1980 My literary era

"Nonsense! Who started these rumors?" Lin Weimin scolded with a serious look.

Wei Fengjun was silent. Chief Editor Lin's confident manner of telling lies with his eyes open really made him not know what to say.

As long as I try to pretend to be asleep, you can't wake me up.

"Chief Editor, I am also a member of the company after all." Wei Fengjun said helplessly.

"Don't talk about people in the company, people in the department asked me the same thing. The production capacity is only 3,000 sets, is there more?"

Lin Weimin's tone was firm and he spoke decisively.

"Then over there at the bookstore..."

"Let them wait. Readers won't run away anyway. Those who want to buy will definitely buy it. If they wait a few more days, these readers will cherish this opportunity even more."

Wei Fengjun sighed helplessly. Although the editor-in-chief did not admit it, it had already spread in the club.

In fact, the production capacity of Amity Printing Factory is sufficient. It is not a problem to print 10,000 sets per month, but the editor-in-chief insists on printing at a monthly output of 3,000 sets.

The sales of books are so hot now, but Lin Weimin insists on suppressing them. Not only Wei Fengjun, but also people in the society don't understand.

"Leader, can't you tell the truth?"

"What truth?"

"Why are you doing this?"

Lin Weimin pondered for a long time, and finally said: "Okay. Since you asked this, I will explain to you."

Wei Fengjun perked up after hearing this and couldn't help but sit up straight and listen to what Lin Weimin was going to say next.

"You should also be aware of the scale of the World Literature Masterpiece Library. It contains at least 200 volumes. This is a project that is likely to last for several years or even ten years. In the process, it will consume countless manpower of our Chinese Literature Society. ,financial resources……"

Wei Fengjun couldn't help but nod when he heard the words. "World Literature Masterpiece Library" is not only one of the largest book series in the history of the Chinese Literature Society, but also in the domestic publishing history.

“Our book series has many advantages, but excessive investment and rising printing costs have also put our Chinese language agency under great cost pressure.

You may think that now that the book has been published, the faster and more it can be sold, the better.

But I don’t think so…”

Having said this, Lin Weimin looked serious and handed the two "The Count of Monte Cristo" on his desk to Wei Fengjun.

"Old Wei, have you ever thought about what kind of readers would choose to buy our series of books?"

Lin Weimin's question stunned Wei Fengjun. He had never thought about this problem before.

He frowned and thought for a while before saying: "Scholars who are engaged in literary research, writers, and readers who are relatively passionate about literature and readers who have a collecting habit."

Lin Weimin continued to ask: "Then, if you let ordinary readers choose between the books in our library and the book in your hand, which one do you think they would choose?"

The two copies of "The Count of Monte Cristo" in Wei Fengjun's hands are the library edition of the Chinese Literature Society and the paperback edition published by Writers Publishing House. The library edition is priced at 13.6 yuan per volume, while the paperback edition is priced at only 5.8 yuan.

The price difference was more than double. Wei Fengjun weighed the two books in his hands and said, "Probably this one from Writers Publishing House."

"Look, you understand. In fact, in the affordable book market, our book series is not very competitive. Even if we make a paperback version, it will not change this situation."

Wei Fengjun nodded and agreed with Lin Weimin's words.

"Since we are facing homogeneous competition in the market and we do not yet have an advantage, we must innovate in some places. Do you still remember the 'panic buying wave' in 1988?"

Wei Fengjun nodded again. Only a few years had passed, how could he forget? It's just fresh in my memory.

At this point, Wei Fengjun already understood Lin Weimin's strategy and ideas.

"You want to take advantage of the current enthusiasm of readers for our series of books to completely increase the reputation of the series and establish a unique impression in the minds of readers for better distribution and sales in the future."

Lin Weimin nodded and said: "The essence of scarcity is that supply exceeds demand. The target user group of our series of books is naturally narrower than that of ordinary paperback books. If you go into battle naked and fight with those paperback books, you will be using your own shortcomings. The strength of attacking the enemy.

In fact, the biggest benefit of doing this now is that it can build momentum for the "World Literature Masterpiece Library".

The "World Literature Masterpiece Library" is huge in scale and cannot be completed in one or two years. If we cannot establish our own brand image in the book market, it will be easily forgotten by readers.

Although we do not pursue this series of books to be accepted by all readers, we should ensure that as many readers as possible understand it and are willing to purchase it.

If the "World Literature Masterpiece Library" can influence a popular trend among a huge group of readers, and even develop a group of die-hard readers, then why should we worry about lack of sales? "

After listening to Lin Weimin's words, Wei Fengjun completely understood the reason for his previous actions.

It seems that the editor-in-chief has far-reaching thoughts!

Although the editor-in-chief’s ideas have not yet been fully verified, at least judging from the current situation, there are signs of such development.

In the future, if the "World Literature Masterpiece Library" can really follow what the editor-in-chief said, it can continue to be sought after by the market and readers despite the continuous shortage, forming a lasting trend. It will be a great development for the future "World Literature Masterpiece Library". Sales efforts will be of great benefit.

"I see!"

"It's good that you understand. It's important to keep your word of mouth to the outside world. It doesn't matter how it is spread outside, but we must not admit it." Lin Weimin warned.

