Otherppl with Brad Listi

863. Yiyun Li

Sep 6, 2023

Yiyun Li, author of several works of fiction and a memoir, talks about finding characters in real life, her attraction to characters who hold back their emotions, exploring cliches, editing for effect in writing, her upbringing in Beijing, and the intersection of politics and life during the 2016 election.

01:24:35

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Episode guests

Yiyun Li

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The author left a successful career in immunology to pursue writing professionally, guided by her passion and support from her PI.

The author's upbringing in China revealed the power of language to deceive, shaping her commitment to writing with authenticity.

Reading and writing serve as essential tools for the author to navigate difficult times, providing solace and a means to process and explore personal experiences.

Deep dives

The transition from studying immunology to becoming a writer

After moving to the United States to study immunology, the author started writing as a hobby after hearing that everyone in Iowa City was writing a novel. Over time, she realized her passion for writing and made the decision to pursue it professionally. She made this decision to avoid a career in immunology, even though she was doing well in her research. With the support of her PI, the author left her PhD program and embraced writing as her true calling.

Introduction

6min

Discussion on Conversation Partners and Influences in Writing

2min

Finding Characters in Real Life

17min

Characters Who Live with the Lid On

10min

Exploring Cliches and Finding Better Frames

2min

Editing for Effect and Emotional Investment

9min

Growing Up in Beijing and The Influence of Literature

12min

Politics, Life, and the 2016 Election

5min

Attention to Detail and Clarity in Writing

14min

10.

Reflections on Writing and Profound Experiences

4min

Yiyun Li is the author of the story collection Wednesday's Child, available from Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Li is the author of several works of fiction--The Book of Goose, Must I Go, Where Reasons End, Kinder Than Solitude, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, The Vagrants, and Gold Boy, Emerald Girl--and the memoir Dear Friend, from My Life I Write to You in Your Life. She is the recipient of many awards, including a PEN/Malamud Award, a PEN/Hemingway Award, a PEN/Jean Stein Book Award, a MacArthur Fellowship, and a Windham-Campbell Prize. Her work has also appeared in The New Yorker, A Public Space, The Best American Short Stories, and The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories, among other publications. She teaches at Princeton University and lives in Princeton, New Jersey.