Literary Master 1978

Mid-March passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, Lin Chaoyang's "Shutter Island" had been published for half a month. During this period, "October", which published the novel, was enthusiastically sought after by readers.

In just two weeks, the sales of "October" reached an astonishing 630,000 copies, almost equaling the normal sales of previous issues in two weeks.

If this trend continues, it will only be a matter of time before the sales volume of 1.2 million copies estimated by the editorial department is exceeded.

Although it has only been published for half a month, there is no doubt that "Shutter Island" has already been scheduled to be the most influential novel published in this year's "October".

Not only that, this novel also had a huge impact on the readership.

The novel "Shutter Island" itself has a strong suspense attribute, the atmosphere is mysterious and tense, and there is an unexpected reversal at the end. These elements are all highly stimulating for readers.

Compared with ordinary literary works, this novel brings strong sensory stimulation to readers, which greatly motivates readers to write letters to the editorial department and the author to discuss the novel.

Behind the booming sales are hundreds of thousands of readers. Once the enthusiasm of so many readers is aroused, it is a very terrifying energy.

Letters from readers like snow flew into the editorial office of "October". Almost two packets of letters from readers were received every day, and the number and frequency of letters were getting more and more intense.

Facing the increasing number of letters from readers in the editorial department, the editors are both sad and happy.

Zhang Shouren never mentioned Lin Chaoyang's royalties anymore. He only regretted that the leader did not use the golden and yuan method to capture Lin Chaoyang earlier.

He made a calculation in his mind. Compared with the previous sales of "October", this issue will sell at least 500,000 more copies.

"October" is priced at 1 yuan, and the issue price for Xinhua Bookstore is about 70 cents, which means that this issue has an extra sales of 350,000 yuan.

After excluding the costs of editing, design, printing, binding and many other aspects, the magazine's net profit is at least 200,000 yuan more. Not to mention the 14 yuan remuneration for 1,000 words to Lin Chaoyang, even 40 yuan per 1,000 words is still worth it!

Unfortunately, these benefits have little to do with "October" itself, nor with the editorial department. At best, they can provide more benefits during the holidays.

"If any magazine gets Lin Chaoyang's works, they will really find a treasure!"

That afternoon, editor-in-chief Su Yu went out for business. Everyone chatted about the popularity of this issue of "October", and Zhang Shouren couldn't help but sigh.

He praised Liu Xinwu again, "This time Xinwu will take the lead!"

Liu Xinwu waved his hand modestly, "It has nothing to do with me. It's all the leader's decision."

"It's a pity that "Shutter Island" was only published this month. If only it had been published last year, it would have been awarded the Mao Dun Literary Award." Someone said regretfully.

"It's too late this time, there is still the next one. For the next Mao Dun Literary Award selection, I will be the first to support the submission of "Shutter Island"."

Colleagues joked and the atmosphere was relaxed.

Recently, the submission of works for the Mao Dun Literary Award has officially begun. Although literary associations, literary magazines, cultural and publishing units in many places across the country have the qualifications to submit works, not many of them are truly competitive.

For example, provincial-level literary associations, well-known literary magazines such as "October", and prestigious publishing houses such as the Humanities Society...

This topic has been the focus of attention in the literary and publishing circles recently. After all, it is the first novel award in the Chinese literary world. The Mao Dun Literature Award has been topical and attracting attention since its birth.

"But speaking of it, Lin Chaoyang is not bad at this one. According to the requirements of this year's awards, he should have several works that meet the requirements, right?" Wu Guanghua from the poetry group asked.

""The Summer of Raiko", "The Death of Van Gogh", "The Chess Master", oh, by the way, there is also "Parental Love" written under another pen name."

"I heard that the Humanities Club didn't seem to sign him up!"

"Who did you listen to?"

"Rumors say that the Humanities Society has a lot of eligible works this time, and Lin Chaoyang's works were not ranked."

"It's all nonsense. It's true that there are many qualified works from the Humanities Society, but Lin Chaoyang's "Lai Zi's Summer" and "The Death of Van Gogh" were both published and published by them. They have huge influence. No matter how bad it is, Not even one of the two films has been submitted.

