Queer Author Spotlight
Qiu MiaoJin: 1969-1995
In the late 80’s to early 90’s Qiu MiaoJin wrote short stories for local
newspapers that were mostly political in nature (Alice, Irene, & Eli,
2022). Her first openly queer writing is called “Platonic Hair,” a short
story that reveals the two main characters were women at the end
(Zinamon, 2022a). Qiu’s most notable works are
Notes from a Crocodile and Last Words from Montemarte.
Notes from a Crocodile is a novel about the way queer people
and lesbians live in society while still hiding who they truly are so as
not to be caught. Its release was around the same time as a media
scandal where a reporter outed several queer women publically which
tragically resulted in some of those outed dying by suicide (Zinamon,
2022a). Last Words from Montemarte was released posthumously
and can be read in any order as it is twenty letters from the
character’s perspective (Zinamon, 2022b). This novel became a cult
classic of sorts after Qiu’s death since it is her last work left behind
at such a young age (Zinamon, 2022b).
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