I am a literary giant in Japan

Chapter 395 The initial dream, the beginning of a new journey

As the book "Hanzawa Naoki" successfully broke the barrier between popular literature and pure literature in the Japanese literary world for many years, many pure literature publishing houses also began to transform and included some novels that were both "literary" and "storytelling" in their magazines.

In fact, starting from "Norwegian Wood", people in the Japanese literary world gradually realized that if they only pursue pure literary quality, then pure literary novels will become more and more niche.

The final result is bound to be like the serious literature of most countries, becoming a deformed literary work that is neither loved by its parents nor appreciated by its parents, unable to occupy a place in the world literary scene, nor loved by most readers in the country.

Adding "storytelling", "fun" and even love elements to pure literary novels so that the boundary between them and popular literary works is no longer so clear is the correct way to prolong the life of pure literary novels.

Hide Kitagawa also considered this issue when promoting the development of "Kitagawa" and "Dazhong".

"Wenyi", the leader in pure literature publishing, will certainly move in this direction.

Although he hadn't decided what to write in the new book to be serialized in "Wenyi", Kitagawa Hide had decided not to write a novel that was extremely literary but lacked storytelling for the time being.

He is indeed the "number one in the world" in Japanese literary circles, but he cannot go against the trend and write things in violation of market rules.

Throughout history, all authors who have done this have ended up failing without exception, and Kitagawa Hide does not think he is an exception.

The Wakayama poisonous curry incident reminded Kitagawa Hide of a hit movie "The Villainess" from a neighboring island province in later generations.

The prototype of the story of "The Villain" is Masumi Hayashi, who was responsible for the Wakayama poisonous curry incident.

However, the plot of the movie is more magical and dramatic, which once made people doubt the authenticity of the film based on real events.

Adapting real events that have caused huge social impact into novels, promoting the truth, goodness and beauty in them to readers, and exposing the falsehood, evil and ugliness to readers is the social responsibility of a top writer.

When I wrote "Confessions" before, I had the same goal and motivation.

However, this time, for "The Villain", there are only historical prototypes and movie scripts to refer to, and there is no corresponding pure literary novel.

In this way, integrating the Wakayama poisonous curry incident and "The Villain" into a new pure literary novel would inevitably be more difficult than all the books Kitagawa Hide has written before.

But because of this, he wanted to give it a try even more.

Today, as a successful man, if he wants to continue climbing the mountain of world literature, he should slowly improve and demonstrate his writing skills.

He can't, and doesn't want to, live forever in his comfort zone as a plagiarist.

The first step is to write a brand new work based on this real case and public opinion, combined with mature movies for reference, and then add your own adaptation and processing!

"The Villain" itself is also very consistent with the current trend of pure literature in Japanese literary circles, as well as the public's curiosity and attention to hot public opinion events.

After making up his mind, Kitagawa Hide asked Keigo Higashino to go back and continue to revise the text, while he opened a new document and began to think about how to write the new novel "The Villain".

Thanks to his extraordinary memory, the details of the movie "The Villain" quickly emerged in his mind like a kaleidoscope.

The plot of the movie is a complete replica of Hayashi Masumi's real experience, except that it has been somewhat "Taiwanized".

In order to adapt it into a pure literary novel, Kitagawa Hide had to consider adding more literary elements while maintaining the original story.

A purely hot topic of public opinion only has attractive gimmicks but does not contain any connotations worthy of the public's deep reflection and exploration.

While thinking about this question, Kitagawa Hide laid out the characters, world view background and outline of the novel one by one according to his past habits.

that's it.

Two days later, on April 8th.

Saito Rena drove to the company parking lot early in the morning. Before she stepped out of the driver's seat, she saw Kitagawa Hide and Higashino Keigo, whom she hadn't seen for many days, walking towards her.

"Kitagawa, Tono-san? Why are you here suddenly?"

Rena Saito was wearing a pure white shirt on her upper body, which revealed her proud bust. On her lower body, she was wearing a hip-hugging professional skirt and thin black stockings that were tailor-made for female employees by Kawaide Shobo.

Since her promotion to the head of the editorial department, Saito Rena has changed her youthful and beautiful style with twin ponytails three years ago and has completely transformed into a heroic and strong career woman in the workplace.

