The fall of literary magazines

"One becomes a writer if one’s work is printed in Shumawa magazine”. This popular saying bears witness to the fame of this literary magazine, which ran from 1946 to 1992. Shumawa magazine allowed many aspiring writers to make a name for themselves in Myanmar.

For many decades, literary magazines served as a platform for young writers to get their work published. It is the case of actor and novelist Win Oo, famous for his 1971 Enmity of a Beautiful Woman, who first published short stories in Shumawa magazine. Sadly, a number of these magazines have ceased publication in print due to a rise in paper prices, disappearance of book rental shops and internet. The literary industry is waning, according to local writers.

Writer Thway from Sagaing region got in the literary industry in 1995 after her first essay was printed in Myar Nat Maung (Cupid) magazine.
“There were about 25 publications in the industry at that time. We had many options. If a publication rejected the author’s work, he could send it to another one,” said writer Thway.
In post-war years, Shumawa and Thway Thauk magazines made a name for themselves. After the 1962 military coup, the military-owned Myawaddy magazine and Ngwe Tar Yi took a more prominent place on the literary scene – albeit for political content.
“These magazines were known for their good literature. They had big circulation and a loyal readership,” said poet Thway Thit, former editor of Sarpae Lot Thar magazine.
He said some writers who published in Shumawa, Thway Thauk, Myawady and Ngwe Taryi later became popular novelists, such as Thawtar Swe, Khin Hnin Yu and Tekkatho Phone Naing.
“The editors of these magazines were reputable. They selected good literature without bias. The 1970s were the golden age of literary magazines. Each was full of good cartoons, short stories, poems and essays,” he said.
In 1970s, other prestigious publications, including Sandar and Thapyay appeared. Sandar was the first private magazine in colour.
“It was quite difficult to get advertisements published in Sandar magazine because editors favoured literature and profited from selling copies,” he said.
At that time, magazine editors hardly used advertisement and they competed with other magazines over quality.
The downfall
In the 1980s the industry’s focus shifted from quality to advertisement to generate revenue, with the increase of private publications. Businessmen found out that magazines could be profitable.
“They relied more on advertisement and used sensual pictures to sell,” poet Thway Thit said.
With the rise of advertisement, editors’ influence decreased. As a result, quality went down. On top of that, censorship had oppressed the literary industry, leaving no room to address the political issues of the time.
“If a writer wrote about poverty, it was censored because the former government didn’t accept the reality,” he said.
Censorship was only (partly) lifted in 2012. By that time, the agonizing industry already struggled to survive. Another blow hit the publications as the price of imported paper and transportation increased. The skyrocketing USD rates and increased price of petrol bankrupted many local publications.
“Some writers changed their style from literary writings to essays to adapt to journals and newspapers,” he added.
As Myanmar evolved, internet became increasingly popular and replaced magazines in the heart of the youth.
As if that was not enough, book rental shops, where the latest magazines used to be bought, disappeared into thin air, cursed by the lack of interest in readings of the new generation.
In the past, each street had at least one book rental shop.
Turning the page
Moe Wai, Pae Phoo Hlwar, Sarpae Lot Thar and dozens of other publications were once known as the place to go to enjoy poems, short stories and cartoons. Only a handful survived.
As literary magazines dwindled, aspiring writers and poets now struggle to get published.
“As an aspiring writer, it was uneasy to publish a book of my own,” writer Thway said.
She relies on journals, daily newspapers and online news service to make a living.
“Instead, writers compete for online short story competitions,” explained writer-cum-doctor Ye Yint Lone who used to send short stories to Shwe Amutae, Faces, Mahaythi, Kyae Shwe Tamar and Myawaddy magazines.
For those wishing to get their work out there, Shwe Amutae magazine still has a section for young writers.
“Today the number of magazine is decreasing and there are fewer magazines with sections for new writers. But writers still write. They send their work to online magazines and compete in online short story competitions,” he said.
Although Myanmar seems to be turning the page on literary magazines, writers will never give up on writing. Myanmar’s literature lives on in new forms and on new platforms.