Author Wendy Lee weaves Chinese culture, past and present, into her new novel, ACROSS A GREEN OCEAN. As Wendy notes, it’s important to weave our personal stories into the threads of our fiction. That’s what makes the universal, personal. That’s what makes stories matter to their authors. And like Wendy says, “If you don’t take your work seriously, no one else will.” Please welcome Wendy Lee to Women’s Fiction Writers!
Amy xo
Author Wendy Lee Say If You Don’t Take Your Work Seriously, No One Else Will
Amy: Welcome to WFW, Wendy, and congratulations on the publication of your second novel, ACROSS A GREEN OCEAN. Wendy: Thank you for having me! Amy: Where did the title of the novel originate? Was it something you knew right away on your own? A collaborative effort? Did it pop into your head one day or was it the result of endless brainstorming sessions? Can you share with us if there were any other titles? Wendy: The title comes from a line in the book and refers to a couple of things: a place in China called Qinghai Province, which literally means “green sea”; and the Pacific Ocean that separates China and America, which I think remains forever in the minds of some immigrants. It pretty much was the only title that came to mind and the only one I considered. Fortunately, no one asked me to change it. Amy: How did you come up with the idea for the novel? Was it a spark? A character? Something personal? Wendy: I had spent a few years working on a different novel, about a Chinese-American family with three daughters where the father has passed away, and something about it just wasn’t clicking. The daughters come back home, they grieve, and that was it. I wondered what it would be like if one of the characters wasn’t so much like me–which turned out to be Michael, the gay son in ACROSS A GREEN OCEAN–and what if that character found out something about his father that prompted him to go to China. That led me to set part of the book in Qinghai Province, which is located in the northwestern part of China and a place that I don’t think has been written about a lot. It’s very special to me, as I spent my first year out of college teaching English there. I also wove into that storyline a little of my family history, as I have a great-uncle who was sent to Qinghai Province for reeducation by labor in the 1950s. I wanted to portray China in its current, modern form as well as its turbulent past. Amy: Can you share with us your favorite scene in the novel, and why (without any spoilers). Wendy: That would be when Michael first arrives in China and gets pick pocketed. Not only is it a personal violation, but it’s a culmination of all the strange sights and sounds he’s experienced so far in that country. It forces him to question why he’s there, whether he’s made the right choice to investigate his father’s past, and how he’s going to manage without knowing much of the language or culture, despite being Chinese American. Amy: So, was this one of the easiest, or one of the hardest scenes, to write? Wendy: It was an easy and fun scene to write, because it actually happened to me when I was in China! At the time, I was outraged and also a little confused as to how to respond. Part of me wondered whether there was a culturally correct way to handle the situation. And, of course, while I was thinking all this, the pickpocket got away. So by making Michael confront his pickpocket, I was able to rewrite what happened to me with a slightly more satisfying outcome. [Literary revenge is sweet, indeed, Wendy!] Amy: Your debut novel, HAPPY FAMILY, was published in 2008. How has your publishing experience changed in the past seven years? How has your writing changed? Wendy: While it’s gotten harder for certain kinds of books to get attention in the media, there are also more social media outlets available to authors now (Twitter definitely wasn’t so popular in 2008). Because of that, I think authors are under greater pressure than ever before to participate in their own marketing and publicity, just because they have these resources at their disposal. I hope that my writing has gotten to the point where it’s allowed me to explore more complex subjects and in a more complex way. For example, HAPPY FAMILY was in the first person, while ACROSS A GREEN OCEAN includes the points-of-view of multiple characters. I’d like to try to continue to find my way into the heads of characters who are different from me. Amy: Sometimes a bit of an uproar arises over the term “women’s fiction.” What is “women’s fiction” to you? Does the label bother you? (Obviously, it doesn’t bother me) Wendy: Because I’ve worked as a book editor of women’s fiction, I think of the label as more of a convenient way for publishers and booksellers to label books for an audience rather than a controversial term. The label doesn’t bother me–after all, women are the primary consumers of books. Amy: What’s your best advice for aspiring novelists? Wendy: I’ll repeat a piece of advice my grad school advisor gave me, which is to “work hard.” I know that sounds simple, but I think the hardest thing for a writer is to feel validated, especially by themselves. I think aspiring novelists should treat their writing like a job, and work as hard at it as if it were a second job. Set aside time for it and refuse to let other people intrude into this time. If you don’t take your work seriously, no one else will.
