1980 My literary era

Susan Sontag's words made Lin Weimin not know how to answer for a while. He pondered for a moment and said: "This question stumps me. The novel sells well, but I don't know the specific reason. If I have to say it, , I think it may have something to do with my positioning of myself."

"What position?" Roger Strauss asked curiously.

"I never thought I would become a famous writer. I am just a third-rate novelist."

Lin Weimin's words made Roger Strauss laugh, "Lin, you really know how to joke. I think you are the only one in the world who thinks so!"

Susan Sontag looked at Lin Weimin with a strange face. Although she didn't understand what he said, she was deeply shocked in her heart.

Your novels have sold millions of copies, and you have won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Prix Goncourt. You say you are a third-rate novelist, but what are we who have not won awards, amateurs?

Peter Perron looked at Lin Weimin and inexplicably thought of the conversation the two had at the West End Bookstore that day.

This Chinese writer has an outstanding personality!

Lin Weimin shrugged, "Actually, what I mean is that you need to have a calm mind! We writers are used to setting ourselves a grand goal and a profound intention when writing, but sometimes this often backfires and loses our core. Ability."

"What ability?"

"Empathy!"

Lin Weimin looked indifferent and said: "When we become the masters of a world, we are aloof and look down on all living beings, so our works naturally lose their warmth. There is actually no conflict between good literary works and good stories."

After hearing what he said, Susan Sontag was thoughtful, and Roger Strauss complimented: "He is indeed a writer who has won the Goncourt Prize for Literature. His remarks really deserve Those narcissists who only know how to play with the profound, listen up. The books are not selling well, and they always blame the readers for not knowing the goods."

Roger Strauss looked at Lin Weimin with admiration in his eyes, but did not notice Susan Sontag who was silent beside him.

Do you blame me if the book is not selling well?

Susan Sontag very much suspected that Roger Strauss was criticizing Song and Huai, but she seemed unable to refute, because if she refuted, it would make people think that she was guilty.

"Speaking of which, it seems that all your novels are published through Random House, right?" Roger Strauss suddenly asked.

Lin Weimin nodded and said: "Yes, we cooperated very early."

Following this topic, Lin Weimin told Roger Strauss about his cooperation experience with Random House. When Lin Weimin said that they had been cooperating since 1982, Roger Strauss frowned. I couldn't help but frown.

"The cooperation was really early enough. Random House has such good eyesight!" Roger Strauss exclaimed.

"It can only be said to be a coincidence!" Lin Weimin said with a smile.

Roger Strauss observed Lin Weimin's expression and said: "Random House's distribution strength in the United States is unquestionable. Lin, the sales of your novels are so good, their distribution strength is indispensable."

Seeing that Lin Weimin nodded noncommittally after hearing this, Roger Strauss continued: "Cooperating with a purely commercial publishing house like them is actually of great benefit to some fledgling writers... …”

Lin Weimin cast his eyes on Roger Strauss, showing curiosity. Roger Strauss was secretly happy when he saw this.

“Generally speaking, fledgling writers are neither famous nor capable, and they don’t have any awards to win. At this time, they need packaging and promotion from publishing houses.

Lin, please don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about you.

For foreign writers like you, especially writers from China, if it is not for their own strength, no matter how much effort Random House puts into promoting it, it will be useless.

Talking about the benefits of cooperating with Random House, their distribution channels not only cover the United States, but also cover many English-speaking countries. From a purely commercial operation perspective, cooperating with them is really a good choice. "

Having said this, Roger Strauss paused and showed a kind smile to Lin Weimin.

Lin Weimin looked at Roger Strauss with a calm expression, as if waiting for him to continue speaking.

"So, I should also cooperate with Random House." Susan Sontag said quietly.

Roger Strauss did not expect that she would suddenly interrupt, glanced at her, and said: "Susan, your problem is that you don't have any heavyweight novels. With your current reputation, if you can write a book of this level, If you write a full-length novel, it’s not difficult to make money.”

Like a little girl competing for favor, Susan Sontag smiled a little when she heard Roger Strauss's words.

Roger Strauss ignored her and continued to say to Lin Weimin: "However, for an already successful writer like you, the bonus of cooperating with Random House is already very small."

Lin Weimin asked: "Why do you say that?"

Roger Strauss said with a bit of complacency in his expression: "It's very simple. Because you are famous enough and have formed a strong reputation and influence in the minds of readers. These people don't know what to say." Random House needs to promote it, and it only needs to tell this group of readers that you have a new book, and these readers will naturally flock to the bookstore, so the sales of the work are not a problem at all.”

