Chinese people are tough. Or are these guys Mongolian?

Well, in ~36 hours, I’ll be embarking on the 3 day novel writing contest. On the one hand, what was I thinking? On the other, of course, if nothing else, it’ll make a nice link to add to the rather sparse Writing page I’ve set up.  Got to get it through the contest before I can post it online, though.

Here’s a basic conflict I face- what should I put up on my website. I’m not a professional, like, say, Kelly Link or Cory Doctorow, two writers who’ve literally given away their works online. But I am a writer, and I’d like to get paid someday.

Here’s the catch, as I understand it. When I put a story up on the web, it is thereafter tainted in the eyes of publishers, and no longer considered for magazine distribution. But, especially considering the eccentric nature of my work (ask me about Dr. Strawberry, if you don’t already know) I could wait, literally, my entire life to get published. So do I sit on my stories, hoping they’ll get legit treatment, or do I just slap ‘em up on the web for all to see? I’m splitting the difference now, but that’s hardly a satisfying solution.

We should have such problems, eh?

Well, I’m far enough ahead on my work for grad school that I figure I’m ready for the the show: I’ve entered the 3 day novel writing contest. We’ll see how this goes. Tentative title: Beijing Palimpsest.

In other news, I’m transitioning my stuff from this blogger site to one hosted on my own website at letterred.com. It’ll make it easier to post, and more fun for me. But not until I write my novel.

Love to all,

Will

I’ve been here for about a year, now, and this is the first work of Chinese prose that’s really moved me, from Taiwanese writer Miou Si, by way of Danwei.

It’s hard to see new things, but easy to have your own prejudices confirmed, and I think Miou captures something of the privation-born nastiness that I constantly encounter in Beijing. Plus, Miou has the gift for unusual detail that I really like in Chinese prose-

“If I had a choice, I would willingly become a native Hawaiian.”

I’ve just inadvertently immersed myself in a series of books concerned with ethnic identity; more than any sane man could take, honestly. Red Sorghum, Operation Shylock, the execrable The Elementary Particles, and the wonderful Enemies, A Love Story. So perhaps I’ve sensitized myself to the whole issue, an appeal to the ugliness of your own people.

…by which I mean the sandwich shop behind my old building near 东四十条 station. Criminality is serving coffee at a place where the toilet looks like this: