Yanyi .'s Blog, page 4

‘How Do I Write If I Never Finish Anything?’

The Writing: Going back to where it started

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Today is the last edition of The Writing. Starting next week, I am releasing, instead, one more letter a month just for paid subscribers like you.

Postscript: On cultural capitalism and talent

‘What If I’m Just Missing…Talent?’

Hi there,

I struggled with writing today’s letter. I just had so much to say on the topic, in several deep directions. I’m happy with how it turned out, finally, at the nth hour! I hope it moves you.

Preorder Dream of the Divided Field

Yanyi is a terrific poet, one who's written for us a book to read when we wake in the middle of the night and need a voice that is filled with longing, and truth, delight of being, despite all the painful odds.

—Ilya Kaminsky, author of Dancing in Odessa and Deaf Repu...

The Writing: When are you going to get a real job?

The last time I came out to my parents, it was to tell them that I no longer worked a full-time job as an engineer. This was after the long silence but during the time when we still only spoke seriously for emergencies like, say, a pandemic.

The Writing: Antiracism and the classroom

Last Friday was the first ever Hotpot, a Writing Space specifically for Asian diaspora writers. Around fifty writers joined me to write, talk, and maybe even get some words down in this time. Because of the number of attendees, I decided to break everyone out into smaller rooms for writing and another for general conversation—like a hotpot! Thank you for everyone who came out for this experiment. I’ve decided to host Hotpot again next month on November 14.

In many ways, Hotpot is an extension of ...

The Writing: Some examples of unproductive writing spaces

Last week, I wrote on the importance of unproductive writing spaces and some initiatives I’ve started to make them. I also asked readers to contribute their own examples of gathering with other writers.

The Writing: The price of admission

Almost two weeks ago, I posted a question on social media for Asian American writers: “What do you really, really wish was available to you that would help you as a person and writer?” The question was to help me scheme for relevant community projects in the spring, but it also highlighted new needs that have shifted the way I imagine community work.

The Writing: If The Reading were a book…

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Note: If you are an Asian diaspora writer, join me for Hotpot on 10/22, an experimental affinity Writing Space for us.

Today’s ’Writing is going out to all subscribers, free and paid, because I have an important question that has to do with everyone: If The Reading were a book, what would you want it to be?

For those of you who have been at Writing Space or if you’re my agent (hi, Rebecca!), you’ll know that I’ve been working on this for a while. I’ve tried many possible forms—a memoir, a how-to b...

Postscript: In search of ‘a completely original moment’