Your news is so false. I heard it was for "The Death of Van Gogh." "

After everyone discussed for a while, Zhao Weiming from the novel team asked Liu Xinwu, "Xinwu, you are familiar with Lin Chaoyang. Do you know which of his works has been submitted?"

Liu Xinwu pondered and said: "I don't know about the Humanities Society. "Chess Master" must have been reported, and "Yanjing Literature" has no long articles that can be used as a prestige.

Then when I went to Chaoyang's house that day, I heard that they didn't apply for "Parental Love" in Shanghai. "

"Why didn't you report it?"

"I said that I applied for it during the National Outstanding Novella Award before. In this case, applying for the Novel Award seems a bit..."

Liu Xinwu didn't say any more, but everyone understood.

Today's award evaluation is not as widespread and unlimited as in later generations. Whether it is the jury, the author or the submitting unit, they all have to face it.

It's not impossible to sign up for "Parents' Love", but it's just easy for people to gossip, so I just didn't sign up.

Wu Guanghua said regretfully: "That's a pity. I missed the Mao Dun Literary Award for the novella award. And I remember this novel hasn't won the award yet, right?"

"Yeah, it's a bit of a pity."

Wu Guanghua said: "The most likely scenario is that the Humanities Society reported "The Death of Van Gogh" and the "Yenjing Literature" reported "The Master of Chess."

It is rare for a writer to have two works appear in the review at the same time. "

Zhang Shouren said: "It's unusual for others, but it's normal for Lin Chaoyang. I remember the National Outstanding Novel Award two years ago. He seems to have won two awards for both his novels and short stories, right?"

"Yes, it caused quite a stir at the time."

Liu Xinwu also won two awards in the previous National Outstanding Short and Novella Awards, which is still fresh in his memory.

"If Lin Chaoyang applies for two works this time, can he also win a double award?" Zhao Weiming said jokingly.

Zhang Shouren shook his head resolutely, "Absolutely impossible. The awards for novels are different from those for short and medium novels. If one person is awarded double awards, no matter how outstanding the quality is, it will affect credibility."

Everyone is in the industry and understands that this is an impossible situation. Zhao Weiming's words are just a joke.

Just the day after everyone in the editorial department of "October" finished talking about it, the list of winners of the 4th National Outstanding Short Story Award was freshly released and published in the "People's Daily" that day.

In recent years, many literary awards organized by literary magazines and publishing houses have emerged in China, but in terms of influence, the National Outstanding Short Story Award is still unique.

At least until the authority of the Mao Dun Literary Award was formed, no award could shake its status in the literary world.

This National Outstanding Short Story Award has nothing to do with Lin Chaoyang. He hasn't written a short story for several years, but someone wants to have something to do with him.

On the night after the award ceremony, Li Tuo and Chen Jiangong rushed to Lin Chaoyang's house.

The two of them went to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing, and when they met, they asked Lin Chaoyang to carry on the "glorious tradition".

"What glorious tradition?" Lin Chaoyang looked confused.

"We're treating you to dinner!" Chen Jiangong reminded.

Li Tuo on the side corrected him, "It's a salon, a cultural salon!"

Chen Jiangong nodded quickly, "Yes, yes, cultural salon."

Lin Chaoyang suddenly understood, and he suppressed the urge to complain about these two bad guys.

After the award ceremony of the National Award for Outstanding Novels and Short Stories in the past two years, he did make arrangements for dinner, but this year he did not win the award.

After listening to Lin Chaoyang's words, Li Tuo said confidently: "If you didn't win the award, you should apply. Yushu is now the editor..."

Chen Jiangong rushed to say: "That's right! Counting my twenty award-winning writers this year, they are all rich people who published manuscripts. How much work did you save Yushu with one meal? And how many people It’s usually difficult to get an appointment.”

Listening to what the two said, Tao Yushu's eyes widened like a rabbit.

This is a good suggestion!

Her big, watery eyes looked at Lin Chaoyang blinkingly, shimmering like autumn water.

