Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island
Observations from Taiwanese novelist Utsudo, shared to give new writers some direction. (Articles are in Chinese.)
✦ Essays available in English ✦
- #100 What Chapter Lengths Say About the Times
- #70 A Novelist’s Survival Strategy
- #43 Advice for New Writers Who Want to Write Something Good
- #36 The Malice of the Universe — What If Your Idea Overlaps With Someone Else’s?
- #34 Where the Pen Name “Utsudo” Came From
The rest of the column is in Chinese.
Browse by topic
-
Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #154: Is a Bigger Publisher Always Better?
Is a big publisher always better? Utsudo compares fees, buyout contracts, how resources go to top authors, and why small publishers’ editors may take better care of you.
-
Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #153: A Way to Gain Fame and Earn Money—A Must for Creators
Commercial writing fees are low. Utsudo explains the industry saying “publish books for fame, print doujinshi for money,” and how building your own IP can bring both.
-
Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #152: Don’t Underestimate the Cost of Emotional Drain
Negative emotions drain us, and over time they affect body and mind. Utsudo explains where emotional exhaustion comes from for writers and how to cut what drains you.
-
Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #151: This Kind of Promotion Drives Readers Away—Yamete!
An author spammed Utsudo’s Facebook post with a long canned ad, then sent it again by DM. Why pushy self-promotion drives readers away, and what works better.
-
Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #150: Café, Library or Home—Where’s the Best Place to Work?
Where should you write—at home, in a library or a café? Utsudo compares each spot, when she switches, and how background music helps her get into her characters.
-
Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #149: Keeping the Right Distance from Fans
As her streams grew livelier, some fans crossed the line. Utsudo explains how she speaks up tactfully, why most fans stayed, and how streamers shape community culture.
Subscribe
Enter your email below to get the latest posts.
