Young people pursuing literature

Writer Nguyen Nhat Anh, when invited to speak at the 5th Ho Chi Minh City Young Writers Conference in 2024, held on October 11, expressed his surprise and joy at the participation of so many young faces. This is perhaps a characteristic of Ho Chi Minh City, no matter how bustling and noisy it is, it does not diminish the passion for literature in young people.

Writer Nguyen Nhat Anh and young authors at the 5th Ho Chi Minh City Young Writers Conference in 2024

Voice of the Generation

The Young Writers Conference is an important event organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association every five years. This year, the conference welcomes writers aged 40 and under. Notably, after the 7X and 8X generations have made their mark and become famous in the literary world, at this year's conference, many young faces in both age and career appeared.

There are 12 official delegates under 24 years old (born after 2024) and 4 of them have won prestigious literary awards such as: Vi Ha (born in 2004) won the Young Author Award of the Vietnam Writers Association in 2022, Hoang Yen (born in 2007) won the Young Author Award of the Good Short Story Contest of Ho Chi Minh City Literature and Arts Magazine in 2022, Minh Anh (born in 2007) won the A prize of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, Cao Viet Quynh (born in 2008) with the National Book Award 2022.

Working in marketing for a company in District 1 (HCMC), Tran Dat Bach Duong (born in 1996) still spends time pursuing literature, because that is the way he can tell people stories from ideas or life experiences, which sometimes cannot be expressed in words. "Coming to literature, I can write my story in many ways, in many different genres, such as: poetry, novels, short stories. It is also a way to tell the world my thoughts, what I see, observe and want to share", Bach Duong confided.

Just turned 20, Huy Bao (3rd year student of the Faculty of International Law, Ho Chi Minh City University of Law) has left an impression with his free verse poems, expressing the thoughts of his generation. Huy Bao is also the winner of the first prize in the poetry category, Youth Literature Award - Ho Chi Minh City National University in 2023. Huy Bao believes that in today's life, although studying or working makes people busier, there are always gaps and spaces for literature.

Springboard from literature

Not only now, but for a long time, when mentioning literature, many people are hesitant because most writers cannot make a living from their profession, but must find a stable job to maintain their passion. As a senior generation, when asked about this issue, poet Le Thieu Nhon, Head of the Young Writers Committee - Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association, said that young people must accept that literature in an industrial society needs to have its own color, unlike literature of the previous century.

“In addition to pursuing creative literature, you can also pursue applied literature. Can’t literature also be applied to advertising, media, cinema, theater… I believe that young authors living in Ho Chi Minh City will do very well in applied literature. And we also support this trend,” poet Le Thieu Nhon said.

Tran Dat Bach Duong believes that in today's era, there are many different ways and opportunities that come from writing. Sometimes, practicing literature has helped improve professional work, because writing is also a way to expand vocabulary, which can be used in many aspects. "Marketing work is mainly working with customers, having to explain technical terms, or in English, which if you are poor at writing, customers will not understand. Thanks to writing and improving vocabulary through literature, I can score points and have good relationships with customers, making customers feel like I am a professional in solving problems," Bach Duong said.

On October 11, the opening ceremony of the 5th Ho Chi Minh City Young Writers Conference took place at the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Literature and Arts Associations building. This year's conference had the theme "Accompanying the Southern Aspirations", as an affirmation of the formation of a literary creation team born and raised after April 30, 1975. Attending the conference were comrades: Pham Phuong Thao, former Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, former Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council; Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, former member of the Party Central Committee, former Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association..., along with more than 100 young writers, poets and invited delegates.

QUYNH YEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nhung-nguoi-tre-theo-duoi-van-chuong-post763283.html