Summary of the Key Points
Wang Jibing, a food delivery rider, won the Lu Xun Literature Award for his poetry collection "Flying from Low Places." His story is not just a simple motivational tale of an ordinary person achieving success through writing; it reflects the opportunities and challenges associated with the current wave of amateur writing. He offers a clear perspective on the dual nature of the label "food delivery poet"—it can serve as a stepping stone to recognition, but it also risks overshadowing the quality of the actual work. He analyzes the reasons behind the popularity of amateur writing (the lowering barriers posed by the internet and the empathy people feel for real-life experiences) and discusses the challenges faced by such writers (the difficulty in sustaining initial success). He also uses his own experience to illustrate that life is not about enduring hardship, but about creating meaning. Moreover, he positions himself as a link between the past and the future, paving the way for a new generation of talented amateur authors.
1. The Label "Food Delivery Poet": Both a Stepping Stone and a Filter
Wang Jibing views this label as having two sides: for him as a food delivery worker, being a poet is an additional identity; for his writing, being a food delivery worker provides a context.
- The Role of the Label as a Stepping Stone: Without the contrast between being a food delivery worker and writing poetry, his poems might not have gained such rapid popularity (for example, his poem "People in a Hurry" received over twenty million views). It was this unexpected combination that attracted publishers and supported his family (even during arguments, his wife encouraged him to write down his thoughts). He sees the label as a blessing that helped break through the barriers he faced in his writing career.
- The Limitations of the Label as a Filter: The public's perception of a "food delivery worker writing poetry" often leads to lower literary expectations. People are first moved by his identity and then consider the quality of his work, with few truly discussing the poetry itself. He compares this to evaluating grain—individual grains may be impressive, but the yield from an entire field determines the overall quality.
2. Why Has Amateur Writing Become Popular Now? The Demolition of Barriers + Empathy for Real Life
Wang Jibing has been writing for 38 years, but he has only been delivering food for 8. However, people often overlook his 30 years of prior experience in writing. This reflects the public's perception of amateur writing as something that suddenly emerged from everyday contexts.
- Changing Historical Contexts: In the past, literature was exclusive to elites; ordinary people believed writing required education and formal training, as well as membership in literary organizations or publication in specialized journals. The internet and social media have now removed these barriers, making it easier for more people to express themselves (for example, Fan Yusu's "I Am Fan Yusu" and poems by food delivery workers).
- The Power of Authenticity: Amateur writers do not need to seek inspiration from specific settings; they live the experiences they write about. Wang Jibing's 7 years of delivering food and his interviews with 140 riders provided him with a wealth of material that professional writers might not have gained in just a short period. He says, "We are right at the heart of life, so our stories feel more genuine to readers."
3. The Challenges of Sustaining Initial Success in Amateur Writing
Many amateur works represent a burst of creativity stemming from years of experience, but often fail to maintain that momentum due to a lack of ongoing literary training. Wang Jibing offers practical advice:
- Stay True to Yourself: Remember how you started. Even when his earnings from writing exceed those from delivering food, he continues to deliver because it allows him to stay connected to life and observe the world around him.
- Push Yourself: Seek additional literary education and improve your skills by reading more. He advises, "Don't forgive yourself if your work isn't good; just accept it and keep working."
- Set Standards: Move beyond labels and judge works based on literary criteria. He believes that literature should not have arbitrary thresholds for ordinary people, and works should be evaluated according to their quality, regardless of the author's background.
4. Enduring Hardship or Creating Meaningful Life?
Wang Jibing has had various jobs, including working on construction sites and collecting trash, but he dislikes the notion of merely enduring hardship.
- Hardship as a Source of Inspiration: He views his difficult experiences as a source of inspiration for his writing. Despite 25 years without any published works, he kept writing because literature represents something essential in his life. He compares this to someone who plays the flute on a construction site in the cold—although it's tough, the joy is self-satisfying.
- Maintain Inner Strength: He uses basketball as an analogy: the air inside a ball has boundaries that give it elasticity. Similarly, one must maintain their passion for writing to keep their spirit strong. He says, "Not all wings are meant for soaring; even flying from low places is a form of flight."
5. The Role of Amateur Writing in the Present and Future
Wang Jibing does not see himself as the pinnacle of amateur writing; rather, he sees himself as a link between the past and the future.
- Connecting the Past and the Future: The previous generation of amateur writers was largely disconnected from literature, but the new generation has both formal education and practical experience, making them more capable of contributing to the literary scene. He believes this generation will be significant because they combine real-life experiences with a literary foundation.
- Staying True to the Mission: His goal is to prevent amateur writing from being reduced to mere novelty or motivational stories. After winning the award, he reminds himself to focus on the quality of the work and avoid lowering the standards of literature.
Wang Jibing's story highlights that amateur writing is not about a sudden rise from obscurity; it’s about ordinary people using words to share their experiences. Labels can provide opportunities, but they should not be relied upon. The meaning of life lies in creating something meaningful, even if that means flying at lower altitudes. Winning an award is just one milestone; the journey of writing and living must continue.