A Literary Life Starting from the First Year of High School

December 16th, Friday, the last self-study period in the afternoon.

Old Chen appeared at the classroom door and waved to Lin Shubai. Lin Shubai put down his pen and followed him out of the classroom.

As Old Chen walked, he said, "The school approved it. It's an activity room, and 5,000 yuan in start-up funding. Principal Zhou said that if it's not enough, they'll approve more."

Lin Shubai followed behind him, asking, "Where's the activity room?"

"The logistics department has cleaned up the small room on the second floor of the administration building that used to be used for storing miscellaneous items."

The two went up to the second floor and walked to the end of the corridor. Old Chen pushed open the door and found a room of about 20 square meters with newly painted walls. There was a long table against the wall, six chairs, an empty bookshelf in the corner, and a pot of green ivy on the table.

Old Chen went in, sat down at the table, and pulled a form out of the folder.

Have you decided on a title for the journal?

Lin Shubai sat down opposite him. "Hope, a bimonthly magazine, forty-eight pages per issue."

Old Chen wrote the word "hope" on the form. "What about the sections?"

Lin Shubai took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and pushed it over.

"Four sections. 'Campus Stories' - Student submissions, including novels and essays. 'Book and Film Reviews' - Book and film reviews. 'Poetry and Youth' - Poetry column. 'Starry Sky' - Science fiction and fantasy column."

Old Chen glanced at the note, picked up a pen, and copied all four columns onto the form. "You write the foreword for the first issue."

"it is good."

Old Chen leaned back in his chair. "When will it be released?"

"By the end of odd-numbered months: March, May, July, September, and November. We aim to release the first phase by the end of March."

Old Chen nodded, wrote it down on the form, then closed the folder and looked at Lin Shubai.

"Editor, what are your plans?"

"Write a recruitment notice and post it on the grade bulletin board. The requirements are twofold: be interested in writing, be willing to spend time on it, and have no academic record restrictions."

Old Chen was silent for two seconds. "No grade requirement?"

"No restrictions, writing is not related to grades."

Old Chen didn't press further. "Okay, you decide on the recruitment. I'll handle coordinating the venue and timing. Is there anything else the school needs to support?"

Lin Shubai thought for a moment, "Printing? Can the school's printing room do it?"

"Yes. I've negotiated with the logistics department. It's at cost price, about three yuan per book. We'll print two hundred copies for the first period and distribute them at the school."

"it is good."

Old Chen pushed the folder aside and placed his hands on the table, crossed. "Let's talk about the details. How are we going to get the first issue's manuscripts? Relying solely on recruitment isn't enough."

Lin Shubai had already thought about this issue. "I'll write two articles, one for the editorial and one for the 'Hoshino' column. In addition, I can ask the language arts teachers to recommend some of the students' excellent essays. I'll contact the authors first and get their permission before using them."

"Sure. I'll talk to the Chinese language teachers for you, but can you handle writing two articles by yourself, plus reviewing, formatting, and proofreading?"

"Therefore, we need to recruit an editorial team as soon as possible. The tasks of soliciting manuscripts, initial review, and proofreading can be outsourced. I will only be responsible for the final review and finalization."

Old Chen picked up a pen and wrote a few lines in the blank space of the form. "When are you going to write the recruitment notice?"

"I'll write it now, and if there are no problems, I'll post it on Monday."

"Okay. How do you plan to arrange the interview?"

Lin Shubai thought for a moment, "Let's not call it an interview, let's call it a meet-and-greet. It will be held next Wednesday afternoon during the last self-study period in this activity room. Let the students who have signed up come over and chat, and see which section they are interested in and if they have any ideas of their own."

Old Chen glanced at him but didn't refute. "I'll just sit in on the meeting and not interrupt. You decide who comes."

"it is good."

Old Chen wrote a few more lines on the form, then looked up. "About the funding, what are your plans for the five thousand yuan?"

Lin Shubai had already made a list. "Printing costs are the biggest expense. The first batch of 200 copies will cost 600 yuan. If the print run increases, the cost will be even higher. Keep 3,000 yuan for printing as a reserve, and use the remaining 2,000 yuan to buy some office supplies such as manuscript paper, pens, and folders. Also, keep some for event expenses."

"What activity?"

"For example, inviting someone to give a lecture, or organizing members to visit bookstores and publishing houses. I haven't thought of anything specific yet, so I'll leave it for now."

Old Chen nodded. "You just need to keep track of how the funds are used and submit it to the school for filing at the end of the semester."

"it is good."

Old Chen flipped to the last page of the form, which read "Publication Registration Form" and included sections for distribution scope, distribution method, and the instructor's signature.

"Should we just write 'distribution within the school' for the distribution scope?"

Lin Shubai thought for a moment, "Let's start with the school. If the response is good, we can exchange publications with literary societies in other schools. I heard that Fudan High School and Jiaotong University High School both have their own literary societies. We can contact them."

"That's quite an unconventional approach."

Old Chen stood up, tucked the folder under his arm, and said, "Write the announcement in the next couple of days and post it before Wednesday. Here's the key to the activity room." He took a key out of his pocket and placed it on the table.

"I'll be going now." Old Chen walked to the door, then stopped. "By the way, about the cover for the first issue, are you planning to do it yourself or ask the school's art teacher for help?"

"Find a student with good art skills to design it. If we can recruit new staff, that would be best. If not, we'll ask an art teacher for help."

"Okay, then hurry up." Old Chen pushed open the door and went out.

Lin Shubai sat in the activity room, put his keys into the side pocket of his schoolbag, then took out his notebook and began writing a notice. After revising it several times, he finally finalized the draft before school ended.

"Hope Literary Society Recruitment Announcement"

The Jing'an No.1 Middle School Literary Society is starting preparations today. The school publication "Hope" will be launched next semester, and we are now recruiting editorial team members from the first and second year of high school.

Section settings:

Campus Stories (Novels, Essays)

Book and Film Reviews (Book Reviews, Film Reviews)

Poetry and Youth (Poetry)

Hoshino (Science Fiction, Fantasy)

basic requirements:

Interested in words

Willing to spend time

No score requirement

Registration method: The meeting will be held in Room 204 of the Administration Building during the last self-study period on Wednesday afternoon. No materials are required, just show up.

Welcome to anyone who enjoys reading, writing, or simply has something to say but doesn't know how to say it.

Hope Literary Society

After he finished writing, he looked at it again to make sure there were no problems, and then closed the notebook.

Just as I arrived at the classroom door, the school bell rang.

Su Wan was already packing her bag at her seat. Seeing Lin Shubai return, she asked, "What did Old Chen want with you? Was it about the literary club?"

"Yes, the activity room has been approved, and we've got the keys."

"Where?"

"Second floor of the administration building, room 204."

How big?

"Twenty square meters, with a table, chairs and bookshelves."

"That sounds good. When are you hiring?"

"Next week. Post an announcement, meet-and-greet on Wednesday."

"Can I sign up?"

"Are you serious?"

"Seriously, although my writing isn't as good as yours, I can still proofread and check for typos. Besides, didn't you say 'writing has nothing to do with grades'?"

He thought for a moment, then said, "You can come to the meeting on Wednesday."