Sam's apartment was barely bigger than a single car garage, but the rent still hovered just under a thousand dollars.
At 23 years old, he hadn't made much progress in life since dropping out of community college. Living off takeout and his mom's scolding phone calls, he'd settled into a routine of gaming and daydreaming.
He had tried job hunting. A few times, actually. Each attempt fizzled because he couldn't imagine grinding away in retail or fast food.
Then, something had landed in his inbox: a simple ad from an online community proclaiming, "Turn your passion for LitRPG into a business!"
Sam had stared at the words, not sure if it was a scam, or if it might be an opportunity.
He loved reading LitRPG. As a genre, it took the stats and progression from MMORPGs and folded them into fantasy or sci-fi novels.
He'd read a hundred of them, many for free, some behind paywalls on a platform called OnlineNovel, and a few he'd subbed to on Atreon.
That ad had stuck in his mind. Write what you love, said the tagline. Earn money from your fanbase, said the bullet points.
With rent due soon, Sam was desperate for any alternative.
Sitting at his cheap desk, Sam booted up an odd piece of software recommended in that ad. The program claimed to be a "LitRPG Writing Management Sim," modeled after real business sims like Game Developer Story but for authors.
It was brand new, a little buggy, yet Sam was willing to give it a shot. He had a battered laptop, an internet connection, and a fraction of self-belief.
That would have to do.
When the program opened, the screen greeted him with a bare-bones user interface:
《Welcome to LitWriteSim.》 《Starting Budget: $0》 《Monthly Rent Due: $950 (in 27 days)》
He typed in his name for the manager slot. A small avatar of a tired-looking man with bedhead popped up. Sam couldn't help but laugh—someone had matched his reality to a T.
He clicked through the tutorial:
《Market Research》 《Outline & Draft》 《Editing & Proofreading》 《Freemium Publishing Strategy》 《Monetization Tactics》 《Launch & Feedback》
The tutorial explained that each LitRPG "project" would function like a cycle. Sam would pick a sub-genre or style, research it, outline and write, then release the chapters on a platform.
Revenue would trickle in based on site traffic, advanced subscriptions, and feedback. The more popular the story, the higher the subscription income.
Additional chapters would keep readers interested. In theory.
He pressed "Start New Project," half-expecting everything to crash. Instead, a new window popped up:
《Project Name: [Untitled]》 《Genre: [LitRPG / ??? Subgenre]》 《Preferred Platforms: [OnlineNovel] [Atreon]》
Sam drummed his fingers. He loved those overpowered protagonists who soared past challenges. The sub-genre had been done to death, but it still sold.
On the other hand, a comedic VRMMO approach might be safer, appealing to casual readers. The software's unspoken question was: which approach might attract the biggest audience?
He needed real data. Clicking "Market Research," the interface brought up a mock feed from LitRPG forums and social media hashtags. A short summary scrolled by:
Overpowered Sword Saint stories remain popular, but competition is thick.
"Dungeon Survival Crafting" had a recent spike.
Readers are paying attention to comedic guild-based adventures.
"Reincarnation into a Game World" is trending, especially if combined with villain MC angles.
Sam frowned at the comedic guild pitch. He enjoyed jokes, but he couldn't see himself writing them well.
The reincarnation angle tempted him, though. People loved that sense of a normal individual stuck in a fantasy game scenario.
He clicked around for more details:
Top new release: Reborn as a Farmhand in Another Realm.
10,000+ subscribers on Atreon Consistent average rating of 4.7 on OnlineNovel
He read more:
Trending debates: Should LitRPG stories focus on gritty detail or lighthearted progression?
A thread argued that comedic slices overshadow real stats. Another argued that comedic characters attract more followers faster because readers want to laugh.
He scrolled back up to the top. Another bullet point glowed:
Dungeon Survival Crafting continues to hold a stable crowd. Good for slow-burn progression and long series potential.
Sam weighed his options. Overpowered "Swordsman from Earth" might get overshadowed. Another sub-genre, Reincarnation-Villain, was also strong, but it demanded a morally gray protagonist.
Perhaps a classic survival story in a massive dungeon might be safer. People subscribed to watch the hero gather materials, craft gear, and fight impossible odds.
That approach could stretch for dozens of chapters. More chapters meant more possible monthly subscribers on Atreon.
He made a decision:
Genre: LitRPG, Subgenre: Dungeon Survival Crafting.
That done, he clicked "Confirm." The UI beeped in acknowledgement. The words "Project 1: Dungeon Diver" appeared at the top of the screen.
He typed in a provisional title: Dungeon Diver: One Hammer Against the Abyss. It sounded dramatic enough.
OUTLINE & DRAFT
The software opened a text box. Sam quickly learned it wasn't a full writing tool. Instead, it helped him structure his chapters.
The UI displayed an outline template:
Protagonist Introduction (RL scenario, how they ended up in the dungeon) First Danger Encounter + Basic Crafting Discovery Possible Party Members or Allies Introduction of Magic System & Stats Minor Boss + Character Growth Cliffhanger for Next Chapter
Below the template, an item read: "Freemium Release Format: 10 chapters free on OnlineNovel, then monetize advanced chapters on Atreon."