However, her iconic dark circles and puffy face were still there, which allowed Kitagawa Hide to tell at a glance that this guy must have been suffering from insomnia due to excessive stress recently.

It seems that without the support of his own new book, the sales pressure of the new issue of "Wenyi" is quite high.

It was the right decision to bring Keigo Higashino here to submit my new book.

"Dongye recently wrote a new novel, which happened to be published in this issue of "Literature and Art". I thought that with your personality, you should come to the company early, so I brought him to you for review."

Kitagawa Hide helped her close the car door, took out the manuscript, and motioned for her to talk while walking.

"Dong Ye's new book?"

Saito Rena's face lit up with joy, and then she glanced at this "traitor" who had completely defected to the world of mystery literature, and then turned her gaze back to the manuscript in Kitagawa Hide's hand.

The title of the book is "The Convenience Store of Sorrow", which doesn't seem to be a mystery novel?

"Yes. I hope Mr. Saito will correct me when he has time." Keigo Higashino bowed formally, then followed obediently behind his teacher and Rena Saito.

His first editor after entering the industry was Reina Saito.

Unfortunately, both Saito and he were very young at that time. Although they both tried hard to get his manuscript passed the review of the "Gunzo" editorial department, unfortunately, in the end all failed.

Since the popularity of "White Night Walk" and "The Suspect", Keigo Higashino has not published any works in "Wenyi".

Facing Rena Saito at this moment, he felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.

"Mr. Dongye, you are too kind. It is my job to review the manuscripts of the authors. There is no question of giving them advice."

Saito Rena smiled gently, took the manuscript from Kitagawa Hide, chatted with him while looking at it, and walked towards the company's headquarters building.

Seeing the two people who have such a good understanding, Keigo Higashino, who was following closely behind, felt emotional and thought that it would be great if he could have an editor with similar understanding one day.

After he became famous, many publishing houses and editors commissioned him to write articles, but most of the editors were attracted by his fame and commercial value.

Or they are like a bootlicker, whatever he says is right and you will agree with him without any bottom line.

Or they would act inexplicably superior and constantly interfere with his novels, offering suggestions for revisions that were completely meaningless and had no practical effect.

In short, before I became famous, I was worried that my submissions would not be accepted and no publishing house would be willing to accept me.

It's well-known that all the editors are insincere and of no help at all.

At one point, he felt that writing a book and submitting it was an extremely difficult task.

Seeing Kitagawa Hide and Saito Rena getting along well, he felt okay again!

The three of them walked from the elevator to Saito Rena's office. When they saw the elusive Kitagawa and Higashino teachers appear at the same time, the editors in the editorial department immediately turned into fans, looking at them with starry eyes. If the editorial department's head, Saito Rena, wasn't there, these editors would definitely not be able to hold back and would have rushed over to ask for autographs and photos.

Seeing that the atmosphere in the editorial department of "Wenyi" was as good as ever, Kitagawa Hide felt a little relieved.

When she walked into the office, Rena Saito had already finished reading the first two chapters of "The Convenience Store of Sorrow".

"The style of Higashino-san's novel this time is very different from the past."

Saito Reina put the manuscript on the table and looked up at him.

Higashino Keigo nodded: "Yes. In the past year, I have been wanting to write a pure literary novel, but after several consecutive failures, I realized that Mr. Kitagawa was right, and my writing style is not suitable for that kind of pure literary novel.

If you insist on going down this path, you will definitely fail in the end.

So under the guidance of Mr. Beichuan, I decided to try to combine my personal style with pure literary writing techniques, and use this new style of work to see the readers' reactions and acceptance. "

After saying that, he glanced at Saito Reina's expression, then looked at Kitagawa Hide who was standing beside him, and couldn't help but ask again: "Teacher Saito, what do you think? Can this novel be published?"

"Of course!"

When Rena Saito finished reading the first chapter, she was amazed by the novel's flashback technique and the setting of "letters transmitted across time and space".

However, she had never seen similar novel elements in pure literary novels before, so she was a little slow to react for a while.

But as the story progresses, the suspenseful mystery structure similar to that of a detective novel, coupled with Keigo Higashino's unique writing style that pursues delicate emotional experience, and the delicate, mono no aware style that is clearly inherited from Hide Kitagawa, gradually make Saito Rena obsessed and completely attracted by the little stories in it.

After receiving a positive answer, Keigo Higashino breathed a sigh of relief.

