ChinaTalk Te-Ping Chen's Short Stories of Modern China
Mar 20, 2021
Te-Ping Chen, a Wall Street Journal reporter and author of 'Land of Big Numbers,' shares her insightful journey from journalism to fiction. She discusses her writing process and the compelling characters inspired by her experiences in China. Te-Ping highlights the emotional complexities faced by individuals living under state control and how fiction fosters empathy. The conversation also touches on the intersection of personal ambition and societal roles, and reflections on the future of journalism in an ever-changing landscape.
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Book's Origin
- Te-Ping Chen, while working as a journalist, found many stories that didn't fit news headlines but felt important.
- These personal and idiosyncratic stories formed the basis of her book, "Land of Big Numbers."
From Novel to Short Stories
- Te-Ping Chen had been writing fiction and poetry privately for years.
- Inspired by a phrase, "Shanghai murmur," she decided to write short stories, eventually leading to "Land of Big Numbers."
Duality of Life in China
- Te-Ping Chen portrays the duality of life in China, where personal lives can feel insulated from the state, yet its presence and threat of repression are always felt.
- She achieves this by contrasting seemingly ordinary lives with subtle reminders of state control, like the casual mention of protesters being rounded up.