The simulation recommended building hype with a free chunk of chapters, hooking readers, then charging for each new batch. Standard practice in modern web publishing.
Sam nodded. The software displayed a real-time word count goal. It suggested around 2,000 words per chapter for a new author.
Ten chapters at 2k each would total 20,000 words—enough to catch serious fans. More than that, and he might burn out. Less, and readers might not feel invested.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
He cracked his knuckles. This part was on him, no fancy UI shortcuts. Writing needed real effort.
He set up a simple outline:
Chapter 1: MC is an ex-gamer from Earth, forcibly thrown into a labyrinth. Gains a "Forge & Spell" system, can craft basic items from dungeon scraps.
Chapter 2: Danger from lesser monsters, comedic notes as MC tries forging a sword that ends up a bent hunk of metal.
…
Chapter 10: MC faces first mini-boss, the "Slime King," using newly perfected forging technique. Leaves readers with a big question: does he survive or not?
He liked the blueprint, enough to start drafting. Checking the clock, Sam realized the day was half gone. Real life. He had to keep going.
No one else would bail him out of rent.
By the time Sam wrote the first 1,000 words, his eyes were tired. The software's timer showed two hours spent, with a recommended break.
He pressed "Save," feeling a small sense of progress. He also felt anxiety. Could any of this lead to real money?
He pictured himself flipping burgers if it all flopped. That vision alone drove him to keep typing.
EDITING & PROOFREADING
As Sam developed the text for the first few chapters, the software prompted him about editing. He had no funds to pay a professional.
The free version of an online grammar checker would have to do. The built-in tracker flagged repeated words and found basic punctuation errors, but Sam noticed it missing plenty of nuance.
A notification popped up:
《Editing Tier: None》 《Projected Quality: C+》
"Readers might overlook minor mistakes if the story is compelling, but you risk negative reviews. Invest in editing if you have the means."
He shook his head. No means. The only investment he could afford was time.
So he combed through the chapters himself, line by line. It was tedious, but each round caught an extra dozen mistakes.
By midnight, he had hammered out four chapters, roughly 8,000 words. Not the best, but better than blank pages.
A glance at his phone told him he had 26 days until rent was due. The pressure felt real.
He reminded himself that once the story was up, maybe he'd draw enough paying subscribers to cover basic expenses.
If not… well, he didn't want to think about it.
FREEMIUM PUBLISHING STRATEGY
Next morning, Sam woke to a glimmer of ambition. Maybe this plan could work if he used the standard approach.
He hopped into the software again:
《Freemium Strategy:》
OnlineNovel: Post 10 free chapters to attract a base.
Atreon: Lock future chapters behind a monthly subscription. Possibly add a higher tier that grants early access or extra content.
Promotion: Social media blasts, maybe contact small LitRPG communities, offer chapter previews.
He had seen how other authors did it. Release free chunks, build a following, then funnel the most eager readers to a subscription platform for advanced chapters.
Some authors raked in thousands per month from dedicated fans. He wasn't expecting miracles, but a few hundred might be enough to survive.
The UI displayed an empty marketing plan. Sam typed in a short list:
Schedule 10 chapters on OnlineNovel, 1 chapter daily for 10 days.
Announce new chapters on Twitter and a small LitRPG subreddit.
Open Atreon page after chapter 10.
Offer 2 advanced chapters for $5/month tier, 5 advanced chapters for $10/month tier.
He scrolled through potential pitfalls:
If the story is sloppy, readers lose interest.
If you can't post consistently, you lose momentum.
If a bigger name author appears with a similar premise, your story might get overshadowed.
A wave of worry hit him. There was no guarantee of success. He had never tried writing systematically before.
The best he could do was put genuine passion (and many hours) into this project.
MONETIZATION TACTICS
That day, Sam wrote two more chapters, now totaling six. Each introduced fresh hazards in the labyrinth.
The comedic element was subtle but present, mostly revolving around the protagonist's clumsy forging attempts.
Sam found a rhythm: the protagonist overcame each obstacle with half-luck, half-ingenuity, which made for decent tension.
He peppered in stat screens and item descriptions to scratch the LitRPG itch for readers who wanted specific details.
By early evening, he hammered out a marketing draft for the Atreon tiers. The software's "Monetization Tactics" section recommended tiered approaches:
《$2 Support Tier: "Thank you" with public shoutouts.》
《$5 Standard Tier: 2 chapters ahead, plus some behind-the-scenes posts.》
《$10 Premium Tier: 5 chapters ahead, plus the chance to vote on story direction.》
He typed up a short pitch for potential subscribers:
"Support the creation of Dungeon Diver: One Hammer Against the Abyss. Get early chapters, exclusive polls, and a direct line to shape our forging hero's path!"
Would anyone sign up? Hard to say, but at least he had a plan.
At that point, he realized how hungry he was. He rummaged in the fridge for leftover chicken, ignoring the mild guilt that his mom had paid for some of these groceries.
He promised himself that once the story took off—even modestly—he'd repay her.
