Yiyun Li blurs lines between fiction and reality in search for insight

Acclaimed Chinese-American author values the act of writing over the final product

20241108 Yiyun Li

Beijing-born Yiyun Li's journey from a military trainee to a renowned writer reflects the complex narratives she weaves into her stories. (Tom Pilston/Booker Prize Foundation)

Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- For Yiyun Li, the act of writing -- a journey of discovery rather than a process of creation -- is more important than the published product.

Princeton University's head of creative writing says the distinction is central to her work, where fiction seamlessly intertwines with reality to offer insights into the human condition.

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