Chapter 548: The Matter of the Literary Award Judges
Two days later, Fang Minghua boarded the train to Yanjing. When I arrived in Yanjing, I still lived in the house of Grandpa Song Tangtang in the General Political Courtyard.
My grandpa is already over eighty this year. His beard and hair are all white, but his back is still straight and he is in good spirits. He holds a kettle to water the flowers in the yard. He heard Fang Minghua say that he came to Yanjing this time. The purpose was to establish a literary award, so I immediately said "good" several times!
“Well, we Chinese translate our works into foreign languages to participate in awards abroad. Why can’t foreigners translate their works into Chinese and come to our country to participate in awards?! I have long said that the Mao Dun Award should not be limited to us. We should also let foreigners participate in the national works. If we take a step back, we should let works from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan participate in the awards. They are all Chinese. "
Grandma is wearing reading glasses on the bamboo chair. When I was knitting a sweater, I heard what my grandfather said and retorted: "The Mao Dun Award does not say that it will not reject works by writers from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan."
"But have any works won awards? Have any works been submitted for competition?! No, right? Look at the judges. They are all mainland scholars and scholars. How can that be done? At least a few scholars from Hong Kong and Taiwan should be invited to come in, right? This is comprehensive!”
“Grandpa, I initially assume that the members of the jury will include famous scholars from Hong Kong and Taiwan,” Fang Minghua added quickly.
“Look, my grandson-in-law is still grand and discerning! Although I don’t know much about literature, the country advocates a hundred schools of thought to contend and let a hundred flowers bloom. Don’t worry about other people’s ideas and opinions being different from yours, and you will exclude them. There is a saying They say Junzi and Xiaohua, Junzi and what?"
Grandpa turned around and asked Fang Minghua.
"Gentlemen are harmonious but different." Fang Minghua said quickly.
"Yes, yes, that's it." Grandpa said with a smile on his face: "Xiaohua still studies more."
"You," grandma looked at grandpa and said angrily.
Why do you prefer this grandson-in-law so much?
But this grandson-in-law is indeed capable, and Tangtang has found the right person.
Fang Minghua stayed one night in the General Political Courtyard and went to the Chinese Writers Association early the next morning.
The office of the Writers Association is still at No. 10 South Lane of the Agricultural Exhibition Hall on the East Third Ring Road. Minghua often comes to this place, so he knows the way and goes straight to Wang Meng's office.
Of course, I won’t forget to bring some jujubes.
After Wang Meng retired from the position of minister, he still served as the vice chairman of the Writers Association. Although he was over sixty years old, he was still full of energy.
Now that I no longer have the status of a minister, I have more free time. I am currently writing the first part of the novel "The Seasons Tetralogy", "The Season of Love".
Wang Meng was sitting behind his desk reading documents with his reading glasses on. When he saw Fang Minghua knocking on the door and coming in, a smile appeared on his face.
"Xiao Fang, it's you. Come, sit, sit." After saying this, he stood up and greeted.
“I’ll pour you some water.”
“You’re welcome, Chairman Wang, I’ll do it myself.”
Since we were familiar with it anyway, Fang Minghua was not polite and mentioned it Pour yourself a cup of tea from the thermos bottle.
Then he picked up the jujube in the bag.
"Chairman Wang, I brought this from Xijing, please try it.
"Oh, you know I love this bite. "Wang Meng was not polite. He took one out of the plastic bag, wiped it and put it directly into his mouth.
"Yes, yes, is it from Yanchuan, Qinbei? ”
“Yes, that’s right. "
"Then I won't be polite. "Wang Meng said, accepting the bag of dog-head dates.
The two chatted for a few words before getting down to business.
Wang Meng said: "Xiao Fang, our leadership team has studied the report produced by your Provincial Writers Association and agreed in principle to establish this literary award. Of course, everything has to be done by you. If you want to do it, you can do it."< br>
"Don't worry." Fang Minghua hurriedly expressed his position: "Chairman Wang, I would like to ask you to be the director of the jury."
"Me? I'm afraid I'm not qualified enough." Wang Meng was very humble: " I think you'd better ask Mr. Ba. "
"Chairman Wang, no matter your status, qualifications, or literary achievements, you are completely qualified," Fang Minghua explained. "I'm afraid Mr. Ba is not in good health because he is old. I am willing to engage in this work. For the third Mao Dun Literature Award that just ended, Mr. Palladium did not serve as the director of the jury.”
