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Life experience inspires author's books
By Xiao Ma (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-01-03 06:35
Working odd jobs in Beijing is not just a way to pay the bills for Dong
Mingxia. Her work as a housemaid, restaurant handy helper and unprofessional
actress is motivated not by the paycheck, but for the experience.
Dong, a female author from Central China's Hubei Province, gets her writing
inspiration first hand. Her new novel, to be titled "City Forest," is about a
female college graduate who lives on a meagre income gleaned from various
low-paying jobs.
To better understand her character, 35-year-old Dong came to Beijing about a
month ago with only 600 yuan (US$74) in her pocket.
"But I want to experience a hard life in awkward situation this time. I have
to work this time for my first-hand experience, which is so important to me for
my story," Dong told the Beijing News daily yesterday.
"Without the experiences, I just cannot write anything concrete."
She is now living in a temporary bedroom of a housekeeping company in
Chaoyang District which requires a rent of 200 yuan (US$25) a month - and works
as a housemaid in a nearby neighbourhood.
"I love Beijing. Here, there are so many migrant workers, who have their own
ideas and stories to tell. In meeting with them, I could have some sparks in
thought," she said.
Her job is to accompany the woman master who has difficulty in walk to go for
a walk as exercises, cook meals and do cleaning work. Back home, Dong seldom
cooks or does chores.
"I am lucky as I can now master my own fate, and enter into all walks of life
I have in my mind for a story," she said.
"When I am back in my own bedroom at night, close the door, and bring out my
computer to pen a few line, I feel free free to do what I really like."
Dong is best known for a winning a top prize in a Web contest last year with
"Love Doudou."
The novel, about a love affair in Beijing between an orphan Xu Doudou and
online confidant Ant, won the Second Chinese Original Literature Competition of
Sina.com a forerunner news portal, with a cash prize of 50,000 yuan (US$6,165).
It later came out in book form in January this year at the Beijing Publishing
House.
In writing "Love Doudou," Dong came to Beijing in September 2004 from her
hometown of Wuhan Hubei's provincial capital, and stayed in the capital for
three months to collect material for her story by meeting with various types of
people.
"I always long for social progress, and have been thinking of a harmonious
society in which everyone has something to eat and is free to express one's
thoughts," Dong said. "I am longing for a heart-shaking piece."
Besides "Love Doudou," Dong also finished two other novels "Futures Love" and
"Safe Exit" last year. The former high school teacher said she began to publish
prose and poems in 1987.
Her earlier experiences made her think, she said. "For one thing, high-rises
accompany luxurious recreation sites in Beijing, while in the other, there are
people struggling under the poverty line. This made me think that we have an
urgent need to create an atmosphere of social harmony."
This time around, Dong has come to see some people's sorrows while doing her
fieldwork and has experienced some personal growth.
"Frankly speaking, I am a miserable spiritual traveller, who wants to explore
social progress. Through my contacts with temporary workers and housemaids in
Beijing, I have become serious with my life," she said.
(China Daily 01/03/2006 page3)
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