"but……"

When Roger Strauss said this, his face became solemn, "For a writer, especially an excellent writer like you, who is likely to go down in history, it is not enough for his works to be best-selling."

"Lin, do you know why many American writers don't want to be called best-selling authors?" Roger Strauss asked with a serious expression.

Lin Weimin shook his head cooperatively.

"Because... for these writers, bestsellers mean that their works are superficial, popular readings catering to the public."

Lin Weimin laughed, "This idea is so ridiculous!"

Roger Strauss looked at him and said: "It sounds quite ridiculous. Why does a work sell well if it is a popular book? As a bookseller, I know better than you how ridiculous this idea and statement is. .but……"

Roger Strauss looked at Lin Weimin, his face full of sincerity, "It is precisely this kind of seemingly absurd statement, but it has become a consensus in the mainstream literary world in the United States. You can find out for yourself, those years ago How many of the award-winning works will be successful sellers, and how many of them will miss out on nominations for various literary awards because they are on the New York Times bestseller list."

Lin Weimin pondered. He had been cooperating with Roger Strauss's speech just now, but he had already vaguely guessed his purpose.

"But didn't "Burning" win the National Book Critics Circle Award?" Peter Perron asked suddenly.

Roger Strauss looked at Peter Perron and praised: "Good question!"

Then he added: "It is true that the National Book Critics Circle Award is one of the three major literary awards in the United States, but its influence is at the bottom of the three major literary awards. Another most critical issue is, "Burning" in Among Lin’s works, the sales are not very good!”

Roger Strauss is a bookseller, and he is very familiar with the sales of Lin Weimin's works in the United States, so he naturally knows the sales performance of "Burning" in the United States.

"If Lin had not won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Goncourt Literary Prize, the sales volume of "Burning" would have been more than half what it is now, and there is no way to guarantee the sales volume of even 200,000."

Roger Strauss's words are somewhat exaggerated, but overall there is nothing wrong with them.

After the release of "Burning", sales were indeed not very good. Thanks to several subsequent awards, the sales of the novel were boosted.

Roger Strauss sighed: "I can only say that the sales volume of "Burning" is just right. When the judges look at the sales volume of a book, they are afraid that you will sell well, but if you sell too little, They will also struggle, and it is best to maintain it at a level that is not too high but still has a group of loyal readers."

Lin Weimin suddenly said: "Elite group!"

Roger Strauss clapped his hands happily, "Lin, you are a wise man! You got to the point of the problem right away. Yes, this group of judges wants to maintain the supremacy of literature relative to the public. , firmly holding the right to speak in the hands of their elite group."

Susan Sontag couldn't help but retort: ​​"Roger, you are promoting your conspiracy theory again!"

"This is not a conspiracy theory, but an objective fact." Roger Strauss looked proud. "How else do you think the works published by FSG have won so many awards?"

FSG is the abbreviation of Farrer-Strauss-Giroux Publishing House. Roger Strauss continued: "Susan, everyone is an adult. Don't wishfully think that only good works can win awards. Could it be that only good works can win awards? Are your works in recent years bad? Do you remember the last time you won an award? 1977!"

Having said this, the proud look on Roger Strauss's face became more and more obvious.

"FSG Publishing House has been around for more than 40 years. In the 25 years from 1946 to 1970, our publishing house's authors have won fifteen Nobel Prizes for Literature.

Of course, Susan, you can say that our award is entirely related to the United States’ dominance of the Western publishing industry for more than two decades.

Then let’s do the math again. From 1981 to today, FSG Publishing House has still won 5 Nobel Prizes for Literature. "

After Roger Strauss mentioned his publishing house, his expression gradually became wanton and full of pride.

"Do you really think that the fact that our publishing house has won so many Nobel Prizes in Literature is all related to the quality of the writers' works? Come on, there are no reporters here today.

Let’s be honest, if the work can’t even be shortlisted, how can it win the award? "

The atmosphere in the room fell into silence under his naked remarks.

We are all insiders. In fact, we are not unclear about some of the unspoken rules of award evaluation. It’s just that Roger Strauss’s words today were so abrupt that no one had time to react.

Anne Liebowitz looked at Roger Strauss with great interest. The Roger Strauss she knew was not a foolish young man who would speak nonsense in public, especially today. Under the premise of making new friends.

Thinking of this, Anne Liebowitz looked at Lin Weimin with a faint smile on her face.