matter if you give it a try. Besides, I think he’s in a hurry, so it’s probably due to a shortage of manuscripts. It’s always easy to get by at times like this, and the price is even higher.”

Ren Mingqing's expression was a little loose, and he called up the email again, and as expected, he saw the words that the manuscript was reviewed on the day and the manuscript fee was favorable.He hesitated for a while, opening his mouth to say something, when his cell phone rang.He smiled apologetically at Zhuang Mo, and walked into the living room, his face instantly turned pale when he saw it.He wanted to throw the phone away, but the continuous ringing seemed to warn him not to throw it away.He looked back at the half-covered bedroom, quickly opened the door, and hid in the narrow corridor.He picked up the phone and walked down, not wanting anyone to hear him.

"Why did you answer the phone?!" The man on the other end of the phone was very unhappy, with a very aggressive tone.

Ren Mingqing didn't dare to vent his anger.

"I'm short of 5000 yuan here, call me quickly." The man ordered.

"Just called a few days ago..."

"What do you mean? Forgot what you have done?! Are you qualified to negotiate terms with me?! Be careful, I will put you in jail!" The man knows how to deal with him most effectively, and he went from scolding to threatening without thinking , and then a series of insults, making it hard to believe how there are such dirty words in the world.

The venting cursing and furious attitude evoked Ren Mingqing's most painful memories.At one point, he was so scared that he couldn't breathe, had stomach cramps, and had to squat down and cry like a child.His scalp hurt like a pinprick, and his vision was blurred. The curses in his ears split into accusations, discrimination, and insults from countless people, circling around him.He kept whispering for mercy, hoping to win their forgiveness.When he came back to his senses, it was completely dark, the screen of the phone also went dark, and the call had ended for several minutes.He knew that the man must have heard another compromise from him, and now he has to quickly raise 5000 yuan, otherwise, the man will show up at his door next time.

After Ren Mingqing entered, he lay on the toilet and vomited out all his dinner.Zhuang Mo thought he had eaten badly and insisted on taking him to see a doctor, but he stubbornly refused.Zhuang Mo had no choice but to go downstairs to buy medicine for him. When he came back, he saw him sitting in front of the computer, staring at the email in a daze.

"Why, figured it out?" Zhuang Mo took a bottle of Bao Chai Wan and put it by his hand.

"I want to ask... about the manuscript fee, how much is it?" Ren Mingqing raised his head and asked him.He had just experienced severe stomach cramps, so the corners of his eyes were stained red with saline, and he looked very pitiful.

"A thousand words are a thousand." Zhuang Mo heard his uncontrollable voice.

"……Really?"

Zhuang Mo quickly came to his senses, and did not intend to correct his obsession: "Yes. I heard it is that high."

"One yuan per word, that's really high..." Ren Mingqing fiddled with the mouse mechanically, copied the line of QQ numbers, and entered the search box for new friends.

Zhuang Mo pretended to answer the phone, and hid outside the door to command Tian Tian remotely: "The author has added you, please pass it. It is said that there is an urgent shortage of short stories. The number of words is not limited, and the subject matter is not limited. The remuneration is one thousand words, and the manuscript will be delivered the day after tomorrow."

Tian Tian: "...?"

Tian Tian: "Is the manuscript you received the same as the one I received? Are we really working in the same company?"

"You can say whatever you want." Zhuang Mo urged solemnly.Now he just wants to know how far Ren Mingqing can write freely without restriction, so that he can judge the level of his various abilities and make targeted training.

After hanging up the phone, Tian Tian asked Lie Huo beside him jealously: "Editor-in-Chief, do you pay him a particularly high salary?"

Brother Riehuo is inexplicable: "No!"

"He gave his author a thousand words a thousand words."

"Hmm..." Brother Liehuo thought for a while, and suddenly his eyes widened, "He's cheating on the manuscript!" After speaking, he called his new subordinate to criticize him for his morally depraved behavior.Zhuang Mo had to admit under his earnest words that he arbitrarily increased the price out of his preference for the author, and he would bear this part of the remuneration.Brother Liehuo was moved by his devotion to the author, but the ugly words still came to the fore: "Even if you made a lot of guarantees to him, it will not change our review standards. It is more important to work hard to help him improve."

Although Zhuang Mo is dismissive of Jingyu's operation method, and his author will never be limited to such a small magazine as "New Painting", he still respects Brother Riehuo's serious concern.He could see the ethics inherited from Wulan from Brother Liehuo, and nothing could change their pursuit of article quality.

When Zhuang Mo called, Ren Mingqing was searching Baidu Encyclopedia of light novels and sample drafts on forums.Seeing Zhuang Mo coming back, he quickly asked him if he knew what type of manuscripts "New Painting" needed: "They should be really short of manuscripts, so they gave such a high price. I want to try to conform to the style of the magazine, otherwise I would be a little guilty .”

Zhuang Mo thought to himself: Your book will sell for seven figures, eight figures, or even nine figures in the future.With such a sincere heart, I probably won't be able to eat it by then.

However, compared to the magazine, the author is equivalent to Party B, and Party B is indeed obliged to produce products that meet Party A's standards. From this perspective, Ren Mingqing is also striving for perfection.

Zhuang Mo explained to him: "Domestic light novels are imported from Japan and have a strong sense of animation. In my personal opinion, the manuscripts published by "New Painting" all have an attribute similar to the world series. He put Simplify the real world, and then let the protagonist—usually a teenager—connect with the survival of the world. After localization, this worldview often takes traditional Chinese mythology as the background. The popular manuscripts on "New Painting" in the past few years, usually It is the protagonist who gains power, similar to goblins/gods/ghosts, these aliens have their own society, disappear and determine the direction of the world."

Ren Mingqing was very smart, he understood Zhuang Mo's words with almost no difficulty, and began to find a pen and paper to outline.Zhuang Mo said good night just right.He knows that the creation process is secret. During this period, Ren Mingqing will enter the world of his writing and stay with the characters he created. Zhuang Mo hopes that he can enjoy this private time.