How Murakami Balances Daily Discipline with Creative Mystery: My reflections on 'Novelist as a Vocation' by Haruki Murakami

In Novelist as a Vocation, Haruki Murakami offers readers a fascinating glimpse into his writing process, providing not just practical advice for aspiring writers but also a philosophical reflection on what it means to create stories.

For me what stands out most is how Murakami treats writing as an art form that demands the same level of discipline and dedication as any other artistic endeavour. His words, particularly when he speaks about the subconscious mind and the physical strength needed to delve into it, highlight the deep connection between the physical body, the mind, and the act of creation.

One of the most striking parts of the book is when Murakami says,

“…telling stories, to put it another way, means delving deep down into your subconscious. To descend into the darkest realms of your mind.”

For him, the act of writing is about accessing the hidden parts of the self. It is an act of courage, a descent into the unknown. And, as he points out, there are dangers inherent in this process. He likens the mental challenge of writing to confronting a deep darkness, and this, he says, requires physical strength.

Murakami’s physical fitness routine is an integral part of his writing life. He runs almost every day, believing that a healthy body is crucial to sustaining the mental energy needed to write. He says:

“What’s needed above all, to stand up to that deep darkness and confront daily the various dangers inherent there, is physical strength.”

This challenges the way we often view the creative process. While we know that creating art relies heavily on intuition and emotion, we tend to completely separate our physical capacity from our imaginative capacity. We don’t usually think of physical stamina as a necessity for creativity.

This perspective offers an insight into the symbiotic relationship between mind and body, especially for writers or creators who may consider their craft purely intellectual. For Murakami, the two are inseparable. Running provides him with the endurance he needs to spend hours at his desk, immersed in the complex and often taxing task of storytelling. The physical act of moving the body becomes the very thing that protects the mind when it has to sit still and face that internal darkness.

But Murakami’s approach to writing goes beyond physical stamina. He is practical, humble, and deeply disciplined. He writes every day, adhering to a routine that enables him to create work consistently. His success is not something he attributes to raw talent or a stroke of genius but rather to the persistent and steady effort he has put into honing his craft over the years.

This is a refreshing contrast to the common romanticised narrative of the creative genius or the “tortured artist” who waits for inspiration to strike. That narrative often suggests that art comes from chaos, or that you have to suffer to make something meaningful.

Murakami’s perspective is much more grounded: he believes in the power of routine, the necessity of showing up at the desk every day, and the importance of relentless editing.

His long editing process demonstrates his commitment to refining his work, ensuring that each sentence serves its purpose. There is nothing glamorous about this process, and he makes no attempt to dress it up. In fact, his straightforward and unpretentious approach to writing is part of what makes him so attractive to me personally.

Despite being one of the most celebrated novelists of our time, he doesn’t claim to possess a secret talent or insight that others do not have access to.

There is also a beautiful paradox here. When you compare this rather low-key approach to the sheer scale of his imaginative stories, you begin to appreciate his genius. It takes immense structural discipline to construct worlds that feel both familiar and strange at once, grounded in everyday life yet totally transformed by the fantastic.

He shows that success in writing and by extension creating art, is the result of discipline, patience, hard work and living well. His success, far from being unattainable, feels within reach precisely because of the accessible philosophy he offers. For me, this is what makes Murakami truly inspirational.