"You're going to write a youth literature work too?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"It's not a bad idea, but you write supernatural fiction. Switching to youth literature isn't impossible, but the risk is pretty high."
"It's fine. I'm versatile. I can write supernatural, romance, and youth literature as well."
"I think you'd better focus on supernatural. It's hard for any author to please multiple audiences. Youth literature may sell well, but the competition there is much fiercer. It's not as easy as you think."
"How about this, I'll write ten thousand words first and send it to you. If you think it's good, I'll keep going. If not, I'll drop it and submit to another publisher."
"Don't do that, come to New Moon. Talented authors like you are rare. Fine, write it first. If it works, I won't stop you. But if there are problems, I'll point them out. Just don't take it personally."
"I won't. I trust your editorial judgment. I'll start writing now and send it over when I'm done."
"Alright."
After a brief exchange, Huang Yifan opened a document and began preparing a new work.
Youth literature… what should he write?
Thinking about it, he had read quite a few youth literature works in his previous life.
Like 'The Left Ear', 'Fleet of Time', 'So Young'… all of them were fairly good.
However, their influence wasn't particularly great. Even if he brought them out now, they might sell a few hundred thousand copies, but they wouldn't be enough to compete with Han Jin and Guo Cheng. After all, those two were the leading figures in youth literature, backed by massive fan bases. Without overwhelming strength, breaking through their dominance would be impossible.
But surpassing Guo Cheng and Han Jin wasn't easy either.
After all, they were comparable to Guo Jingming and Han Han from his previous life figures, who had virtually no rivals in youth literature. Naturally, there weren't many works that could surpass them.
For a moment, Huang Yifan didn't know what kind of youth literature to write.
Still, there were countless classics in his previous life.
And there were people even more influential than Guo Jingming and Han Han.
For example, Qiong Yao.
Men read Jin Yong, women read Qiong Yao.
That alone showed Qiong Yao's status among female readers. But in reality, her works weren't only read by women; men read them too. Almost every man in his previous life had watched or read works like 'My Fair Princess', 'Plum Blossom Trilogy', and 'Romance in the Rain'.
Yes, Qiong Yao, it is.
Her works were delicate and romantic, with vivid and natural plots, and characters brought to life with remarkable realism, true masterpieces.
More importantly, her writing style was exceptional.
Take the classic song 'On the Other Side of the Water'. Its lyrics "Green grass stretches endlessly, white mist drifts far and wide. There stands a fair maiden on the other side of the water. I wish to go upstream, to rest by her side, but the rapids lie ahead, and the road is long and hard…" were written by Qiong Yao. They are poetic and picturesque, so much so that even renowned lyricist Lin Xi would admire them.
Moreover, her works are filled with many beautifully crafted lines.
For example, in 'Romance in the Rain': "The first day Shuhuan left, I missed him; the second day, I missed him, missed him; the third day, I missed him, missed him, missed him."
Such lines are both humorous and touching, instantly memorable. In modern times, they would easily become catchphrases or status updates on messaging apps.
Another example, from 'My Fair Princess': "Xiao Yanzi, I really like you, whether it's the willful and mischievous you, the lively and adorable you, or the fragile you now. I like you, I like you so much."
Lines like these are practically a handbook of romance. Say something like this to your girlfriend, and she'd be completely swept away.
Or from 'Flowers in Fog': "You seem like a flower, yet not a flower; I seem like mist, yet not mist. You seem to exist, yet not exist; I seem to have you, yet not have you."
Such poetic expressions could instantly captivate countless hopeless romantics.
And from 'One Side of a Dream Curtain': "I have a hidden dream, but I know not with whom to share it. So many secrets lie within, yet none to whom I can speak."
This already reaches the level of poetry, rich in rhythm and charm.
Forget about the plots for a moment just these lines alone are enough to make Qiong Yao's works popular beyond reason.
But with so many works, which one should he write first?
