For Many Chinese, Literary Dreams Go Online

CNN explores what it calls an “literary renaissance” online in China. Some, like Guangzhou-based blogger and online novelist Yang Hengjun, believe that the the partnership between the Internet and literary expression will generally grow to be more promising in the future. More, from CNN:

The past decade has seen the blossoming of countless literary Web sites and online forums hosting stories from thousands of aspiring authors. Their work is read by millions of Internet users, leading some to assert that in the future all writing, even reading, in China will take place in cyberspace.

“It’s an inevitable trend due to the rapid development of the Internet and conceptual change of people,” said Hou Xiaoqiang, head of Shanda Literature, a division of Shanghai-based Shanda Interactive Entertainment, the largest online entertainment provider in China.

“Ordinary people have started to realize the world ought to be dominated by them, rather than some media or elite,” Hou added. “Online authors are breaking the rules and using totally fresh concepts.”

In addition to Yang Hengjun, the article profiles another noted online author, Murong Xuecun. His book, Leave Me Alone, Chengdu, started from the humble beginnings of an online office bulletin board. The online book became hugely popular among netizens, and a printed version went on to be on the short list of the 2008 Man Asia Literary Prize. An excerpt of the novel can be read here.

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