Sam's laptop screen glowed in the dim corner of his apartment, revealing an unfinished outline for "Nightmare Tower."
He ran a tired hand over his face. Four days had passed since he scrapped his old comedic project, and he was on a desperate timetable to pull together enough chapters for a new release.
No more silly illusions or comedic sidekicks that prompted readers to label his work as "fantasy lite." This time, the stakes were real—at least within his story.
He had just finished drafting Chapter 5 of "Nightmare Tower," a grim scenario featuring lethal floors, mysterious curses, and terrifying consequences for failure. He made sure to highlight the physical agony the main character felt after every injury, hoping readers would sense genuine peril.
With rent looming, he couldn't indulge in second-guessing. He needed a story that appealed to the high-stakes crowd.
His phone buzzed on the desk. Mom again, no doubt. He let it ring.
He didn't want another lecture about grocery money or job applications. Instead, he checked the time on his laptop: 10:47 a.m. Today's goal was to finish at least three more chapters, polish them lightly, and set up a new listing on NovelOnline.
The new approach had to win hearts quickly, or he'd be left with no way to pay the bills.
He opened the "LitWriteSim" software, which had a red banner at the top indicating his old project was fully deleted. A small line of text read, "No published works found."
That stung. Right below, in fresh letters: "Nightmare Tower (Draft: 5 chapters completed)."
He clicked on it. A short summary window displayed potential tags: "Dark survival," "Real death," "Punishing floors." No comedic mention anywhere.
He pressed "Market Research," curious to see if things had changed in the last few days. A condensed feed from social media and forums popped up:
Readers Crave Grit: Demand remains high for stories featuring physical damage and no second chances.
Diminishing Tolerance for Fantasy Themes: Multiple forum threads scorn anything that feels like artificial stakes.
Potential Overlap with Horror Fans: Some readers enjoy being frightened, especially if the protagonist is stuck in a life-or-death climb.
There was also a small note about "Dungeon Survival Crafting" continuing to hold moderate popularity. Sam cringed at the phrase, recalling how he had tried that comedic metal-shaping angle with a chatty anvil, only to be labeled as fantasy fluff.
He was certain he'd picked the right pivot this time. Horror plus genuine danger.
At the bottom of the research window, a cautionary note popped up: "Too much unrelenting gloom may drive away casual readers."
Sam smirked. He'd worry about that later. Right now, gloom was exactly what the market wanted—or so he hoped.
He clicked "Create Listing" for "Nightmare Tower." The software guided him through a new form for NovelOnline:
Title: Nightmare Tower Genre: Dark Fantasy (Dark Survival)
Tags: Horror elements, physical stakes, ruthless progression Release Strategy: Freemium first 10 chapters, daily release schedule
Below that, a separate box for Atreon integration asked for subscription tiers. Sam typed in the same approach as before:
$2 Support: Shoutouts at the end of chapters $5 Standard: 2 chapters ahead, plus some discussion posts
$10 Premium: 5 chapters ahead and a monthly poll to influence future directions
He lingered on that final detail. Was it wise to let readers vote on plot points?
He'd seen it done in other stories, but it could shift his carefully planned narrative. Then again, it might keep them subscribed. With rent breathing down his neck, he decided to add it.
He saved the draft listing. Next step: finishing enough chapters to fill the release queue.
He had five. If he wanted a 10-chapter free launch, he needed five more. That was close to 10,000 more words, not including any revision.
Sam inhaled, chest tight. He had maybe a week before rent was due.
He set the program aside and got back to writing, diving into the protagonist Tristan's climb up the tower.
The next few chapters introduced twisted puzzles, horrific undead guardians, and a subtle leveling mechanic. Sam tried to emphasize every bruise, every drop of blood, ensuring readers felt the threat at all times.
By mid-afternoon, he forced himself to stop and do a preliminary check. The text was raw, but at least it existed.
He needed a break, so he opened a new tab to check the fantasy subreddit for any updates about real-death scenarios or recent releases.
A sticky post at the top read: "Tired of low-stakes fantasy worlds? Check these recommendations."
Sam scanned the list, hoping to see if a survival tower story was among them. There were plenty of illusions. Maybe he could stand out if he posted.
