1980 My literary era

This year is the first year that Lin Weimin and Tao Huimin got married. The etiquette of returning home during the New Year is indispensable. Now they have three days off during the New Year. Lin Weimin can only take two more days off at the beginning and end of the year. After a week's leave, he will be delayed on the road. Four days.

After traveling all the way back to Ruian for the New Year, I returned to Yanjing and immediately got back to work.

After intensive preparations, the second issue of "Contemporary" in 1990 appeared in bookstores, post offices, and newsstands across the country just a few days after starting work.

Because of the earth-shattering publication of "White Deer Plain" in the first issue of "Contemporary" this year, and the sales situation of this issue, the editorial department is full of confidence.

Everyone has full confidence in Lin Weimin's judgment. "Contemporary" can always produce high-quality and widely influential works, so even if the general environment is not good, "Contemporary" can still maintain its own sales.

The New Year has just ended, and although the holidays are gone, people still feel the spirit of the New Year. Lin Weimin always has to attend a party every one or two days.

On the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, Wang Shuo called to say that he was having a treat at Jimen Hotel. When Lin Weimin went to the place, he discovered that it was just him and Wang Shuo.

"What's going on? Just ask me?" Lin Weimin asked in confusion.

Wang Shuo seemed a little tired and said: "There are too many people and it makes a lot of noise!"

Lin Weimin was even more curious. What kind of virtue did he not know about this thief? Is there still a time when he feels noisy?

"What's wrong? Master Shuo, are you depressed again?"

"Are you looking down on others? Can't I pursue a simple and elegant life?" Wang Shuo said dissatisfied.

"I didn't let you pursue it. The key point is that your change was a bit sudden and I couldn't accept it for a while!" Lin Weimin joked.

The two ordered three dishes. While waiting for the dishes, Wang Shuo talked about the reason for his treat today.

It turns out that Huayi Publishing House contacted Wang Shuo years ago and planned to publish a collection of novels for him. The title of the book is "Dead by Too Much Addiction", which is taken from Wang Shuo's novella "Death by Too Much Addiction". Several of Wang Shuo's more popular novellas have just signed publishing contracts in recent days.

"The first printing is 300,000 copies, and the manuscript fee is 100 yuan for 1,000 words!" Wang Shuo said with excitement, shaking his head.

Teacher Lin commented: A dog cannot store two ounces of sesame oil in its belly!

"I said, why haven't I seen anyone else today? Mr. Daqing Shuo is making money. He has to take the elegant route and don't want to see such common people!" Lin Weimin joked.

"Get out of here, uncle!"

The joy in Wang Shuo's heart was shattered by Lin Weimin's two words, "You are really good at spoiling the mood."

After joking for a while, Lin Weimin became serious, with a look of regret on his face, "You're at a loss for this!"

"loss?"

"That's right, it's a loss!" Teacher Lin said firmly again.

"Why?" Wang Shuo looked puzzled.

Lin Weimin's expression was probably similar to that of an old lady selling health care products, "Look, your novel collection costs 300,000 words, and only 100 yuan for 1,000 words, only 30,000 yuan. But the publisher The foreign code costing at least 500,000 to 600,000 yuan, calculated as royalties, is only 56%. Tell me, is it a loss?"

Wang Shuohuan's eyes widened and he looked at Lin Weimin and thought for a long time.

"It seems like a bit of a loss!"

He asked Lin Weimin again, "When you publish abroad, your royalties are more than ten percent, right?"

Lin Weimin nodded, "Yes!"

"But our domestic publishing house does not calculate royalties, only royalties!" Wang Shuo said with a troubled expression.

"That's because they haven't met you a long time ago!" Lin Weimin put his arm around Wang Shuo's shoulders and continued to puzzle: "Who are you? A popular fried chicken in the Chinese literary world, the originator of ruffian literature! Calculate the past few years , how many times has your work been adapted? This is popular with the people, can the sales volume be any worse?

Just now, how many volumes did you say you published? Three hundred thousand copies, right? Look, what does this mean? "

"What does it mean?" Wang Shuo asked subconsciously.

"It shows that the publishing house is very good. If they don't have confidence in the sales of your work, how dare they print three hundred thousand copies as soon as it comes out? If they didn't know that this is a 100% profitable business, how dare they do this?"

Wang Shuo pondered, what Teacher Lin said makes sense!

If you don’t make money, why would you print so much?

You make so much money, why do you share so much with me? Does it fit?

Lin Weimin's few words opened the Pandora's box in Wang Shuo's heart. He felt uncomfortable when he thought that the publisher was making a lot of money from his novels, but he, the author, could only get three melons and two dates. twitching.

"But...the contract has been signed!"

Fortunately, Wang Shuo still had some remaining sanity and said somewhat depressedly.

Lin Weimin smiled and said: "I'm not telling you to break the contract with them, but I'm just reminding you not to sell your things cheaply!"

Wang Shuo nodded and said movedly: "For the people, if you hadn't reminded me, I really wouldn't have understood this idea."

Teacher Lin smiled kindly and nodded. Children can be taught.

"For the people, it's time for you to get royalties for your novels. You can't make a lot of money abroad, but we ourselves can't make much money, right?" Wang Shuo reminded again.

Teacher Lin looked at him deeply, "Don't I have to rely on you for this?"

We have entered the 1990s, and prices are skyrocketing. Comrade writers can no longer earn the royalties, but they also have to earn some royalties.

We can't always let the publishing house eat meat and drink soup. We have to smell the code!

Teacher Lin is far-sighted and has taken great pains to provide strong creative motivation for the majority of literary colleagues.

The most important thing is that the price of books has become more and more expensive in recent years, so Teacher Lin’s works have to be sold!

