Conversation

Yan Ge
@YanGeMay
If my editors in China hear that I'm working multiple-drafts, they'd probably say that the story's not going to be good. The popular thought there is that if you don't have it in the beginning, you won't have it. Quite a contrast to what people believe here, right? Thoughts?
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Eric Abrahamsen
@girzel1
Replying to
@YanGeMay
As a translator, I desperately wish Chinese editors were forcing their writers to do multiple drafts. You may not be able to edit in inspiration, but that is not the problem. No one, in any country, in any language, structures their novel right the first time around.
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Eric Abrahamsen
@girzel1
Replying to
@girzel1
and
@YanGeMay
Long-form fiction is exhausting, and disorienting. Needing help, or time, or multiple attempts, is perfectly normal. To me that's basically a dismissal of the craft side of authorship, and Chinese fiction NEEDS BETTER CRAFT.
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Yan Ge
@YanGeMay
Replying to
@girzel1
There have been more than a couple of quite established writers who told me they don’t allow the editors to change even one punctuation of their manuscripts... (I suppose it’s a social status? ) 🐮🐮🐮 Can’t say no more 🙊
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Eric Abrahamsen
@girzel1
Replying to
@YanGeMay
Oh I've heard the same thing, multiple times. I think in part it's because Chinese editors aren't expected to do this kind of work, and often they really don't have the literary skills necessary. So there is that. But I think more often it's simple writerly arrogance.
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Yan Ge
@YanGeMay
Replying to
@girzel1
Again, personally I have a few friends who are lit critics and when I send them my work, they do criticize and give my advices. But usually I won’t get feedback from editors - you’re right, probably not part of them jobs.
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