Writer-in-residence for the 2023/24 academic year Chen Chuncheng inspires students' creativity
This year, the Department of Chinese of Lingnan University invited young writer Mr Chen Chuncheng to be the writer-in-residence. He recently gave a talk on campus, discussing the poems of Tang-dynasty poet Du Fu, and his personal experience of reading Du Fu's poetry and its influence on his own creative writing.
Mr Chen is inspired by traditional poetry to create various pieces of unique writing. His work was published in a collection, The Submarine at Night, in 2020, which was ranked as one of the top 10 fictional works of the year by Yazhou Zhoukan (Asia Weekly). Mr Chen received the prestigious Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize in 2021, and in the first term of this academic year, he and lecturer Ms Chan Hay-ching have taught an inspiring Chinese literature creative writing course.
Prof Mary Wong Shuk-han (left) and Ms Chan Hay-ching (right) hosting the talk
Ms Chan said, "Chuncheng carefully selects and prepares modern novels from different countries, eras, styles, and genres for students to read and discuss. His insights have a great influence on students. Some students became enamoured with Stefan Zweig's writing and read more of his novels. Others had their love for Haruki Murakami's works confirmed after reading his short stories on the course."
The Writer-in-Residence programme at Lingnan University invites literary writers and artists to lecture, embodying Lingnan's spirit of liberal arts education. "The programme teaches small groups, instils writing techniques, provides feedback on students' creative work, and holds discussions. These writers also meet literature enthusiasts in Hong Kong to promote creative styles and cultural exchanges," Prof Mary Wong Shuk-han, Associate Professor of the Department of Chinese, explained.
