A limited market is one of the major challenges facing Lao authors, but the Lao Writers’ Association has encouraged its members to improve stories to satisfy customer demand.

Association Secretary Souban Luanglath this week said illustrated books and magazine articles were well presented, but advised writers to improve the content of their stories to maintain readers’ interest.

The influence of electronic media from overseas is another factor in the lack of interest in works by Lao authors. Mr Kham-uan Phitsalath, a writer from Vientiane province, said he printed 200 books last year, but struggled to sell them.

To develop a larger reading market, the public sector should make it cheaper to publish books by reducing import taxes on items such as paper. This would cut costs and make books more affordable for the general public, said Mr Souban.
 
He said the relevant sectors needed to work together to promote works by Lao authors by organising activities such as book fairs. A SEA Write Award winner from Thailand, Mr Phaitoon Sanya, spoke at a recent workshop on music, poetry and literature between the Lao writers and Thailand’s Isaan region writers.

The workshop was organised by the Khonkaen University and Thailand’s Isaan Writers’ Club. He said the market for books in Laos was not large, but there was a growing demand for educational and vocational books. Participants at the workshop also discussed the translation of literary work to expand readership in Laos and Thailand. The Lao Writers’ Association currently has about 150 members. This year it established branches in Khammuan and Borikhamxay provinces and plans to build writers’ clubs in other provinces such as Luang Prabang, Mr Souban said.