"Then, there is one more question!" Xu Yuanxuan looked at the flyer in his hand and asked, "What is a light novel?"
That's right! What is a light novel!
The advertisement on this flyer was recruiting the King of Light Novels, and the first rule was also a light novel competition, but they had never heard of the name light novel. What is this thing?
What kind of novel can be called a light novel?
Facing such a question, Xu Yuanxuan and Narushi were a little puzzled, but the flyer did not explain it clearly.
Xu Yuanxuan and Narushi discussed for a while, and the two decided to go to the library to look for information. Perhaps they were ignorant and did not know what the definition of a light novel was, but there must be an explanation of light novels in the vast number of books in the library.
But, the two of them searched through all the information about light novels in the library, but they did not see a single word about light novels, so they could only helplessly return home.
As a result, when Xu Yuanxuan turned on the TV, he found that the news on the TV was actually about the competition.
Because of the unprecedented 30 million yen prize, the Dengeki Bunko competition this time instantly became the hot topic of all the news media.
Some media went through the historical information and finally confirmed that this was indeed the highest prize in history.
Many news media found the CEO of Dengeki Bunko, Xia Qiu Shiyu, for an interview and asked her if the prize was real.
On the other hand, Xia Qiu Shiyu had repeatedly guaranteed on TV that all the rules of this grand prize were true. The highest reward could indeed reach 30 million yen. There was absolutely no falsehood. Otherwise, she would personally be willing to go to jail or something.
Then, the reporters asked her why a new library and publishing house was willing to spend so much money to hold such a big prize.
Xia Qiu Shiyu said that the company's chairman was a person who liked to read novels, but he felt that novels nowadays were too heavy. Many novels made people feel depressed, and could not express their personal feelings. There were not many novels that could make people laugh.
At the same time, Fusang's novel industry was declining day by day, and the sales were declining year by year. Last year, the sales of novels in Fusang were 35 billion yen. However, the sales of manga, as well as related manga magazines, had reached an astonishing level of 1.2 billion yen.
The total sales volume of the manga was about 40 times that of the novel. The total sales volume of 35 billion yen was not even comparable to the sales volume of a simple snack for a few months.
This made the chairman of Dengeki Bunko feel humiliated. Therefore, he was determined to save the entire novel industry and let the sales of the novel industry reach the same level as the manga industry.
Thus, the chairman created the publishing house, Dengeki Bunko, and created a new genre of light novels. He hoped to use light novels to boost the sales of the novel industry and inject new blood into the novel industry, so that young people would love to read light novels again.
Hearing Xia Qiu Shiyu's answer, which was full of ridicule and shame, the reporter took notes like crazy and began to prepare to fire on the newspapers and magazines. At the same time, he curiously asked who the chairman was.
"Our chairman is just an ordinary person who is interested in the Fusang novel industry. You don't have to know his specific identity!" Xia Qiu Shiyu said lightly.
Alright, since they couldn't find out the chairman's identity, the reporter could only ask the most important question, which was what a light novel was.
Although Boss Jia clearly defined the various characteristics of light novels when he gave Xia Qiu Shiyu the definition of light novels, these were things that only the editor knew. Telling the readers would only ruin things, so Xia Qiu Shiyu's final answer was like this.
"Light novels are not limited to any theme, nor are they limited to any genre. Whether it's the sky or the earth, the past or the future, the alternate world or the current world, legends or religions, reality or fantasy. In short, no matter what it is, as long as it's something that comes to mind, can be written in the form of a novel, and can be easily read by all readers, it's a light novel! "
"Please remember, light novels must be able to make all readers feel relaxed and happy. Only a novel without any obstacles can be called a light novel!"
"A novel that can make all readers feel relaxed and happy, so that's what a light novel is!" After seeing this television report, Shin Yuanxuan, who was unable to find the definition of a light novel, finally understood what a light novel was.
"The person who defined this light novel is really an interesting person!" Shin Yuanxuan exclaimed, "I have a feeling that this light novel might not be elegant, but it's something that will change the entire novel industry."
"But I can make the readers feel relaxed, but I'm afraid it'll be a little difficult to make them feel happy!" Shin Yuanxuan muttered, "An author like him who makes the supporting characters lose their heads from time to time and completely disappears from the main character must have a hard time making readers feel happy and happy!"
"As for the more specific definition of a light novel, starting next month, the first volumes of six light novels from Dengeki Bunko will be released at the same time. When the time comes, authors and audiences who still have questions can review these light novels after reading them!"
After saying this, Xia Qiu Shiyu ended the interview. This interview was quickly spread throughout Fusang through the television, newspapers, and other media.
Although most people weren't interested in this news, as they didn't want to read or write light novels. However, it quickly spread throughout the entire novel industry.
The top echelons of the novel industry, especially the publishers and famous authors, were completely disdainful of light novels.
"They don't pursue experience in writing, and they don't pursue retro and elegant writing style. They don't know how to use light novels to reflect the current situation of society, they don't analyze the deep emotions of the characters in the novel, and they don't use a tragic story at the end to make readers feel shocked by the whole world! "
"If they only make readers feel relaxed and happy, what's the difference between this kind of novel and a joke? What's the difference between this kind of novel and the newspaper that you read while squatting in the toilet?"
"No, the newspaper can at least let readers understand some things about the country and society, but this kind of novel has nothing. Before reading it, your mind is empty, and after reading it, your mind is still empty. This isn't a novel, it's toilet paper!"
"Let me say one last thing, a novel that can't shock and resonate with all readers is trash, and it doesn't deserve to be called a novel!" This was a comment made by a famous novelist after hearing about the light novel. It quickly appeared on various newspapers and television, and was constantly used by editors to criticize and ridicule light novels.
As for other publishers, they looked down on Dengeki Bunko even more.
"We produce food for the human mind, not toilet paper for the buttocks!" A president of a publishing house said proudly, "The facts will prove that these light novels are toilet paper, they won't have any sales, and they won't be liked by readers. Our readers are cultured, have quality, and have high standards of beauty. They will never like this kind of trash! "
"Even if the recent performance of our novel industry is really bad, we definitely don't need this kind of people to save us!"
The 30 million reward was a slap in the face to many publishers, so the publishers were very resistant to Dengeki Bunko. The presidents of various publishers, as well as some well-known authors, publicly expressed some disdainful comments.
The media had never been afraid of things blowing up. When they saw that both sides were quarreling, they naturally chose to add oil to the fire.
As the saying goes, when everyone picks up firewood, the flames will rise. Under the situation where everyone had the intention to blow up the matter, the Dengeki Bunko Contest this time instantly became popular in Fusang. Many ordinary people who didn't even read novels knew about the existence of such a thing called light novel, and they also became curious about how much toilet paper this thing was.
As for those novelists who were at the bottom, who couldn't even get enough food and clothing, they didn't care about elegance, soul, or toilet paper.
When they saw the news, they were all overjoyed and decided to submit their works to Dengeki Bunko.
Anyway, it was just writing 50,000 words and an outline. There was no harm if they didn't win. If they won, they would get at least 20,000 yen a month, and they might even get a large sum of cash. How could there be such a good thing in the world!
However, he still had to change his pen name. He couldn't use his usual pen name. If the reputation of light novels was really completely ruined, it wouldn't ruin his original pen name!
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