To be honest, the failed creative experiences in the second half of last year and the first half of this year have made Keigo Higashino lose confidence in writing pure literary novels.

Even though he completed "The Convenience Store of Sorrow" under the guidance of Mr. Kitagawa, he was still very nervous, fearing that he would get a bad review from Rena Saito.

Fortunately, judging from Mr. Saito’s current reaction, the reading experience of "The Convenience Store of Sorrow" is still very good.

really.

With the help of Mr. Beichuan, a giant in the literary world, the questions that have puzzled me for a year can be easily answered!

"If there is no problem, Higashino-san, please go directly to the contract signing department on the second floor to sign the regular single-book contract first, right?
Time is tight. I want "The Convenience Store of Sorrow" to be published in this issue of "Literature and Art". The magazine will be on sale the day after tomorrow. I'm afraid I have to ask the publicity and distribution department to re-layout and review it. There may not be time to discuss copyright and other details.

Should we discuss these things later?"

Saito Reina closed the manuscript and asked decisively.

Keigo Higashino naturally trusted her character, so he immediately nodded in agreement, then followed Rena Saito's secretary to the second floor.

After Keigo Higashino left, the serious and charismatic Saito Rena suddenly let out a long sigh like a deflated balloon, and then collapsed on the boss chair in a very unladylike and ungraceful manner.

"Ah - Beichuan, this time it's all thanks to you!"

When she was alone with Kitagawa Hide, Saito Rena immediately shed the temperament of the editor-in-chief and turned back into the twin-tailed girl editor who had walked with him all the way three years ago.

"Because of the "Arts" incident recently, you are under a lot of work pressure, right?"

Beichuan Xiu poured her a glass of water and chuckled.

Saito Reina pursed her lips, took the water cup, stared and asked: "Is it obvious?"

"It's not bad. If it weren't for this and this, it wouldn't be that obvious."

Kitagawa Hide tapped his eyes and pinched his cheeks.

Saito Rena understood immediately and her cheeks turned slightly red. Then the two of them stared at each other and laughed in tacit understanding.

“The work pressure is not that great. It’s just that after being promoted to the head of the department, sometimes I have to consider the future of the publishing house.

Although I don’t want to admit it, to be honest, the situation of “Wenyi” is completely different with or without your book being serialized.”

Saito Reina sighed and made a cup of tea for Kitagawa Hide.

“Sister Shizuka and I both know that we can’t rely on your popularity to maintain the leading position of Literature and Art in the publishing industry forever.

But at the moment, you really can’t do without Beichuan.”

“The establishment of a publishing house is a long process that takes ten years to grow trees and a hundred years to cultivate people.

It is already remarkable that Shizuko has managed the company to this level within four or five years of taking over it.

you, too.

Reina, three years ago you were still worried about not being fired by the publishing house. Three years later, you have become the editor-in-chief of a leading company in the industry. Isn't this an amazing thing?

Sometimes putting too much pressure on yourself and setting too high goals is not a good thing. "

Kitagawa Hide looked at her and said this gently and calmly.

Since that time, Saito Reina faced him and revealed her true feelings, saying, "Kitagawa, have you noticed that sometimes you are like the sun that is out of reach for us?

All of us are sunflowers underground, growing towards you every day, but ultimately unable to reach you.
I wonder if my existence is dispensable to you, Beichuan?" After saying this, Beichuan Xiu began to pay attention to the mental state of his friends around him.

He is a bug, and his life is like a cheat, so it is bound to have various impacts on the people close to him.

Beside him, they can feel the warmth of the sun, but will also be burned by its scorching heat.

All he has to do is to always remember to stop and look at his friends and relatives who are a little behind him.

Let them not feel inferior or frustrated because of their excellence, or set abnormally high goals.

“Yes, we actually know that no matter how glorious the Hechu Study is now, it has only happened in the past three years.

We need more time to settle down and truly consolidate its dominant position.

but
Human hearts are greedy.

Without you, Literature and Art would have fallen into decline."

Saito Reina blinked at him and smiled helplessly.

Kitagawa Hideya also laughed, and then with a firm look in his eyes, he said to her in a soft but resolute voice: "Don't worry, Reina, I will always be with you until "Wenyi" truly grows up, until we achieve all the goals we set when we first came to Kawade Shobo."

(End of this chapter)