Writer's success opens online chapter

Chen Yeliang, a 32-year-old web novelist, did not expect to win an award for his work before fictional character Wang Zixu, the protagonist in his latest novel, won the Nobel Prize in literature in his novel.

But truth, they say, can be stranger than fiction. On Aug 2, Chen won second prize in the 9th Writing Competition for Online Literature with Realistic Themes. The event was hosted by online publishing company Yuewen Group.

Wang, from Chen's prizewinning web novel I'm No Literary Giant, is a literary man in his 30s living an unremarkable life while staying true to his love for literature and boldly pursuing his dream of winning a Nobel Prize in literature.

This semi-autobiographical web novel has been described as "a love letter for creators" as it delves into the complex literary scene and directly addresses the struggles of literary enthusiasts.

With humor and wit, it portrays the clash between the chaotic realities of life and personal aspirations.

It is Chen's third web novel. Chen started initial work on the novel a decade ago. He graduated from university with big dreams but had to put aside his literary aspirations as he struggled to make ends meet.

"My biggest preparation for writing this novel was to live to the age of 30," says Chen with a laugh at the award ceremony.

Over the past 10 years, he read a large number of books, went through various challenges, gained life and working experiences, and eventually found himself getting close to the life of the protagonist he wrote about in his 20s.

Beyond Chen's personal growth, he was also propelled to do his best by his mother who passed away during the past decade. She was proud of Chen's work and believed in his future as a writer. While she was fighting a brain tumor, she encouraged him at every opportunity.

After losing his mother, Chen understood life's priorities.

A successful life, he realized, is not about "cost-effectiveness", but about "love".

Chen picked up his writing again.

The success of I'm No Literary Giant came unexpectedly to Chen.

"It surprised many people when it topped the charts on reading platforms, as they never imagined that online literature could be so literary," recalls Chen.

"I am not aiming to convey any particular ideas or values, but would simply like to present the confusion, perseverance, struggles, and other emotions of many ordinary people. The readers will connect the story with themselves," he adds.

Actually, such "surprises" and unexpected popular appeal are seen in many other reality web novels, too.

"Over the past decade, online literature with realistic themes has seen rapid development and grown from a niche genre to a new mainstream category," Hou Xiaonan, chief executive officer and president of Yuewen Group, said at the ceremony.

About 54,000 writers submitted more than 57,000 reality web novels to this year's competition, a tenfold increase compared with 10 years ago. About 300,000 writers are chronicling the struggles and dreams of ordinary people on Yuewen's platforms.

More than 100 outstanding web novels were listed in the nation's major awards.

Some are collected in libraries, such as the National Library of China and The British Museum, according to Hou.

"A good reality novel should serve as a 'thermometer' of the times, capable of touching the pulse of society and sensing the joys and sorrows of the people. We are glad to see many writers exploring the contemporary value of traditional culture in realistic themes, which infuses new expressions into traditional Chinese culture," Hou adds.

The special prizewinner, Zhang Mei, a writer known by her pen name Mei Shiniang, took a unique perspective and approach into wartime stories.

Set in the background of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), her awarded work Mountains Turn to Paintings as Clouds Fade delves deeply into the commitment of ordinary people to art, cultural heritage, and their love for the nation.

Cui Chenge, a 36-year-old writer under the pen name Yangguang Caihong Xiaoxigua won first prize at this year's competition. Her awarded web novel Lucky Mom-to-be Mee Sua integrates local cultural elements in Fujian province with the story about the lives and self-growth of modern women.

The other first prizewinner, Claudia (the name she prefers to be called) with the pen name of Renjian Xuyao Qingxu Wending, won three awards in the competition for three reality web novels over the past decade.

As a senior corporate management executive engaged in a high-tech export business, she started writing web novels in 2019, with motivation triggered by the real challenges she faces in her industry. Her first web novel Era of Wave Breaking focuses on the rise of Chinese manufacturing.

The second, Way to the North, tells a story about the development of the Beidou 3 navigation satellite system.

Her winning work this time, Insider and Outsider Border, sheds light on people's lives from the 1980s to the early 2000s, reflecting the dramatically rapid changes in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

Residing in the city for more than 10 years, she saw it as "a city of miracles and epic chapters".

"I have been hoping for a long time to write about Shenzhen. I have been on overseas business trips a lot. Compared with other cities staying unchanged for decades, Shenzhen is changing with each passing day," says the author.

The metropolis transformed from a small fishing village to a cosmopolitan city in just several decades.

Claudia notes that Shenzhen is essentially an open city, where both residents and migrants are pleased to share stories about their families, life, work and love. "I greatly appreciate the ordinary people who stopped by and shared their stories with me. They might be someone unknown, but their lives and stories are brilliant," she says.

"This novel pays tribute not only to Shenzhen, but also to millions of people like its residents," she adds.

"I am also grateful for such a platform to share stories of ordinary people. Miracles are undoubtedly great, but the individuals behind them — with their joys and sorrows, ups and downs — are also worth remembering."