Back to 80: My Literary Life

The second Mao Dun Literary Award mainly selects novels published from 1982 to 1984. Like the first award, it only accepts recommendations from institutions and does not accept personal recommendations. At the same time, the list of jury members was announced.

Director of the jury: Palladium, members of the jury: Zhang Guangnian, Feng Mu, Ding Ling. A total of 18 people.

Unlike the vigorous selection of the Outstanding Short and Medium Novels Awards, the selection of the Mao Dun Literary Award is a bit quiet. It’s not that it is not famous, but according to the usual practice, which company will win this Mao Dun Award will not be announced until the end of 1985. announced.

A whole year span.

When Fang Minghua learned the news, it was a call from Qin Zhaoyang, the editor of "Contemporary" who was the original reviewer of Fang Minghua's "Enter Guandong".

On the phone, Qin Zhaoyang told him a piece of news: "Xiao Fang, "Contemporary" magazine has decided to recommend your book "Crossing Guandong" to participate in the second Mao Dun Literary Award in the name of the unit."

"Thank you, Editor Qin, for your concern." Fang Minghua said quickly.

"However, Xiao Fang, I heard that major magazines and publishing houses have recommended a large number of novels for selection this year. It is said that there are as many as 90 novels."

More than 90 movies? ! so much?

Fang Minghua was secretly surprised when he heard this.

"For example, Zhang Jie's "Heavy Wings" recommended by People's Literature Publishing House, our "Contemporary" not only recommended this book, but also Liu Xinwu's "The Bell and Drum Tower" and Ke Yunlu's "New Star". They are all relatively famous. And it was published early, but this novel was published a little late.”

"I understand. I feel very satisfied if you can recommend him." Fang Minghua heard something in Qin Zhaoyang's words.

"It's good to have this attitude. It's best if you can win a prize. If you can't win a prize, keep working hard." Qin Zhaoyang said.

The two chatted for a while, and Fang Minghua hung up the phone, holding the enamel teapot with both hands and thinking about what he had just said.

It is obvious that Qin Zhaoyang does not have much confidence in his novel winning the award.

In fact, this book "Crossing Guandong" has received good response from readers. Fang Minghua learned from Writers Publishing House that the first batch of 50,000 printed copies has basically been sold out, and another 50,000 copies will be printed next year.

But it is competing for the Mao Dun Award with more than 90 books.

To stand out from so many books, both the literary quality and social influence of the novel itself are indispensable.

Although the Mao Dun Literary Award does not involve reader voting like the award for outstanding short and medium novels, and is mainly judged by experts, the influence of a novel in society also plays a very important factor.

The most obvious example is Lu Yao's "Ordinary World". After it was published, it was generally disliked by the big guys in the literary world, but readers liked it.

This massive novel was finally recognized by readers, and a very important reason is the Central People's Broadcasting Station!

Lu Yao met a female editor of the radio station's "long-form serial" program. After reading his book, he decided to record it into a radio program and broadcast it nationwide.

The 1980s was a period of great prosperity for the development of broadcast media. Semiconductor radios had entered thousands of households, but televisions had not yet become popular in large numbers.

If you make a TV series, the number of people who will watch it will definitely not be as many as the people who will listen to the radio.

According to the information Fang Minghua read on the Internet in his previous life, the broadcast of "Ordinary World" caused everyone to compete to listen to the radio. Students, teachers, workers, farmers, PLA commanders, retired cadres, unemployed youth... letters from listeners... The number of "long-running" programs reached the highest level in 1988.

A student wrote to say that there are three teams of more than 200 people living in a four-story building in their department, with about 100 radios and VCRs, and they all listen to "The Ordinary World" at 12:30 noon.

"In February and March of 1975, on an ordinary day, the fine rain mixed with a few snowflakes were falling to the earth. The season was approaching, and of course the snow would no longer remain, often before it fell to the ground. , has disappeared without a trace. The cold and long winter of the Loess Plateau seems to be over, but the truly warm spring is far from coming..."

Even Fang Minghua had heard Li Yemo's magnetic voice on the Himalayas.

Faced with the surging public opinion, the jury finally had to consider this factor, and thus won the third Mao Dun Literature Award in 1991.

