Renowned Writer Yan Ge Emphasizes Humility and Awe in Creative Process
Guangzhou, China – Renowned Chinese writer Yan Ge, known forher critically acclaimed novels, recently stressed the importance of maintaining a sense of humility and awe when approaching creative work. In an interview with Southern Weekly, she shared herinsights on the writing process, emphasizing the need to embrace uncertainty and resist the temptation to control the narrative.
“Many times, you have to write with akind of intuition,” Yan Ge explained. “If you have this overarching sense of control, I think it’s a very bad state for writing. As a writer, I think you can’t always write with a critic’s eye.”
She further elaborated on the distinction between creative writing and editing, stating that “creative writing is really just teaching you editing skills, not the state of your writing.”
Yan Ge highlighted the self-doubt that often accompanies experienced writers, drawing from her own experiences and those of her peers. “All the writers I know, even the very talented ones, feel like they’re writing terribly. Especially for someone like me who has been writing for many years, a big challenge is how to maintain that sense of beginner’s mind.”
She emphasizedthe need to retain a sense of awe and humility towards one’s work, even after years of experience. “You have to maintain that initial energy, that reverence for the work, for your novel, for your own creation. You have to constantly feel your own smallness.”
Yan Ge cautioned against the illusion ofcontrol that can develop over time, warning that it can be detrimental to the creative process. “The longer you write, the more unconsciously you may have this illusion that you can control it, and that feeling is very bad. When I write, most of the time it’s a kind of… I don’tthink I can’t figure it out, it’s more like a refusal to write in a very clear state.”
She likened this approach to a separation of identities, where the writer’s personal self must be distinct from the self that engages in the act of writing. “This is like another line, anotherthing, where your identity and your true self entering the writing must be separate.”
Yan Ge’s insights offer valuable guidance for aspiring and seasoned writers alike, emphasizing the importance of approaching creative work with a sense of wonder, humility, and a willingness to embrace the inherent uncertainty of the creative process. Her emphasis on maintaininga beginner’s mind and resisting the temptation to control the narrative underscores the importance of staying open to inspiration and allowing the story to unfold organically.
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