Chinese poets join a poetry reading of their works to inspire young people to write. (Photo : www.bellairetpp.org)
A 24-year-old woman writer from Beijing recently won a top national literature award for her flair in short story writing.
Wang Suxin's short stories and novellas, formerly known as Pulushilan ("Prussian Blue"), started to appear in various magazines in 2009, including the renowned Youth Literature. She only stopped using her pen name in October last year.
Wang has kept a low profile as an online search on the young writer only revealed that she was born in Runan County, in central China's Henan Province, where she learned how to draw at an early age. At 14, she left her hometown and moved to many cities including Zhengzhou, Chengdu and Shanghai.
She currently lives in the capital as a freelancer, the report said.
Wang received the Purple Gold award - Star of People's Literature, an initiative jointly launched by People's Literature, China's flagship literature magazine, and the Jiangsu Writers' Association in 2013. The award aims to honor young writers under 30.
According to the report, a total of 15 writers received the award this year. The categories include New Writers Awards and Excellent Works Awards, as well as awards for various genres ranging from full-length novels, novellas, short stories, prose, poetry and literary reviews.
In 2011, People's Literature launched an English version to tap into overseas audiences and boost the promotion of contemporary Chinese literature worldwide.
"Overseas readers who are curious about Chinese literature are in dire need of a trustworthy and highly professional introduction, which is exactly how the English version is positioned," Li Jingze, editor-in-chief of People's Literature, said.
People's Literature is the first literary magazine to be established after the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Literature, if promoted effectively, will also contribute to the international influence of Chinese culture and boost the country's soft power, Li added.
