A Letter from Tomato: One Year of the Desolate Era

841 words

Desolate Era was first uploaded on December 16, 2012. Before I knew it, I’ve been writing Desolate Era for a full year now, over two million words.

The Yan Mountain arc, the Black-White College arc, the Wu Jiang Immortal Estate arc, the Immortal Fortune Assembly, taking on a teacher at Mount Innerheart, the return home, the Realm of Annihilation, the Realm War, the World Prison, the Moon Underwater Abyss, the Deer Chase Major World war, the Primordial Ruins… scene after scene, I, Tomato, remember them all crystal clear. And now we’ve reached the final, decisive battle of the Three Realms.

The source of this calamity, the hand behind the scenes, the hidden characters… all of them will appear in this final battle.

Writing to this point, even I feel some nervousness. I will definitely write carefully and seriously. I will write this calamity, this final decisive battle, well. I won’t let everyone down.

Thinking back over the past year…

I think my biggest change came around July of this year.

In the first half of the year, I was still full of fighting spirit, scrambling for monthly votes. I often stayed up late. I remember in April or May, fighting for votes, I would stay up until four or five in the morning, sometimes even until dawn. I never really cared about staying up late. I’m young, right? Ever since I started college up until now, pulling all-nighters has been a normal thing for me.

But then, one morning in July…

I was sleeping, half-awake, when a sharp pain woke me up.

Then the pain was so bad I passed out for a little while. I woke up on my own after that, and I was terrified. I thought something was really wrong with my body. I even had to go downstairs myself to find my parents so we could go to the hospital. It turned out to be nothing too serious, just a small kidney stone.

But after that experience… a lot of my thoughts changed.

This year, my son, ‘Little Tomato,’ was just born. He is incredibly adorable. I am the pillar of my whole family now. I, Tomato, have gradually started to change.

I’ve kept my daily update count at around five thousand characters.

I post my daily updates around noon.

I still ask for monthly votes and recommendation votes, but I don’t fight tooth and nail for them anymore.

My goal isn’t particularly grand.

It’s simply this: I, Tomato, immerse myself in the world of my own novel, writing two chapters a day. I write quietly and peacefully, and as long as everyone enjoys reading it, as long as you can enter that dreamlike world of the story, I’ll be satisfied.

I will write slowly.

I’ll write for five years, ten years…

Fighting for monthly votes or recommendation votes is secondary. The writing itself is what matters most.

I really enjoy creating new worlds in my novels. As long as there are readers, as long as readers think it’s good, I will stay motivated. Haha, we all like to be praised, right?

Concerning the recent game promotion… a lot of readers have been saying I’ve been pushing games too often.

How should I put it?

I signed a contract with the game company. I was quite picky, making sure their designs matched my characters perfectly. Some of the promotion is just clearly stated in the business terms. Besides, I genuinely do like the Desolate Era mobile game myself. It’s just a mobile game, after all, and I spend about an hour on it every day. If it really weren’t any fun, I wouldn’t promote it…

I feel that writing a novel, and then seeing that novel adapted into a game, a movie or TV show, or an anime… these are things that bring a great sense of accomplishment to an author.

About the future…

Desolate Era has already entered the ‘final decisive battle’ stage that makes me hold my breath in tension. I will write the rest of it seriously.

Almost all of my energy is devoted to the novel. I’m a homebody; I really don’t have anything else that requires that much of my focus.

I will write Desolate Era seriously to the end.

I won’t push myself to the point of madness, but I will write with sincerity…

If you are satisfied with what you read, that is my success!

I really wonder, ten years from now, twenty years from now, when I am still writing other stories… how many of today’s readers will still be reading? Haha…

Alright, I’ve been rambling on about a bunch of stuff~~~ I almost forgot to say: Happy New Year to everyone!~~~

If you have some time, feel free to leave a message in the book review section, on Weibo, or on a forum, so that I, Tomato, will know that you are reading my novel…

Finally, thank you all for your support.

With all of your support, I am filled with motivation.

