Chapter 30

The standards of *Fiction Selection* are very strict, and consistently high quality is the key to getting published in the magazine. Cheng Litao looked at the list he had marked and said to his assistant, "Xiao Liu, first find all the novels on this list and then bring them to me."

Each novel is published in different magazines. *Fiction Selection* does not produce original content; instead, they select the best from the vast sea of other magazines, so they need to thoroughly review the initially selected novels.

"Okay, I'll start compiling them right away and should be able to hand them over to you by noon." Xiao Liu, holding the stack of papers with annotations, showed no significant change in expression.

Every month, editors submit a large number of novel lists, but a significant portion loses their eligibility at this stage. Only a few make it to the next round, and even fewer are ultimately published in the magazine.

He turned to leave the office, but before he could return to his desk, Tu Meilun intercepted him.

"Brother Liu, Brother Liu, I have a secret question for you. How many of my novels were rejected?"

Tu Meilun held onto Liu Jun's clothes, not letting go, eager to get the first-hand information to see if her all-night effort was worth it.

Xiao Liu looked at the busy people in the editorial department and knew that the young woman in front of him, who had only been working there for a short time, had a close relationship with the boss. So he didn't put on any airs and said in a low voice, "Of your ten novels, only two survived. The rest were rejected."

"Ah, only two!" Tu Meilun's voice was filled with disappointment. "What about *The Rural Teacher*? Did it survive?"

"Wait, let me check. It's crossed out. Is this actually a science fiction novel?" Xiao Liu was surprised. It was the first time he had seen an editor recommend a science fiction novel. "Why did you recommend a science fiction novel? Our magazine has never published more than ten science fiction stories since its inception."

Tu Meilun covered her mouth and widened her eyes. "No way, not a single science fiction novel in nearly 40 years? Isn't that a bit exaggerated?"

"Not at all. Our magazine represents the mainstream cultural attitude, and you know that science fiction is still a niche genre. Moreover, *Science Fiction World* has no cooperative relationship with us, so it won't be published. I need to get back to work; the boss is waiting for all the novels to be gathered. We can talk later!"

"Okay, see you, Brother Liu."

After waving goodbye, Tu Meilun returned to her desk with a dejected look, resting her chin on the table and aimlessly spinning a cup with one hand.

She knew some of the inside stories of the magazine. It wasn't very fair because *Fiction Selection* had cooperative relationships with other magazines, so they would prioritize selecting articles from those magazines.

For example, they had completed exchange work with magazines like *Fantasy 1+1*, *Martial Arts*, *Fantasy Era*, *People's Literature*, and *Fantasy Paradise*. *Science Fiction World* was treated like a stepchild, facing discrimination.

Although *Science Fiction World* had a decent circulation of 800,000 to 900,000 copies per issue, it didn't receive the favor of mainstream culture. Martial arts novelists were treated much better because China is a fertile ground for martial arts novels.

Tu Meilun felt increasingly frustrated. She picked up *Science Fiction World* from her desk and quietly sent a text message to Chen Jiaxuan.

...

The vast Yanjing Library was rich in books, with rows of bookshelves neatly lined up. Lin Han was standing by the science fiction section, slowly searching for works that interested him.

Compared to other literary genres, the science fiction section occupied only a few rows of shelves. Books by top authors from China and abroad were included, but there were few people borrowing books from this section. Few people with similar interests came to the library to borrow, and even some university libraries had very few science fiction books.

In contrast, Chinese martial arts novels were popular both domestically and internationally, with significant influence. Martial arts TV series and movies were frequently exported to other countries.

On the other hand, science fiction literature was highly developed in the United States, with many top science fiction writers. Hollywood's annual production of science fiction movies was popular worldwide, and some science fiction TV series also had high ratings.

Science fiction literature in China was a weak point, with few classic works. Most were translations of foreign works, and there were very few excellent domestic science fiction novels.

Lin Han almost had the entire section to himself, free to read any book he wanted. He picked up *The Curve on the Moon* by an American author, sat down, and started reading.

Just as he flipped to the table of contents, Chen Jiaxuan's call came in. His phone, which he had forgotten to switch to silent mode, quickly rang. Lin Han quickly answered the call before others could give him disapproving looks and ran to the smoking area.

"Lin Han, are you listening? Why aren't you saying anything?"

Chen Jiaxuan was very puzzled. She had called out several times without a response. "Hello, can you hear me?"

"Yes, I can. I was in the library and couldn't answer the call."

"Here's the thing. The editor from *Fiction Selection* told me that she recommended *The Rural Teacher*, but it was rejected. However, if you can write a good pitch, she's willing to try again. This is a childhood friend of mine, a very loyal person. Can you write it? If you can, send it to me as soon as possible."

The smoking area wasn't very crowded, but Lin Han could only absorb secondhand smoke here. He thought for a moment and understood what Chen Jiaxuan meant. Science fiction novels were inherently discriminated against, and to get published in *Fiction Selection*, he needed to find a way to highlight aspects that fit mainstream literature.

"I'll try, and please thank your friend for me."

"Don't just try; give it your all. You said this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Whether you can seize it depends on you, so don't talk to me anymore, go think about it!" Chen Jiaxuan's tone was forceful; she wouldn't allow the opportunity to slip away.

Lin Han, motivated by her words, firmly replied, "No problem, give me ten minutes!"

After hanging up, he slowly returned to his seat, connected his phone to the library's Wi-Fi, and began to think seriously. How could he highlight aspects that would appeal to mainstream literature?

First, this could勉强 be considered a rural-themed novel, which is one of the favorite genres of mainstream literature. Additionally, temporarily ignoring the science fiction elements, the novel also focuses on reality and rural education, challenging the notion that education is useless.

The charm of the book lies in its focus on the conflict between a small character and a grand destiny, with the science fiction elements also reflecting certain aspects of reality.

He wasn't sure if this was a roundabout way to achieve his goal, but Lin Han felt that writing a pitch was more difficult than writing a new novel. He needed to consider the old-fashioned thinking of those who would read the novel.