Wang Meng nodded after hearing this, that was indeed the case.
Palladium served as the director of the Mao Dun Award jury for two consecutive terms, but did not serve in the third term.
"However, I would also like to ask Mr. Palladium to serve as the honorary chairman of the Literature Award Jury. You, as the director of the jury. After the matter in Yanjing is over, I plan to go to Shanghai to visit Mr. Palladium." Minghua expressed his opinion. "You think it all, haha." Wang Meng laughed: "Okay, I'd rather be respectful than obey."
"This is the first jury I have initially drawn up. The list of committee members, as well as the members of the reading class - just like the Mao Prize, please take a look and point out anything wrong.”
The so-called reading class is a peripheral organization for the selection of the top prize. It is mainly composed of young and middle-aged critics. They are professionals from various literary institutions and colleges and universities. They are responsible for screening all the books that have been confirmed for selection and then further narrowing down the selection.
Of course, the list of reading classes drawn up by Fang Minghua is not limited to critics, but also includes some writers.
According to Fang Minghua’s initial idea: there will be about 10-12 members of the jury.
The members of the reading class are divided into two groups: novel group and poetry and prose group. The novel group has about 25-30 members, and the poetry and prose group has about 15-20 members. This can ensure the quality of the shortlist of shortlisted works to the greatest extent. .
Wang Meng put on his reading glasses and looked carefully.
"Ouch. You actually invited a well-known writer from Hong Kong and Taiwan? And Mr. Qian? Mr. Qian is not easy to invite."
"It depends on the person." Fang Minghua said with a smile.
"As for the four scholars from Hong Kong and Taiwan, I know both Chen Yingzhen and Liu Yichang. I heard that Chen Yingzhen is in Yanjing now, so I visited him directly."
"You know Chen Yingzhen ? ”
“In 1987, the Writers Association sent Ruan Zhangjing, chairman of the Yenching Writers Association, and I to attend the establishment of the Hong Kong Writers Association in Hong Kong on behalf of the Chinese Writers Association. At that time, Chen Yingzhen also came to Hong Kong to attend the ceremony on behalf of the Taiwan Writers Association. We talked about it. , we had a great time chatting, and I also met Liu Yichang.”
"Haha. That's good. Do you know Chen Yingzhen's address?" Wang Meng asked curiously.
“I don’t know much about it, but Wang Anyi from Shencheng knows that they went to the United States together to participate in the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa in 1985, and they exchanged letters. I called and asked Wang An Yi, he is in Yanjing now.”
“Xiao Fang, you have a lot of contacts.”
“It’s okay.”
Actually, Fang Minghua. I don’t have a lot of contacts, I just know a lot of writers.
"Chairman Wang, I plan to send a formal invitation letter to all jury members and reading class members in the name of our Qin Provincial Writers Association. I also want to ask you to send one at the same time in the name of the director of the jury." Fang Minghua added.
"No problem." Wang Meng readily agreed: "There are some people here who have good personal relationships with me, and I can call them. In addition, please leave this list to me first, and I will think about it later."
"Okay."
"In addition, here is another piece of information."
Fang Minghua said and took out another piece of paper from his briefcase and handed it to the other party.
It turns out that what is written above is the prize money for the winning work and the subsidies for the judges and reading class members.
In addition to reimbursement of transportation expenses, food and accommodation to attend the review meeting, all members of the judging panel who participated in the selection will receive a subsidy of 8,000 yuan per person, and members of the reading class will receive a subsidy of 5,000 yuan each!
When Wang Meng saw this number, his eyes lit up.
Although it is said that literati are ashamed of their words, times have changed after all.
He may not want it, but others may not want it.
In this era when wages are generally a few hundred yuan, this is equivalent to two or one year's salary! "
Xiao Fang, you are so generous, haha." Wang Meng laughed.
“Since we are hiring high-level experts and scholars, we should have higher subsidies.” Fang Minghua smiled and said, “I have always believed that knowledge has a price.”
“That’s good. , I feel more confident if I can do this well, haha.”
Farewell to Wang Meng, Fang Minghua felt relaxed when he came out of the Writers Association building.
When establishing a literary award, funding is actually only one aspect. Without a very authoritative and recognized jury member, how can you control the quality of your works?
Besides, your review may not be recognized by the majority of readers.
After reporting to Wang Meng, Fang Minghua went to Chen Yingzhen first according to the plan.
(End of this chapter)