Chief Editor Han’s terms were not unreasonable.
She opened by offering to raise Wen Ying’s serialization fee.
She also promised a first print run of 30,000 copies with an 8% royalty rate.
These showed the sincerity of Han and the magazine, especially since Han personally came to Rongcheng, demonstrating the magazine’s regard for Wen Ying, a new author, and her book Teen Idol. Yet this regard seemed tinged with Han’s personal emotions. As chief editor, she recognized the value of Teen Idol, but personally, she disliked Wen Ying for causing her trouble.
The relationship between authors and magazines, who holds the upper hand and who plays second fiddle, depends on the author’s status and the magazine’s circulation.
Aige is a popular youth magazine that has nurtured many well-known youth authors. Aige values Wen Ying, but she is not indispensable to them.
A new author like Wen Ying should focus on honing her craft, not trying to negotiate terms with the magazine.
The magazine, or rather Han Qin, has a clear sense of what treatment suits which author.
Han came to Rongcheng for work.
But she didn’t enjoy this trip, so she arrived an hour late without even an explanation.
Even a flimsy excuse about traffic would have sufficed for Wen Ying, but there was nothing.
Hearing Han say not to be too greedy, Wen Ying was momentarily at a loss for words. There’s a big difference between pursuing legitimate interests and being greedy.
“Chief Editor!”
Xiao Ni cut in before Wen Ying could respond, “Since we’re all here, why not hear Little Fish’s thoughts?”
Xiao Ni smoothed things over, and Han pursed her lips.
“Fine, Little Fish, speak. I’m listening. I mean no harm, just a kind reminder, worried you’re too young to be taken advantage of.”
Han gave Xiao Ni that courtesy.
Wen Ying had been ready to accept terms slightly less favorable than Zou Weijun’s, but seeing Han’s attitude, she realized if she proposed lesser terms, Han would push them even lower. So Wen Ying stated Zou Weijun’s terms: “Above one million copies, a 15% royalty rate. What do you think?”
So that’s it.
Han found it amusing.
For Teen Idol, Han had seen the first 180,000 words; the remaining 120,000 were yet to be submitted.
Based on what she’d read, Teen Idol deserved the publishing terms Han offered.
But believing it could sell a million copies? Han might as well buy a lottery ticket on her way downstairs.
It wasn’t that Han looked down on Wen Ying; she knew the youth literature market well.
Are there books that sell a million copies?
Of course!
But those are by leading figures in youth literature.
Authors with such sales can be counted on one hand.
Wen Ying is definitely not one of them.
Her idea was overly naive and confident.
Even if Wen Ying had the extraordinary luck to write a runaway hit, Han would be even less likely to agree.
At a million copies, with an 8% royalty, Wen Ying would earn 2.24 million yuan.
With a 15% royalty, she’d earn 4.2 million.
That nearly 2-million-yuan difference—wouldn’t the magazine rather keep it? Nobody finds money too hot to handle. Though Han wouldn’t pocket it herself, securing a million-copy bestseller at 8% royalty would be a stellar achievement on her resume.
Han said bluntly, “Your idea is too naive. No one would genuinely agree to those terms.”
Han emphasized “genuinely.”
Wen Ying thought, not necessarily.
It seemed Auntie Zou was indeed generous with her.
A 15% royalty rate—no publisher would offer that to a new author.
Zou Weijun’s boss agreed because they didn’t believe Teen Idol could sell over a million copies, seeing it as bait to lure Wen Ying to sign.
Wen Ying pondered, trying to gauge Han’s thinking, “So, are you unable to accept a top-tier 15% royalty rate, or are you unwilling to accept tiered royalties at all?”
Han considered and made a concession: “I can’t accept tiered royalties. 8% is my bottom line, but I can adjust Teen Idol’s first print run to 50,000 copies.”
No tiered royalties meant royalties based on the first print run.
From 30,000 to 50,000 copies, Wen Ying’s royalty income would be 110,000 yuan.
Han thought this was a significant sum for a minor, and further concessions would mean Wen Ying was leading her by the nose—impossible.
Han glanced at the silent Zou Weijun and reminded Wen Ying, “Our magazine is more professional in packaging youth authors and promoting their works. If you become a hit, your second book’s royalty will definitely rise. It’s 8% now, at least 10% for the second, then the third, the fourth. One day you’ll get 15%. Why rush? Little Fish, you’re so young—look to the future.”
Everyone wants a 15% royalty.
It’s not just income; it’s industry status.
But some goals aren’t achieved by dreaming alone; they require steady effort.
Han’s words were, in a sense, golden advice—if Wen Ying hadn’t been reborn, she might have seen Han as a life mentor.
But Wen Ying was a worker who’d fought independently in Shanghai, saving enough for a down payment.
She understood Han’s meaning: no matter how many copies Teen Idol sold, that was the future. For now, Wen Ying couldn’t, and didn’t deserve to, negotiate.
An 8% royalty was the magazine’s benchmark for new authors, and Han wouldn’t make an exception.
“Teacher Han, I understand your thoughts. Can you give me some time?”
Wen Ying didn’t outright refuse.
Han stood, “Fine, but you’d better decide today. It’s not easy for us to make this trip, and we leave tomorrow morning.”
Han picked up her bag and left without waiting for Zou Weijun to speak.
Xiao Ni followed closely.
Wen Ying and Xiao Ni couldn’t say much in person, only exchanging phone numbers, finally moving beyond online QQ contact.
Only Wen Ying and Zou Weijun remained in the office. Zou smiled and asked Wen Ying how she felt.
“This is your first book. If writing is just a hobby, focus on the craft. If you want to be a full-time writer, you’ll need to learn to negotiate eventually.”
A writer can’t live in a vacuum, clueless about the world—that’s building a car behind closed doors.
Rich social and life experience helps writers create better work, so Zou Weijun stayed silent earlier, letting Wen Ying take the lead.
Wen Ying shook her head, “Chief Editor Han is very opinionated. She won’t agree to tiered royalties.”
If not for Xiao Ni’s sake, Wen Ying would have rejected Han outright.
Wen Ying was prepared to accept terms slightly less than Zou Weijun’s, but Han’s offer was far more than just a step below.
