The particular characteristics of my stories have now been acknowledged. Nevertheless, when someone asks me directly, 'What is really going on in your stories? How do you write them?' I'm profoundly afraid of being misunderstood, so all I can say is, 'I don't know.' From any earthly perspective, in truth I do not know. When I write, I intentionally erase any knowledge from my mind.
I believe in the grandness of the original power. The only thing I can do is to devoutly bring it into play in a man-made blind atmosphere. Thus, I can break loose from the fetters of platitudes and conventions and allow the mighty logos to melt into the omnipresent suggestions that inspire and urge me to keep going ahead. I don't know what I will write tomorrow or
even in the next few minutes. Nor do I know what is most related to the 'inspiration' that has produced my works in an unending stream for more than two decades. But I know one thing with certainty: no matter what
hardships I face, I must preserve the spiritual quality of my life. For if I were to lose it, I would lose my entire foundation.
Interview [Manoa, Volume 18, Number 1 – 'Beyond Words: Asian Writers on their Work' – Summer 2006]
Use the link below to read about the life and work of Chinese novelist (and recent Nobel Prize candidate) CAN XUE:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-67014660
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The Write Advice 105: SUSAN SONTAG
The Write Advice 128: GRACE PALEY
The Write Advice 147: BERNADINE EVARISTO
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