1980 My literary era

The seven words "National Literature Publishing House" are a golden sign in the Chinese literary world, not only for authors, but also for editors.

Wei Junyi, editor-in-chief of the Chinese Literature Society, once said, “The editors of the Chinese Literature Society should understand both ancient and modern Chinese and foreign literature. The Chinese Literature Society is a place to cultivate writers, translators, publishers, and theorists.”

The fact is exactly as she said. In the Chinese Publishing House, if you walk into an editing room and casually inquire about one or two old comrades sitting by the office window or door, they may be the ones you can call "home".

There has always been a tradition of "teaching and mentoring" among the editors of the Chinese Literature Society. When newcomers come to the society, after internship in the proofreading department, they will be assigned to study with senior editors, just like how young workers in state-owned factories find masters.

Young editors follow the old editors, not only to learn professional knowledge, but also to learn how they deal with writers and how to accompany them to grow.

In such an environment, it is not surprising that the young generation of editors trained in China's publishing industry are naturally outstanding and become the hot spots that other publishing houses are competing for.

Everyone felt sorry for those who left, mostly because of business.

The editors who can be poached must be the backbone of each editorial office, and they must be famous figures in the publishing industry in the future.

But that’s not necessarily the case after leaving. Publishing houses outside are more motivated by financial interests. They may make money faster than the Chinese Literature Society, but their achievements may be limited.

Guo Xugang's departure gave the staff of the Chinese Literature Society some more time to talk about, but it did not cause any ripples here.

As one of the heavyweight units in the domestic publishing industry, there is no shortage of editors here, let alone good editors. If someone is poached from outside, the Chinese Literature Society can still train more people. This is the foundation.

On the second Friday of October, Lin Weimin received a call from Arthur Miller from the United States. The British and Canadian rights to "The Kite Runner" were sold.

In fact, since this play was performed on Broadway, production companies from several English-speaking countries have hoped to obtain the copyright of this play. However, Arthur Miller and Lin Weimin discussed it at that time. In order to maintain the influence of the play, it is also In order to negotiate better, there was no rush to sell the copyright of the drama.

Now, four full years have passed since "The Kite Runner" premiered on Broadway, and it has entered a period of decline.

This play has gained the love of millions of viewers in the United States, and its influence has already spread to many English-speaking countries. It is a perfect time to start copyright development.

On Broadway, copyright management is a professional and complicated matter, and Lin Weimin has never paid much attention to it.

In addition to "The Kite Runner", the copyright of "The Intouchables" was also bought by a British production company this time. Two countries, three copyrights, deducting the share of Arthur Miller's copyright operating company, Lin Weimin can The share obtained is as high as 2.8 million knives.

If Lin Weimin's copyright management of his works can continue, this will be another big gold mine as much as drama performances and novel publishing.

A few days later, Cheng Wuchun called Lin Weimin to the office.

It had been a long time since the leader had called him in for a heart-to-heart talk. Lin Weimin felt quite friendly when he suddenly entered the office.

"Boss, what do you want from me?"

"I can't talk to you if I have nothing to do?"

Lin Weimin gave him a look, he is a thousand-year-old fox, so please stop playing with me.

Cheng Wuchun coughed slightly, which relieved the awkward atmosphere.

"Wang Shuo's collection of essays seems to be selling well recently!" Cheng Wuchun took the initiative to open the topic.

"Yes, Huayi is very brave, printing 200,000 sets for the first time."

Cheng Wuchun nodded, "You and Wang Shuo are familiar with each other, do you have any plans to print more copies?"

"It's early. It's only been on the market for more than half a month. How can it be so fast? But looking at the current situation, 200,000 units will definitely not be able to stop it." Lin Weimin said.

Cheng Wanchun looked thoughtful. After a while, he asked, "Recently, the contracts for two of your novels are about to expire."

Lin Weimin said unexpectedly: "Which one? I haven't noticed it yet."

Cheng Wuchun glanced at him speechlessly, he had known better not to mention this matter.

"'Insidious' and 'The Pursuit'."

"The company plans to renew my contract?"

"nonsense."

Lin Weimin leaned back on the sofa, "What about this..."

Cheng Wuchun had already guessed his reaction, and he felt disgusted in his heart, but he still said: "The company plans to increase your royalties..."

"You still mention it? It's not very good, is it?"

Cheng Wanchun would not think that he was well-intentioned and did not want the Chinese Literature Society to spend money. "Then what do you mean?"

"Wang Shuo already gets royalties." Lin Weimin said quietly.

Cheng Wuchun was silent for a long time, "For the people, you are one of our own from the Chinese Literature Society..."

"Leader, this is your fault." Lin Weimin retorted to Cheng Wuchun seriously, "Brothers are still settling accounts! No one in the country took royalties before, so I won't say anything. Now someone has taken them, you can't pay them back. Let me get a thousand-word manuscript fee? Wang Shuo can get this royalty, but I can’t get it?"

These words were prepared by Lin Weimin a long time ago, and they were all said in one go. Shuozi even sold me. If I don’t get royalties, can I be worthy of Shuozi?

"Royalty is a new thing, so we still have to be cautious."

"I have been receiving royalties abroad for many years and I have never heard of any problems."

"I can't make the decision alone on this matter. I have to hold a meeting to discuss it before making a decision."

"Then you have a meeting to discuss it. I will sign the contract after you have discussed it."

…

Cheng Wanchun said something and Lin Weimin responded. Cheng Wanchun fell silent again and stared at Lin Weimin.

