Most writers will tell you that it's challenging enough to write well in their native language, let alone attempting it in another. Yet a number of well-known authors have done just that, in many cases writing not only well but brilliantly, in a language that was not their first. There's a name for these writers: exophonic.
An astonishing article about writers who write in a foreign language.
Previously, I thought I was the only one-- and rather mad-- for wanting to write in French. Furthermore, I read „Mönch und Räuber“, and found several parts of German expression to be elegant and surprisingly accessible. But I have never put much effort into pursuing this, sometimes considering it an additional burden.
I do have a consistent habit of writing in French for everyday lists, which I will continue. But little did I know that there is a whole category of writers who write in a foreign languages. More importantly, I recognise many of them: Nabokov and Conrad, for starters! These are exophonic writers, or translingual writers.
Quite a few have said that they express themselves better in a foreign language. I am more encouraged than ever to write prodigiously in French particularly, as well as German. Ultimately, I would like to write diary entries in Russian. (The same way Russians used to write their diaries in French!).
Highly recommended reading for writers!