Meet diverse needs

In the exchange program to launch the short story collection Spring Lake (Vietnamese Women's Publishing House) by writer Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc held in Ho Chi Minh City recently, a surprising thing was that the auditorium was packed with attendees, mostly young people. Due to the distance, writer Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc interacted with the audience online.

Ms. Thanh Tam (26 years old, living in Binh Thanh district) shared: “I really like the short stories of writer Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc, however, it has been very difficult to meet her because the writer is abroad. Through this form of online communication, I can listen to her talk and share more deeply about her works.”

Previously, the branch of the Vietnam Women's Publishing House in Ho Chi Minh City has also organized many online exchange programs or combined online and in-person forms such as: "LGBTQ+ and the perspective of today's youth", "Women's Library - A dialogue on gender studies in Vietnam" or an exchange program with Japanese writer Yoko Tawada on the occasion of the launch of the story collection "The Dog Boy"... According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu, Director of the branch of the Vietnam Women's Publishing House in Ho Chi Minh City, the form of online exchange and book launch was initially a temporary solution due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, up to now, although there are no more restrictions, this form is still maintained because people see many advantages such as helping to expand the reach of readers, helping to connect Vietnamese readers with foreign speakers or those living abroad. "The combination of online and in-person creates a more flexible space, meeting more diverse needs of the public", said Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu.

Currently, many publishing units choose this form of combined communication, such as the Writers Association Publishing House, which recently organized the launch of the long poem Lo Mot by poet Nguyen Quang Thieu in a combined online and in-person format. Before that, there was the launch of the short story collection Hoa Xuan Trong Gio Xuan by writer Do Bich Thuy. “If it was only organized in person in Hanoi like usual, many readers and writers from far away would not have been able to come. But my recent launch was very interesting. Readers from nearby filled the room, readers from far away participated enthusiastically online. Many people said that no matter the format, seeing the author is still more fun,” writer Do Bich Thuy shared.

To be effective, there must be investment.

According to writer Do Bich Thuy, in many fields, online communication is an extremely effective form, saving time, costs, no need to move... Just a phone or computer with internet connection, anyone can participate. However, with literature, it is a little different. Each new book introduction is a reason for literary friends to meet, to give you a bouquet of flowers, buy a book, ask for an autograph, congratulate you, look at the results of your work to have the motivation to put aside this and that and sit down at the writing desk.

“Maybe I’m old school. I bought an e-reader but it’s mainly my children who use it, I still prefer to read paper books. Meeting and interacting in person is the same, I still prefer it. However, because I prioritize friends who live far away, I will occasionally organize online interactions,” writer Do Bich Thuy shared.

As a publisher, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu believes that online communication helps increase the spread of communication programs, readers in all regions can access more, significantly saving costs for venue rental, travel, logistics, etc. compared to traditional events. The program can also be recorded and replayed many times, helping the content continue to reach more people after the event ends.

However, both writer Do Bich Thuy and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu affirmed that the limitation of online communication is the lack of direct interaction between writers and readers, a very unique feeling of literature and art. Not to mention, technical issues such as network connection, equipment, and software can sometimes affect the quality of the program. "Online communication is convenient but not simple. It requires careful preparation and investment in terms of technology, content and organization to bring the highest efficiency," Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu said.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/giao-luu-truc-tuyen-mo-rong-pham-vi-tiep-can-doc-gia-post785876.html