Hehe, Happy New Year! I’m out.~~~

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Reading Guide Decoding

Stepping Back from the Cosmic Battle: The Author's Heartfelt Anniversary Letter

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

The Author's Note as a Genre Trope: In the world of Chinese web novels, the "Author's Note" (作者的话, zuòzhě de huà) is a beloved tradition. It's not just an afterword; it's a vital communication channel. Authors use it to update readers on their health, respond to criticism, explain delays, thank supporters for gifts (like monthly votes), or simply share a slice of life. This chapter is a perfect, poignant example. It breaks the fourth wall entirely, transforming the author from a distant creator into a relatable human being with aches, responsibilities, and dreams. For Western readers new to this, think of it as a "Director's Commentary" track, but one that's released in real-time alongside the epic.

Monthly Votes (月票, Yuè Piào) and The "Vote Fight": IET talks about "fighting for monthly votes" (拼月票). This is a core mechanic of the pay-to-read web novel ecosystem. Readers who purchase a certain amount of content on the platform receive monthly tickets they can vote for their favorite novel. These votes determine rankings, which in turn hugely affect a novel's visibility and new reader acquisition. Periods of intense competition, called "Vote Fights" (月票战), often see authors writing extra chapters or staying up all night to spur their fanbase. IET's decision to step back from this "crazy fight" is a significant personal milestone, marking a shift from competitive drive to long-term sustainable artistry.

The Author's Pact with Readers: A key theme here is the unspoken social contract between a Chinese web novel author and their audience. The author provides daily entertainment; the reader provides support (votes, comments, subscriptions). IET's gratitude is deeply genuine. This chapter is a restatement of that pact: "I will write carefully and seriously for years; you enjoy it, and that is my success." It’s a relationship of mutual responsibility that sustains marathon-length epics.

Author's Note (作者的话)

A common tradition in Chinese web novels where the author writes a personal message to readers, often about writing progress, health, or personal life.

Chapter Overview

This isn’t a regular chapter – it’s a heartfelt, year-end letter from the author, I Eat Tomatoes (IET), to the Desolate Era readership. Written to commemorate the novel's first anniversary and over two million words of storytelling, the author takes a step back from the cosmic clash of the Three Realms to reflect on his personal life, health, changing priorities, and the philosophy that drives his craft. He revisits the major arcs of the past year, sets expectations for the upcoming Final War, and shares a candid account of a health scare that fundamentally changed his approach to writing and life. It’s a rare, direct moment of connection between creator and community, full of sincerity, gentle humor, and humble ambition for the long road ahead.

Key Plot Points

IET marks Desolate Era's first anniversary, having written over two million words.
He recaps major story arcs from the past year: Yan Mountain, Black-White College, Wu Jiang Immortal Estate, Immortal Fortune Assembly, Mount Innerheart, the Realm of Annihilation, the Realm War, the World Prison, the Moon Underwater Abyss, the Deer Chase Major World war, and the Primordial Ruins.
He declares that the story has now reached the final, decisive battle of the Three Realms, promising that all hidden figures and the ultimate source of the calamity will be revealed.
IET shares a personal health scare from July involving a kidney stone, which caused him to faint from pain and led to a significant shift in his lifestyle and priorities.
He contrasts his earlier, more intense approach (staying up until dawn for monthly vote competitions) with his current, more balanced routine (5,000 characters per day, posting at noon).
He expresses his new philosophy: writing joyfully and sustainably for the long term (five, ten years or more) is more important than competitive voting.
He addresses reader feedback about game promotions, explaining his contractual obligations and genuine enjoyment of the Desolate Era mobile game.
He closes with heartfelt New Year’s wishes and an open invitation for readers to leave messages, reaffirming that knowing people are reading is his greatest motivation.

Reading Guide

This is your chance to pause, take a breath, and see the human being behind the cosmic sword-strokes. Get ready for a meta-moment that is surprisingly touching. For long-time followers, it’s a warm, affirming hug from the creator. For new readers, it’s a fascinating window into the culture and pressures of web novel creation. Don't skim it for plot; read it for the feels. IET comes across as disarmingly sincere, a bit tired, but deeply in love with his craft. The story he tells about the kidney stone and subsequent life change is a powerful reminder that even the architects of immortal epics have mortal bodies. Cheers to you, Tomato, and here’s to the next million words.