#26 – On Novelist as a Vocation by Murakami

Writing advice from Haruki Murakami

“It is my belief that a rich, spontaneous joy lies at the root of all creative expression. What is originality, after all, but the shape that results from the natural impulse to communicate to others that feeling of freedom, that unconstrained joy?” — Haruki Murakami

Thus Murakami explains creative originality in his book “Novelist as a Vocation,” which I was inspired to re-visit while I was writing Saran Wrapped Letter #24 about space that nurtures creativity.

In today’s post, I’d like to share some of Murakami’s advice for writers and more specifically, fiction writers.

“Who would I be if I were not seeking anything?”

One thing that stood out to me from “Novelist as a Vocation” is how Murakami’s approach to writing is very much non-forced. Murakami notes that he does not write unless he really wants to. (And this coming from an author who has written 15+ books).

His advice for writers is not to ask, “What am I seeking?” when it comes to their work but to ask, “Who would I be if I weren’t seeking anything?”

Murakami notes that asking the former question leads one to ponder heavy issues, which leads to slower footwork and less lively prose.

“The you who is not seeking anything, by contrast, is as light and free as a butterfly. All you have to do is uncup your hands and let it soar. Your words will flow effortlessly,” says Murakami.

This sounds simple enough. But when I read this, I felt somewhat conflicted. A part of me gets it – sometimes, words are sizzling, dancing and overflowing, figuratively begging to be written, but I’ve had many other days, especially when pressed against tight deadlines, the only way I could get words out was through sheer, steel-like self-discipline.

Still I think Murakami is onto something when he says not to impose ourselves on the work but to rather let the work emerge naturally.  

Build up your mental chest of drawers

Explaining how he comes up with his novels’ ideas, Murakami writes that he is equipped with an “expansive mental chest of drawers.”

He notes that when he comes across a strange or out-of-the-ordinary human behaviour, he doesn’t analyze it too much; instead, he files it away in its undifferentiated form in his mental chest of drawers.

“What we call the imagination consists of fragments of memory that lack any clear connection with one another. This may sound like a contradiction in terms, but when we bring such fragments together our intuition is sparked, and we sense what the future may hold in store.”

Murakami suggests that fiction writers should work on building up their mental chest of drawers as it can turn out to be a valuable asset when setting out to write.

Give enough time for “gestation”

In the section “Making Time Your Ally,” Murakami emphasizes the importance of giving the work enough time to ‘gestate.’ He defines it as the “‘quiet time’ spent germinating and cultivating the seeds of what is growing within you.”

He explains that through this internal process, one builds up the zeal to tackle the novel. Beyond that, giving the work enough time gives him the confidence to shrug off criticism. “I believe that any work into which so much time has been invested will pay off in the end. Time will tell.”

You can’t please everyone.

 A final piece of advice that stood out to me is: You can’t please everyone.

Murakami writes that every time he publishes a new book, some people don’t like it.

He notes that he does not mix his hope that the reader will enjoy the book with the desire to please everyone. “I’m able to keep these two stances distinct, which is a skill I’ve learned over long years of writing. Maybe it’s the wisdom I need in order to live.”

PS: Thank you for reading! If anything here resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you!

PPS: Something delightful: Rainbow I saw at Niagara Falls :)

Rainbow at Niagara Falls.