The Writer’s Ascension Ladder: Each step up eliminates 99% of the crowd.

Levels of writing, from easy to impossible.

Which level are you at?

【Beginner】

Level 1: I have an idea, but I haven’t started writing.

Level 2: I’m writing a book, but it’s not finished.

Level 3: I finished a book.

Level 4: I’ve written several books, totaling over one million words.

Level 5: I’ve written even more, totaling over ten million words.

【Intermediate】

Level 6: My work has reached online view counts equal to 1% of a nation’s population.

(Examples: Japan ~1.3M; India ~15M; USA ~3.5M)

Level 7: My work won an award in a nationwide, official competition.

Level 8: A publisher selected my work. It’s going to be published.

Level 9: I chose independent publishing and completed the entire workload of a publishing house—alone.

Level 10: My indie book is out. I’m marketing it myself, and it’s actually selling.

【Advanced】

Nightmare Mode: I can support myself through books published by a traditional publisher.

Hell Mode: I can support myself through books I published independently.

【God Mode】

Legendary Difficulty: I made serious money (and won major awards) through traditional publishing. I’m now a recognized author.

Impossible Difficulty: I made serious money (and won major awards) through my independently published work. I’m now a recognized author.

Writers—

Which level are you at?

(Concept first proposed by VON, 2026.07.26. Please credit when reposting.)

The difficulty of writing ends here.

For those bold enough to call themselves “authors,” the true final trial has never been sales, fame, or awards—

but the ones who hold their conviction in absolute ruin.

【Ultra‑Divine Tier】

Whether in poverty or comfort, in sickness or in health, in fame or in obscurity—

even under threats, arrests, censorship, or exile, they continue creating while on the run.

Their work may receive no praise.

They may earn nothing.

Their pages may never see daylight.

And yet—

they are the only ones truly worthy of the word “author.”

By VON(壹叔瘋神)