Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island
Observations from Taiwanese novelist Utsudo, shared to give new writers some direction. (Articles are in Chinese.)
✦ Essays available in English ✦
- #100 What Chapter Lengths Say About the Times
- #70 A Novelist’s Survival Strategy
- #43 Advice for New Writers Who Want to Write Something Good
- #36 The Malice of the Universe — What If Your Idea Overlaps With Someone Else’s?
- #34 Where the Pen Name “Utsudo” Came From
The rest of the column is in Chinese.
Browse by topic
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Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #217: No Time for Good Books? Read Along with Utsudo
Few people sit down to read anymore—even book-loving Utsudo gets distracted. So she started livestream book talks: sharing key points and discussing them live with viewers.
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Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #216: A Speaking Experience That Shocked Me
Utsudo spent two months preparing a university talk, only to find over 80% of students staring at their phones. Her thoughts on respect, and what successful people have in common.
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Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #214: That’s Because You Have a Chairman for a Father
A chairman proudly said his daughter studies art in Japan and New York. Utsudo reflects on privilege, unequal starting lines, and why choosing your field matters.
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Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #213: Forget Light Novels—Children’s Books Are Where It’s At (?
A publisher told Utsudo he dropped light novels for children’s books—and one title can earn millions with YouTube and influencer tie-ins. What novelists should know before switching.
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Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #212: Thoughts on Murakami’s Novelist as a Vocation
Utsudo reads Haruki Murakami’s book on being a professional novelist and reflects on the gap between top authors in Japan and Taiwan—and why writers need fresh surroundings.
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Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #211: Where Is My Next Book?
Why hasn’t Utsudo published a print book in years? A tough market, cautious publishers and agency complications. Her doubts about her identity—and her commitment to fiction.
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