Fine harvest for farmers of fiction

It honors works in four categories: novels, novellas, short stories and mini stories. Candidates are chosen mainly from a larger body of works published in literary journals and magazines over the course of the year.

The winners included Mo Yan in the short story category, Zhao Benfu for his novel, Wang Anyi and Zhang Yueran for their novellas, and several younger or lesser-known writers from a wide range of age groups, Wang says.

Cai Zhongfeng's shortlisted mini story that was just 778 words caught the attention of the judges for the possible 50,000 yuan ($7,700) prize. The story was inspired by his job as a grass-roots official in Shandong province, who dealt with complaints.

"We judge works by their value, and not by their form or length," Wang says, adding that works that echoed the simplicity of the Chinese philosophy exemplified by Wang Zengqi's (1920-97) works, were exactly what the committee was looking for.

Su says he voted for a winner whose name he hadn't heard before. His short story, about a child named Mo Xiang Jing (sperm whale) who loses his life after the arrival of an unexpected guest, was penned by Fan Jianjun, a writer from Xiushui county in Jiangxi province.

Su also praised Shuang Xuetao's keen mind and writing skills. Born in Liaoning province in 1983, Shuang's winning short story about a writer looks at an unsolved murder case and impressed the judge immensely.

"Shuang has already mastered the skill of setting 'traps' in his work, to extend the breadth and depth of his writing," Su says.

Wang, also deputy director of the Selected Stories magazine, is seeking to widen the appeal of Chinese literature with the award.