🗣️ Please note: this livestream is hosted entirely in Mandarin Chinese (not English). It works best for novels written in Chinese.
📢 Want to know what’s really wrong with your novel?
Want a working novelist to critique your work in person?
Are you going through this —
🔸 Your stats online aren’t great
🔸 You write and write, but don’t know if your work is interesting
🔸 People keep saying your plot is too slow
🔸 You want to hear what a professional writer thinks of your opening and prose
It’s not that you’re not good enough — you just haven’t found the right kind of guidance yet.
🎯 [Novel critique × author conversation × exposure]
Hosted by 小說家鬱兔 in person: a 1:1 online critique of your opening!
📺 Format:
- Live on the YouTube channel 小說家鬱兔 (in Mandarin Chinese)
- The critique is streamed publicly
- You can appear anonymously or under a pen name
📘 What’s covered:
- Your opening’s setup, technique and more — advice (about 1 hour)
- Covers: plot flow, a gripping opening, narrative technique and more
- A conversation with the author (10–20 minutes) about your writing journey and creative blocks
- Viewers get to know your work, and you get the most direct feedback
📆 How to sign up:
📌 Time: arranged by email
📌 Fee: NT$3,000 per person
(Writers outside Taiwan can pay via PayPal: utsu12@gmail.com)
📝 Steps:
- Fill in the sign-up form (includes important notes)
- After payment, your booking is confirmed and scheduled
- Wait for Utsudo’s email confirming the stream and conversation times
📩 Sign-up form and details:
(Writers outside Taiwan can pay via PayPal: utsu12@gmail.com)
❓ Public Critique FAQ
What is the Paid Public Critique?
A live online critique of your opening, hosted by novelist Utsudo and streamed publicly on the YouTube channel 小說家鬱兔. Utsudo gives advice on how your opening sets up the story and on technique (about 1 hour), then talks with you for 10–20 minutes about your writing journey and creative blocks, with viewers joining in.
What does the critique cover?
Plot flow, whether the opening grabs readers, narrative technique and more. The conversation focuses on your writing journey and creative blocks, and introduces your work to viewers for direct feedback.
Is the stream public? Can I stay anonymous?
The critique stream is public, and you can appear anonymously or under a pen name.
You can also choose not to join the interview.
How much does it cost, and how do I pay?
NT$3,000 per person. Writers outside Taiwan can pay via PayPal to utsu12@gmail.com.
How do I sign up? What’s the process?
Three steps: fill in the sign-up form (with important notes); pay; then wait for Utsudo’s email confirming the stream and conversation times. The stream time is arranged together by email.
Who is this for?
Writers whose stats online aren’t great, who’ve written a lot but aren’t sure their opening is interesting, who keep hearing their plot is too slow, or who want a working novelist’s take on their opening and prose.
Who provides this critique?
Novelist Utsudo — a light novelist writing in Traditional Chinese and a novelist VTuber who streams on the YouTube channel 小說家鬱兔, with about 40 commercial print novels published, a Ministry of Culture grant and extensive crossover experience.
How long until I get manuscript feedback?
Usually within about two weeks; the exact timing can be discussed based on your manuscript’s length and your needs.
Can you review just the first few chapters?
Yes. Reviewing only the opening or selected chapters is fine — just tell us the scope when you make your request.
Will my manuscript be leaked?
No. Your manuscript is used only for this service and never shared with any third party. If the service includes a public livestream (such as a public critique or reading), the scope of what’s shown will be confirmed with you in advance.
How soon will I hear back after sending a request?
Utsudo replies within 3 days. You’re also welcome to join the Discord server and ask directly: Join Discord
How do I pay?
Clients in Taiwan pay by bank transfer. Once the details and quote are confirmed, Utsudo will send you the payment information.
How do I pay from outside Taiwan?
Clients outside Taiwan mainly pay via PayPal. Once the details and quote are confirmed, Utsudo will send you the PayPal payment information.
Can I pay in installments?
Yes. You can pay in installments through ECPay, or we can discuss another installment arrangement that works for you.
✦ What Writers Say ✦
Excerpts from comments authors left on YouTube after their live critiques (translated)
The critique was truly sincere — no empty words.
@YiSuwon.
The point-of-view problem had bothered me for so long… thank you, Utsudo, for pointing it out so directly!
Lin Yuchang, author of 《萬里雲霄路》 (@shiningchang1606)
Thank you for reading so carefully… Having my work read aloud with so many people there was a special experience. Thank you, everyone.
Yelin (@yalinhayami)
See students’ publishing and award results →
Publishers & platforms
Some of the publishers and platforms Utsudo has publicly worked with
- 三日月出版社
- 飛燕文創
- 長鴻出版社
- POPO原創
- Ministry of Culture (Taiwan)
- mojoin
- Penana
- KadoKado
- 華興娛樂
- 銘顯文化
- 斑馬線文創
- 向上出版社
- 不思議工作室
- 尖端出版（原創星球）
- 悅閱小說
- 北京風寰文化
- 人間衛視
- SoundOn
- 龍諦文學
- 九號工作室
✦ Commission Form ✦
Fill in the details below and Utsudo will reply within 3 days to discuss details and pricing. You can also ask directly on Discord. (Services are conducted in Mandarin Chinese.)
