"Sorry, your Strange Tales: Biting a Ghost cannot be included in Reader's Digest at this time. Thank you for your submission."
After the end-of-month quiz, Huang Yifan finally received a reply regarding the Strange Tales story he had submitted to Reader's Digest.
What he didn't expect was that it was a rejection.
Rejected.
Was this a joke? The classic masterpiece, Strange Tales, from his previous life, was actually rejected?
And the reason was bizarre: no originality, too outdated.
It seemed that becoming an 8-star or 9-star author in this world wasn't going to be easy.
Even if he had a mind full of classic works from Earth, if this world didn't recognize them, there was nothing he could do.
To be fair, the "Biting a Ghost" story he submitted wasn't exactly one of the best tales from Strange Tales. If he had submitted "Judge Lu", "Nie Xiaoqian", "Abao", "Painted Skin"… maybe he wouldn't have been rejected. Then again, he couldn't be sure.
Stories like those from Strange Tales did feel a bit outdated to modern readers. At first glance, most people would probably think they were clichés.
Only with the passage of time could Strange Tales truly shine.
So was it possible that Strange Tales would be buried in this world?
Didn't they say, "Half a step ahead is genius, a full step ahead is madness"?
If even being too innovative could lead to rejection, then these "outdated" stories would be even harder to accept.
But would he really let Strange Tales rot in his head?
No! Huang Yifan firmly shook his head.
Since he had come to this world, if he didn't write out the many classics from Earth, it would be the regret of a lifetime.
And besides, he knew that Strange Tales wasn't just an ordinary ghost story collection; it was a work that enlightened people and criticized social decay.
Even setting that aside, the vivid characters it created were enough to make people marvel. Ningning, Nie Xiaoqian, Ning Caichen, Yan Chixia, Liancheng, Lianxiang, Rouge… whether human, ghost, or spirit, these characters had lived in the hearts of readers for centuries.
In contrast, other supernatural stories also had ghosts and monsters, but those creatures were nothing more than scary beasts, evil, emotionless, and always destined to be destroyed by humans, like monsters in Western horror films.
A true classic stands the test of time because of its depth and charm.
So what if Reader's Digest rejected him? It wasn't the only magazine out there.
After that rejection, Huang Yifan sent Strange Tales to several other top-tier magazines in Huaguo.
Maybe the work really needed time to shine, or maybe those editors lacked vision. His submissions either received no reply or were rejected with the same criticism: clichéd plot, no originality, not scary enough.
In the end, only one magazine accepted his story.
It was called "Midnight Talk". Just from the name, it was clear that it focused on horror and supernatural fiction.
These kinds of magazines were usually very niche, with limited circulation and a small, specific reader base.
To be honest, Huang Yifan wasn't too happy about that.
For Strange Tales to become a true classic, it had to be published in a widely circulated magazine so it could reach a broad audience. Only then could its brilliance be seen. If it were buried in a tiny magazine, no matter how good the writing, it would barely make a ripple.
Still, after careful thought, Huang Yifan agreed.
Everything is hard at the beginning. This was just the first step.
Besides, publishing in a magazine didn't affect future publication rights.
That meant he could publish Strange Tales in the magazine first, and later compile and sell it as a book.
So he decided to go ahead and publish it in "Midnight Talk".
"Hello, I'm the author of Strange Tales. My pen name is Fanchen."
Since it was a traditional publishing channel, Huang Yifan used a new pen name: Fanchen.
He also added the magazine editor's TT account.
"Hello, we've read your story, it's pretty good."
The editor's ID was "Herbal Tea." He didn't know if they were male or female.
Still, editors of horror magazines were probably male; how many girls liked supernatural fiction?
"Thanks! When will it be published?"
"If nothing changes, it'll be published this Friday. As for your payment, since the story is only around 1,000 words, we pay 50 yuan per thousand words."
"Fifty yuan?"
Huang Yifan felt like banging his head against a wall.
A timeless classic like Strange Tales had only earned 50 yuan?
"Uh… fifty feels a bit low. You can't even buy a decent meal for that now."
Trying to contain his frustration, Huang Yifan asked.
"Hehe, Fanchen, is this your first submission?"
"Uh…"
Caught, Huang Yifan scratched his head awkwardly. "Yeah, it's my first time."
"No wonder! Let me explain the standard magazine payment rates in our industry. Most magazines pay by the thousand words. Reader's Digest, for example, starts at 500 yuan per thousand words. But that's Reader's Digest; others don't compare. Even the next best, 'Zhi Ke', pays 300 per thousand, and 'Youth Literature' only 200. For other first or second tier magazines, it's usually between 100 and 200 yuan per thousand.
Midnight Talk is a supernatural magazine. Based on circulation, we're way below Reader's Digest. Plus, we're niche, and even smaller than second-tier ones like 'Folk Tales'. Thankfully, our readers are loyal, so we pay 50 per thousand to new writers. Some obscure magazines only pay 20 to 30 yuan, or even per piece, not per word count; no matter how long your story is, you only get 20-30 yuan."
After hearing this explanation, Huang Yifan stopped arguing.
It was clear that "Herbal Tea" had explained all that to reassure him.
In short: yes, we're a small magazine, but we're still offering a decent rate, at least better than those that pay 20 per piece.
"Alright, I'll accept your rate."
What else could he say?
Fifty it is, it's just the beginning.
Besides, the "Biting a Ghost" story really wasn't one of Strange Tales' best. Many people hadn't even read it; just because Strange Tales was famous didn't mean every story in it was a gem.
And besides, he wasn't famous yet. Even if the story was good, it wouldn't fetch a high price.
Also, magazines had their own pricing systems. Even if your story was amazing, if the magazine only had limited circulation, your fee wouldn't be high.
But fifty yuan now could become 500, 5000, or even 50000 in the future.
Huang Yifan believed that even in a niche magazine like 'Midnight Talk', Strange Tales would shine like a brilliant star.
Someday, this magazine will be the one begging to raise its rates.
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Glossary
1 - "Strange Tales: Judge Lu" refers to the story "Lu Pan" (陸判) from Qing Dynasty writer Pu Songling's classic collection Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, where the legendary craftsman Lu Ban acts as a supernatural judge, famously swapping the heads/hearts of people, showing how the line blurs between human and spirit worlds, and offering social critique through fantastical means. It's a popular tale of metamorphosis and justice, featuring divine/demonic figures interacting with mortals in fantastical ways.
2 - "Strange Tales: Nie Xiaoqian" (聶小倩) is a fantasy story in Pu Songling's short story collection Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, and the name of its female lead character. Pu describes her appearance as "gorgeous; girl in paintings". The story has been adapted into numerous films and television dramas, becoming a beloved trope in Chinese cinema (A Chinese Ghost Story series).
3 - "Strange Tales: Abao" refers to the story "A Bao" (阿宝) from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. The tale centers on Abao, a beautiful yet elusive woman who becomes the object of a scholar's obsessive love, blurring the boundary between illusion, desire, and reality. Through a subtle mix of romance and the supernatural, the story explores themes of unattainable love, emotional projection, and the dangers of mistaking fantasy for truth. Rather than relying on overt horror, Abao stands out for its quiet melancholy and psychological depth, reflecting Pu Songling's signature use of ghostly or unreal figures to critique human obsession and emotional vulnerability.
4 - "Strange Tales: Painted Skin" refers to the story "Painted Skin" (画皮, Huà Pí) from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. The tale follows a demon that disguises itself as a beautiful woman by wearing a painted human skin, exploring themes of deception, desire, and the danger of judging by appearances, blending supernatural horror with moral and social critique.
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