A somewhat relaxed smile appeared on Wei Fengjun's face, "Don't worry, I understand."

Wei Fengjun is the vice president in charge of distribution within the Chinese Literature Society, which is why Lin Weimin is willing to spend time explaining his actions to him.

As for other people in the Chinese Literature Society, no matter what misunderstanding they have about the issuance of the "World Literature Masterpiece Library", Lin Weimin does not need to explain it.

Time passed slowly, and the first batch of 3,000 sets of the first volume of "World Literature Masterpiece Library" had already been sold out in bookstores all over the country. Many readers could not wait for the new book. After asking the bookstore carefully, they found out that "World Literature Masterpiece Library" The monthly printing volume is fixed. If there is no more, you can only wait until next month if you want to buy it.

After waiting for more than half a month, the new batch of the first volume of "World Literature Masterpiece Library" finally arrived. In just two or three days, it was sold out again.

Many readers who are busy with work did not expect that the sales of this series of books would be so good. When they remembered to go to the bookstore to buy books, they were left with nothing.

Just when these readers were filled with disappointment and prepared to wait for another month, they were surprised to find that someone was actually selling the first volume of "World Literature Masterpiece Library" at a higher price.

This discovery made many readers both angry and delighted.

These readers immediately divided into two groups. One group was fed up with the pain of waiting, and happily bought these books sold at a "marked-up price". After buying, they did not forget to show off to their friends and colleagues.

"The first volume of the "World Literature Masterpiece Library" from the Chinese Literature Society is not easy to buy. I got it through my connections and spent a lot of money to get it."

The other group of people are angry at the immorality of profiteers, who actually engage in such things as buying, selling, and speculating. If this was done more than ten years ago, they would have been allowed to go in and taste the taste of cornbread.

At the same time, they are full of envy and jealousy towards those around them who have bought the first volume of "World Literature Masterpiece Library", and have a contradictory feeling that they cannot love it.

In more than a month, the first volume of "World Literature Masterpiece Library" has gradually become popular among readers.

At the same time, repercussions in the literary and academic world were beginning to emerge.

Mr. Yu Guanying, a classical literature expert who presided over the compilation of "History of Chinese Literature" and "Selected Poems of the Tang Dynasty", issued an article highly praising the publication of "World Literature Masterpiece Library", calling this series of books "the 'Three Gorges Project' of my country's publishing industry."

At this time, the construction of the Three Gorges Project has not yet begun, but it has been demonstrated for many years and is well known to the public.

Mr. Feng Zhi, a well-known writer, translator, poet, and former deputy editor-in-chief of the Chinese Literature Society, also spoke out through the media and praised the compilation level of the first volume of "World Literature Masterpiece Library".

In addition to these two important figures in the literary world, good news also came from Lin Chunhui in Bay Island.

A few months ago, Lin Chunhui came to the Chinese Literature Society with a rice knife to purchase the copyright of the "World Literature Masterpiece Library". The first volume of the Bay Island version of the "World Literature Masterpiece Library" was published only half a month later than the Chinese Literature Society.

The publication of this kind of library-like series of books is the first of its kind in China and even in the entire Chinese-speaking cultural circle. It not only requires an extremely strong professional background and profound talent accumulation, but also requires strong determination and execution by the publishers in the Bay Island. It’s unthinkable to do a book series of this scale.

Therefore, once the series of books was launched, it was strongly sought after by literature lovers on the island.

Ye Shitao, a well-known writer and literary critic on the island, praised the Chinese Literature Society for "starting a long and arduous task after reading the first volume of the World Literature Masterpiece Library."

The affirmation from many famous people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait makes all the editors of the Chinese Literature Society who participate in the editing and review of "World Literature Masterpiece Library" feel deeply proud and at the same time feel the great responsibility they bear.

After all, no matter in terms of scale, editorial level or bibliography, the "World Literature Masterpiece Library" series is far ahead of its predecessors, and there is no precedent for the domestic publishing industry to learn from.

Although the first volume has achieved good results and praise, the editors of the Chinese Literature Society are facing even greater pressure.

Such a huge project, such a perfect beginning, if this project cannot be completed to perfection, it may be a lifelong regret for everyone.

After all, being able to participate in the editing and review of this kind of book series may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

How can we not cherish it? How can you not feel stressed?

But in any case, the success of the first volume of "World Literature Masterpiece Library" is still a positive incentive for the Chinese Literature Society.

From Lin Weimin's incredulity when he first proposed this idea at the beginning of the year, to the brainstorming and argumentation, to the painstaking editing and review, the efforts of the editors of the Chinese Literature Society have finally paid off, and everyone is full of motivation for the follow-up work.

Just like Lin Weimin once said.

The Chinese Literature Society has been established for forty years and has enjoyed unique innate conditions in the Chinese literary world.

Raise an army for a thousand days, use it for a while.

It is the unshirkable responsibility of the Chinese Literature Society to launch a global library such as the "World Literature Classics Library".

It will become the ‘Great Wall’ of China’s publishing industry, and all the editors who participated in the compilation and review of this series of books will leave their names in history!