When I’m in writing mode for a novel, I get up at 4:00 am and work for five to six hours. In the afternoon, I run for 10km or swim for 1500m (or do both), then I read a bit and listen to some music. I go to bed at 9:00 pm. I keep to this routine every day without variation. The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it’s a form of mesmerism. I mesmerize 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.
The Paris Review, Summer 2004
See also: "The Running Novelist," The New Yorker, June 9, 2008
I imagine Mr Murakami must be single isn't him? best wishes Juan Carlos Rivera Fajardo Does he live in Japan or in Hawaii?
Posted by: Juan Carlos Rivera Fajardo | December 08, 2011 at 08:07 PM
Actually, Murakami got married when he was quite young, at the age of 23 as far as I remember. I was quite surprised when I heard the news, as most of his main characters are single/divorced and I assumed he's alike.
His wife is Yoko, by the way.
Posted by: mei | March 18, 2012 at 11:41 AM