fictionpage Chapter 45 Flexibility
Chapter 45 Flexibility
The editorial office of People's Literature in Beijing.
Liu Xinwu was summoned by the commune leader again today and given a severe dressing-down. The reason for this was even more ridiculous.
It is said that recently, his review and editing of manuscripts has been too biased towards personal preferences, and he has not prioritized the professional ethics of an editor.
Actually, what is the real reason?
Everyone understood perfectly.
It's all because the literary scene in Shanghai has now completely and overwhelmingly overshadowed the literary scene in Beijing.
To put it more bluntly, it's all because that young writer surnamed Yu's science fiction work suddenly became a huge success in the North American book market, shining brightly and making the entire North American literary scene cheer and celebrate.
They often receive enormous royalties, sometimes in the millions of dollars.
It is expected that in the future, it will contribute at least two to three million US dollars in foreign exchange earnings to Shanghai.
Good heavens, creating art can earn you foreign exchange!!!
Inside and outside the industry, no one has ever dared to imagine such a thing, yet others have achieved such tremendous success.
Who wouldn't be impressed by such an outstanding achievement?!
Even Liu Xinwu himself is now deeply impressed from the bottom of his heart!
If possible, he really wished he could immediately become Yu Zhen's apprentice and quickly steal some of the inspiration for science fiction writing from the other's mind.
He also tried his hand at writing science fiction novels, which could earn him huge amounts of foreign exchange!
The reason the editorial leadership criticized him is simply because he has always been a leading figure in the field of scar and reflection-based creative works.
It was Liu Xinwu who, two years ago, sparked a trend in the literary world with his article "The Class Teacher," seeking to verify some accounts of those past years.
It caused a surge in creative trends across almost the entire literary world.
As a so-called standard-bearer, when he becomes an editor, the manuscripts he is most used to receiving and those that pass the review should be in line with the standard-bearer's exemplary role.
"What the leader meant was that he wanted me, Liu Xinwu, to publicly set an example and respond to the new trend of science fiction in Shanghai's literary scene..."
"It's ridiculous. What trends, what trends? Aren't they all just people like you who decide what's going on based on your own interests? You're the ones who are actually pushing things along behind the scenes. Whatever trend you want to create, whatever wave you want to create, naturally, what kind of trend and wave will be drawn in..."
"Now they're envious of the Shanghai literary scene, which is making huge amounts of foreign exchange, so they've become anxious and stopped talking about political and political issues..."
Despite his complaints, he only vented his frustrations in his mind.
Are we really going to let him openly go against the leaders of the organization?
I'm sorry, but you're absolutely right, boss. Our writing style in the future shouldn't be too highbrow or too focused on so-called art and humanities. Necessary economic and material considerations should also be a very important indicator.
So if there are any science fiction stories in the future, we'll take them in!
Liu Xinwu's current situation in the organization is indeed extremely awkward.
Putting aside his injuries and his identity as a standard-bearer and role model, let's not even talk about that.
Not long ago, as a representative of Beijing's literary circles, he went to Shanghai to attend the National Symposium on the Adaptation of Outstanding Works into Film and Television. Taking advantage of his status as a representative of Beijing, he spearheaded a foolish act with extremely bad influence.
That was to lead the attack on writer Yu, verbally and in writing criticizing his science fiction work "The Truman Show" as utter garbage.
He even published a highly influential signed commentary, publicly accusing the work of having distorted scientific values, fabricating scientific concepts, and seriously hindering the development and progress of science and technology in China...
Back then, he was quite the figurehead, posing as a representative of the literary world in Beijing.
Now, it seems incredibly foolish not to confront the facts.
It even dragged down the literary circles in the capital, causing his reputation to plummet and making him too ashamed to speak as the leader anymore.
The Fourth National Congress of Literary and Art Workers will be held in November.
The National Writers Association, which had been forced to suspend operations for many years, will be relaunched and a completely new team of members will be selected.
The Beijing Writers Association undoubtedly held an absolute advantage in terms of timing, location, and popular support, possessing an innate advantage that was unmatched by any other province or city.
Now, with the sudden emergence of the famous writer Yu, things are really hard to predict...
Liu Xinwu was naturally reluctant to lose his current job, and even more unwilling to fall out of favor with the company leaders.
After reflecting on his painful experience, he began to think of ways to actively save himself.
Did they publish an apology directly in the newspaper?
That is absolutely impossible.
People live for their reputation, just as trees live for their bark.
They were so fierce in their insults back then, but now that they see others achieving great success overseas, they suddenly become obsequious, publicly apologizing and showing goodwill in the media.
That would be nothing short of begging and groveling, behaving like a dog.
Where has the integrity and spirit of scholars gone?!
"Science fiction really doesn't work..."
"The spirit of the company's leadership is something that absolutely must be deeply understood..."
"A public apology would be of little use now, and would only further damage the reputation of the mainstream literary scene in Beijing, putting them at a disadvantage compared to the Shanghai literary scene. This is a situation that the leadership of the publishing house does not want to see..."
"So, what do we do?!"
"What should we do now?!"
Just as Liu Xinwu was engulfed in a great deal of distress.
The other senior editors in the editorial department were having a heated discussion while looking at a manuscript.
"AUV~~, hey, everyone come take a look, there's a submitted review article here. The content and idea are pretty good, but it's a review, hey~ it's... hey, it's a review specifically written for the special issue of 'Story Club'..."
"Wow, that's really bizarre. They should have sent the manuscript to 'Story Club,' not to 'People's Literature.' That's completely irrelevant..."
"Exactly. What level is 'Story Club'? Lao Yang, listen to me, send the manuscript back directly. Let the author submit to 'Story Club' himself. No matter how good the content is, our 'People's Literature' is positioned high enough not to be a stepping stone for 'Story Club'..."
"Old Yang, take a closer look. Where is this author from? Could he be from Shanghai, deliberately creating this kind of thing to annoy us...?"
"The submission address is Haidian District, Beijing... uh, there's a special note at the end of the manuscript, let me see what it says... Oh my god, it's actually... a collective submission from the Yenching University May Fourth Literary Society...??"
"What?!?"
"Students from Yenching University created a collaborative work? How exactly does collaborative creation work?"
"Let me take another look. Uh, it says above... their May Fourth Literary Society recently conducted a special analysis and interpretation of 25 works in the special issue of 'Story Club,' which is a collection of commentary articles produced after the literary society held several book clubs..."
Liu Xinwu suddenly peeked over from the side.
His eyes gleamed, and he snatched the manuscript away. "Old Yang, let me study this first. Don't try to take it from me. The editorial team leader just gave me a really difficult problem to solve. I think this manuscript submitted by the Yenching University May Fourth Literary Society is very suitable..."
Other senior editors were also finding the manuscript challenging.
Having had his manuscript snatched by Liu Xinwu, the editor surnamed Yang was eager to have some peace and quiet. "Old Liu, what's wrong? You don't actually want to publish this properly in our *People's Literature*, do you?"
"Let me take a look first, let me see the contents first..."
Although Liu Xinwu didn't say what he really thought, he was actually overjoyed.
The company's leaders were hoping to mend relations with Shanghai.
If the manuscript from Yenching University's Literary Society is suitable, and it can indirectly curry favor with a science fiction writer surnamed Yu, so what if it's just a supporting role for "Story Club"?