Lin Weimin was right. The two looked at each other for a long time. In the end, Cheng Wanchun couldn't hold it back and said, "I can give you royalties. I heard that Wang Shuo gets 10%. This share is not low."

Lin Weimin shook his head, "No, what I get abroad is 15%. I can't still suffer a loss when it comes to my own people, right?"

"For the people, you also have to understand Sheli. Sheli is not easy either. The market competition has been fierce in the past two years, and Sheli's development is not like it was in previous years."

In order to reduce costs and increase efficiency, Comrade Lao Cheng seems to be using all kinds of tricks.

"Leader, we have to be conscientious as human beings. My novels have been published in the press these years. If Wang Shuo publishes a collection of novels, Huayi will give him a thousand words and a hundred words, and now he also gets royalties. , do you think if I go to those publishing houses outside, what price will they give me?"

"Yes, yes, we all see the contribution you have made to the society over the years. 11%, how about 11%?"

Lin Weimin finally understood that Lao Cheng didn't want to pay royalties, he wanted to keep his royalties as low as possible.

Wang Shuo has already received royalties, and Lao Cheng and the company should also know that it is the general trend to collect royalties by themselves in the future. Even if the company does not pay them, he will still receive royalties when the contract expires when he cooperates with outside publishing houses.

But when it gets to that point, it’s hard to step down. It’s better to take the initiative to talk to yourself earlier.

However, Lao Cheng was so petty and wanted to save some money, so today's drama happened.

"11% definitely won't work, it's too low."

"Wang Shuo is so popular that he gets 10%."

"He found it himself. He is thin-skinned and embarrassed to negotiate the price with the publisher. Do you think I am an embarrassed person?"

Cheng Wuchun was silent more often that day than he had been in a year. Negotiating with such a shameless opponent not only tested his IQ and courage, but also his patience.

The two argued for a long time, and finally the royalty share ratio was set at 13%, which both parties could barely accept.

"We have agreed that any contract renewal in the future will be based on this standard, and you can't increase the price any more." Cheng Wuchun warned worriedly.

"I know, I know!" Lin Weimin said unhappily.

The leader's heart is dark. Instead of thinking about other things all day long, he only thinks about how to sacrifice the interests of his employees to benefit the company.

Cheng Wuchun asked someone to bring a new contract on the spot and asked Lin Weimin to sign it.

If you finish the work early, two books are two books, and you will be safe in your pocket.

After spending half a day in Cheng Wuchun's office, Lin Weimin was about to go back to the back building when he bumped into a familiar face.

"Xiao Guo?"

"Teacher Lin!" Guo Xugang looked at Lin Weimin with evasive eyes.

Guo Xugang just left the Chinese Literature Society this month and went to an outside publishing house. Lin Weimin smiled and asked, "Come back and take a look?"

Guo Xugang pursed his lips and hesitated before saying, "No."

"Then you are..."

Guo Xugang looked at Lin Weimin with a bit of pleading on his face, "Teacher Lin, can you do me a favor?"

Seeing his expression, Lin Weimin knew that something must have gone wrong at work. He pulled him aside and asked, "What's going on? Are you not going well at work outside?"

When it came to work, Guo Xugang was in a low mood and told exactly what happened when he went to his new unit.

Guo Xugang is a French translator at the Chinese Literature Society. French literature is ranked second in world literature, and no one dares to be ranked first. There are countless masterpieces, so Guo Xugang has trained his business skills very well over the years.

This time he went to a new unit, and the salary was much higher than that at the Chinese Literature Society, and the treatment was also good. He thought he could do something big, but he didn't expect that the situation was a little different from what he thought.

The new unit pays more attention to the efficiency of employees and the benefits they can create, and the work pace is more than a little busier than that of the Chinese Literature Society. This is not the most critical thing.

The most important thing is that the editorial department does not treat literature with piety. Everyone just regards it as an ordinary job. Guo Xugang went to the unit for half a month and argued with the editor two or three times because of several translation issues.

The editor-in-chief pays more attention to efficiency, and he is used to it at the Chinese Language Society, so he pays more attention to the accuracy and charm of translation.

After leaving the big family of the Chinese Literature Society, Guo Xugang immediately felt the coldness of the world.

"The work there is too perfunctory and makes people feel guilty. There is really no humanistic spirit at all. Everyone does their own thing. There is no such harmonious, literary and humane relationship at all. I went there for a few days and... I regret it, but I dare not come back, I know I did something wrong..."

Guo Xugang's eyes were red when he spoke, and he acted very embarrassed, like a child who ran away from home, couldn't survive outside, and then came back on his own.

Lin Weimin patted him on the shoulder, "What does it matter? You have been in the club for so many years and you have long been accustomed to the environment here. If you are not used to being outside, just come back."

Guo Xugang said in shame: "I'm obsessed with it, just to make more money..."

"Don't say that!" Lin Weimin stopped him and said seriously: "Who doesn't want to make more money? Your choice is impeccable. Our Chinese Literature Society is not a bandit's den. You are only allowed in, not out."

Lin Weimin saw that Guo Xugang's face was getting more and more ashamed, so he said: "No more, I will take you to find Lao Cheng. He will be happy to know that you are coming back. You are from our Chinese Literature Society!"

Guo Xugang followed Lin Weimin, and tears fell down because of Lin Weimin's words, "You are from our Chinese Literature Society."

It’s only the second update today. It’s hot, my teeth hurt, my cervical vertebra hurts, it’s uncomfortable.