Workers' literature needs to return to life
From workshops and construction sites to worker dormitories, workers' lives still contain a lot of material for literature. It's not just a story about work or income, but also a journey of making a living, preserving dignity and seeking faith in a stressful life.
Previously, worker literature had made a strong impression with works such as "Dem ay vùng than ai thức", "Nguoi kiểm tu", "Gió tươi" or "Lặng lẽ Sa Pa"... The image of workers in wartime and the early stages of renovation is clearly depicted through emotional writings. However, along with social changes, the lives of workers today are also very different from before. Modern workers face a faster pace of life, greater livelihood pressure and more fluctuations.
According to writer Y Ban, to write about workers, the most important thing is to understand their lives. She believes that literature can only last long if it touches the true emotions of people.
“Actually, in literature and art, first of all, we must affirm that we are all workers. But workers have their own unique characteristics. For professional writers like us, if we understand our profession, we will write very good works that touch our hearts.
Professional writers can write everything, but to understand deeply the corners, they must come from people who understand their work and thoughts. The Vietnam Writers' Association has long had a Branch of Workers Writers Association because writers come from many professions, some come from mining workers. Literature must touch the heart to go far and long," writer Y Ban shared.
Bringing literature closer to workers
According to writer Y Ban, one of the current difficulties is that reading culture has somewhat declined. However, according to her, literature still has its own values that fast entertainment can hardly replace.
“Now reading culture is declining, not only workers but also young people are less likely to read. However, those who are passionate still read. Literary language is different from audiovisual art. Cinema shows us that things are things, but words have many layers of meaning.
Literature is like a machine, from which other types are derived: painting from words, setting music for poetry, adapting novels into scripts. If literature about workers is adapted into plays, into films, it will be very close, workers will see themselves in it and feel that they are not forgotten," writer Y Ban said.
From the literary writing contest about workers, trade unions and laborers in the period 2021 - 2023 organized by Lao Dong Newspaper, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor chaired in coordination with the Vietnam Writers' Association, many works have created an impression thanks to truthfully reflecting the lives of workers. Writer Y Ban highly appreciated works with realistic materials and rich humanity such as "Promised Land", "Farm Girls" or "Cactus Flowers"...
According to her, the important thing is not the scale of the award but how to maintain literary playgrounds for workers in a sustainable and substantive way. In addition, it is necessary to create more reading spaces in industrial parks and factories so that workers have easier conditions to access culture.
Need a new narrative for worker literature
Looking at the reality of writing contests about workers and trade unions recently, it can be seen that works that create attraction often do not follow a too grand narrative or sloganization style. What makes readers pay attention is the everyday, close details, reflecting the true breath of working life.
Writer Y Ban believes that the writing contest about workers and trade unions has evoked many valuable works because the authors delve into human identities, instead of simply describing work.
The contest launched by Lao Dong Newspaper has sparked many valuable works. For example, the novel "Promised Land" by Mr. Le Thanh Ky - a welder. He wrote very simple but extremely good sentences: "Workers away from home all year round, just seeing a tray of rice with a woman's hand in the kitchen and they already see Tet...". Later, the work won the prose award of the Vietnam Writers' Association in 2025.
Or like the work "Farm Girls" by author Pham Duc Long, then Mr. Nguyen Tri with the novel "Cactus Flowers"... These works, when printed, are well received by readers and public opinion. Literature sometimes transcends all professional boundaries to connect hearts," she shared.
According to writer Y Ban, the competition of social networks, short videos or digital entertainment platforms forces literature to change its approach to readers. However, change does not mean losing the depth of literature.
The female writer believes that stories about workers can be told in a more modern form, from short films, social media clips to digital content products. The important thing is to still maintain authenticity and humanity. That is a way to inspire young people who love literature and the workers themselves to create content about themselves.
Besides writing, writer Y Ban believes that it is more important to create an environment for workers to access literature more regularly. Small libraries at factories, industrial parks or reading spaces combined with rest and coffee will be a practical way to bring reading culture closer to workers.
Vietnamese people love literature very much. Just by inspiring, we will never lack articles. The important thing is that we must start doing it, creating small libraries right at the factory, with coffee, with space for workers to relax and read books. It must be substantive, not just finished after the stage lights," writer Y Ban shared.
In the flow of modern literature, when the lives of workers still need to be reflected and shared, literature about workers still has many opportunities to continue to exist and regain its position in the hearts of readers.
