Writing Web Novels In America-Chapter 65: Dinner Invitation

As an industry giant, EA clearly remained vigilant toward newcomers to the gaming industry.

On the day the Diablo-themed game exhibition began, they planned to announce their entry into the magical RPG computer game industry with the CG version of Arcane Throne.

As part of the accompanying promotional campaign, aside from additional comic book releases, there was also a significant tilt toward various media resources.

Wang Jian was nothing but pleased with such major gaming companies launching their promotional activities well in advance.

Because the name Arcane Throne also began to appear frequently in all kinds of news.

Influenced by this, the first volume of Arcane Throne, published by Random House, once again topped the bestseller lists.

As a result of this, the website hosting the ongoing content of Arcane Throne, wangwen.com, saw a steady increase in both visitations and paid subscribers.

Wang Jian, the "original author", of course, would not miss this opportunity.

These few days, he had been furiously writing, finally finishing the novel that had been in his mind.

To avoid any adverse impact, Wang Jian even altered the religious aspects in the original work.

After referencing a series of bestsellers, he changed the parts that alluded to Christianity to resemble more the religious settings found in A Song of Ice and Fire.

Well, there were still some readers who expressed dissent.

But most readers were able to accept it.

So, after a few days of fermenting.

The news that Arcane Throne had been completed online began to spread.

Many readers who had been waiting for the second volume also came flocking to the site. frёewebηovel.cѳm

Of course, the quality of the novel did not disappoint them.

In the novel, a series of the protagonist’s clever maneuvers opened these people’s eyes.

For example, cutting the appendix to keep as the flesh and blood needed for resurrection.

Or the protagonist’s human-sized nuclear bombs, modern products of a combination of magic and technology, like televisions, telephones, and so on.

And the vast wealth and high status that the protagonist garnered from inventing these familiar yet strange objects.

These led the fantasizing readers almost to the brink of madness.

What best proved the popularity of Arcane Throne was that some of the dialogues from the novel began to appear in many forums.

The Great Magician’s mockery of Church members in the book, "Our journey is the stars and the sea."

And the original’s borrowing from religious scripture, "You are both the one and the many, the moment and the eternal."

These phrases became secret codes between readers to prove they had read Arcane Throne.

People like George Martin and JK Rowling, who had been following the developments of Arcane Throne,

saw the epic saga of more than 3.3 million words completed in just a few months.

And also, that the novel’s entertainment value, logical coherence, and storyline were all exceptionally good.

Thus, these authors retreated into their shells, probably taking a long time to recover.

Meanwhile, Wang Jian, the "tentacle monster" in their hearts, had already started holding meetings with his subordinates.

He decided to take advantage of the surge in website traffic and start charging for the other works on the site as well.

"Tom, you draft a contract first."

"Then, after the editors come up with a list of paid works, we’ll get in touch with the authors one by one."

Tom nodded, indicating no objections.

"Dorsey, your technical department needs to provide support too."

"Make sure the website doesn’t have any bugs at such a crucial time."

Dorsey replied, "Don’t worry."

Wang Jian then checked the company’s financial accounts and found that just the subscription revenue from two books was enough to temporarily sustain the website’s normal operations.

Whether they could buy a dedicated server and other subsequent items would depend on the charging effect of the other works.

After that, he announced the end of the meeting.

After everyone left the meeting room, Wang Jian took out an invitation he had just received.

It was from the New York Times bestseller list.

The purpose was to invite Wang Jian to attend the bestseller authors’ dinner for the 94-95 period.

"Halfway through the year, why does it feel like I’m back in school?" he mused, playing with the invitation.

In his mind, though, he contemplated whether to attend or not.

Should I attend?

I seemed to have unwittingly pushed The New York Times into the limelight before.

But if I don’t attend?

Then I’d miss a chance to increase the website’s exposure.

Wang Jian weighed his options and decided to go to the party.

The fact was, The New York Times had too much clout in the media world.

If they wanted to take revenge, my attendance at the party wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Reading the invitation carefully, I found that the dress code was "formal", and I could bring a plus-one.

Wang Jian thought about where these rules came from and couldn’t help but laugh.

It was F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby.

After accepting an invitation to a New York Times dinner party, he had shown up dressed as a farmer.

Then, he brought the whole village with him and they feasted at the dinner party.

That was the only time a buffet-style dinner in New York had run out of food.

The New York Times also became a joke that year because of it.

Wang Jian shook his head, casting these anecdotes from his mind.

Then, he dialed Lily’s number while contemplating what to wear that evening.

Unfortunately, Lily couldn’t attend because of little Gene.

However, she recommended her best friend, the redhead Lynn.

This made Wang Jian start to consider the possibility of taking Tom along.

Uh...

Better not.

Bringing a male companion to the dinner would lead most to assume I was gay.

Especially since writers already have the "artist" label attached to them.

So, go alone?

But I’m not overly familiar with most of the attendees.

Moreover, writers tend to be quite arrogant, barely acknowledging anyone.

Standing alone at the dinner party would likely be quite embarrassing.

He hesitated for a moment but decided to call Lynn.

When Lynn heard that she had a chance to attend an upper-class society dinner party, she was instantly overjoyed.

She first agreed repeatedly, then said she would immediately ask for leave to rent an evening gown.

After arranging the details with her, Wang Jian hung up.

Truth be told, he had some reservations about this utilitarian woman.

But...

If not her, then who?

Wang Jian opened the office door, glimpsing the only female employee, the graphic designer from the tech department.

Which was thicker, my waist or her thighs?

He shuddered at the thought, then hastened out of the office and headed back to his apartment to get ready for the dinner party.

At six in the evening, Lynn, dressed in a red evening gown, arrived at the dinner party on Wang Jian’s arm.

At that moment, she felt a trembling excitement.

Lynn turned to look at Wang Jian, feeling that what happened last time after drinking wasn’t so bad.

The man was rich, competent, and a bestselling author.

Only if he were older, she definitely would try to marry him.

But being a long-term lover wasn’t a bad choice either.

Thinking so, Lynn pressed herself a bit closer to Wang Jian.

PS: Just one update today, catching up on some sleep.

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