China's biggest cyber-literature Website is offering a course on the art of writing, and has been swamped by applicants.

 

The first batch of 40 cyber writers will attend a 40-day course with www.cmfu.com this April. The cost is 21,000 yuan (US$2,625).

 

Cyber writers are young and creative, said Website General Manager Wu Wenhui. "But they lack basic literary and humanities knowledge."

 

The Website worked in liaison with the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences for the training program.

 

According to the Website, hundreds of contracted cyber writers applied for the 40 positions.

 

Li Wei from the academy is in charge of the training program, and said more than 40 subjects will be offered to cyber writers, including history, law and religion.

 

"Without a comprehensive knowledge, writers can't develop their story lines and sometimes make mistakes," Li said.

 

However, the course is not a hit with everyone. Bonbon Tang, who writes daily blogs that attract many hits, said she will never attend the class.

 

"The Web is a free place for us to write," she said.

 

"I just write what I want to say, and let others share my feelings. We don't care about structure, language and writing skills."

 

The Website has more than 2,000 contract cyber writers. All of them are under 30 and don't have a literary background.

 

A 26-year-old Nanjing cyber writer, whose pen name is "dancing," has been recruited. He is now one of the 13 top writers at the Website.

 

"I majored in international trading, but I quit my job and began to write in 2004," he said.

 

Dancing is not formally trained as a writer, and is eager to receive the training. He doesn't believe the course will stifle his creativity.

 

"I love writing and want to keep writing as my career," he said

 

The Website said it will judge from the hit rates on applicants' articles online to decide who will be recruited.

 

Many famous names from the Shanghai Writers' Association will be invited to give lessons.

 

(Shanghai Daily February 27, 2007)