Chapter 606 Two Major Events
In mid-November, the fourth issue of "Jiuzhou Heroes" had been on the market for nearly a month, and its sales officially exceeded the 2 million mark, breaking the record for the fastest domestic publication to break 2 million copies.
Before the fifth issue went to press, Yu Hua specifically discussed the first print run of this issue with Lin Weimin.
In the past few months, the sales of "Heroes of Kyushu" have been rising almost in a straight line. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that 2 million copies is definitely not the end point of the sales of "Heroes of Kyushu".
As of now, at least before the completion of "The World's Number One", the sales of "Nine Provinces Heroes" will continue to grow rapidly. The only suspense is where the sales will eventually stop.
This also shows the importance of an excellent work to a newly established publication.
“The story of “Number One Under Heaven” is not even halfway through, so the sales of “Heroes of Nine Provinces” should still have some room for growth. I think the first print run of the next few issues can be set at 2 million copies.
Your editorial department should pay attention to the feedback from bookstores in various places in a timely manner. If there is a decline in sales, adjustments should be made as soon as possible. "
"good."
After discussing the business, Lin Weimin looked at Yu Hua's face and asked, "Did you not get enough rest recently? Why do you have such dark circles under your eyes?"
"It's okay. Isn't this Xiao Tong, who keeps urging me to write a novel? Last night, he blocked me in the dormitory and watched me write until almost twelve o'clock."
When talking about this, Yu Hua couldn't help yawning.
He complained again: "Teacher Lin, I think Xiao Tong has gone a little crazy recently. He is now focusing on me when he urges me to submit my manuscripts. He either asks me to go to his house or blocks me in my dormitory, leaving me no private space. How can he be an editor like this?"
Lin Weimin nodded with satisfaction when he heard this.
He said to Hua hypocritically: "Xiao Tong is also responsible for his work, you have to understand him."
Yu Hua was helpless. Xiao Tong inherited Teacher Lin’s bad habits and he actually thought of coming to him to complain. How stupid!
Looking at Yu Hua's leaving back, Lin Weimin's face showed a sense of satisfaction at having had his revenge.
You little bastard! Can't I cure you?
After watching Yu Hua leave, Lin Weimin also left his office and found Cheng Zaochun.
He came to Cheng Zaochun to discuss two ideas that he had recently been thinking about.
The first one is about Tongwen Society, which has been established for almost a year.
During this year, Jin Yong's works sold nearly 500,000 copies, generating nearly 30 million yuan in sales for Guowen Publishing House, setting a sales record for a single series or collection of works by Guowen Publishing House in decades.
Since its launch, "Heroes of Kyushu" has sold over one million copies per issue and over two million copies in four issues.
Last month, Huang Ying's collection of works, "Six Horror Stories" series and "Chen Shengyi" series were published, with an initial print run of 30,000 copies. This month, Liang Yusheng's collection of works was published, with an initial print run of 80,000 copies.
Although the works of the two have only been on the market for a short time, feedback from all parties has been good about the sales results. Although it is difficult to replicate the craze that occurred when Jin Yong's works were released, it will not be a problem to make a fortune.
Tongwen Society did not complete much work in this year, but the achievements in each work were extremely brilliant.
With these achievements, Lin Weimin is full of confidence.
So the first request he made to Cheng Zaochun was to hold a contemporary popular literature seminar in the name of Tongwen Society in the early spring of next year.
"You kid want to be the leader of the martial arts world!" Cheng Zaochun couldn't help but teased after hearing Lin Weimin's words.
"It's not that I want to be the leader, but popular literature is in disarray right now. Holding a large-scale seminar can also boost everyone's morale, so that they don't have to be criticized by others and dare not even say a word!"
Since the 1980s, popular literature has risen even faster than pure literature, but its status is really low.
In fact, it is not only since the 1980s, but to be more precise, since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Everyone knows the reasons.
Who is the most uneducated person in this world?
The (Chinese) common people!
I have to educate you even if I let you watch a party during the New Year!
"Aren't you afraid of being the first to stick your head out?" Cheng Zaochun asked.
"What are you afraid of? Even if the sky falls, we have the Chinese Literature Society to hold it up, and we have you as the president."
Cheng Zaochun looked at Lin Weimin speechlessly and said, "You can at least pretend a little!"
To hold a large-scale exchange and discussion meeting like the one Lin Weimin mentioned, it is impossible without strong influence and execution capabilities.
Tongwenshe is definitely not capable of doing this with its current size, but it doesn’t matter, because I have a good big brother.
Guowen Publishing House has bought Jin Yong's collection of works for 30 million yuan, so you should at least do something to help, right?
Therefore, when Lin Weimin made this request, he felt justified and had a clear conscience.
"It's a waste of time and money!" Cheng Zaochun complained.
Lin Weimin was unhappy when he heard this and said, "The studio holds several workshops a month, why don't you say it's a waste of time and money?"
"At least if I hold a seminar on novels, I can get them in the newspapers and sell books."
"This seminar is not only to expand the influence of popular literature in the literary world, but also to expand the influence of our Tongwen Society in the literary world. Can you stop being so petty and afraid to spend that little money?"
