It is very difficult to keep up with the 'different' readers.

Interestingly, this 8x author is currently teaching in Binh Dinh. However, the children's books "Dau Dau, Sau Sau & Be Be", "If One Day We Disappear", "Street Musician", "In a Place with Many Dragons"... are published one after another, adding a new voice. With the manuscript "In a Place with Many Dragons", in 2023, Moc An was awarded the De Men Aspiration Award in the De Men Children's Award system.

PV: In a short period of time, Moc An has continuously published many books for children. Each book is more attractive than the previous one. May I ask, how did you come to write literature for children?

Author Moc An. Photo: NVCC.

MOC AN: I read children's literature from a very young age, read a lot and was very passionate. That was the time of books printed on yellow straw paper, opening up a very large world for me.

Growing up, I have never lost my interest in this genre of work and animation. The innocent world of childhood makes my heart pure again, and I also learn a lot from it.

When I became a mother, choosing and reading books with my children, my closeness to children's literature became stronger, and at times I thought that I could participate in this field. Until a student, who is also my writing friend, inspired me, I officially participated in writing books for children, and found it very enjoyable.

When writing for children, do you feel any pressure? Because you are a newcomer, for example?

- When writing for children, I don't feel too much pressure. In literature, we are always the latecomers. (Laughs). If we set a goal to achieve, we will create pressure for ourselves. But if we decide to participate in this field, if we can contribute something, then we will feel happy.

Writing for children is like the gentlest response to life for me, so in the writing process, joy is already there, many times I write and laugh alone, which is true.

What about the works of famous children's authors before, such as To Hoai, Vo Quang, Pham Ho, Vu Tu Nam, Vu Hung... Do those names make you feel pressured, or help you learn any writing experiences?

- Our generation has inherited many achievements from the literary works we read from our predecessors. I still remember how passionate I was about “The Adventures of a Cricket” and how much I liked the stories in “Hometown”. The pure beauty of the Vietnamese language, the ability to write concisely, concisely, and delicately… are things I always admire and strive for. However, the new era will require different things in terms of emotions, content, writing style… to push the flow of literature to continue unceasingly.

Moc An just said, the new era will require different things in terms of emotions, content, and writing style... So when writing for children, especially children of the 4.0 era, you must have some experience or concept to be "different"?

- It is very difficult to demand a work that is completely different from the previous time and previous author, because the flow of literature always has a continuity, if so, then I hope my work is a little "different". This "different" can come from my own personal perspective and reflection. What I hope most is that the next work is a little different from my previous work. However, one thing that is definitely different from before is that the psychology of children's reception has changed, how to catch up with this "different" of readers is really difficult.

How do you usually start a new work?

- A new work comes to me quite by chance, an idea suddenly comes to me at some point. I also receive many suggestions from my son, when the first reader I aim for is him, what he likes to read, I will try to write. But deeper, the work is often the result of observations, feelings, and thoughts about life over a long period of time. For example, "If one day we disappear" was inspired right in my small garden, from a small snail crawling into my garden in the fall and nibbling on the chrysanthemum pot I just bought.

However, it was several years later that I was able to write about him. “In a place where there are many Dragons” was written because my little friend at home loved Dragons, so I wrote it for him to read, and then for other little friends, including adults who wanted to return to the world of childhood.

For you, is finding the book's theme important, or finding the narrator's voice and way of telling the story; or nurturing the emotions to complete the book important?

- Probably a combination of all those factors (Laughs). For example, I often think about what I will write about, then I will think of a suitable narrative voice and way of telling it. Before and during the writing process, the emotions must be strong and compelling enough. The abundance of emotions will make the pen go in one breath and there will be flashes that even the writer does not expect, creating the highlight of the work.

The book “In a place with many dragons” by Moc An. Photo: Thu Hoang.

Some people still say that Vietnamese literature books for Vietnamese children today are still few and not enough to meet the needs of readers. Can Moc An share more about your perspective?

- Compared to the vast area of ​​translated literature for children, even foreign originals, domestic literary works written for children seem to have not kept up.

But in fact, when we say “less”, there is already an internal push and movement. More and more creative forces are participating in the field of children’s literature, the diversity of topics, content, genres, styles, tones… shows that children’s literature today has had a huge change to catch up with the increasingly new and rich spiritual needs of children.

In your observation, what do you think about young authors writing for children today?

- Young authors promise a new look for Vietnamese children's literature. Le Quang Trang, Nguyen Chi Ngoan, Trong Khang, Lac An… are inspiring names, not to mention a team of "child" authors with amazing writing skills.

They have youthfulness, dynamism, the ability to observe and vividly recreate children's lives and psychology, a deep understanding integrated from many cultural backgrounds at home and abroad, and the talent to combine literature and painting...

We have the right to believe and hope for a Vietnamese children's literature approaching world children's literature in the future.

Thank you!

“

Writing for children is like the gentlest response to life for me, so in the writing process, joy is already there, many times I write and laugh alone, which is true.

Moc An

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/lam-sao-bat-kip-su-khac-cua-doc-gia-la-dieu-rat-kho-10280871.html