Writers talk shop in New York

Famous Chinese authors gather at book fair to share

Despite the fact that much of contemporary Chinese literature helps express today's realities, many of the authors did not set out writing with an agenda of conveying reality's absurdity in their novels.

"I started writing in an emotional rather than rational way," said Liu Zhenyun, an award-winning Chinese novelist, during the China-US literature symposium 2015 held at the Confucius Institute for Business in New York on Wednesday.

Many writers don't start writing with the aim of fixing certain social problems, but to achieve what they can't achieve in real life in a fictional world. The good thing is that many works have a positive impact on society, he said.

His views were echoed by Zhao Lihong, one of China's most gifted poets and authors from Shanghai, who also attended the symposium on Wednesday.

"My path to literature started in a casual way, when I was a teenager and had so many questions regarding the world and myself that I could only explore and search for those answers through writing," said Zhao, who is also director of the China Writers Association.

"I didn't write for kids even though many of my works were later selected as textbooks for children and I am now considered a children's writer," Zhao added. "Many of my works have great influence on the younger generation of Chinese."

Several renowned Chinese contemporary writers took part in the event, including Chinese novelist Cao Wenxuan, award-winning short story writer Liu Zhenyun, poets Hu Lanlan and Zhao Lihong and novelists Bi Feiyu and Feng Tang.

The writers and poets discussed the role of writing in the contemporary world and prospects for literary interactions between the US and China.

This year China has the largest international delegation to ever attend BEA's forum with an expected turnout of professionals representing more than 100 publishing companies, as well as 50 prominent authors.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 05/28/2015 page2)