Literary Master 1978

"...You may not know that their family has the nickname of 'Xunweizhai', and writers from Yanjing will go to them for dinner and dinner from time to time, and sometimes they will also recruit many foreign writers.

If Yushu became an editor, it would be effortless to compile the manuscript. "

At this point, Zhang Dening stopped.

Yang Mo pondered and asked, "Have you told Comrade Qingquan this idea before?"

Zhang Dening knew that Yang Mo would definitely ask this question. She nodded and said truthfully: "I mentioned it. Comrade Qingquan recognized my idea. I had a simple communication with Yushu some time ago and she was interested in editing work. of.

But this matter definitely requires our unit to come forward and talk to the distribution office. Unfortunately, Comrade Qingquan was transferred. I wanted to ask your thoughts. "

After she said this, Yang Mo thought for a moment and said: "Now the performance of our magazine is booming, there are more and more manuscripts, and the workload is naturally getting bigger and bigger. Comrade Yushu has excellent conditions. If she can come to us, then Of course it’s a good thing.”

After listening to Yang Mo's words, Zhang Dening's face relaxed, "Then according to your opinion..."

"Let me promote this matter. You are responsible for communicating with Comrade Yushu. The school will definitely ask for her opinion when the time comes."

"I understand, don't worry."

After Zhang Dening finished talking about his business, he was about to leave, but Yang Mo stopped him and asked: "Dening, what is the exact number of words in the novel "The Master of Chess"?"

"131,246 words." Zhang Dening answered without hesitation. The novel was edited and proofread by her, and it was a manuscript that she paid special attention to, so she was deeply impressed by it.

Listening to Zhang Dening's answer, a look of appreciation flashed across Yang Mo's face, and he asked again: "Is it also a short novel?"

Zhang Dening nodded hesitantly. There has never been a strict and unified standard for the length of novels in literary theory circles, especially for novels of about 100,000 words. Sometimes even editors are not sure whether they should be called novels or novels. Everyone defines the classification of novels based on needs.

For example, "Yanjing Literature" basically publishes short and medium-sized novels, so "Chess Master" published here is a novella.

Would you say it is a novel? Of course, a novel with more than 100,000 words is called a novel, and no one can find fault with it.

But compared with a real novel, the length of "The Chess Master" is obviously too short, and in terms of story structure, it is indeed closer to the size of a novella.

"I just received a notice from the Literary Association. They will soon hold a novel award. They will send letters to literary associations, literary journals and publishing houses across the country, asking everyone to recommend outstanding novels.

The letter clearly stated that novels with a word count of more than 100,000 words are considered full-length novels.

Our "Yenjing Literature" has always been mainly about publishing short stories and short stories. We should not have published many works with more than 100,000 words, right? "

Hearing this, Zhang Dening thought of the news that had been circulating in the literary world recently.

"Since the resumption of publication, Chaoyang's "Chess Master" is the only novel we have published with more than 100,000 words."

After answering Yang Mo's question, Zhang Dening asked curiously: "Editor-in-Chief, are you talking about the award created based on Mr. Mao Dun's last wish?"

Yang Mo nodded slightly, "Yes."

"Is it really called the Mao Dun Literature Award?"

"We have already held a meeting and it has been decided that it will be named the Mao Dun Literary Award."

Zhang Dening looked amazed. This is the first literary award named in an individual's name in China, and the awards are for novels.

Yang Mo added: "The scope of the first Mao Dun Literature Award is novels with more than 100,000 words published between 1977 and 1981. Lin Chaoyang's "The Chess" just meets the registration requirements. Are you ready? Prepare the novel information and we will submit it later."

"Okay!" Zhang Dening responded happily.

The novel she is the editor-in-charge of is competing for the first novel award in the Chinese literary world. This is of course a happy event.

After work, Zhang Dening couldn't wait to follow Tao Yushu to the Overseas Chinese Apartment.

Then, when she walked in, she saw Zhu Changsheng from "Contemporary" sitting on the sofa chatting and laughing with Lin Chaoyang, and she suddenly felt irritated in her heart.

You have to grab someone else's head in return and happiness. The Humanities Club is really bullying!

"Why are you here?" Tao Yushu asked Zhang Dening.

"You know what you are asking, but everyone is here."

Tao Yushu was confused by Zhang Dening's words, "What do you mean?"

Seeing Tao Yushu's expression, Zhang Dening asked, "Didn't he come to tell Chaoyang about the award?"

"What kind of award? I'm here to discuss the publication of "The Death of Van Gogh" with Chaoyang."

After hearing this, Zhang Dening realized that he had misunderstood the situation and felt happy. He was not just taking the credit for announcing the good news from her.

A smile broke out on her face, "The Death of Van Gogh is also going to be published? Your money fans will be able to get a lot of royalties again."

Tao Yushu rolled his eyes at her. No one was rushing to announce the good news with Zhang Dening, so she was no longer in a hurry. When she saw Lin Chaoyang talking to Zhu Changsheng, she rushed into the kitchen to help Tao Yushu work, preparing to have dinner here.

Zhu Changsheng had indeed come to discuss the publication of "The Death of Van Gogh" with Lin Chaoyang. In the blink of an eye, the novel had been published for more than nine months, and had received unanimous praise from the literary world and readers. The issue in which the novel was published "Contemporary" has sold more than one million copies, and its influence is extraordinary.

The Death of Van Gogh directly made the Western painter who was originally unknown in China a household name in China.

Not only that, some time ago, Yanjing Publishing House took advantage of the trend caused by the Death of Van Gogh and directly introduced the biography of Van Gogh written by Irving Stone, "Lust for Life - Biography of Van Gogh".