Do you also think of ways to expand your influence?

But I don’t know anyone from China Central Radio.

Adopt self-recommendation? Send the book directly?

It's okay, but it always feels a bit abrupt.

Let's see the opportunity.

Today is Saturday, and tomorrow is a day off. In addition, the country has moved the New Year's Day holiday next Tuesday to Monday, so we have two days of rest in a row. This is great news for these office workers - although New Year's Day did not exist at all in the 1980s. There is no smell of New Year.

Just one more day off.

In the afternoon, everyone in the editorial office was busy, all making excuses to leave, and the leaders turned a blind eye.

There is no need to criticize people at the end of the year.

In the entire poetry team in the editorial department, only Fang Minghua and Dong Mo work.

Dong Mo is a good comrade. He has been working hard for almost 40 years now. He is conscientious and conscientious. The consciousness of the older generation is very high.

Fang Minghua actually wanted to run away, but seeing that Dong Mo was left alone when he ran away, he felt a little sorry, so he decided to stay in the office.

It's okay to drink tea and read the newspaper if you have nothing to do.

At this time, the door was suddenly knocked open, and a man came in with a cigarette in his hand and a cold wind. It turned out to be Lu Yao, whom he hadn't seen for many days.

"Brother Lu, are you back from Tongchuan? When did you come back?" Fang Minghua was surprised and quickly stood up to pour him water.

"The day before yesterday, I was bored at home, so I came over to your place to sit." Lu Yao sat down on the sofa and took a sip of the tea made by Fang Minghua.

"Good tea!" Lu Yao couldn't help but admire it.

"I have a friend. Her grandfather lives in Hangzhou. This is Longjing tea grown by her grandfather himself. Do you want me to give you some?"

"No, I mainly drink coffee now, one cup of coffee and one cigarette. I don't feel sleepy at all when I stay up late at night.

Oh my god

This is purely to torture yourself.

Fang Minghua looked at Lu Yao carefully again and found that his face was not very good.

He asked with concern: "Brother Lu, why are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing serious, it's mainly because I'm tired." Lu Yao waved his hand indifferently: "You have also been to the coal mine. The conditions are difficult and writing is tiring, so I came back to rest for a while and wait until the New Year before going back to try to get the first place. The volume was written in one go.

"Brother Lu, your health is important, there is really no need to work so hard." Fang Minghua advised.

"I told you that I'm in good health. Besides, your book "Crossing the Guandong" has been published, and I heard that the first draft of Pingwa's "Impotent" is about to be completed. How can I do it if I don't work harder?"

Why.

Fang Minghua couldn't say anything.

When talking about the novel, Lu Yao immediately talked endlessly, saying that in the past year, besides being in the coal mine, he had also been to many places.

Rural towns, industrial and mining enterprises, schools and institutions, markets, state-owned enterprises, collectives, individuals... I met all kinds of people.

"Minghua, don't tell me that I also met with the leaders of our province." Lu Yao said with a smile: "The leader listened to me because he was looking for novel material, and even took an hour to talk to me in detail about the daily life of him and his team leaders. Work allows me to understand many daily details that I didn’t know existed.”

Fang Minghua was very impressed after hearing this.

It is estimated that only Lu Yao has such great ability.

There is no way, no one can compare to that "Life".

"Brother Lu, with your energy, your novel will definitely attract people in the future." Fang Minghua said.

"Hopefully, just try your best." Lu Yao replied, then suddenly asked: "Minghua, how is your novel?" I'm not talking about the science fiction you wrote - that must be popular. I'm asking about your book "Crossing Guandong." 》”

"Let's make do. The author's publishing house also gave feedback, saying that the 50,000 copies of the book have basically been sold out, and they are planning to print an additional 50,000 copies."

"The sales volume is good, which means your book is very popular."

"Just so-so." Fang Minghua said, but he was thinking in his heart that it is too far from the "Ordinary World" you are writing now.

However, I heard that only 3,000 copies of the first issue were printed and could not be sold. This was due to the broadcast of CCTV.

Seeing Fang Minghua like this, Lu Yao seemed to understand something and asked: "Minghua, do you want this book to win this year's Mao Dun Literature Award?"