COVID-19 may have kept people apart and reduce our opportunities of travelling abroad, but the world of literature is boundless and so is our imagination. Teenagers may take it as a good opportunity to reflect on their lives and take a closer look at this city, through creative writing in the face of this unprecedented challenge. 

Organised by CityU’s Department of Chinese and History (CAH), and sponsored by Tin Ka Ping Foundation and Mr ZHANG Da Peng, “City Literary Awards” has returned this spring to enhance Chinese creative writing standard of the younger generation in Hong Kong. A series of creative writing lectures targeted at students from local secondary and tertiary institutions, especially those who consider participating in the writing competition, were held on four consecutive Saturdays in January 2022. 

Four lectures were conducted via Zoom to introduce students the writing skills of prose, novel, micro novel and poetry. Possessing substantial experience of teaching younger generation creative writing, the four speakers who are also local writers have shared useful techniques and easily comprehensible references to enhance students’ knowledge of the specific genre.  For example, Hong Kong writer Miss WONG Yi spoke on character development in writing novels. She quoted latest Disney movie “Cruella” to help young writers reflect on the difference of villain and hero. Secondary school teacher and juvenile fiction series writer Mr YAN Pui-kei shared examples of award-winning micro novels with students and gave advice on the plot development of writing flash fictions.   

The other two lectures were hosted by Dr LAU Wai-shing and Mr CHAN Chi-kian on writing new poetry and prose respectively.  Lau is the Artist of the Year (Literary Arts) of the 15th Hong Kong Arts Development Awards, while Chan is the vice principal and Chinese Language panel head of a secondary school. Both of them analysed the distinctive features of the genres and quoted relevant works as reference. 

Dr CHAN Hok-yin, Chairperson of the Organising Committee of City Literary Awards and Associate Head of CAH, encourages students to get creative and practise their craft by joining this writing competition -  “During the suspension of face-to-face classes, students may have more time to have self-reflection and observe the changes in the society. Time and space are essential for creative writing, students may seize this opportunity to turn their life experiences and feelings into words, and deliver positive energy through their works.” 

Submissions of “City Literary Awards 2022” will close on 1 June 2022. Details and submission guidelines are available here.