莫言：要想寫得好，先把文學獎忘掉
Sharing a stage with J.M. Coetzee, the 2003 Nobel laureate in literature, Mo Yan revealed publicly on Tuesday his mood change after winning his own such prize.
The two laureates were brought together by the Second China-Australia Literary Forum in Beijing, which kicked off on Tuesday and will conclude Wednesday.
Mo, the first Nobel winner in literature born and living in China, said he had trouble with the sudden publicity, which put a lot of pressure on him.
"I only hope to return to my writing desk as soon as possible," Mo said, "and I would also like to do good in society anonymously."
Mo said he was even bothered by numerous requests asking him to offer help that took advantage of his fame.
"I was upset the first several days after the prize announcement, but then I realized the prize is just like a mirror that reflects various attitudes about my winning, and more, reflects the real me," Mo said.
"I still consider myself an ordinary citizen who writes. And presenting quality works is my duty and best way of giving back to society."
"I'm no superstar," he emphasized several times.
Mo believes Chinese literature has achieved much in the past three decades, and the driving force behind that is not the prize.
"Writers' creations should not be driven by awards, or criticism, or readers' expectations," Mo said.
"Good literary pieces are always centered on people and human emotions," he said.
Coetzee discussed his own views on the Nobel Prize. Coetzee spoke of the literary tastes of Alfred Nobel, founder of the prize, and pointed out Nobel's personal preference that literary works show "progress and power of the human spirit", which could be an influence on the Swedish Academy's choices.
Mo said he misunderstood the standards of the academy's selection before he visited Stockholm to receive the prize in December.
"I thought they were judging the authors' personality or political features, then I learned the sole standard of their selection is literature itself, which is also deeply based in the Swedish people's long-established practice of reading a large number of books," Mo said.
During the forum, established Chinese and Australian writers discussed subjects as diverse as tradition and modernity, the local and the universe and cultural inclusiveness. And they will also read works to each other and the readers.
"Both China and Australia are countries with a great literary tradition in the Asia-Pacific region," said Tie Ning, chairwoman of the Chinese Writers Association, the forum's organizer, "I hope the mutual exchange will help people see the changing country and its various literary expression."
Tie also said the writers communication will further promote Chinese writers to a global audience.
Australian Ambassador to China Frances Adamson agreed. "It's a milestone of literary exchanges between the two countries, who are longtime friends," Adamson said.
This is the first time the South Africa-born Coetzee, who now lives and teaches in Australia, has visited China in an official capacity. His works, including Life & Times of Michael K and Disgrace, are popular among Chinese readers.
Chinese writer Li Er said he has been influenced by Coetzee's rational writing.四月二日，中澳文學節在中國現代文學館舉行。中國諾貝爾文學獎得主莫言，與首次到華訪問的2003年諾獎得主JM庫切，會面交鋒，就諾貝爾文學獎及其意義分別發表演講。庫切談到阿爾夫瑞德•諾貝爾良好的文學品味，以及他關於文學＂理想主義的導向＂對諾獎歸屬的影響。
莫言首次在公開場合坦誠談及與諾獎的愛恨情緣，甚至向媒體呼籲，請少邀請我參加活動，我會用寫作來回報大家。莫言的幽默發言引來陣陣理解的笑聲，以及庫切的＂我給您我真誠的同情＂。
莫言說，他自己絕對會迴避諾獎這一話題。今天是冒着風險和庫切切磋。他說文學創作不應以獎項爲目的，而是應追求自我表達，追求光明。
要想寫得好，先把文學獎要忘掉獎。
過去幾年，因爲一直被博彩機構列爲最有機會得獎的中國作家，莫言深受其苦。甚至說，和一個作家有仇，就造謠他最有希望的諾獎。
去年八月，因爲博彩的預測，莫言爲了躲避過多地關注回到高密。在幾乎忘卻時，諾將悄然而至。
得獎之後，我起初心煩，想不到這麼多人恨我。
莫言坦言諾獎之後，竟有親戚朋友求他找工作，幫看病，打官司。這引發他對諾獎得主在社會，特別是在中國，該扮演怎樣的角色得思考。
我就是作爲老百姓在寫作，不要錯以爲自己成了大人物。
用我家鄉話來說，你要知道自己吃幾碗乾飯。
我還是希望能獨來獨往，才能冷眼旁觀。
我希望能自由的選擇生活方式，而作家的地位也不用擡太高。
我會繼續安靜的寫東西，同時悄悄的做有益於社會的與寫作無關的事。
我儘快回到書桌，寫出好作品，纔是我該做的。
他說在去瑞典領獎的十幾天，他也重新認識到以前對諾獎的認識有偏差。
瑞典學院關注的首先是文學，而不是人的因素，或政治的因素。
文學本身是最重要的標準。而對諾獎的評判，來自瑞典社會上下長期大量的閱讀。
比如跟國王王后吃飯時，王后就提到，她十幾年前就開始閱讀不同語種的莫言作品譯本。
諾獎是面鏡子，照出世間百態，照出真正的我，以及哈哈鏡裏的我。
再過六個月，新的諾獎得主名單將出爐。到時候就沒人理我了。
