Let’s talk about writing

Inspired by Haruki Murakami.

Everyone who isn’t illiterate can write; an obvious statement. But what really intrigues me is what makes a person write for a living. For example, Haruki Murakami a very dear writer, though I personally don’t know him, his work is very intriguing and makes me enjoy it.

Murakami has been asked several times for tips on how to write better, and he has stated some interesting arguments:

If I’m asked what the next most important quality is for a novelist, that’s easy: focus—the ability to concentrate all your limited talents on whatever’s critical at the moment.

Sometimes it’s difficult to concentrate, I know it because it’s one of my old and sticky problems. Whenever I try to focus on a task, my mind fly away quickly. Nevertheless, it’s undeniable the benefits that come out of this ability.

After focus, the next most important thing for a novelist is, hands down, endurance.

Being a writer isn’t something reserved for a person with a doctorate title but with a powerful determination. That’s the reason there are lots of unknown novelists of a one-time success, endurance isn’t just something you gain doing physic exercise.

Fortunately, these two disciplines—focus and endurance—are different from talent, since they can be acquired and sharpened through training.

And this last statement is the one that gives hope. Some say that no one is a good Sherlock of himself, and I think the same. So I can’t really say if I have any talent in writing, but I know how much I can wave between being charmingly headstrong and insufferably pighead, and anyone can use that kind of endurance to fire up a habit in writing.

That’s all I can comment around Murakami’s words. So let me finish wishing you a nice day.