Tarzan in the 21st century: the trials of being a writer in Cuba

In this account of a day in his life, sci-fi author Yoss reflects on the chaotic and frustrating reality facing writers in Havana

By Can Xue for The Writing Life Around the World from Electric Literature, part of the Guardian Books Network

I walk on a lava desert, sweat runs down my forehead, my shoulders, my back, beneath my feet the blanket burns with boiling flames.

Eh … the blanket?

In this country one can never know what will happen, so it is best not to make many plans

How little is needed to make a Cuban writer’s day, regardless of how twistedly it begins!

Most Cuban writers have another stable job, as editors, popularizers, teachers of writing techniques

According to my hyper-optimist mother, the US deny me a visa once and give it to me the next time, so my next one is due

The only Cuban author who comes to mind who is truly well off thanks to what he writes and publishes is Leonardo Padura

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