What do young writers 'fear'?

At the symposium '50 Years of Vietnamese Literature Since 1975: Perspectives from Young Writers', the biggest question not only revolved around the journey of Vietnamese literature, but also directly addressed the sentiments of today's generation of writers.

What are young writers "afraid" of when faced with the legacy of half a century of Vietnamese literature and the unprecedented changes of the digital age? This fear, however it manifests itself, shares a common root: the desire to write differently, to explore the new, but still being held back by both visible and invisible barriers...

The symposium "50 Years of Vietnamese Literature Since 1975: Perspectives of Young Writers," recently held in Hanoi, brought together many young writers alongside established figures in the field such as poet Nguyen Quang Thieu - President of the Vietnam Writers Association, poet Huu Viet - Head of the Young Writers Committee, Associate Professor and Doctor, critic Nguyen Dang Diep - Director of the Institute of Literature, Chairman of the Council for Literary Theory and Criticism (Vietnam Writers Association), writer Nguyen Ngoc Tu… It was considered a forum for generations to interact, share concerns, passions, and perspectives on new developments in Vietnamese literature.

Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu - President of the Vietnam Writers Association, delivered a speech at the seminar.

PHOTO: BTC

The "fear" of young writers before the 50-year legacy of Vietnamese literature.

Young literary critic Le Thi Ngoc Tram began her presentation with the story "Writing in the Shadow of Fears." She argued that young writers, facing a half-century of literary legacy and the storm of digital technology, often harbor fears: fear of the shadow cast by previous generations, fear of censorship, fear of personal experiences being considered marginal in classical literature or in the digital age. They wonder if they have anything left to write about amidst this already dense forest of literary works.

At the panel discussion, she shared her own fears: what would she say when so many seasoned writers had already analyzed 50 years of literature? As a teacher, she noticed that literature students often hesitate to share their feelings, fearing they might not agree with their teachers or authors, and hoping to know if writers are interested in their school essays…

Sitting in a space for dialogue expected to foster self-reflection, writer Phung Thi Huong Ly pointed out the anxieties and concerns that young people are facing, such as thematic thinking, life experiences, and writing style. According to her, many young people harbor a fear of "not being nationalistic enough"—writing about their nation but fearing… not being nationalistic enough, leading them to confine themselves to outdated traditional material. Therefore, they create stories that no longer reflect real life.

Writer Phung Thi Huong Ly emphasizes that perhaps the most dangerous fear is "misconceptions about value." In an era where even an ordinary article can receive thousands of interactions, young people easily feel they are "good enough" and neglect the need for self-improvement. When virtual praise blurs the lines between good and bad, literary standards become even more fragile.

Another fear among young writers emerges amidst systemic challenges. Writer Nguyen Hoang Dieu Thuy points out that the publishing industry is experiencing low revenue, the creative playing field is shrinking, while society's ability to focus on reading has sharply declined. The lack of a foundation of resources and support mechanisms – from creative funding, translation, publishing to international promotion – makes many young writers worry that even valuable works will struggle to reach readers. This is the fear of being left behind, not because of incompetence, but because circumstances "rob us of opportunities."

Another persistent fear among many young authors is the fear of repetition. At the "Young Writers" forum, writer Huong Ly also pointed out the reality that many manuscripts are written from the memories of previous generations, failing to reflect change. This leads to the fear of "going backward," as writers are hesitant to step outside their comfort zone…

At a symposium on the prospects of Vietnamese literature, a prominent viewpoint was the need for young people to listen to tradition, engage in dialogue with the present, and courageously open the door to the future with their own voices.

PHOTO: QUANG HA

The aspiration to embark on a journey to discover the unique voice of the new generation.

From the perspective of an older generation, writer Nguyen Ngoc Tu calls the biggest obstacle for young writers "easily distracted." Online drama, visual pressure, and the saturation of entertainment content cause them to watch a lot but understand little, read a lot but… retain nothing. This distraction creates another fear: the fear of not being deep enough, not enduring enough, not focused enough to create works of lasting value.

Meanwhile, writer Mac Yen warns about a particular kind of fear: the fear of breaking free from socially accepted norms. Therefore, young people "copy their own culture," leading to a situation where works only revolve around repetitive motifs.

Concerns about the lack of generational connection are also evident in the sharing of doctor and author Tran Van Thien. There are even fears that are very contemporary: fear of AI replacing professions; fear of harsh online reactions; fear that works will be misunderstood before they even have a chance to take shape. But what is valuable is that, after all this, young writers still maintain the passion to go further.

After hours of open discussion, with exchanges between generations and diverse perspectives, it is clear that fear, ultimately, is not a barrier. On the contrary, it becomes fuel for the younger generation to ask themselves what they want, how far they dare to go, whether they are ready to step out of their comfort zone, and continue to innovate and adapt after 50 years to open up new horizons for Vietnamese literature.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-viet-van-tre-so-hai-dieu-gi-1852511161927288.htm