Three Challenges of Stepping Out
Hello everyone, I am Gu Zhenren.
Today, I bring you a new book, Mysteries Of Immortal Puppet Master.
I’ve thought about it carefully—writing this book comes with at least three challenges!
The First Challenge: Writing After Stepping Out
When I first started writing web novels, it was purely out of interest and passion. I’ve written so many books, and the primary motivation has always been enjoyment. For instance, when I wrote Reverend Insanity, I persisted for at least seven years, even though the subscription numbers were dismal. Back then, I was still young; my parents were not old yet, and I had no worries. I could afford to live carefree—one person fed, the whole family not starving.
Similarly, when I wrote Infinite Blood Core, I chose to revise the outline repeatedly. Even when I had no subscription income for months, it didn’t bother me.
I’ll admit something that might make you laugh—
I was clumsy. While staying “in the mountain,” I couldn’t reach the moon, often falling and getting hurt. This time, stepping “out of the mountain,” my main goal is to fill a worldly need—to make a living.
Looking back, my “in the mountain” state might have been my personal comfort zone, a bubble of self-indulgence. Perhaps what I once called artistic pursuits and dreams were nothing more than self-satisfaction or naive fantasies.
“Out of the mountain,” on the other hand, is a battlefield of fierce competition, a river where a hundred boats race forward.
Mysteries Of Immortal Puppet Master is my first attempt at “stepping out of the mountain” to write. For the first time ever, I’m considering rankings, reader engagement, update schedules, writing pace, and aligning with popular reading habits.
I hope to write something that suits the tastes of a broader audience—something that everyone can enjoy.
I am a clumsy person, and since this is my first time, I may not do it well. But I’ll humbly learn and strive to improve! I welcome your criticisms and corrections. And of course, if you can offer some encouragement, that would be even better!
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The Second Challenge: Social Interaction
I am a homebody. Besides writing and reading, my greatest hobby is gaming.
I also have some social anxiety. While it has eased somewhat with age, I’m still not good at socializing or interacting with readers. This time, I’ve listened to everyone’s suggestions and will try to improve in this area by being more active on social platforms, hosting events, doing some livestreams, and so on.
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The Third Challenge: Inner Struggles
This is the greatest challenge of all.
Everyone has two lives. One is called the mundane life, and the other is the life of ideals. For those in artistic professions, the second life is their artistic life.
I wrote Reverend Insanity for about ten years, on and off. Most of that time, the income was dismal, but I enjoyed it. When revising Blood Core for several months, I shut myself away and ignored the outside world, yet I was brimming with enthusiasm.
I love writing. The act of writing itself is my source of motivation. These experiences have nourished my artistic life.
However, stepping out of the mountain to write may feel different. For me, it might mean depleting my artistic life.
How long can my second life endure? I honestly don’t know.
Since this is my first attempt, I also don’t know whether I’m suited for this new writing approach.
There are countless ways to kill a second life. It is incredibly resilient, yet also unbearably fragile.
I can only tell myself: stepping out of the mountain is so I can climb back in and chase the moon once again.
I will try my best to adjust my mindset, find a balance, and work to transform this process. Perhaps, through this writing style, I can also nourish my artistic life—it’s not impossible.
I humbly invite all of you to witness this journey.
Thank you!
