Suggestions for Name Changes and Some Words

Today, I spoke with my editor-in-chief. She told me there are about a thousand readers following the story now. If I were to publish it in the Fantasy channel, it could make it to the Three Rivers recommendation list. However, the Light Novel channel is fiercely competitive. After discussing with her, we decided to launch the book next week.

In truth, this book was originally intended for the Fantasy genre. Both its narrative style and storyline are rooted in traditional fantasy, akin to works like "Berserk" or "The Lord of the Rings." Such stories certainly don't belong in the light novel category. Yet, the Light Novel channel attracts more traffic, and my editor-in-chief advised me to publish there. After some thought, I went along with it.

Looking back now, that was a mistake. Ultimately, I'll switch it back to Fantasy, but it seems I'll have to wait a month after the launch to change the category.

Since I'm already changing the genre, I'm considering changing the book’s title as well. For now, I'm planning to go with a four-character name, perhaps "Crown of the Dead." If anyone has suggestions about whether I should change the title or what kind of title would be fitting, please leave your thoughts here.

The original title was chosen with the hope of attracting more readers. During the planning phase, I considered names like "From Skeleton to Lord of the Undead" or "The Undead: From Apprentice to Master." The editor suggested I add a trending word at the beginning, followed by a colon and the main title, as this would help boost traffic and attract more clicks.

Yet, I always felt those titles didn’t quite fit the story I envisioned. So I settled for the current, somewhat middle-of-the-road name.

The actual recommendation results were disappointing. After the first round of new book recommendations, it didn’t even make it to the second round—left to fend for itself for a week. It was then that I stopped checking the backend and reviews, choosing instead to focus solely on writing the story I wanted to tell, releasing it at my own pace.

Before starting this book, I did a lot of preparation. The outline for the first volume alone was three thousand words—a comprehensive overview, my first time drafting such an extensive outline. I’ve mapped out the entire story, including the ending and most of the central structure.

Readers encounter Wade after his death, but I know his past and future well; there are many things from his life that I find fascinating and haven't yet revealed. Even with poor results, I’m compelled to finish writing these parts; that’s the mindset with which I undertook this book.

I feel as though I have complete command over this world. The last time I felt this way was years ago, when I wrote "Wasteland Drifter." But the world and characters of this new book are far larger and more intricate.

I write slowly, unveiling the story bit by bit, with great patience. A few days ago, I came across words from a renowned author that struck a chord with me. In the early days of web fiction, many authors simply posted what they wanted to write online, then happily logged off, satisfied with having expressed themselves. My feelings are much the same—I just want to finish telling the story I’ve imagined.

Since none of the strategies have improved the book’s performance, I might as well return to my original intention. I’ll switch it back to Fantasy, and pick a simpler, more mystical-sounding title.

After all, although the current title features a skeleton, this isn’t one of those monster evolution stories. The narrative ahead will focus more on life and death, love and courage. I can’t think of a perfect title to encapsulate all that, so I’ll settle for something a bit mysterious.

All in all, I sincerely thank everyone for your support. Though I failed in the second round of the selection and went a week without recommendations, later I managed to squeeze into the third round, and even saw a glimmer of hope for a strong push in Three Rivers.

Unfortunately, it didn’t make it in the end, but that’s enough for me—to know that there are still readers who enjoy this story. For a writer, this is the greatest support.

Here, I express my gratitude.

The book is expected to launch next week, though the exact day is yet to be decided. Before the launch, I’ll maintain the current update rhythm, and after, I’ll add more chapters as appropriate.

As for the rest—thoughts on writing, the story, and the characters—I’ll save those for my launch remarks.

Wishing you all happiness and restful sleep.

That’s all.

May 22, 2025