I haven’t posted a general writing life update in a while, so I decided to put together this post. Things have been quite stressful with everything going on in the world. I have been surprisingly busy with work ever since finishing my MFA in April 2020, and I’m finally catching my breath now recently with a few days off.
Summer flew by really quickly. Not only did I have the Clarion West Write-a-thon to keep me busy, but I also spent a lot of time out in nature taking long walks. I already miss my summer days of walking to the beach to relax, write, and beachcomb.
Upcoming Events
This fall is turning out busier than expected with various events.
Firstly, I’ll be offering office hours at FIYAHCON. BIPOC folks can sign up for free to chat about writing, editing, submitting to magazines, and translation. You can take a look at all the amazing folks who are offering Q&A, critique, and pitch sessions here and sign up. Registration closes on October 1st.
I’m also doing a poetry reading with Hal Y. Zhang, Natalie Lim, and Stephanie Chang for Hal’s new chapbook launch. The event will take place on Sunday September 20th at 1-2pm. Come hear my wonderful fellow readers share their poetry. We’ll chat about writing and favourite foods. So honored to be a part of this and to help celebrate Hal’s chapbook.
On Sept 26-27th, I’ll be doing a social media account takeover at SineTheta, on their Twitter and Instagram, to share my work with #LiteraryJianghu and answer questions in an AMA (ask me anything) about the project, wuxia, and translation.
October is turning out to be busier than expected, and I’m planning to drop by some events at ALTA, World Fantasy Convention, and FIYAHCON. I hope to see some familiar faces and catch up with friends there. Please say hi if you’re also attending.
Interviews
In addition to a recent interview I did with Translated Chinese Literature podcast, which you can read here in its edited transcript format, I participated in a translator’s roundtable with the Write Magazine, published by the Writer’s Union of Canada, for their summer 2020 issue.
Also, earlier this summer, my friend Natalie Lim reached out to interview me and my friend Emily Pate about our experience playing D&D with friends for our MFA, and exploring how storytelling, D&D, and wuxia (martial arts) fiction can intersect. I’m told that the episode I’m featured in will air on CBC’s North by Northwest on September 19th, and it will be archived online for folks who want to listen. I’m still stunned that my attempt to lead a one-shot D&D game in the fantasy world of my wuxia novel-in-progress has led to an interview on radio.
Project Updates
Thank you to A Multiplicity of Stories for accepting a reprint of my story “Sparrow” for their anthology about cities. I also sold a new short story to This Magazine, forthcoming in 2021, and sold some fiction translations as well.
Lastly, I’m really excited to be wrapping up edits on my poetry chapbook and also my work as a co-translator for a book length poetry collection. I’ll be starting to submit my chapbook and pitch the translation project soon in the coming weeks. I really look forward to hoping eventually being able to share both of these works.