At this time, silence is better than sound. How could Comrade Chaoyang withstand such an offensive?

He said seriously and in a very solemn tone: "This cultural salon after the National Outstanding Short Story Award is indeed a rare communication occasion for our literary colleagues, and it should be maintained to form a fine tradition."

Li Tuo and Chen Jiangong looked at his statement and clapped uncontrollably. Their expressions were solemn. They were really being controlled by this leadership style.

"Go to Mianmian Hutong to eat. It's a big place, so you can do whatever you want." Tao Yushu suggested.

In the past few times, my friends had dinner at Mianmian Hutong, which has a large yard and many rooms, so it is really convenient as a reception venue.

"good."

The award ceremony of the National Outstanding Short Story Award has always been followed by several days of symposiums, and the award-winning writers have to stay in Beijing for a few days. After Li Tuo and Chen Jiangong received Lin Chaoyang's approval, they went back to organize their work.

March 25, the third day after the award ceremony.

Today is Thursday. On a working day morning, the employees in Mianmian Hutong are busy going to work and going out. Lin Chaoyang and his wife have just returned from buying vegetables from the vegetable market.

After entering the courtyard, the couple put down the dishes. Tao Yushu said, "Where did this girl go?"

"Stop looking for her. How can you still expect her to work?"

Yesterday, Tao Yumo heard that Lin Chaoyang and his wife were going to treat them to dinner, so he clamored to come and help, but he showed up early in the morning and disappeared.

Inviting twenty people to a meal will not only test your cooking skills, but also your physical strength.

When the couple was preparing, Li Tuo and Chen Jiangong came together, followed by Wang Zengqi and Lin Jinlan, both old acquaintances of Lin Chaoyang. This time, Wang Zengqi won the award for "Da Nao Chronicles" and Lin Jinlan won the award. "avatar".

Four people arrived one after another, and then award-winning writers arrived one after another.

Many of them are already famous writers, such as Zhou Keqin, Liu Shaotang and others. There are also some emerging young writers, such as Han Shaogong, Wang Anyi, Gu Hua, Zhao Benfu and others.

This group of award-winning writers covers almost three generations, old, middle and young. Most of them just met after the award ceremony. They have no friendship and are naturally reserved when getting along.

In the previous symposium, everyone talked in general terms, and they never even joked.

A group of people came to Lin Chaoyang's home. After a brief introduction, someone helped Lin Chaoyang and his wife cook. Li Tuo, Chen Jiangong, and Wang Zengqi were responsible for livening up the atmosphere. They quickly became familiar with each other and got along well. The atmosphere is also more relaxed and harmonious.

"Teacher Lin, let me do something!" Wang Anyi came to the kitchen and volunteered.

"Don't call me Teacher Lin, just call me Chaoyang." Lin Chaoyang said with a smile.

The reason why Wang Anyi called Lin Chaoyang Teacher Lin was because Lin Chaoyang gave lectures to them when she was studying at the Central Literary Institute the year before last.

Lin Chaoyang was not very old, but he was famous in the literary world. Wang Anyi was not the kind of person that Zhang Manling was. She couldn't call him "Chaoyang". After holding it in for two seconds, she said, "Then I'll call you Lao Lin."

Lin Chaoyang smiled and said, "That's fine."

He said to Wang Anyi, "If you want to work, help peel some garlic."

"Okay."

Wang Anyi responded and peeled two garlic cloves. Her movements were clumsy, and it was obvious that she rarely did this kind of work.

She came from a wealthy family. Her father, Wang Xiaoping, was the director of the Shanghai People's Art Theater, and her mother, Ru Zhijuan, was a well-known writer. It can be said that they were from a literary family.

She stood beside Tao Yushu, and the two chatted about family matters while working.

At this moment, Tao Yumo, who had been missing since morning, finally showed up and rushed into the kitchen, shouting, "Sister, I'll help you with the work."

Beside her was the quiet and peaceful one, and opposite her was the urgent and noisy one. The strong contrast made Tao Yushu feel irritated.

"What were you doing earlier? With so many people, do you still need me?"