I have always maintained, even as a schoolboy in Russia, that the nationality of a worthwhile writer is of secondary importance… The writer’s art is his real passport.
- Vladimir Nabokov, Russian-American novelist
Twenty-four years ago, my dad bought me a PC, which opened a whole new world for me.
Nineteen years ago, I created my first blog on MySpace and started my online writing journey.
Ever since connecting on the internet, I was like a kid with a Disneyland VIP ticket that played around freely and happily. I didn’t realise I was indulging myself in the fairy tales of free internet and freedom of speech until one day, I encountered censorship.
In 2008, while the whole Chinese nation was in such a high spirit of preparing for the Olympic Games, I was in a low mood fighting against state media because they took off my content that mentioned Twitter.
I was pissed off as a hot-blood teenage girl and published more writings to attack the government and the censorship system. It was like a battle between David and Goliath. However, in my case, the Goliath was too strong to beat up, and I lost. They deleted my account and all my articles involving censored topics (like 3Ts).
Censorship & Cancel Culture on Chinese Social Media
Like many other Chinese bloggers, I learned my lessons and started to play with words to avoid censorship or self-censored first when publishing my writings on Weibo and WeChat.
In recent years, Weibo has adopted a fresh strategy for content moderation. Bloggers who use flagged terms triggering censorship can still access their content, albeit without immediate deletion. However, we can only see what we've posted but our readers won't have access to view this post or provide responses. This practice, known as "traffic control (限流 xian liu)," serves as a subtle warning against posting content that goes against government guidelines. The next stage will be the potential removal of our content or account, determined by the social media credit system.
Here is one interesting example of the Winnie the Pooh ban. When the Chinese resident Xi Jinping had gone to the United States for an official visit in 2015, he returned with this nickname. Soon after he met with Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, the nickname meme grew and spread online. Then, censors started removing and blocking Pooh's images on social media sites, leading to poor Pooh's cancellation in China.
In addition, there has been a surge in nationalism in China over the past few years. Individuals and Western brands that embrace diverse values or display hostility towards China, as well as influencers, celebrities, and companies accused of being unpatriotic, have fallen victim one after another to online cancellations. This includes notable entities such as the fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana, billionaire actress Zhao Wei, Jack Ma, and many influencers who openly support Ukraine.
The tedious and troublesome writing journey killed my inspiration and drained my energy to a large extent. Therefore, I built up my own website and gradually exited many centralised platforms to establish my sovereignty.
In 2020, a decade after residing in English-speaking countries, a light-bulb moment occurred when my online mentor, James Altucher launched a 30-Day Writing Challenge. This initiative empowered me to complete my first English novel and made me realise my capability to write in both Chinese and English, evolving into a bilingual writer.
Currently, I regularly publish newsletters, podcasts, and stories in two languages, amassing a following of over 210,000 followers worldwide. Given the global proliferation of censorship and cancel culture, it becomes crucial for individuals proficient in multiple languages to cultivate digital footprints on diverse platforms or establish their own decentralised media channel to safeguard freedom of speech.
Why should you write in English, even if it’s not your native language?
English stands out as the global preferred lingua franca - the language people are most likely to turn to when they don’t share the same first language. Apart from Pieter Levels’ saying that writing in English can help us reach over a billion people, there are two more notable advantages:
It helped me approach my mind without carrying many burdens from my native cultures.
By expressing my thoughts in both English and my native language, I discovered a unique ability to navigate and discuss these sensitive topics without feeling encumbered by the weight of my cultural background. For example, when I wrote my first English novel, The Invisible Third Culture Adults, I delved into taboo subjects that carry significant cultural weight in Asian societies, topics I would have hesitated to explore in my native Chinese language due to societal constraints.
However, by choosing English as my medium, I found the freedom to approach these taboos with a fresh perspective without the weight of societal expectations and cultural norms that might have influenced me if I had written in my native language.
The bilingual approach not only broadened my creative horizons but also enabled me to engage with a diverse readership that might resonate with the unfiltered expression found in my English writing.
It helped me gain confidence and not take myself too seriously.
