Chapter 80

Editor Cheng was a bit surprised when he heard Xiao Fei's suggestion. He hadn't expected Xiao Fei to come up with such an idea.

It has to be said, the suggestion was quite interesting.

Some of the colleagues in the editorial department of Harvest had also proposed similar ideas, but there were many reasons why the magazine had never implemented them. The most important reason was that publishing a special issue carried significant risks.

Especially in the current climate: literary journals were generally in poor shape, with shrinking circulation and a sluggish market. If the editorial direction wasn't well grasped, it could lead to a survival crisis for the magazine.

Therefore, Harvest didn't dare to act rashly.

It's important to know that under the guidance of Mr. Ba's editorial principles, Harvest did not accept any government subsidies (this principle gradually changed in the new millennium, and by 2010, Harvest, with the support of the municipal government, significantly increased its稿费, or manuscript fees, against the trend). Not only did they not accept government subsidies, but they also rejected commercial advertisements, relying entirely on the sales of the magazine for funding.

Salaries, publication costs, and author fees all depended on the magazine's own earnings, which was a considerable pressure.

Harvest had been able to persist for so many years and establish itself as a leading literary journal in the country, thanks to the tireless efforts of all the editorial staff.

This achievement was hard-won.

Only after consolidating their position could they embark on the path of innovation and reform.

What was the greatest risk of publishing a "Special Issue of Novels"?

It wasn't the lack of manuscripts; Harvest had no shortage of excellent long novels, with many already accumulated.

It wasn't the manpower either; the editorial staff could produce a "Special Issue of Novels" with just a bit of overtime, and a small sample could be ready in half a month.

The greatest risk was the huge distribution risk. It was uncertain whether Harvest's subscribers would buy the "Special Issue of Novels." If the subscribers didn't buy it, the magazine would not sell, and the publishing house would incur a loss.

Given Harvest's tight financial situation, they really couldn't afford such a loss!

If a loss occurred, it would be a major disaster for the publishing house.

Therefore, they preferred to proceed cautiously and avoid taking any risks.

Just like how, even when prices soared and costs increased, the publishing house didn't dare to raise the magazine's price too much, for fear of losing subscribers.

Editor Cheng was a very smart person. The moment Xiao Fei made this suggestion, he knew Xiao Fei's purpose: to get his novel published in Harvest.

This young man's ambition was not ordinary.

However, Editor Cheng was not annoyed by this. Everyone has ambitions, which are the driving force for progress.

He maintained a calm expression and looked at Xiao Fei, spreading his hands: "Xiao Fei, you're the one who predicted the death of literature. Don't you know the current situation of literary magazines? Harvest is struggling too! We can only barely maintain our operations. Trying out new editorial ideas requires careful consideration, and we can't afford to pay for failure."

Editor Cheng's words were no surprise to Xiao Fei.

He smiled and said, "The novel is the king of literature, and the long novel is the most brilliant pearl on the crown. Although the literary market is not thriving, the literary consumer base is still large. 'White Deer Plain' sold several hundred thousand copies in just a few years after its publication in 1993. This shows that as long as the novel is good, it will definitely be warmly welcomed by readers. With Harvest's well-known reputation among domestic readers, launching a 'Special Issue of Novels' and introducing the best long novels to readers, I believe they will be very interested."

"What if the result is not as you expect?" Editor Cheng countered.

Anyone can talk big, but if it fails, Harvest will have to bear the consequences.

"You can conduct a market survey to see how readers react. For example, you could randomly select book buyers at major bookstores in Shanghai and have them fill out a survey to see if they are interested," Xiao Fei suggested again.

Conducting market surveys was a relatively new practice in China in 1996, especially in the private sector.

Few literary journals had this awareness.

This suggestion made Editor Cheng's eyes light up. Yes, they could first understand the readers' preferences. If the readers were interested, publishing a 'Special Issue of Novels' would be a good idea.

"Alright, Xiao Fei, we will seriously consider your suggestion. I'll take your two manuscripts and send them for review as soon as possible. If there's any result, I'll notify you immediately. Is that okay?" Editor Cheng said.

Xiao Fei knew that Editor Cheng couldn't make the final decision.

He had done what he could.

Now, he could only wait for the result.

Dai Houying pulled Xiao Fei up and stood up: "Well, Teacher Cheng, we won't disturb you anymore. We'll leave you to your work."

Editor Cheng nodded: "Teacher Dai, I won't keep you. We're quite busy these days. Let's have dinner another day and chat more."

"Alright, Teacher Cheng, please stay."

"Teacher Cheng, goodbye!"

The two left the editorial department and walked to the street. Dai Houying said to Xiao Fei, "Don't be impatient. You're still young. Since Editor Cheng kept your manuscript, it means Harvest recognizes your work. Just wait patiently. If your work is published in Harvest several times, the entire literary world will be impressed."

Xiao Fei knew that the initial success they had achieved today was already the best possible outcome.

As a senior editor, Editor Cheng's decision to keep the manuscript meant there was a good chance it would be published.

However, he still felt a bit disappointed.

He genuinely hoped his work would be published in Harvest soon. Time waits for no one! He was eager to become famous quickly.

However, Xiao Fei also knew that taking too big a step could easily backfire. It was better not to be overly greedy and to let things take their natural course.

Hmm! He wasn't sure if the essay series commission from Editor Cheng was still valid. Regardless, he would write a series and submit it.

Xiao Fei remembered that Liu Liangcheng became famous quickly due to the enthusiastic promotion by magazines like Tianya and Dajia. If he could get a similar push in Harvest, perhaps his essays could also become popular.

"Teacher Dai, I'm not in a hurry. I can wait."

"You seem unsatisfied with the result."

"Ah? Really?"

"Ha! Your expression says it all."

Dai Houying's words made Xiao Fei feel a bit embarrassed. He needed to work on his composure and not let others easily see through him.