The sales of the work exceeded 200,000 copies in the month of its launch. In the past two months, the cumulative sales have exceeded 300,000 copies. At this rate, this biography should be able to exceed 1 million copies in one or two years.

For a biography, especially the protagonist of the biography was not very famous in China a year ago, it is undoubtedly a huge miracle to achieve such sales.

The biggest reason behind the creation of such a miraculous sales is neither the legendary experience of the protagonist Van Gogh nor the outstanding talent of the biographer Irving Stone, but the huge influence brought by the novel "The Death of Van Gogh" which is widely welcomed by the Chinese people.

Just like the best-selling novels and animations in later generations have fan works, "Lust for Life - The Biography of Van Gogh" also enjoyed the blessing of fan works similar to the original work, and its sales soared.

At the beginning of the year, "The Death of Van Gogh" was published in "Contemporary" in the form of a special issue. Originally, the editorial department of "Contemporary" did not plan to publish "The Death of Van Gogh" so soon.

After all, special issues can be equated with individual publications to a certain extent. Readers who have bought special issues do not have a strong desire to buy books again in the short term.

But now seeing the sales performance of "Lust for Life - The Biography of Van Gogh", the editorial department can't sit still. A work introduced by the influence of "The Death of Van Gogh" can sell so well. They dare not imagine what kind of sales the novel will have after it is published.

Anyway, the novel has been published for nine months. It will take a while for editing, proofreading and printing. It will be almost a year, which is enough.

Therefore, under the instruction of the leaders of the publishing house, Zhu Changsheng came to visit today.

After listening to Zhu Changsheng's request for publication, Lin Chaoyang was silent. Seeing this, Zhu Changsheng asked, "Chaoyang, do you have any concerns?"

No concerns, just want to pay more.

Of course, this cannot be said directly, it must be more tactful, otherwise it does not fit his personality.

"Is Lai Zi's Summer selling well this year?" Lin Chaoyang asked.

Zhu Changsheng was stunned for a moment when he heard his question, and then replied, "Very good. It has been reprinted for the third time, and the sales volume is close to 500,000 copies."

Lai Zi's Summer was published at the end of last year. It has been 10 months since then. The sales volume of 500,000 copies is already good.

But compared with Lin Chaoyang's other works, there is still a certain gap.

The publication time of "Parents' Love" and "Lai Zi's Summer" published in "Harvest" is almost the same. This novel did not even use the pen name "Xu Lingjun" before, and it has sold nearly 700,000 copies in more than half a year.

The longest-published novel, Little Shoes, has now sold 1.35 million copies, not to mention the nationwide popular novel, Wreaths under the Mountain, which has sold over 4 million copies.

Compared with these works, the sales of 500,000 copies of Lai Zi's Summer pale in comparison.

If we simply look at the evaluation of the literary world and the reputation of readers, Lai Zi's Summer is not inferior to any of these works, and is even better.

As a leading work that pioneered the concept of "Chinese stream of consciousness literature", Lai Zi's Summer has gradually been recognized by the literary world as a place in the history of contemporary literature.

But the problem is that stream of consciousness literature is inherently more difficult to read than ordinary realistic novels. When it was first published, it was very popular and readers flocked to it, but it was hard to see anything.

After the novel was published, it needed energy and money different from magazine reading to support the novel, and the limitations of the reading threshold were reflected.

"Little Shoes and Parents' Love also sold a lot." Lin Chaoyang said again.

Zhu Changsheng looked at his eyes, thinking of Lin Chaoyang's usual style, and he understood something.

"The royalties for the novels..." After saying only a few words, Zhu Changsheng noticed that Lin Chaoyang's eyes were flickering, and it seemed that his guess was right.

"What do you think about the royalties?" Zhu Changsheng asked.

Lin Chaoyang was disappointed, and he had to let me say it in person, which was not kind.

"I think the royalties can be raised appropriately."

"Raise it? It's already the maximum."

"The regulations are regulations, and the Publishing Bureau didn't say that you can only give so much." Lin Chaoyang defended.

Seeing Lin Chaoyang's firm attitude, Zhu Changsheng looked sad, "I can't make the decision on this matter!"

"Then go back and discuss it with the leader. My novels sell so well, it's not too much to give more royalties, right?"

Lin Chaoyang's novels have always been popular, which is why he dared to ask for a raise in royalties. Even if Renwenshe disagrees with this request, Lin Chaoyang will not worry about no publishing house willing to publish his novels.

Thinking of this, Zhu Changsheng nodded helplessly, "Then I'll go back and ask the leader."

Lin Chaoyang teased: "Don't be so sad, it's as if I'm using your salary to increase the manuscript fee."

After talking about business, Zhu Changsheng was about to leave, but Lin Chaoyang asked him to stay at home for dinner.

On the other side, Zhang Dening saw that he had finished talking to Zhu Changsheng, and then came over, "Chaoyang, I have good news to tell you!"

"What good news?"

"The Mao Dun Literature Prize is about to be awarded, and our editorial department plans to submit your "Chess Master"." Zhang Dening said excitedly.

"Oh." Lin Chaoyang nodded, his reaction was flat.

"What do you mean by 'oh'?" Zhang Dening looked at his reaction and felt like someone had poured a bucket of cold water on his head.

"It means I know."

Zhang Dening glared at him, "This is the first long novel selection in China, and it's an award named after Mr. Mao Dun, aren't you excited?"

"This award has been rumored for half a year, who doesn't know about it."