To the aspiring writers in the audience, please briefly introduce yourself.

 

I am Carlo Zen, a light novel author. I debuted in 2013, and by 2023, my career has spanned about ten years. In terms of career stage, I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. My works have been turned into manga, and I've had the opportunity to work with game and anime projects as well; I often find myself in jobs that demand the creation of stories.

 

Personally, I love eating and can't resist delicious food.

 

What are your favorite light novels? (You can mention your own works or others.)

 

I often recommend a work called "The Twelve Kingdoms" and another called "Trinity Blood." I've also enjoyed the "Kino's Journey" series (as well as the "Allison & Lillia" series). I've enjoyed reading many series written by my predecessors, like "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya," "The Familiar of Zero," "Dances with the Dragons," and "A Certain Magical Index." What do you look for in an outstanding light novel?

 

What do you look for in an outstanding light novel?

 

Structure and characters. If I had to forcefully extract just one unique element, it would be the characters.

 

What do you enjoy about reading and writing light novels?

 

Every time I read a fantastic work, I'm amazed and think, "What an idea!" As a writer, it motivates me to try it myself. To be completely honest, apart from the nice-sounding reasons, I want my works to sell and, more than anything, I crave feedback.

 

Do you have any suggestions or advice for aspiring writers participating in this contest?

 

Since I'm not familiar with the situation in America, I'll list some traditional advice aimed at Japanese writers, but I often share three things with fellow writers and aspirants:

 

1. Buy a good chair. The saying "health is essential for writing" is no lie.
2. Maintain a relationship where you can occasionally go out for drinks with respected peers. Stand on the shoulders of giants. There's no need to reinvent the wheel alone.
It's important to have friends with whom you can compete and improve. It's a blessing to have such friends.
3. Don't neglect to study why a type of content you find uninteresting is loved by others. If content you find "uninteresting" never sells, there's no need to study it. But probably, if that's not the case, you should continue your research and hone your skills.

 

For those who know these general principles and demand the secret to success, I have three commonplace, yet challenging to implement, pieces of advice:

 

1. Try to be lucky.
2. Keep writing.
3. Think beforehand about whose advice you should seriously take.

 

1, 2, and 3 overlap in parts. Continue writing to catch a lucky break, and when in doubt, don't forget "this is my story," discern whose advice to take, and find trustworthy peers while weaving your own tale.

 

If you can do these, it may not always be smooth sailing, but surely you will one day feel that deciding to walk the path of being a writer was not in error.

To the aspiring writers in the audience, please introduce yourself briefly.

 

I have been working as an editor for novels and manga at KADOKAWA for about 12 years. Some of my notable works that might be familiar to this audience include "The Saga of Tanya the Evil," "Overlord," and "Log Horizon."

 

What are your favorite light novels? (You can include your own works or others.)

 

Before I entered this profession, I liked the "Twelve Kingdoms" series and "Boogiepop." Defining what counts as a light novel can be challenging, but I also enjoyed reading works by Nisio Isin and Tomoya Satozaki.

 

What do you look for in an outstanding light novel?

 

Many current light novels start with similar premises like "isekai" (reincarnated to another world) or "villainess" stories. I believe the challenge is how to infuse your own originality into these familiar themes. This originality shines through from what you authors are really passionate about, which and writing about areas you know more deeply or have thoroughly explored can become your strength. Personally, I am often drawn more to the uniqueness of the ideas or the depth of interest in the theme of the work than to the cleverness of the writing.

 

What do you enjoy about reading light novels?

 

It's an escape from reality, haha. True for all reading, but getting to know and vicariously experience lives other than your own can be a stress reliever. It's exciting to feel emotions like thrill and anticipation that you don't normally experience. Also, waiting for the next volume can be that motivation you need to make it to tomorrow.

 

Do you have any suggestions or advice for aspiring writers participating in this contest?

 

I think it's wonderful just to complete and submit a work. Finishing a work without any feedback can be challenging, but completing it can build confidence for your next project. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of novels those who love Japanese light novels will write!

To the aspiring writers in the audience, please introduce yourself briefly.

 

My name is Kim Morrissy, also known as Frog-kun on the Internet. My writings about anime and light novels have appeared on Anime News Network, Crunchyroll News, and other places. I’m also a Japanese-English translator; my translation of From Truant to Anime Screenwriter: My Path to “Anohana” and “The Anthem of the Heart” by Mari Okada is published by J-Novel Club. I have a personal blog where I write about light novels and their anime adaptations.

 

I've been a light novel fan for over a decade and I've written extensively about the subculture in my career as a journalist. I'm always on the lookout for great stories with an "anime" feel to them, whether they're in Japanese or English. I hope my next favorite read can be your story!

 

What are your favorite light novels? (You can include your own works or others.)

 

Sword Art Online (especially the Alicization arc), Mushoku Tensei, Qualia the Purple, Torture Princess, Dragon and Ceremony, Oregairu, Kieli, Reign of the Seven Spellblades, Unnamed Memory, 86, to name a few.

 

I particularly like fantasy/sci-fi stories with a strong emphasis on "feels" and emotions.

 

What do you look for in an outstanding light novel?

 

As the word "light" implies, light novels are meant to be easy to read. But that doesn't have to mean that the writing has to be simplistic. There is a great deal of thought and depth that can be expressed with seemingly minimalistic prose. You can read a single light novel volume in just a couple of hours, but the stories and characters can stick with you for years. I always look for something unique and memorable in every light novel I read.

 

What do you enjoy about reading light novels?

 

Not only are light novels written to be breezy reads, they are also an indispensable part of otaku subculture. Although it's true that many of the lesser light novels tend to copy popular trends without originality, it's fun to see a talented author put their own unique spin on familiar anime tropes.

 

Do you have any suggestions or advice for aspiring writers participating in this contest?

 

Reflect deeply on what speaks to you the most in your favorite anime and light novels. I think that the best light novels are written by people who have a strong understanding of their tastes as individuals. In other words, please have confidence in your fetishes!!