On habit and persistence: notes from an emerging writer
On habit and persistence: notes from an emerging writer
Anthea Yang
Once, in the middle of the night, I watched a Youtuber try to live one week of their life according to Haruki Murakami’s writing schedule. Lying in a cocoon of blankets, with my phone producing a halo around my face, I learned that when Murakami is in his ‘novel writing mode’ his days become laden with exercises of dedication and endurance, and go like this:
• Wake up at 4 am
• Write for five to six hours
• Run 10 km or swim 1.5 km (or both)
• Read and listen to music
• Go to bed at 9 pm.
Rinse and repeat. For as long as necessary.
There’s no doubt that this structure has worked for Murakami; his rich prose style and experimental take on magic realism has resulted in critical acclaim. In a 2004 interview with The Paris Review of Books, Murakami shares not only his writing habits outlined above, but also the importance of physical and mental habits. He expresses:
‘I keep to this routine every day without variation. The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it’s a form of mesmerism. I mesmerise myself to reach a deeper state of mind. But to hold to such repetition for so long—six months to a year—requires a good amount of mental and physical strength. In that sense, writing a long novel is like survival training. Physical strength is as necessary as artistic sensitivity.’
Although I admire his diligence, I don’t think I am on Murakami’s level, or will ever be; and I am fine with that. But as I begin to think more seriously about my ambitions of becoming a writer, I recognise the truth in Murakami’s words. I acknowledge the benefits of routine and repetition in a craft that requires significant mental stamina.
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I have begun to establish small structures in my life that resemble a writing habit of sorts. In doing so I have been able to learn more about how my mind and body function in relation to creativity. Here are some writing habits I’ve developed as an emerging writer.
Early starts
After spending countless nights in my undergraduate years cramming for tests and assignments, I’ve learned that I am, in fact, a morning person. And I’ve stopped fighting this knowledge.
Most days I set my alarm for 7am and read for an hour straight away. I do this because my mind is still half awake and not yet clouded by any menial tasks for the day.
Currently I’m reading:
• Stigmata by Helene Cixous
• The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone by Olivia Laing
Free writing
After, I write for half-an-hour to an hour. I don’t use this time to work on existing works or projects, instead focusing on reflecting on current thoughts, contemplating what I’ve just read, and exploring any ideas that have arisen out of the morning. This ensures that there’s no pressure to produce ‘good’ work.
Keeping notes
You have no idea how many nights I’ve gone to bed with a great idea and woken up the next day with nothing except that ‘it’s on the tip of my tongue’ feeling. I now keep notes everywhere: on post-its, on my phone, in random notebooks. As long as they’re down–even if they’re not great ideas or thoughts–I tend to sleep (and wake) easier. On the importance of diary keeping, Marion Engin notes:
‘Writing is thinking. It is natural to believe that you need to be clear in your mind what you are trying to express first before you can write it down. However, most of the time the opposite is true. You may think you have a clear idea, but it is only when you write it down that you can be certain that you do.’
Switching off
There’s no doubt social media can be a source of community and inspiration, but for emerging creatives it can also give life to the Imposter Syndrome monster that hibernates in our minds. In dedicating less time for endless scrolling, I’ve noticed less ‘noise’ coming into my mind and a clearer focus when approaching my work.
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As with habits of nutrition and exercise, everyone’s will be different. This is also not to say I haven’t strayed from these habits from time to time. But by giving myself structure around my practice and exercising my mental capabilities, I’ve created consistency; consistency in thinking and creating that is necessary to become a writer.