Egos Have No Redemption
The Real Deal Writer Struggle
Book Review of Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang
The synopsis with no spoilers
Writer June struggles with finding permanent relevance in the literary community. As she watches her friend Athena Lu shine easily, June fades further into a life of mundane, unknown authorship. Jealousy over other writers drives her inner thoughts, stopping her from true success. After a tragic encounter, she writes and publishes the speculative fiction novel of the decade. Doubt, drama, and secrets threaten to bring her new fame crashing down. But June holds the line and defends her work. At some point, there is no more moral ground to stand on, and we, the readers, get to see what happens when writers break. The reader is left wondering how big June’s ego will get before her world burns down and she retreats into obscurity. Or will she be seen as the true victim of a vicious literary community rigged against those who love the written word?
Themes: Writing, Publishing, Jealousy, Diversity in Writing, Cultural Appropriation, Integrity, Self-Worth
This story was an engaging and enraging dramatization highlighting the underbelly of the novelist and publishing world. I enjoyed the character development, and the plot kept me enthralled throughout the book. The reader has the chance to feel sorry for the main character, but hopeful that the victims in the story get their pound of flesh. It was well-paced, and the narration was refreshing and believable. Recommend 10 out of 10 reads, especially for writers.
Truth in the Text
Creative Craze
Belief in yourself as a writer is a hard sentiment to hold on to. Even on your strongest writing days, every writer from mainstream to indie has moments of doubt. Will readers get what I am trying to say? Will they like what I am writing? Is this story good enough? These are all questions that can both keep us going and stop us in our tracks.
The main character of Yellow Face lets these questions turn her into a morally corrupt version of herself. And when one lie grows into another, she creates a minefield of professional pitfalls. It creates drama for the reader, and it makes the plot move nicely.
What is scary about the main character is that I have felt this type of craziness. The spiral that comes with a new idea is scary. Is it unique enough? Did I already see this somewhere else? Is my new idea boring? Did someone already do this? As an avid reader of both romance and fantasy novels, I am always fearful that themes and tropes of the content I intake will affect the stories that I put out to the world as my own.
For example, during the writing process for my second novel, Twin Souls: A Blue Moon Novel, I forbade myself from watching certain YA content. I skipped watching movies like Darkest Minds and Fantastic Beasts 2 (still haven’t gotten back to that one) out of fear of it steering my creativity. And anyone who knows me knows I love to rewatch classics like Twilight (argue with someone else) or Beautiful Creatures. During the writing process, I purposefully cut down on my intake of paranormal imagery, as I would never want to be accused of stealing someone’s creative elements, even the cliches. I mean, wow, how I tortured myself.
Now, as a writer set to publish her 4th novel, I am not nearly as superstitious or weary, but those tendencies and habits still creep in on bad writer days.
What surprised me in R.F. Kuang’s writing is that we truly never see the main character’s fear of acceptance by normal readers. The only fear was that her lies would be exposed and her new famed life would be over. It played well in Kuang’s fictional world, but in real life, underdeveloped writers often fear the rejection of readers far more than the rejection of major publishing houses. Most often give up before they get to see their stories in the hands of readers who would enjoy them.
Publishing Players, Gonna Play Their Hand, Not Yours!
The other great truth unfolding in this novel was that of the publishing world. Or at least what I perceive it to be after my experience querying and looking for representation as an author.
At the beginning of the book, June describes the querying and agent process for an author who is deemed to be the next big thing and then compares it to those who are struggling to get recognized in an oversaturated, too dense pool. There are tales of auctions, advances, and marketing teams assigned to a single author. We also learn about the other side, which is self-driven marketing, multiple-day jobs to stay afloat, and, worst of all, invisibility to the world. Your work being ignored and unvalued is the worst part of being a new writer.
When querying Dreams of the Heart, agents/publishers were descriptive about what they wanted, but never gave feedback as to how my book didn’t meet the mark. I was even told it lacked thrilling elements, which confused me because my book fits squarely in the contemporary romance category. The genre has expanded over the last 10 years to include romantic mystery, thriller, and even horror (ghost stories). I originally wanted to traditionally publish my first novel, but that goal was simpler on paper.
I think the publishing world behind the scenes is exactly how the author of Yellow Face depicts. It’s all hidden agendas, tricky capitalistic tricks, and masterful gatekeeping. Stories are not bought and sold on the merit of content and readers’ preferences. They are bought for things like branding, public opinion, and, of course, profits. Actions of diversity are nothing more than branding strategies for companies that are not genuine about representation and do not truly embrace content for what it is or can be for readers everywhere.
I will leave you with this.
Writers– Keep writing to share your story with a world somewhere that needs it.
Readers– Read the book for your pleasure and purpose; do not let anyone tell you that a book is bad until you read for yourself.
Readers: Re-Summary
READ FOR YOURSELF
Publishers– Do know, own, and work together to help and reduce the fears of writers. It makes you better, takes you farther, and earns you more than doing the opposite.
Everyone else: enjoy the show—yet never forget; it’s only a show.