HCM CITY — The emerging trend of publishing popular blogs is good in that it gives greater exposure to unknown writers, but it could also undermine good writing and literary appreciation, critics warn. Last year saw a series of books descend from blogs and some of them have since taken to writing as their main profession.
The most famous case is that of Trang Ha, whose blog kick-started her writing career. Since then, a string of new bloggers have entered the book market, and some of them have become instant hits.
Keng (Do Thi Thuy Linh) had three of her books released in a year: Di Ban (Variant), Hong Gai (Thorny Rose), and Doi Mat Khong Con Roi Nuoc (The Eyes Do Not Weep any Longer).
Meanwhile, Gao's (Vu Phuong Thanh) book for teenagers, Cho Em Gan Anh Them Chut Nua (Let Me Be A Bit Closer to You) and Van Lam's (Bui Thi Doan Trang) Dan Ba Nhe Da (Gullible Women) also catapulted the wannabe writers to fame.
Notions
The latest blogger-turned-writer on the block is Tran Dinh Dung with Qua Cua Bo (Father's Present).
Dung disclaims notions he wants to turn a professional writer. "I do not intend to do business with my book because nobody gets rich by writing. Whatever I wrote in my blog is for my children and relatives."
The businessman said he was prompted to have his jottings on the blog printed because he was afraid of losing it just in case another yahoo360 happened.
He said he decided to go into print to leave "presents to my descendants".
"Most of my buyers are friends and relatives," Dung said. "I'll use all the profit to make a speaking book for the blind."
For Trang Ha, blog has become a litmus test tool.
"I consider anything I write in my blog as a draft to conduct a poll of readers before printing. Many people buy my books though they've read it in my blog."
While Ha sees blog readers as literary critics, they also end up advertising a book by making readers curious to know what has made a piece of writing popular.
After 5,000 copies of the first edition of Keng's book were sold out, 2,000 additional copies were printed just three weeks later.
The rush for Cho Em Gan Anh Them Chut Nua by Gao was also driven by the popularity of the blog.
While the online world has turned virtual unknowns into popular writers, aspirants now see the blog as the easiest way to create a reputation for themselves.
Keng said she saw her blog-spurred success as a stepping stone to write better.
"My career as a copy-writer also involves writing, but purely to earn money. Writing blogs and publishing books, however, is self-assertion.
"Although the three books published last year have been liked by readers, they are not highly appreciated by the literary world. Maybe because I wrote too much about love," Keng said.
"I intend to write much more about lives and careers in my next works," she said.
Critics note that blog-generated popularity and success can also bring the standard of writing down.
In a commentary on the new literary phenomenon, the Phu Nu (Women) newspaper said that instead of bringing significant works to readers, blogs can also have people racing to fame by writing that is designed to shock and titillate.
"In the past, we had oral traditions. Today, it is good to have online literature. In general, oral, online, or printed works are just means.
"The most important aspect of a work is the value of its content. There is a large gap between real literature and works descended from a blog," said writer and journalist Doan Thach Bien. — VNS