Experiencer Wang Ruoxu depicts the spotlight with 190000 words, looking back at the "fanaticism" of post-80s literature author | Literature | Wang Ruoxu
At the beginning of this century, a literary competition led to the emergence of a group of young authors and their rapid rise to fame. After overnight fame and endless glory, where have those writers who make us crazy gone? Are they okay? Have you lived the expected life yet?
Wang Ruoxu, born in 1984, was a firsthand witness to this literary frenzy. In his 190000 word novel "Fanaticism", he portrayed three young people whose fate was changed by a writing competition at the turn of the century. The three of them became acquainted in 2000, and in the following decade, they influenced and interacted with each other, serving as background plates for each other, thus showcasing three levels of the "post-80s literary frenzy period".
Someone may ask, it is already 2022, more than 20 years past the starting point of that year. What is the significance of publishing this novel now? Wang Ruoxu said, "Fanaticism is not about pursuing bestsellers, but about expressing oneself in the era and fulfilling one's mission."
Writer Sun Ganlu commented that in Wang Ruoxu's intertwined narrative arrangement, one can see that his skills in how to connect between plots and time and space are relatively mature and mature, flashback like. In the cabinets deep in our minds, drawers are constantly being opened, and fragmented clues emerge. These clues are like Saturn's rings, rotating and colliding around the contradictory subject of the story.
Critic Li Hao said that "Fanaticism" is surprising, as it portrays a young and contemporary life, their literary dreams, and the burning youth. In this fervent burning, do we love art or its attachments?
"Movies and television always attract 99% of the attention of 1% of people, and 1% of people have 99% of market value. Wang Ruoxu wrote about how the remaining 99% of the population can share the remaining 1% of market value." Chen Jiayong, who won first prize in the first New Concept Essay Competition with a report from Shenzhuang and was recommended to Peking University, said at the recent "Fanaticism" new book launch sharing event held at Guangdi Space Bookstore. Lai Yingyan, Deputy Editor in Chief of Shanghai Literature Magazine and Special Invited Researcher of China Modern Literature Museum, is also a post-80s generation, but outside the fanaticism in the book, she has watched the lasting influence of this literary competition. "At that time, the college entrance examination was a one-man bridge, and this essay competition can be said to have allowed us to discover another world." Among the college students who came to Yingyan, one of them entered through a new concept competition. "For us who entered university step by step, it was a kind of inspiration and touch. It turns out that this world can be so exciting and completely different."
In Lai Yingyan's view, writing endows a person with extraordinary understanding of society and human relationships. Her college classmate did not ultimately pursue the path of writing, but writing gave him the confidence and ability to support his future career. "Writing can indeed change people's lives. It can be said that I have witnessed the turning points and trajectories of their lives."
The three protagonists in "Fanaticism" are not the most sought after literary idols among the post-80s generation, but rather stand out from the spotlight and disappear from the crowd. How to understand the success or failure brought about by this literary frenzy?
Wang Ruoxu believes that in the literary frenzy of the past, success may be divided into two categories: one is how many books were sold, and the other may be in the true literary sense. "I used to write novels about campus youth, and it would be difficult to transition to pure and serious literature. Traditional literary journals have different perspectives on works, cycles, and operational methods, so they may encounter quite confused and confused periods - can I continue to write? Some people have achieved stage success, while others have been writing in obscurity. I think writing can be a lifelong thing. Success at the age of 20 and success at the age of 40 have different properties, concepts, and internal principles. After achieving success at a certain stage, there is a huge gap to face afterwards, which is very realistic."
"Even during the '80s literature frenzy' period, it is not just about tens of thousands of people signing up, astonishing royalties, and everyone pursuing it. More often than not, more people have to face external and internal tests and trials, standing alone in the wilderness, wind and rain. Since my debut work in 2007, too many former colleagues, partners, and competitors have chosen to put down their pens or switch to the screenwriting industry. Some simply find themselves not loving writing anymore, some are scheming for rice sorghum, and some choose other ways to showcase themselves. When writing this novel, many times I will think of them, as well as past events, both good and bad, are integrated into the text." Wang Ruoxu said.
After graduating from university, Chen Jiayong devoted himself to the film and television industry for many years, until 2020, when he had long disappeared from the literary circle and published the novel "Boss Missing". "When I picked up the pen again, I realized the meaning of writing to my heart. At first, you obtained a 'knocking brick' with literature, but later you refused literature. Years later, you will find that if you write in a more rational, objective and free way, it is very beautiful to pick up the pen and record the real things."
