Money Isn't Everything, Or Is It?

Bitter old would-be author lacking English grammer skills ponders the success of the young:

The annual list of the richest Chinese authors stirred much controversy upon its release on Tuesday, much as it has every year.

Compiled according to income from copyright royalties, the list rates the 25 hottest-selling authors and stands as a fairly reliable reflection of today's literature market.

Much of the list reads like a who's who of the young generation of writers that has shot to fame in recent years thanks to the popularity of new media, particularly the Internet.

Twenty-four-year-old Guo Jingming topped this year's list with 11 million yuan ($1.47 million) in copyright royalties.

Guo represents the generation born after the 1980s. Such young modern writers have achieved stunning commercial success within just a few years. Their work represents a major departure from the themes and values of classical authors.

Though none of them have ever won any mainstream literary awards, their works have caused many a sensation, leaving some older writers feeling the pressure of their success.

Nevertheless, it is not unfair to say that their commercial success has had little to do with their writing, but rather their personal points of view and individuality, which resonate with today's young readers, who constitute a considerable purchasing force.

To a large extent, the young generation of writers has benefited from China's opening up. Chinese are increasingly tolerant of novel ideas and strange tales.

People who feel uncomfortable with the new wealth of the young generation of authors will have to resign themselves to the marriage between literature and money, even though the linking of the two may not always help popularize works of literary merit.

Gone are the days when great literary masters indulged themselves in a rich spiritual world even as they endured poverty.

Our young writers should always remember there is a great distance between them and their forefathers both in terms of maturity and the depth of their works.

They should also remember that as celebrities they have unavoidable social responsibilities because a great number of young readers idolize them and look to them for life and spiritual guidance.

They should take writing seriously - unhealthy ideas and bad taste could easily leave undesirable imprints on the hearts of young readers.