Another thread complained: "Authors keep labeling fantasy as life-or-death, but then let their MCs escape unscathed. Lame!"
Sam nodded emphatically. That was precisely the sentiment that had ruined "Dungeon Diver." At least he wouldn't fall into that category again.
He had a momentary jolt of adrenaline, thinking he was finally on the right track, but a small voice in his mind reminded him that writing a gritty concept didn't guarantee success. People might still find something else to criticize.
But he couldn't let that paralyze him.
It took him until midnight to hammer out a first pass of Chapter 6, then a partial draft of Chapter 7. Exhaustion blurred his vision, but he shoved on.
As the words piled up, he quietly prayed that no one would see it as illusion. Every time he typed "magical runes", he clarified that these were imposed on the protagonist's mind, not a machine interface. He triple-checked the language to avoid anything that sounded like an artificial environment.
At last, he collapsed on his couch, deciding he'd tackle the rest in the morning. Tomorrow, he'd finalize 7 and start 8, 9, 10.
If he could get them done and do a quick self-edit, he might schedule a launch in four or five days, leaving just enough time for a bit of marketing and hopefully some immediate Atreon pledges.
The pressure made his heart race, but he had no other option.
He woke late. The sun was high, and the room was stuffy. He rummaged for leftover noodles and forced them down.
A single glance at his phone showed a missed call from his mom. He grimaced. No point in calling her back if he didn't have good news.
Determined, he plugged away at the remaining chapters. By the time he'd typed the last lines of Chapter 10 that evening, he felt half-dead.
Still, the relief was real. A complete block of 10 chapters existed, each around 2,000 words, which matched the recommended chunk for a new web novel.
He gave them a quick run-through with an online grammar checker. It didn't catch everything, but it was better than nothing.
He opened LitWriteSim's "Project 2: Nightmare Tower" overview. A button blinked: "Upload Chapters to NovelOnline?"
Sam clicked. The software asked him to confirm the number of chapters and schedule. He typed in:
Day 1: Chapter 1 Day 2: Chapter 2 … Day 10: Chapter 10
He could have uploaded all at once, but a daily release was standard for web fiction. That encouraged returning visitors and possibly more hype.
After a moment's hesitation, he hit "Confirm." A small bar progressed across the screen.
"Chapters Uploaded Successfully."
He exhaled. There. A brand-new story was about to appear on NovelOnline, free for the first 10 segments.
The software directed him to finalize his Atreon page, so he added the promotional text: "Nightmare Tower is a punishing climb through horrors. If you want advanced chapters or a say in the protagonist's fate, support me on Atreon!"
With the technical side done, he needed to spread the word. For "Dungeon Diver," he'd done minimal marketing. This time, he planned something more direct.
He spent another hour drafting a post for the fantasy subreddit:
"Hi, I'm Sam, and I just launched 'Nightmare Tower,' a new dark survival fantasy with zero illusions. The protagonist can truly die on each floor. No do-overs.
If you're craving a harsh, gritty experience, please check it out. First 10 chapters will be daily, free on NovelOnline. Atreon link for advanced chapters. Feedback is appreciated!"
He reread the post, making sure it was short, direct, and hammered home the real-death premise. Then he hit submit, crossing his fingers that the sub's crowd wouldn't tear him apart.
Market Reaction: Day 1
Chapter 1 of "Nightmare Tower" went live. Sam tried not to hover on the dashboard every second, but he refreshed more often than he'd admit.
The first hour was painfully quiet. Then a trickle of traffic. By lunchtime, the stats read:
Stolen novel; please report.
《Unique Views (Chapter 1): 42》 《Likes: 3》 《Comments: 2》 《Atreon Subscribers: 0》
He clicked the comments:
"Nice opening. Love the tone. Not sure if MC is too edgy, but it's interesting."
"Finally a tower story that might have actual stakes. Will keep reading."
He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. That was far better than the illusion fiasco. No one mentioned "fake environment" or "no tension."
He scrolled further, noticing someone on the subreddit had replied to his promotional post:
"Chapter 1 is short but sets the mood. I'm in. Let's see if the author can keep it consistent."
Sam typed a brief thanks. This was already a more positive start than the forging attempt.
