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.
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.
The power of language and the impact of propaganda
The author recounts her experiences with language and its ability to deceive and manipulate. Growing up in China, she witnessed the power of propaganda as she was able to move people to tears with cliched words and half-truths. This shaped her understanding of language and the importance of writing with authenticity. The author also reflects on the dangers of spreading misinformation and propaganda, drawing parallels to present-day political climate in the United States.
The influence of reading and the role of writing in dealing with difficult times
The author credits reading and writing as essential tools in navigating difficult times. From copying literature into notebooks to finding solace in the act of writing, these activities provided a means of escaping the challenges of life. The author emphasizes the importance of attention and patience when it comes to capturing thoughts and transforming them into stories. She also notes the role of writing as a refuge and personal salvation, allowing her to process and explore her experiences in a creative way.
The Healing Power of Literature
The speaker highlights how literature and other forms of media, such as podcasts and books, can offer solace and distraction from personal struggles. She emphasizes the value of immersing oneself in someone else's thoughts and experiences when one's own mind is not functioning well. Engaging with literature allows individuals to explore different perspectives and find alternative ways of expressing complex emotions, particularly in relation to grief and loss. By resisting clichés and examining language, writers can strive to find better frames for conveying such experiences and find relief and insight through the act of writing and reading.
The Process of Editing and Writing
The speaker discusses the role of editing in removing emotional attachment from written content to achieve clarity and precision. Using the metaphor of putting a text under anesthesia, the speaker advises writers to create distance from their own emotional pain while engaging with difficult subject matter. The editing process involves a technical joy that focuses on conveying thoughts and emotions as effectively as possible. By separating themselves from their own pain, writers gain insight and find a better way to express their experiences. Furthermore, the speaker emphasizes the importance of careful attention and mentions her daily routine of teaching, reading, and occasionally writing for a few hours.
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.
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