In a recent interview with Springxi, Fengxian, a renowned Chinese writer, revealed his dedication and passion for writing, having spent 7 years crafting over 15 million characters. His latest work, Gao Wu Ji Yuan (The Age of High Martial Arts), has already exceeded 1.7 million words and is gaining popularity among readers.
Fengxian explained that writing is a journey and a world of its own. A book is a journey, a world, he said. Gao Wu Ji Yuan is his first urban fantasy novel, following his successful Three-Volume Fantasy Trilogy of Han Tian Di, Hong Zhu, and Yuan Tian Zun. The novel depicts a world where technology and martial arts coexist, with a focus on a young student named Li Yuan who grows and evolves into a martial arts master.
Fengxian’s transition from ancient fantasy to urban fantasy was a strategic decision. The first three books, although categorized under ‘Xianxia’ (仙侠, or martial arts and fantasy), were essentially large-scale fantasy stories with ancient backgrounds. I felt a bit exhausted and confused, and if I continued with another similar book, it might be of better quality, but I probably couldn’t break through the bottleneck. So, for my next book, I wanted to try a different category, urban fantasy!
The idea for Gao Wu Ji Yuan originated eight years ago in 2016. Fengxian has been honing his skills over the past 1.7 million words, and he now has more confidence and a clearer vision for his work.
The novel has received positive feedback from readers, who praised its engaging plot and relatable characters. The protagonist is calm, determined, and intelligent. The story is fast-paced, with great tension, one reader commented.
Fengxian’s writing style is characterized by its simplicity and clarity. The core of webnovels is not to pile up vocabulary or show off writing skills. Instead, I aim to convey the story with the simplest words, so that readers can understand without a second thought, he explained.
In terms of adapting his works into IPs, Fengxian believes that it’s a goal for every writer but also acknowledges the limitations of genre. Of course, I hope to have the opportunity to adapt my works, but I won’t刻意 pursue it. The foundation of my writing is always to create a novel that everyone enjoys. Once there are enough readers, the work naturally has a greater chance of being adapted.
When asked about his advice for new writers, Fengxian emphasized the importance of persistence, reading, writing, and thinking. Learn to summarize and analyze, think from the reader’s perspective, and repeat this process in your writing. This is the only way to improve your skills, he said.
Fengxian’s dedication and passion for writing have earned him a loyal fan base, and his unique writing style and engaging stories have set him apart in the competitive world of Chinese webnovels.
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