"You don't know how expensive firewood and rice are until you run a household!"
"Then give me all the profits from Jin Yong's collection of works, and I'll run it myself."
Cheng Zaochun stopped talking immediately. How could he take out the money that had already gone into his pocket?
"Okay, you have someone draft the charter and I'll have someone prepare it." Cheng Zaochun agreed reluctantly.
A smile appeared on Lin Weimin's face, and then he expressed his second idea.
In some developed countries such as Europe and the United States, almost every country has a series of books such as the World Library, which showcases the systematic achievements of their country's literary publishing.
China has thousands of years of civilization history, and the socialist new China has been established for decades, but there is still no such set of books. This can only be said to be a cultural deficiency.
“…For the foreign part, I think it can include works from the Homeric epic period to the end of World War II; for the Chinese part, it should be from the Anthology of the Book of Songs to the eve of the founding of New China.
This series of books aims to compile the essence of literary works from all over the world and become a large library that can reflect the highest achievements of world literature.
I think our National Literature Society has an unshirkable responsibility in this matter.”
Cheng Zaochun couldn't help but hold his forehead with his hand as he watched Lin Weimin talking incessantly and passionately. This kid always wanted to make a big noise, and he really couldn't stand it anymore.
Many countries do have series of books with the concept of "World Library", and even China has them. The Commercial Press has published the "Chinese Translation of World Academic Classics Series", which brings together academic works from various countries.
However, the Chinese Translation of World Academic Classics Series focuses on academics rather than literature, the translation level is average, and there is a lack of domestic works.
What Lin Weimin wants to do is to compile classic literary works from all over the world into a series of books.
"Do you know how much time, energy and money it takes to complete a series of books like this?" Cheng Zaochun couldn't help asking.
Lin Weimin did not answer Cheng Zaochun's question, but asked him in return, "Old Cheng, you will retire in a few years, right?"
Cheng Zaochun looked unhappy. This kid kept talking about things that were not relevant to the topic!
Lin Weimin continued, "Don't you want to complete such a grand publishing project before you retire? Our series of books is destined to go down in the history of Chinese literature!"
Lin Weimin's eyes when he looked at Cheng Zaochun were more seductive than those of a vixen.
Cheng Zaochun couldn't help but curse in his heart, this kid really had a perfect grasp of his psychology.
Which leader could resist the temptation of having a large library reflecting the highest achievements of world literature created under his leadership?
Anyway, Cheng Zaochun couldn't refuse!
His eyes were filled with greed, "You tempted me again."
"What do you mean by tempting you? I'm just stating the facts. It's okay if you don't want to. When you retire, I can do it myself."
Cheng Zaochun couldn't help but glare at Lin Weimin, but said, "You are too young to handle such a big project alone. Let me do it."
Lin Weimin curled his lips. The old comrade couldn't resist the temptation. This shows his lack of self-control!
Cheng Zaochun's face turned red, and he pulled Lin Weimin aside to discuss the feasibility of this matter.
A series of books like the "World Library" is a huge project.
Ordinary publishing houses wouldn’t even dare to think about it, let alone do it.
But Guowen Publishing House is, after all, the number one publishing house in the field of Chinese literature. With the human, financial and cultural resources accumulated over the years, it should be the best choice to do this.
Lin Weimin had this idea long before he took office. He had been abroad several times over the years and had brought back two sets of books.
In 1987, he went to France to attend the award ceremony of the Prix Goncourt and brought back a set of Gallimard's Seven Stars Collection.
The Seven Stars Library was founded in 1931 by the Jewish refugee Jacques Schiffrin, who published the complete works of classic writers in small volumes. Two years later, it was introduced to Gallimard Publishing House and became famous.
After more than half a century of development, the Seven Stars Library has collected works by dozens of writers from around the world and published more than 400 volumes, becoming the most famous literary series in the world literary world.
In recent years, having a work selected for the Seven Stars Library is even considered a great affirmation for a writer.
It is worth mentioning that many of China's classical literary works such as "Water Margin", "Laozi", "Zhuangzi", "Liezi", "Dream of Red Mansions" and "Jin Ping Mei" are included in the Qixing Library.
Another series of books that Lin Weimin brought back was the American Library, which was created by Americans based on the concept of the French Seven Stars Library. The first volume of the series was planned and published in 1979, with the main funding provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Ford Foundation. The series includes a wide range of works by classic writers from Mark Twain to Philip Roth, Nathaniel Hawthorne to Saul Bellow.
Due to its later establishment time, the American Library is far behind the Seven Stars Library in terms of influence and quality of series.
These two series of books are considered to be top-notch library products worldwide, but the concept of library proposed by Lin Weimin is slightly different from these two series of books.
The Seven Stars Library and the American Library are centered around writers, collecting famous works by famous authors, while Lin Weimin's idea is to use history as the axis, collecting famous works from various periods, ignoring the concept of writers.
Cheng Zaochun also noticed the difference between the examples Lin Weimin cited and the series of books he wanted to create, and asked, "Isn't your direction different from the Seven Stars Library and the American Library?"
"Of course it's different. They collect works by modern masters, and many of their works haven't even passed the copyright protection period. Can you afford it?"
(End of this chapter)
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