Day 2 arrived, and Chapter 2 went live automatically. By noon, the numbers inched higher:
《Unique Views (Chapter 2): 53》 《Likes: 5》 《Comments: 3》 《Atreon Subscribers: 1》
Sam almost jumped in his seat when he saw that "1." Some kind soul had pledged. It was a $5 standard tier, apparently.
He scrolled around trying to see who it might be, but the platform only showed a username: "ShadowReader." They left a short message: "Looking forward to advanced chapters."
He only had Chapter 11 and 12 half-written, though. Still, that was enough to show as early access. Maybe he'd finalize them tonight to keep this new subscriber around.
This was his first real money from writing, which was a tiny but vital sign of hope.
Market Reaction: Day 3
Chapter 3 posted in the morning. Sam woke up early to check the numbers. The audience was small, but it seemed to be growing.
The general sentiment on the forums was that "Nightmare Tower" had potential. Some found it too gory, others loved the bleak atmosphere. At least no one was calling it fantasy fluff.
Then, at around midday, Sam saw something that made his heart skip: 《Atreon Subscribers: 2》. Another person had joined the $5 tier.
He was so happy he snapped a screenshot. With two subscribers, that was $10 a month, minus a small cut from the platform. Hardly enough for rent, but it felt like proof that people were willing to support him.
He hurried to push out advanced chapters. He had hammered out Chapter 11 the previous night, still messy.
He took an hour to patch up glaring mistakes, then posted it in a special Atreon-only feed. The two subscribers would see it immediately.
Sam penned a short note: "Thanks for subscribing! Let me know your thoughts."
He sat back, imagining how incredible it would be if that number climbed to 20 or 30. That might cover groceries, or at least part of them.
If he could keep a consistent release schedule, maybe the momentum would build, especially once all 10 free chapters were up.
But around 4 p.m., he got a ping from Atreon: "Subscriber canceled." He stared at the notification. Which one had left?
It turned out to be the brand-new second subscriber. The reason was a single line: "Low volume of advanced chapters."
Sam felt like he'd been punched. That person must have noticed that only one advanced chapter was posted, realized it might be a slow trickle, and decided it wasn't worth the fee.
He tried not to take it personally, but he couldn't help feeling crushed.
A half hour later, another ping arrived: "Subscriber canceled." Now the original subscriber was gone too. This time, the reason read: "Not enough backlog to justify monthly cost."
Both were gone. Sam's Atreon count was back to zero. He stared blankly at the screen, frustration building.
He'd tried to push out content quickly, but apparently not quickly enough. People expected more than one or two chapters in the backlog if they were paying.
He jumped into the LitWriteSim interface, flipping through suggestions. A pop-up read: "Rapid advanced releases recommended for early subscribers."
Thanks, but that was easier said than done. He was only one person with limited time, working with minimal editing.
He scrolled the NovelOnline stats in a daze. The chapters were still pulling modest daily views, likes, and a few positive comments. Yet the Atreon side looked grim.
He felt a mounting worry: if he couldn't keep a robust backlog, maybe no one would bother paying.
He needed a solution. Write even faster? He was already drafting into the late hours. Or maybe he could lower the $5 tier to $3, or remove tiers altogether.
But that might reduce potential income once he had enough chapters. Another idea: hold off on launching advanced chapters until he had a big stockpile. Yet if he delayed too long, new subscribers might lose patience.
He closed his eyes, rubbing his temples. The path seemed narrower by the minute.
The positive: his story was doing okay, with no illusion-hate in sight. The negative: people wanted immediate content if they were going to pay. If he couldn't deliver, they'd vanish.
That evening, Sam scoured successful Atreon authors' pages. Many had large buffers of 20 or more chapters, updated regularly.
Some posted daily or every other day for advanced readers, ensuring they always had something new. Sam had only started "Nightmare Tower" after scrapping the forging idea. He was writing nearly as fast as he could, but competing with authors who'd been at it for months or years.
He fiddled with his tiers, adding a disclaimer: "Please note: This is a new project, and the advanced backlog is currently small. I plan to expand it as fast as possible. Thank you for understanding."