Everybody makes mistakes, so do native English-speaking writers. Therefore, I can use “English is not my mother tongue” as an “excuse” to publish my works in English to overcome perfectionism. As long as I can communicate my ideas and thoughts correctly, I don’t need to worry about my imperfect grammar and vocabulary too much. Even though I made mistakes, I could entertain my English readers and learn from practising.
“And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.”
— John Steinbeck, 1952
How to start writing in two languages?
Since my early years in primary school, I have consistently immersed myself in writing, transitioning from pen and paper in notebooks to online platforms, maintaining this practise for two decades. As a confident and prolific Chinese writer, this journey has been an integral part of my identity.
Upon relocating to New Zealand in 2010, I found it necessary to acquire proficiency in English to sustain a livelihood. During that period, I grappled with the embarrassment of communicating in broken English and struggled even more with crafting fluent essays or articles.
This challenge contributed significantly to a sense of inadequacy in my use of English, particularly in the writing aspect. Overcoming this internal struggle, which involved self-sabotaging thoughts like "you suck," became a journey spanning almost ten years.
Fortunately, three key elements played a pivotal role in liberating me:
Fernando Pessoa, Elif Safak and Ayn Rand are non-native English-speaking writers. They set up a role model for people like me. By reading their stories and their works, I understand writing in English is a mission achievable. What I need to do is simple - according to Ernest Hemingway, “there is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed” - In my case, I only need to sit in front of my MacBook and let the blood flow washing over the keyboard.
Online writing mentors like David Perrell, who created writing courses (I’m an alumni of Write of Passage Cohort 7) to guide me through the journey and make friends with other emerging writers to support each other. The same thing happened in The Network State community where Grant and Matt initiated the writing challenge to publish technologically progressive topics.
My English-speaking friends (online & IRL) and colleagues are so kind and patient with my English and encourage me to speak and write more. My readers also provide me with constructive feedback and support me with positive engagement. I’ve always appreciated the love I gained on my writing journey. THANK YOU!
While I could stick to my comfort zone and communicate solely in Chinese, I'd miss out on the chance to connect with new friends and readers and discover the other side of the world.
Writing in both languages may require time, but the rewards are substantial. As Bruce Nauman put it, "If you want to do it, you do it. There are no excuses." What I need to do is establish a system and cultivate good habits to support my writing routine. Trust the process, make the commitment, and you can achieve more than you might expect.
How to find audiences as a bilingual writer?
Serve the person you once were.
In the past, as an international student and a migrant to New Zealand, I shared my experiences of studying abroad and navigating the job market with those on a similar path, building a follower base. My friends Ellen and Summer, who dedicated years to fitness training and delved into nutrition research, also shared their insights along their journey. Now, they've cultivated a large online community focused on a healthy lifestyle, reaching hundreds and thousands of Chinese girls through articles, videos, and product trials.
Previously, I invested significant time on Chinese social media channels like WeChat and Weibo, catering to the needs of Chinese international students. However, since embracing a digital nomad lifestyle, I've shifted to producing more English content to connect with new friends and explore career opportunities.
For instance, I use my podcast channel to reach out to people I admire on Twitter, inviting them to chat and build connections on my show. Additionally, I write this newsletter, consistently sharing content that highlights my personal transformation journey and covers topics I'm passionate about, such as ancient philosophy and history, attracting over 1,600 readers in half a year.
By consistently publishing content in both English and Chinese, I've connected with readers globally, eliminating the loneliness I once felt.
Conclusion
Writing in both English and Chinese is not just about language; it's a strategic move to safeguard freedom of speech in a world marked by digital complexities. In an era where censorship and cancel culture cast shadows over open dialogue, bilingual writing becomes a beacon of resilience.
You, as a reader, is integral to this endeavor, contributing to a celebration of diverse voices that challenge conventional norms and bridge cultural divides. Every click, share, and comment resonates beyond the words, reinforcing the importance of cultivating a space where ideas can flourish unencumbered.
I admire your spirit. 我也是双语作者,但中文的作品极少。写作本来就很难。佩服你