'My Fair Princess'?
No, no. That was a monumental work, comparable to Jin Yong's masterpieces in his previous life.
Something classic should be released later, step by step.
'Plum Blossom Trilogy'? It was good, but not quite suitable for youth literature. It belonged more to romance. Although romance had an even larger market, youth literature was currently the hottest genre, mainly because young readers were the ones willing to spend money on books. Romance novels had readers too, but building that market would take years too slow.
In the end, Huang Yifan chose Qiong Yao's first work, 'Outside the Window'.
'Outside the Window' was Qiong Yao's debut. There were three reasons for choosing it.
First, its writing quality was excellent.
This was no coincidence. Qiong Yao came from a scholarly background. Her father, Chen Zhiping, was a renowned historian who taught at Guanghua University, Tongji University, Taiwan Normal University, and Fu Jen University. Her mother was also a teacher. Her uncle had even been the tutor of the Xuantong Emperor, the emperor's teacher. And her cousin was Jin Yong… Growing up in such an environment, Qiong Yao displayed extraordinary literary talent from a young age.
Of course, there was no need to elaborate further. Across all her works, her writing was consistently top-tier. Unlike web novels, printed literature demanded strong prose. Sometimes, readers bought books not for the plot or story, but for the writing itself. If the writing was good enough, even a plotless story could attract fans.
This was similar to current youth prose, often filled with empty sentiment, yet still selling well because the writing felt appealing to young readers. Qiong Yao's writing, however, surpassed these authors by far. Especially her dialogue, which could practically create an entire culture of romance.
Second, 'Outside the Window' was a youth literature work. More precisely, it was about a teacher-student romance.
The female protagonist is a high school senior who falls in love with her teacher. That alone would spark endless discussion. When the novel was first published, it caused a sensation in Taiwan, making Qiong Yao famous overnight.
Third, and most importantly, 'Outside the Window' was essentially autobiographical.
That's right. Although it is a novel, it is also autobiographical. Qiong Yao herself was like the protagonist Jiang Yanrong. She struggled with math and science but excelled in literature. Her family didn't understand her, but her teacher did care for her and supported her. Eventually, the young and rebellious Qiong Yao fell in love with her teacher. At one point, she even considered eloping with him and attempted suicide… Fortunately, she survived. Otherwise, there would be no Qiong Yao.
Because of this, 'Outside the Window' not only has excellent writing and belongs to youth literature, but also carries controversial themes like early love and teacher-student relationships. Most importantly, it is deeply rooted in real experience, giving it a strong sense of authenticity.
A novel like this, if it doesn't become popular, what would?
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Glossary:
Qiong Yao (琼瑶), born Chen Zhe, is one of the most influential Chinese-language romance writers of the 20th century. Rising to fame in the 1960s and 1970s, she became a defining figure in popular literature, especially among young readers and women. Her works are known for their lyrical prose, emotional intensity, and focus on love, fate, and personal struggle. Many of her novels were adapted into highly successful films and television dramas, such as 'My Fair Princess' and 'Romance in the Rain', further cementing her cultural impact. Qiong Yao's writing style, characterized by poetic language and memorable dialogue, helped shape the development of modern Chinese romance and youth literature, making her a household name across the Chinese-speaking world.
'Outside the Window' ("窗外"), first published in 1963, is Qiong Yao's debut novel and one of her most significant early works. The story centers on a sensitive high school girl who falls in love with her teacher, exploring themes of youth, emotional awakening, and societal constraints. Loosely based on Qiong Yao's own life experiences, the novel carries a strong autobiographical element, which adds to its emotional authenticity. Upon release, it sparked considerable controversy due to its portrayal of a teacher-student relationship, but this very controversy also contributed to its popularity. As both a coming-of-age story and a romantic narrative, 'Outside the Window' played a key role in launching Qiong Yao's career and remains an important work in the history of modern Chinese popular literature.
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