He doubted that would help much, but maybe it would keep future subscribers from feeling blindsided.
With an annoyed grunt, he opened Chapter 12, determined to finish it tonight. The phone said 7:15 p.m. He typed until midnight, shaping words as if his life depended on it.
The next day, he'd hopefully post Chapter 12 for advanced readers if any new subscriber popped up.
Day 4 of the launch, Chapter 4 went public. The main page of "Nightmare Tower" displayed slightly better stats:
《Unique Views (Chapter 4): 61》 《Likes: 7》 《Comments: 5》
There was no sign of new Atreon supporters, though. In the comments on Chapter 4, a reader wrote, "This is intense! Perfect for fans of darker fantasy. Bummer there's not a big backlog on Atreon, or I'd sub."
Another said, "I might join the advanced tier if the author picks up the pace."
Sam tensed up at that. They were basically telling him to write faster or risk losing them. He chewed on his lip, acknowledging that daily free chapters left little time to build a big buffer.
But if he slowed down the free schedule, he might lose that initial wave of goodwill. Stuck between demands, he typed a quick reply: "Thank you for reading! I'm working on more advanced chapters—hope to have them ready soon."
He noticed a small detail: just replying to readers promptly sometimes helped build loyalty. Maybe a handful of folks would wait patiently. He had to keep going.
Late that night, as he compiled a new draft for Chapter 13, the exhaustion nearly overwhelmed him. His mind drifted to thoughts of the forging story he'd tossed out.
He recalled how happy he'd been writing comedic scenes, even if they were silly. Now, he was churning out gloom and gore. The market wanted grit, so that's what he delivered, but it took a mental toll.
Maybe it was worth it if it paid the rent.
He paused, glancing at the leftover dinner container on his desk. The phone vibrated with a text from his mom: "Call me!"
He set it aside. He needed to focus. After this, he
'd handle real life.
He typed until well past midnight, forging a bleak atmosphere for Tristan's next ordeal in the tower. He described creeping shadows, monstrous guardians, and the rising fear of each floor.
He refused any comedic relief that might cheapen the stakes. This would not be labeled fantasy.
By Day 5, Chapter 5 was live on NovelOnline, pulling in around 70 new views. The daily audience was small but stable.
Comments were mostly positive, praising the tension, though some hinted the story was too grim. No new Atreon sign-ups. Sam let out a shaky exhale when he checked. He reminded himself that building an audience took time.
He tried a mini marketing push on social media, linking to "Nightmare Tower." He even posted a short excerpt on Twitter, describing Tristan's panic in a hallway full of cursed statues.
A few likes trickled in. Nothing huge.
Later that day, he fired up the software's analytics. The "Market Sentiment" page had a summary:
Nightmare Tower is recognized as a genuine survival piece, winning over some fans who disliked comedic fantasy.
The story is new, with limited advanced chapters on Atreon, leading to canceled subscriptions or hesitation from potential supporters.
Growth is moderate, possibly stable, but not explosive.
He frowned at that last line, feeling an uneasy knot in his stomach. He needed more than moderate growth to handle rent. He had about a week left.
Realistically, there was no chance of earning $950 from a handful of fans in that short window, but maybe he could gather enough that his mom would see it wasn't a total waste.
Night fell. Sam forced himself to keep writing advanced chapters. If he could get 5 or 6 chapters ahead, maybe a few readers would bite again.
He also drafted a message for the small group of commenters: "I'm working overtime to expand the advanced backlog—thanks for your patience!"
While the blank pages filled up with moody descriptions of dark corridors, Sam's phone pinged. He glanced at it absently, expecting a text. Instead, it was an email from NovelOnline:
Greetings, Sam.
We noticed your consistent updates and want to feature "Nightmare Tower" in our 'New Gritty Fantasy' category for one day. This could bring more visibility. Let us know if you're interested.
Sam nearly fell off his chair. A short feature could significantly raise his story's profile. He typed a quick reply, stating he was absolutely interested.
The email said they'd slot him in a few days from now, pending final schedule.
His heart pounded. If the feature happened, more readers would see his story at once. That might lead to a small surge—maybe enough to secure a few paying fans.
