We’ve offered up professional tips from many famous authors, but I don’t recall we’ve published any from Japan. Meet Murakami Haruki (Haruki Murakami in Western notation), award-winning novelist, essayist, and short story writer.
He’s been accused by Japan’s literary elite of being too Western, of being unJapanese. Among his influences are Raymond Chandler, Kurt Vonnegut, Richard Brautigan, and Cormac McCarthy.
From time to time, Murakami has dropped pearls of wisdom vis-à-vis writing. Fortunately author Emily Temple has gathered them into a must-read article. The bullet points are:
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| Murakami, Haruki |
- Read.
- Take the old words and make them new again.
- Explain yourself clearly.
- Share your dreams.
- Write to find out.
- Hoard stuff to put in your novel.
- Repetition helps (outside of writing).
- Focus on one thing at a time.
- Cultivate endurance.
- Experiment with language.
- Have confidence.
- Write on the side of the egg.
- Observe your world.
- Try not to hurt anyone.
- Take your readers on a journey.
- Write to shed light on human beings.
- No matter what, it all has to start with talent…
- … unless you work really hard!
So, starting with admonition № 1, check out the article. Perhaps you’ll find a gem too.