Wendy Lee is the author of the novel Across a Green Ocean (Kensington, 2015), about a Chinese-American family dealing with the immigration experience, long-held secrets, and learning how to forgive. Her first novel, Happy Family (Grove, 2008), was named one of the top debut novels of the year by Booklist. A graduate of New York University’s Creative Writing Program, she has worked as a book editor and an English teacher in China. You can find out more about her on her website, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thank you, Amy, for sharing this novel on your blog. Wendy, this story sounds fascinating and I love that you wove personal experience into the plot. What was it like for you to experience the several-year gap between publications? (My debut comes out this summer and I’m still struggling with my next novel, so I’m sure I’ll be right there with you.)
Thanks, Kelli. First and foremost, I was just relieved that there would be a second publication! It was definitely difficult for me to watch my peers publishing two, three more books while I was struggling with one. I also had to find a new agent and ended up with a different publisher, so in a way I felt like I was starting all over. Ultimately, though, I’m glad I took the time to get it right. Good luck with your debut and be sure to savor every moment–you never have a debut experience again!
Amy Sue Nathan, we are on the same wavelength. I too just blogged about ACROSS A GREEN OCEAN. To build on Wendy’s response about the book’s title, towards the end of the novel she again evokes the image of a green ocean in a way that is poignant and powerful. As a reader I was moved by that moment, and as a writer I admired it.
Thank you for mentioning that detail, Lynn, and I’m glad it had such an impact.
Thanks, Wendy (and Amy) for some chewy insights. I loved what you had to say about weaving in some personal experiences. I guess I loved it because I’ve always felt that way, too. People ask me if either of the protagonists of my novel is “me,” and the answer is always “No, but….” The “but” means that I’ve used some of my personal experiences, though the characters and plot are fictional. I also loved what you had to say about treating your writing like a job, because……. uh, oh, I guess it’s because I feel the same way about that, too. When I realized I wasn’t making much progress on my WIP, I decided to do exactly what you just said. Every morning except baby-sitting day (priorities, priorities), I go to my desk for a few hours and work. If people call or, even worse, stop by, I explain that I’m working and can’t chat. Wow, what a difference this routine has made. Your book sounds very interesting — I love reading about other cultures and will surely read yours.
Oops, I didn’t mean to imply my novel has more than one protagonists. I meant to say “…protagonists of my novels…..”
It sounds like you have a great writing schedule worked out, Carole. Regarding people assuming the protagonist of the novel is you, I think it’s particularly true if you’re writing about a culture or ethnicity that you identify with, and if the book is written in first person. That’s true of my first novel; many people thought it was a memoir even though the cover clearly said “A Novel”! (If it was a memoir, it would be quite problematic, since the main character makes some not-so-great choices.)
I enjoy everything about your blogs Amy. I’ve come to know if you feature an author, then their books are ones I’ll enjoy. Again, nice to learn about a new to me author. I have a weakness for well written Asian American stories and look forward to picking Wendy’s debut and your forthcoming sophomore novel, they both sound very interesting. I just finished (after six years) writing my first novel and Wendy’s words ring true for me. When I approached writing as a hobby, I lacked the skills necessary to finish my novel. Once I approached it as my second job, investing time and money into “training”, networking with other writing “professionals”, and most importantly blocking out time to write, I was able to finally finish my novel. I’ve devoted most weekends, early mornings and many late night hours to writing. I also took a part-time job in my other profession so I could spend more days at my second job. I think most published writers say this job isn’t easy but there is a great deal of satisfaction that comes from hard work when it’s we enjoy. Like you, I’ve woven family facts and lore into my book. Combining fact and fiction has been interesting and fun. I look forward to reading Wendy’s third novel when it comes out too!
Cerrissa, I totally agree with you about making an investment in your writing, whether it’s carving out time or involving professionals with your work, the same way you might train to acquire skills to help you in your regular job. In a sense, maybe it’s even a more important investment because it’s a goal that you set for yourself and, as you say, it brings such satisfaction. Congratulations on finishing your first novel!