LAUNCH & FEEDBACK (ALMOST)
With six chapters drafted, Sam needed four more to meet his 10-chapter free release plan. By day's end, he had pushed himself to complete chapter seven.
He was exhausted. Writing this much in such a short window was new territory for him.
A glance at the program's built-in schedule reminded him, "Remaining days until rent: 25."
Not a lot of time to pull off a miracle. Yet there was no turning back.
He paused to reflect on the storyline. The main character, Owen, had discovered a weird forging interface that combined magic runes with metal scraps to form crude yet effective weapons.
The dungeon was layered, each floor more dangerous. Sam introduced a comedic sidekick—a living anvil that gave sassy commentary.
He worried if that was too silly. Then again, comedic elements sold if done well. He'd find out soon enough.
The next day, after a marathon session, chapters eight, nine, and ten emerged. They were rough, but they existed.
He skimmed them for glaring grammar disasters and shoved them through the free grammar checker.
That brought them to something approaching readability.
《Chapter Summary:》
《Chapter 8: Owen crafts his first decent sword, "Rusted Emberblade," fusing a small fire rune into scrap metal.》
《Chapter 9: He encounters a party of NPC adventurers. They see his forging method and scoff, setting up rivalry.》
《Chapter 10: He battles the "Slime King" in a climactic showdown. The final line ends with Owen pinned under acidic ooze, sword at the brink of destruction.》
Perfect for a cliffhanger. Sam sighed at his screen, both relieved and terrified. If readers liked it, they'd rush to the next chapters.
If they hated it, he'd hear about it quickly.
The software beeped a small congratulatory message:
"Congratulations! You have completed 10 chapters. Would you like to publish on OnlineNovel now?"
Sam wasn't done with the final read-through, though. He told it, "Not yet," and spent a few hours cleaning up stray typos.
The living anvil's dialogue needed a little more personality. He also added some smaller comedic touches to keep the tone consistent.
By midnight, he was satisfied enough. Tired but not fully hopeless.
He double-checked the text. Yes, it was time.
The Final Step: Publish
Sam hovered over the button that read, "Publish to OnlineNovel (Freemium 10 chapters)."
He closed his eyes briefly, imagining success. That single action would put his story in front of readers.
Maybe he'd only get a dozen views. Maybe more. He had to try.
A moment's hesitation. He recalled the many times he gave up on half-finished projects.
This was different. He actually had something complete. Ten chapters, a plan, and a real need for money.
He could keep going, keep writing, keep building out Owen's saga. He just had to post it.
He clicked the button.
The software displayed a short progress bar as it integrated with OnlineNovel's publishing API.
In real-time, it uploaded each chapter to Sam's brand-new author profile, slapping them into the queue for public release.
After a few seconds, a message:
"Success! Your first 10 chapters of Dungeon Diver: One Hammer Against the Abyss are live on OnlineNovel!"
Sam exhaled. That was it. Chapter one was out. Or rather, the first big batch.
He checked the OnlineNovel page. Sure enough, there it was, complete with a placeholder cover image that he'd whipped up—just some random dungeon background with text overlay.
It was a bit cheesy, but it'd have to do until he found a real artist or earned enough to commission one.
Next step, the software said: "Set up your Atreon link."
Sam navigated to Atreon's website and typed in the story details, added the tiers, set up a basic landing page.
Then he posted the link at the bottom of each free chapter so that readers who hit the end might see:
"Like what you're reading? Get advanced chapters and behind-the-scenes content at my Atreon!"
He was now, technically, a LitRPG author. Maybe not with a big publisher, but in the realm of web fiction, that was normal.
He stared at the
screen, anxiety and excitement tangling up inside him.
No confetti. No immediate revenue. Just a blinking update that read:
《Views: 0》 《Followers: 0》
《Atreon Subscribers: 0》
He swallowed. There was nowhere to go but up.
A bit later, the UI chimed in:
Chapter 1 (of 10) is now live for readers. Would you like to schedule daily releases for the remaining chapters?
Sam decided yes. Dripping them out daily might keep interest longer.
So chapter 1 was out right now, and chapters 2-10 would go up one per day. He confirmed.
That gave him some breathing room to start writing chapter 11 and beyond.
If anyone found his story tonight, they'd have one free chapter to read, with more each day. The plan was set.
He eyed the clock. Nearly 2 AM. The day had ended in a blur, but he felt more alive than he had in months.
He closed the laptop and let himself crash onto the couch. No turning back now.
He had 10 chapters on the table, a living anvil sidekick, and a big old slime boss waiting to see if readers would love or hate the final standoff.
This was his first real step toward paying next month's rent—fingers crossed. If the initial traction on OnlineNovel was decent, maybe the advanced chapters on Atreon would bring in a trickle of income.
The real test would happen over the next few days, as the daily chapters went live and readers either took the bait or scrolled past.
Sam rubbed his eyes. Tomorrow, he'd log in again, check the stats, and do some promotion on social media.
For now, he'd done enough.
Dungeon Diver was out in the wild, its fate in the hands of the community. Sam wondered if it might be the start of a real career.
He was no longer just a NEET with an empty schedule. He was a NEET with a project.
That had to count for something.