HCM CITY – In today’s society, the most important duty of young writers is to offer quality works that expand people’s intellectual horizons, delegates said at a meeting for young writers held in HCM City last week.

Organised every five years by the HCM City Writers Association, this year’s event attracted more than 100 writers born in the 1980s from HCM City and the Cửu Long (Mekong) River Delta.

Huỳnh Trọng Khang, 23, popular for his novel Mộ Phần Tuổi Trẻ (Tomb of Youth), said that his works respected readers and that he always tried to deepen his knowledge to produce quality works that can enhance readers’ tastes.

“Never allow yourselves to fall behind,” Khang said.

Nguyễn Đình Minh Khuê, head of the Young Pen Club at the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said: “Young writers are focusing a lot on youth’s feelings such as love, hatred, heartbreaks and loneliness.”

Some of the books have become bestsellers, such as Buồn Làm Sao Buông (How to Get Rid of Sadness), a novel by Anh Khang about sadness and anxiety in love. As many as 70,000 copies since 2014 have been printed.

Hamlet Trương and Iris Cao released their co-written novel Ai Rồi Cũng Khác (Everyone Will Change) which features young people’s feelings and thoughts about love and relationships with family and friends.

Around 20,000 copies were printed in 2015 for the first edition.

However, Khuê said: “I know that life is complicated and people need to share their feelings. But it’s strange that the market is overwhelmed with these kinds of books to serve specific readers, particularly young people.”

“I thought that true writers are ‘strong men’ who help improve readers’ tastes as well as intellectual standards,” he added.

Poet Vĩnh Thông, who began writing at the age of 14 and has published 22 poetry books, recommended that young writers focus on urgent issues and problems in society.

“Most writers love to write about school, friendship and love when they start their writing careers. But when society changes, they should change their mind,” said Thông, a 22-year-old student at the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Literary critic Trần Xuân Tiến of the city’s Văn Lang University agreed with Khuê and Thông.

“Young writers are doing their jobs well. They satisfy the needs and wants of the readers, particularly young people, but they should be more responsible in their work. Respect for readers doesn’t mean they should just satisfy the crowd’s needs, but instead means they should help improve readers’ tastes and minds.”  

Hard road

Writer Trần Minh Hợp said: “I realised writing is the best way for young writers to contribute to society’s development, even though it’s a hard road.”

The 29-year-old likes to write about the poor and their hard lives to introduce readers to the reality of life and society.

His novel Cô Gái Bán Ô Màu Đỏ (The Girl Selling Red Umbrellas) won the Young Writer prize given by the HCM City Writers Association in 2011.

“Some writers are too inexperienced to understand the duties of an author,” he said,  adding that becoming a professional writer was difficult.

Veteran poet Trần Quang Chuyền said young writers have more opportunities now to approach the world’s cultural and literacy achievements and to travel everywhere to open their minds.

Chuyền is a member of the Việt Nam Writers Association and the city’s Writers Association. Of his 15 poetry books, some have won prizes awarded by prestigious magazines and associations. 

“Love and responsibility for life and people will help young writers have energy and creativity to create quality works,” he added.  VNS