Ahem, this marks my third launch reflection in life.
The first was a year ago with Beast Waist, and the second was three months ago with Giant Beast. But Giant Beast tanked so hard that I dropped it the day it launched~~~.
Looking back, I feel pretty bad for the readers and big shots who supported me with tips back then. But there was no helping it. That book had under 200 concurrent readers at 200,000 words, and after 100,000 words, it just hovered around 200 without ever climbing.
The stagnant readership was the real reason I abandoned it.
It meant that after launch, I'd only scrape by with the 1,500-yen monthly stipend. Fifteen hundred a month, no benefits… yeah, no way to survive on that.
So, here's another apology. I pour a lot of emotion into my writing, so I really hate dropping projects.
Back to the point—my current book, I Really Didn't Want to Make Games, has about 700 concurrent readers.
Compared to Beast Waist, it's a flop. Compared to Giant Beast, it's doing alright.
But like I always say, as long as I can afford to eat, I won't drop it. You big shots can rest easy.
Now, about this book.
Honestly, when I started writing the opening, I had zero outline. Didn't even know what I was writing. I just banged out 6,000 words and sent them to my editor, Boss .
After Giant Beast crashed and burned, leaving me broke, I just wanted to start something new fast. At the time, Peninsula Prosecutor was blowing up—I found it while browsing the charts and thought that style was super fun. So I wanted to try it.
Problem is, I've never even watched a K-drama. My only exposure to Korea was from reading two early K-entertainment "bulldozer" novels by some big-shot writer back in high school.
Writing a Korean setting? I couldn't get into it. My editor also said the audience for Korean-themed stories is niche—you need serious skill to pull it off.
I knew I wasn't that skilled. So I kept browsing and stumbled across some Tokyo "housewife" novels. Got me hooked. Whipped up a 6,000-word opening in one night.
Thought it'd get rejected, but they said it was decent—just be careful not to get flagged for content.
Yup, Boss Penglai still loves me.
So I started writing this book.
But I couldn't write pure "housewife" stuff. Once I settled on a Tokyo setting, I wanted to craft a slice-of-life story about games, anime, and music.
That said… I heard Tokyo-themed stories could push boundaries a bit. And I personally think (just my opinion) that non-fantasy stories need a lot of female characters to be engaging. So I added a ton of romance.
Result? The pacing got super slow.
Yeah, I know my pacing's slow.
Can't help it. I can't write those stories where chapter one is making a game, chapter two introduces a side character, chapter three launches the game, some big YouTuber finds it, it goes viral, and then it's on to the next game. (Not saying those stories are bad—I just can't write them.)
When I write, I immerse myself in the world. I want the details, character motivations, and conflict reasons to be clear. But that slows the pacing down.
Or maybe it's not slow pacing—maybe I'm just not updating enough.
I'm always moving the plot forward, whether it's the game-making storyline or the character relationships. I don't think I'm padding the story.
Look into my sincere eyes!
It's just that I write in detail, with lots of inner thoughts and dialogue. I think character emotions and actions need more buildup. So sometimes, two chapters a day can't wrap up a full plot arc, and you big shots feel like it drags. But during the new book phase, I couldn't spam updates—my book hit the recommendation list at 90,000 words. If I'd gone all-out, it'd be 400,000 words before launch~
No worries now, though.
It's launching, and I'll try to make up for the slow pace with big updates.
So, on Saturday's launch, I'll drop 20,000 words. After that, 8,000 words daily minimum, aiming for 10,000.
Lastly, a quick note.
With Sayoko's arc wrapping up, the Surrounded by Beauties storyline is hitting its climactic end.
After that, I'm planning Sekiro to kick off a Souls-like series, but I'm also tempted by God of War or Devil May Cry.
Kinda torn.
Ugh, it's late, and I've rambled for over a thousand words~
No more chatter.
One last time, huge thanks to all the big-shot readers who've supported me.