Firmament 寄余欢

I guess many fanfiction creators might have struggled with the popularity of their works and so have I done. In fact, I sometimes still struggle with it. I have confidence in the overall quality of the work in process and, yes, I do expect more people would like reading it. On the other hand, however, I fear for being challenged - to be honest, this is no doubt not the worst situation - and being caught up in meaningless quarrels and criticism - and that's the worst one, for all these things will definitely stop me from continuing my writing. 

Today is Yesterday is created in a very personal way with capricious attempts and courageous expressions. It tends to present a contemporary social scenery of China seen from the protagonists who live this-worldly, who however went through in their precious lives a series of political movements and class struggles after the founding of the new China. But what I attempt to do here is to let it never stop going forward. I would like to present their continuous efforts to make the world better, their embracing of hope and love, their ambitions of today, as well as their vision of the future. And that is what Today is Yesterday aims at, together with its retrospection of the past and comparison between the past and today.

However, I have to say that there are still some adjustments in the second season if comparing it with the first one, since my understanding of the characters is still in the process of changing, deepening, and enriching. The portrayal of Ming Lou is the most challenging part I think, for what is in the inner world of the character has been beyond mine, which has forced me to enlarge the range of my reading while trying my best to imagine what he would think now and what the changes would be after he has gone through so many ups and downs. I sometimes couldn't help thinking I might have been enchanted with the character too much. The second adjustment might be perceived in the manner of writing. Yes, I try to enhance the literary quality in this season, forming more impressive picturesque expressions and making the words vivid. 

Besides, as to readings, I have to say that most of the works I have read are, to a certain degree, not in line with the academic mainstream, no matter in the fields of cultural studies, philosophy, sociology, or in the historical studies of the new China. Most of the works I read that study those political movements are published overseas in English and focus on theoretical analysis rather than documentation and narration, for my interest in this segment of history lies in its aftermaths, legacies, social, political, and philosophical meanings, and how they influence the society we live in today. And in this sense, fanfiction creation is certainly beneficial to me.