He swallowed, realizing the flipside: the story would be under more scrutiny. If people disliked the gloom or found flaws, they'd bury him in negative ratings. But there was no going back.
He turned his focus back to the Atreon feed, determined to have a decent backlog by the time that one-day feature rolled around.
He hammered out paragraphs describing the next set of traps in the tower. Each floor had distinct nightmares, forcing Tristan to adapt with newly unlocked abilities.
Sam stayed mindful of showing real wounds, real suffering. No illusions.
By the end of Day 5, Sam had cranked out four new advanced chapters, though they were rough. He posted them anyway, labeling each as "Early draft—subject to revision."
He hoped that if anyone subscribed now, they'd feel they were getting special access.
He checked the subscriber count one last time before bed: still zero. The two who'd joined and canceled never returned. A quiet emptiness settled around him.
He reminded himself that building an audience took more than a few days. Maybe the upcoming feature on NovelOnline would turn the tide.
He closed his eyes on the couch, mind swimming with thoughts of lethal floors and relentless deadlines. At least no one was accusing him of writing fantasy fluff.
Morning arrived. He dragged himself up, ignoring the ache in his back. The rent countdown had about seven days left. He was far from any stable income.
He sighed, starting his daily check of stats. Chapter 6 had just gone live. The numbers had a slight uptick—80 views, 9 likes, 7 comments so far. That was a small but measurable climb.
The top comment read, "This tower premise is tense! Keep it coming, author."
He typed a polite reply, promising more horrors to come. Then he let out a breath of relief. Despite the canceled Atreon subs, the free readership was enjoying the story.
This path might eventually pay off, though maybe not in time for this month's rent.
He paused, thinking about possible short-term jobs. Could he do part-time deliveries to cover the gap? He felt a stab of dread. The idea was humiliating to him, but he might not have a choice.
If "Nightmare Tower" didn't bring in enough money soon, he'd be forced to pivot again—this time to real-world labor.
Yet as he stared at the chapter comments praising his shift away from fantasy illusions, he felt a small surge of resolve. At least he wasn't repeating the mistakes of the forging storyline.
The negativity that had driven him to delete it still burned in his memory. This time, no illusions. No comedic sidekick. Real anguish, real stakes, real payoff for readers.
If he kept going, maybe in a month or two, he'd build enough momentum.
He started drafting Chapter 16 that afternoon, each line fueled by a blend of desperation and faint hope. If the upcoming feature drew a decent crowd, a few might convert to paying readers.
If he could just get, say, 30 subscribers at $5 each, that would be a decent step toward living expenses next month. Maybe not enough for rent yet, but close.
He typed, typed, typed. The day blurred. Thoughts of the 2 fleeting subscribers kept him from slacking off. He refused to let them define his future.
They might have canceled, but others could come if he made the story compelling.
At midnight, he took stock: Chapter 16 finished, Chapter 17 partially started, with a monstrous new boss encounter. The dark tower storyline had grown deeper, focusing on the protagonist's psychological turmoil.
Sam wondered if it was too heavy, but the market feedback insisted that real stakes needed that sense of dread.
He flicked to his phone. Another missed call from Mom. He sighed, placing the phone on silent.
The next day would bring Chapter 7's release, more comments, maybe a subscriber if he was lucky. Then, in just a few days, the NovelOnline feature. That was his best shot at a short-term surge.
As he closed his laptop, he let out a long breath. Two canceled subscribers had stung, but at least they proved some folks were interested enough to join briefly.
If he built a bigger backlog, they might return, or others might fill their place. He had to keep writing. The specter of rent hovered over him like a guillotine, but he felt a sliver of motivation too.
He dimmed the lights, letting exhaustion wash over him. In the morning, he'd revisit his chapters for a quick polish and keep drafting ahead.
The tower had many floors, and Sam had the capacity for many more chapters. He only hoped that each day, the readers would stay and new subscribers would trickle in.
After all, it was better than the comedic fiasco he'd gone through before.
With the night silent around him, he allowed himself a fleeting moment of optimism. At least no one was screaming "fantasy nonsense!" this time. That was a start.
He told himself it would all work out if he didn't stop. One foot in front of the other, one paragraph after another, until maybe he built something that could pay the bills.