You can't always take the meager royalties, you have to be in line with international standards.

But Teacher Lin, who is highly respected in both virtue and art, can he take the initiative to ask for royalties?

No, isn't that money worship?

Therefore, Shuozi became the most suitable candidate.

What did Teacher Xuejian say?

"If you don't take it, how can I get it? If I don't take it, how can Commissioner Geng get it? If Commissioner Geng doesn't take it, how can you and I make progress?"

In order for Teacher Lin to get his share of the benefits, Shuo Zi must take this royalty!

What Teacher Lin said, even if Jesus comes, he can’t stop him!

A few days later, after the second issue of "Contemporary" went on sale, the lingering influence of "White Deer Plain" continued. More than a month was far from being able to digest the shock that this novel brought to the Chinese literary world and readers.

Cheng Wuchun urged Lin Weimin to take advantage of the situation and hold a seminar on the works of "White Deer Plain" to build momentum. Lin Weimin had no choice but to ask the editorial department to start contacting various literary seniors and critics.

"Ouch! "The Dust Has Settled" just came to Yanjing for a seminar two years ago, and "White Deer Plain" is coming again. It's really unbearable!"

In the office, Liu Yin made a few phone calls and then started telling lies.

Zhu Changsheng joked: "If your colleagues in other publications hear what you say, they will be furious. Other publications may not be able to produce a work worthy of holding a seminar in a year. Our publication has held it in two consecutive months. Seminar, you are not satisfied yet, this is called a full man who does not know how hungry a man is when he is hungry!"

Works seminars are not activities that need to meet any rigid conditions to be held, but there are usually some unspoken rules. For example, the works to be held in the seminar must at least be widely discussed, right? At least it must be popular among readers, right?

These potential soft rules may seem inconspicuous, but in fact they block 99% of the opportunities for publications to publish works and hold such seminars.

If the work is not well-known or influential enough, the publication or the author himself insists on holding it, regardless of whether people will praise it or not. The key is that it will be ridiculed by others, and it will be embarrassing to tell it!

Of course, this was the late 1980s and early 1990s. If you wait until two thousand years later, Amao Agou would be able to hold a work seminar for every novel published. This thing is not uncommon.

The editorial department of "Contemporary" had just held a work seminar for "The Ashes Has Settled" in December, and now in February, it is holding another work seminar, this time for "White Deer Plain", which has caused a stir in critics and domestic literary circles. There was a lot of discussion.

Different from the small-scale work seminars held by regional publications, if a publication like "Contemporary", one of the best in the country, holds a work seminar for a work of the level of "White Deer Plain", the standards will naturally be top-notch in the country.

The interval between the two works seminars was so short, but no one raised any doubts. Instead, a group of seniors and experts responded to "Contemporary".

The editorial department of "Contemporary" even received calls from some people asking to participate in this work seminar.

This is the benefit of works that can convince the public.

While the editorial department of "Contemporary" was preparing for the seminar on "White Deer Plain", Cheng Zhongshi, who was far away in Xi'an, felt very distressed.

More than a month after "White Deer Plain" was published, Cheng Zhongshi seemed to be in a dream.

After finishing writing "White Deer Plain", he felt free and relaxed. Around the Chinese New Year, he returned to his home in Xi'an, ending his ascetic creative life and planning to take a good rest.

Immediately afterwards, "White Deer Plain" was published in "Contemporary" and received rave reviews.

His home was first besieged by friends from the XA City Literary Association, then by people from the Provincial Literary Association, and then by reporters and readers from all walks of life. The crowds were so fierce that he, who was used to a poor life and no one cared about him, was very uncomfortable.

He never dreamed that this first novel in his life, which he had been honing for six years, would be so popular.

"I can't stay at home any longer, so I'd better go back to the countryside!"

One day after the New Year, it was already past seven o'clock in the evening when the last guest at home was sent away. Cheng Zhongshi said to his wife.

Early the next morning, the couple packed up their luggage and prepared to leave for the countryside for some peace and quiet. Unexpectedly, a call came from "Contemporary" at this time.

"Old Cheng, there will be a seminar on the work of "White Deer Plain" next week, so hurry up and come to Beijing!"

Lin Weimin's words caught Cheng Zhongshi off guard. When he heard Lin Weimin introduce the lineup of this work seminar, he was even more ecstatic.

After so many years of writing books, it is not that he has never held seminars on his works, but this is the first time that a major journal like "Contemporary" has held such a high standard.

Cheng Zhongshishi really felt like an old man talking about being a teenager. When he returned home, he unloaded all the luggage carried by his wife and said excitedly: "I'm not going back to my hometown! I'm going to Yanjing!"

"Going to Yanjing? What are you doing?" asked my wife.

""Contemporary" is going to hold a seminar on "White Deer Plain" and asked me to go to Yanjing!" Cheng Zhongshi said with a little excitement.

The wife was excited at first, happy for a while, and then a little disappointed.

"Go ahead and I'll pack your things for you."

Cheng Zhongshi felt a little embarrassed when he heard this. Over the years he wrote "White Deer Plain", if he didn't have an old wife to maintain the family, how could he have been so calm and put all his energy into writing?

This military medal contains half of hers!

"You come too!"

"Really?" the wife asked happily.

Cheng Zhongshi regretted it a little after blurting it out, but still said calmly: "Really. Okay, you can cook first!"

"Okay!" The wife went to cook happily, still mumbling, "I haven't been to Yanjing in so many years..."

Cheng Zhongshi glanced at her guiltily, then returned to the Literary and Art Association office and dialed the number of "Contemporary".

"Old Cheng, what's the matter?"

"For the people, I have something to ask you for help..."

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