Can you become a writer without connections?Yes. Utsudo had no publishing-related connections in real life and started from zero, submitting, negotiating, signing contracts and running her fan page on her own. Rather than “connections,” she prefers to call the editors, illustrators and partners she met along the way “benefactors” — like runners in a relay, they changed her circumstances.

Translated from Utsudo’s original Chinese column.

Starting from zero, without connections

　　Hmm, about this question.

　　You’ve really asked the wrong person!!

　　After all, in my real life,besides me, there’s no one working in any writing-related field, let alone anyone connected with publishers, newspapers or bookstores.

　　Though if you count friends, readers and editors I’ve met along the writing path, I do have some — but those are basically more like companions and kindred spirits, not quite “connections” in the usual sense.

　　Because I’ve come all the way fromzeroto where I am now.

　　With no resources and nowhere to turn for help, I pursued everything about commercial publishing bit by bit on my own — submitting, negotiating, signing contracts, running my fan page and so on.

　　On this hard and lonely road, my friends and family in real life either didn’t believe in me or couldn’t help. Honestly, I didn’t really care what they could do for me, and I understood why they weren’t optimistic.

　　After all, out of so many paths, I chose the one that looked least promising (and least profitable), spending long hours at a computer — even my side job is similar (researching and translating on a computer). People who don’t know probably think I’m a shut-in XDDD

　　Whatever the scenery along the way and however bumpy the road, I’ve made it this far driven by the determination to prove myself directly with results.

After I achieved results, the way people looked at me changed

　　I don’t know exactly when it started — maybe after publishing my first series?

　　After I achieved a few small results, the people who always gave me the cold shoulder gradually decreased. Some even became curious about my work, or wanted me to sign copies of my books.

　　Yes, they changed. But I always feel that behind their kind smiles are the cold eyes from before. To this day I can’t forget how mucha single remark, expression or look from them back then hurt me.

　　Maybe because this knot still remains, I started disliking family gatherings, and I don’t like talking about my upcoming books or creative plans in front of these people. Saying hello and smiling on the surface is fine, but I don’t want any deeper connection.

　　They probably think that as a child I was always smiling, loved to lean on and play cute with the elders, an adorable kid (so I say). But now I’ve become a cold adult, or one who thinks too highly of herself?

　　On the contrary, I feel I’m still that child — timid and sensitive, childish and playful, yet stubbornly charging blindly toward the person I want to become.

　　I’ve never thought I was all that great or accomplished (and really I’m not XDDD). I just chose what my heart longed for. My career luck is still not great, and my future is just as uncertain — after all, there are plenty of people more talented or hardworking than me.

↑Buddy, are you trying to sell me off

Rather than connections, I prefer to call them benefactors

　　Still, along the way I’ve met some friends and partners, editors and illustrators, and I’ve received support and care from editors and publishers.

　　Like a relay race, they’ve influenced my writing and changed my circumstances to some degree. Each leg may not change much, but when I look back, I find that without realizing it, I’ve become different from my past self.

　　You could call it connections, I suppose, but I still prefer to call them“benefactors”。

　　Maybe someday I’ll grow into someone who can be a benefactor to others too.

　　But I really dislike people who don’t put in effort and just want to shoot to the top in one leap or ride on connections — or those who clearly approach with an ulterior motive. It’s really unpleasant. Honestly, sucking up to me is useless, so save your energy.I only want to look after those I believe in and who have determination —“true creators,” or those who connect sincerely, lovely people who respect each other.

　　But for now I’m still a nobody, so I’d better keep my head down and keep writing XDDD

　　And let me sneak in my interview >\\w\\<

　　That’s right, this is shameless self-promotion!! Hahahaha!!!

Are you kidding me

I spent forever filming that!!

Hurry up and watch it ˋ皿ˊ

FAQ

Further reading (in Chinese)

• Previous: #53 (in Chinese)
• Next: #55 (in Chinese)
• Start from the beginning: #01 — Utsudo’s debut
• Column introduction
• Utsudo’s books

About the author

Utsudo is a Taiwanese light novelist and novelist VTuber with more than ten years in the industry and 40 commercially published print books. Her novel 《遺失的情書》 received a 2022 Ministry of Culture youth creative award. The 《嘿！聽說妳在鬼島當作家》 series records her experiences as a novelist in Taiwan.

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