Chapter 125: Editorial Department Meeting
After confirming a few matters, Yuta headed home for dinner, leaving everything else in Sonoko's capable hands.
For a typical newcomer, this kind of delegation might lead to trouble, but Yuta was no ordinary rookie.
With two bestselling works and one with immense potential under his belt, he was a prodigy-level author.
As long as the publishing house aimed to continue profiting from Yuta's works, they wouldn't dare make any foolish decisions.
The editor-in-chief, seated at the head of the conference table, cast a solemn glance around at the other editors before breaking the silence.
"Everyone, what stance should we take toward August-sensei's new work this time?"
Sonoko remained silent.
This matter wasn't as straightforward as it seemed on the surface.
The other editors were quiet for a moment until one finally broke the silence.
"August-sensei's March Comes in Like a Lion is undoubtedly a rare masterpiece. I acknowledge that this work is likely to achieve remarkable results. Beyond being inspirational and passionate, it also carries a delicate art style and warm, everyday life themes, typical of female authors. The story structure and character design maintain August-sensei's signature appeal, with each character having distinctive traits."
The rest of the editors listened attentively. They knew the comments were truthful, but they weren't what the group wanted to hear.
"However… March Comes in Like a Lion doesn't align with our publishing house's usual style. It's not just a matter of manga versus novels; the art style is also quite niche. It doesn't fit our brand's direction at all. If March Comes in Like a Lion were to conclude, it could have a negative impact on our manga division."
The company wasn't originally a manga publisher.
Manga was merely a side project to cater to nostalgic fans.
If a single masterpiece emerged from a pile of mediocrity, it would only highlight the contrast and amplify the perception that the rest of the manga offerings were subpar.
"Moreover, this year we've already added two of August-sensei's works to the animation schedule. I believe our main focus should remain on those two works since they align better with the preferences of our core readership. In contrast, March Comes in Like a Lion differs significantly from the rest of our catalog. Its style is unlike anything else we publish."
Every year, the company selected standout works to adapt into anime to enhance their brand's influence.
Given the limited creative output of any author, new works were typically released only every couple of years.
Yuta's emergence shattered this norm. His astonishingly rapid output, akin to a printing press, left others in awe.
While many assumed that his two successful works were the result of meticulous preparation and pent-up creativity, the performance and potential of these works undeniably made them worthy of animation adaptations.
Unlike ordinary works that needed aggressive promotion, Yuta's creations attracted production teams on their own, inquiring about potential adaptations.
This was the stark difference between exceptional works and the rest.
With two highly discussed works setting the stage, March Comes in Like a Lion only needed to avoid disastrous sales to secure interest from animation companies and teams.
The prospect of three works from the same author being adapted into anime within a year was groundbreaking, creating an unprecedented benchmark in the industry.
"August-sensei has now become one of the most popular authors among our library's forty-plus serialized writers," someone remarked during the meeting. "What he lacks isn't talent or ability but time. Once the potential of his two works is fully realized, he can undoubtedly join the ranks of top-tier authors."
Two consecutive bestselling novels could indeed catapult a newcomer into the upper echelon of authors, and the team agreed on this.
However, the real challenge was managing the impact of having such a phenomenon in their midst.
"Perhaps the situation isn't as complicated as it seems," another editor offered. "August-sensei clearly isn't someone confined to a single writing style. His three works each have distinct styles, which allows us to attract readers with different tastes, indirectly boosting the overall popularity of our library's offerings."
The editor-in-chief glanced at the speaker before addressing the team. "Have we compiled this month's total sales figures yet?"
"Yes, we have. The top-selling work is August-sensei's KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! with 80,000 copies sold. Only two other works surpassed 10,000, while most hover around 3,000. Notably, three titles sold fewer than 100 copies."
The editors weren't surprised by the numbers.
The reason KonoSuba sold less this month compared to its debut month was largely due to the limited initial print run.
Many readers who couldn't find the volumes had to resort to asking others for summaries or spoilers, a consequence of underestimating the work's demand.
Had they foreseen its popularity, they wouldn't have printed the subsequent volumes in such limited quantities, thus avoiding stockouts and unmet demand.
If the company had adopted a monthly release schedule, many of these issues could have been avoided.
With the company's resources, it's relatively easy to funnel support toward certain authors to boost their popularity. However, the current problem is that only one or two authors are capable of producing truly impactful works.
At this point, Yuta barely needs much assistance from the company. Both of his works are the kind that generate excellent word-of-mouth. Such works naturally build a loyal and dedicated reader base over time.
In other words, as long as an author can produce outstanding works, readers are willing to step outside their comfort zones and try something new, even if it isn't their usual style.
Currently, however, the other authors in the library are far from reaching Yuta's level of boldness and skill. Most lack a devoted fan base, and readers are unlikely to invest in works from less mature authors. Readers are notoriously discerning, as evidenced by the harsh criticism frequently seen on various online platforms.
The editor-in-chief hoped for a library where all authors' works could flourish, attracting a diverse readership, rather than a situation where one author alone carried the reputation of the entire company.
His gaze swept around the room and finally rested on Sonoko Machida.
"Editor Machida, has Kasumi Utako-sensei's new work been prepared yet?"
The editor-in-chief was determined to present more outstanding works to avoid giving readers the mistaken impression that only one author in the library was worth their attention.
Sonoko nodded. "It's currently in preparation."
"This is your responsibility," the editor-in-chief continued. "Also, you need to keep working with August-sensei. Drawing manga isn't the best use of someone with such talent. As long as August-sensei is willing to keep creating, our library will do everything possible to promote their new works."
The editor-in-chief had given Sonoko her tasks. The relationship between editors and authors was a unique one—especially for authors who struggled with communication. Often, the bond with their editor was stronger than their connection to the company itself.
"If possible, please encourage August-sensei to create a longer piece of work!" he added.
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