HUMANS OF RV (HoRV): “The dilemma of writing –– no one reads.”
This time, the Editorial Club brings to you an interview with Chen Zhi Ting from 6T’15 - an aspiring writer of Chinese literary works, specifically a form of prose referred to in Chinese as ‘散文’*. Zhi Ting reveals to us the reality behind the often-misunderstood art of writing. *While the dictionaries translates the term to “prose”, 散文 are short stories written in a sort of essay format which can explore all sorts of genres, from personal experiences to philosophical contemplation.
Zhi Ting first started seriously investing her time in writing at the age of thirteen, as a fresh Year One student in RV. Having a flair and admiration for the Chinese language, she was one of the few students who enjoyed Chinese lessons and read the ‘少年文摘’ magazines which most of us left forgotten under our desks. The road she has embarked on is one which few would choose to traverse - but it is exceptionally interesting and gratifying to her. When asked why she wanted to become a writer, she answers simply, “because of contentment and the sense of achievement.” She describes the quaint experience of writing late at night, often staying up to 3:00 a.m. in the wee hours before dawn to write her pieces. The quiet of night time provides a sanctuary for her to think and ponder. From her initial “unpolished” and “immature” drafts when she first started writing, Zhi Ting has grown as a writer. Short novels of 8,000 words are now well within her ability, and she is eager to try out what she terms as more “sophisticated” styles of writing. Zhi Ting tries to write at least a little every day, but sometimes her writing capacity “hits maximum” and she has to take a break. So how does she deal with writer’s block? It is no easy thing to overcome, but Zhi Ting says she manages with a combination of perseverance and plain stubbornness. Often she forces herself to produce a piece of work, despite knowing that it is no good. At other times she writes for prompts to induce her creativity. Her overseas trips under the Bicultural Studies Programme has shown her more of the world and helped her to broaden her perspective, increasing the depth of her work. Zhi Ting understands very well the necessity of self-motivation. She reviews and revises her own work periodically to ensure that they are up to her standards, and makes every effort to perfect them. “If you wait for others to critiq
ue your work… Well, they don’t really care,” she laughs.
