Andrew Hall's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing-tips"
The most important thing I ever learned about writing
The most important thing I ever learned about writing came from a Tokyo sushi master.
In the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, we follow the singular passion of Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old chef and restaurant owner, whose premises in a Tokyo subway station seats only ten.
But the man himself attracts fans, chefs and food critics from all over the world to dine at his seated bar; some wait almost reverently as their food is prepared and served. And while the quality of the ingredients and preparation are paramount, it’s really all about Jiro’s lifelong approach to his craft.
Read the following words from Jiro, as he talks about his role as shokunin (meaning craftsman, artisan, and worker; but also “someone with technical skill and the right attitude; possessing social consciousness; having a deep-seated obligation to fulfil the requirement of their role”).
To me, the following reads like poetry, because it’s so damn simple and sincere:
In these locked-down days, there’s no shortage of distractions to take our mind off things – including those things that truly matter, and that even fulfil our richest purpose and potential in this life.
But when I read Jiro’s words, and think of writing in this way, I’m filled instantly with envy and passion and peace, and simplicity and perfectionism and instant inspiration to start work immediately. I know I’ll never reach the peak of this profession, but I have to try. This is the only work that matters to me, and suddenly all I want around me are the tools of my trade, and some coffee steaming in the sunlight.
And I’m compelled to throw all distractions away, because suddenly all I aspire to is endless hours of writing and rewriting, and choosing only the most perfect words and punctuation for each line. To create the best possible stories I can. All else becomes immaterial.
When we can do that, we feel that elusive flow. There will always be struggle and worry, and the call of those distractions is a never-ending racket around us. Until we get into our writing, and only that.
When I remember to, I like to make certain practices a part of my daily routine. I’ll often forget them, but with that comes the joy of rediscovery – like the time I first heard of Jiro.
Today, I’ve just remembered him again – so I had to write his thoughts down. His words just seem too important to forget, and they feel to me like the most important thing I’ve ever been taught about writing. (By someone who, sure, isn’t a writer… but a craftsman all the same.)
(Also, if you'd like to know more about my stories, you can find them here in the Kindle store.)
I just want to share these following words with you, in case they’re helpful in your practise. Even better if you can make note of them, and try to read them every day. I’ll try too.
“I do the same thing over and over, improving bit by bit.
There is always a yearning to achieve more.
I’ll continue to climb, trying to reach the top…
But no one knows where the top is.
I may never achieve perfection,
But I feel ecstatic all day.
I love writing stories.”
In the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, we follow the singular passion of Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old chef and restaurant owner, whose premises in a Tokyo subway station seats only ten.
But the man himself attracts fans, chefs and food critics from all over the world to dine at his seated bar; some wait almost reverently as their food is prepared and served. And while the quality of the ingredients and preparation are paramount, it’s really all about Jiro’s lifelong approach to his craft.
Read the following words from Jiro, as he talks about his role as shokunin (meaning craftsman, artisan, and worker; but also “someone with technical skill and the right attitude; possessing social consciousness; having a deep-seated obligation to fulfil the requirement of their role”).
To me, the following reads like poetry, because it’s so damn simple and sincere:
“Shokunin try to get the highest quality fish and apply their technique to it.
We don’t care about money.
All I want to do is make better sushi.
I do the same thing over and over, improving bit by bit.
There is always a yearning to achieve more.
I’ll continue to climb, trying to reach the top…
But no one knows where the top is.
Even at my age, after decades of work…
I don’t think I have achieved perfection.
But I feel ecstatic all day.
I love making sushi.
I’ve never once hated this job.
I fell in love with my work and gave my life to it.
Even though I’m 85 years old…
I don’t feel like retiring.
That’s how I feel.”
In these locked-down days, there’s no shortage of distractions to take our mind off things – including those things that truly matter, and that even fulfil our richest purpose and potential in this life.
But when I read Jiro’s words, and think of writing in this way, I’m filled instantly with envy and passion and peace, and simplicity and perfectionism and instant inspiration to start work immediately. I know I’ll never reach the peak of this profession, but I have to try. This is the only work that matters to me, and suddenly all I want around me are the tools of my trade, and some coffee steaming in the sunlight.
And I’m compelled to throw all distractions away, because suddenly all I aspire to is endless hours of writing and rewriting, and choosing only the most perfect words and punctuation for each line. To create the best possible stories I can. All else becomes immaterial.
When we can do that, we feel that elusive flow. There will always be struggle and worry, and the call of those distractions is a never-ending racket around us. Until we get into our writing, and only that.
When I remember to, I like to make certain practices a part of my daily routine. I’ll often forget them, but with that comes the joy of rediscovery – like the time I first heard of Jiro.
Today, I’ve just remembered him again – so I had to write his thoughts down. His words just seem too important to forget, and they feel to me like the most important thing I’ve ever been taught about writing. (By someone who, sure, isn’t a writer… but a craftsman all the same.)
(Also, if you'd like to know more about my stories, you can find them here in the Kindle store.)
I just want to share these following words with you, in case they’re helpful in your practise. Even better if you can make note of them, and try to read them every day. I’ll try too.
“I do the same thing over and over, improving bit by bit.
There is always a yearning to achieve more.
I’ll continue to climb, trying to reach the top…
But no one knows where the top is.
I may never achieve perfection,
But I feel ecstatic all day.
I love writing stories.”
👍 Writing Stories the Fun, Easy, Lazy Way 👍
Wu Wei is a Chinese philosophical concept meaning effortless action, or the art of not forcing. It's an easier and sometimes lazier way of achieving the same results. And lazy is good. We like lazy. Here's how to be a lazy writer and still do books.
And yes, this could be a lengthy post, with like twenty in-depth paragraphs. But it's Sunday. Nobody needs that kind of work on a Sunday, especially not me. So here's three. Three bullets. Want more? Pay me. ;)
• If you want to write books, hit a wordcount every day. 500, 1000, 5000 words, up to you. Every damn day. Go David Goggins on it. No excuses. No writer's block. Writers with writer's block don't eat. If you want to be a writer long-term, you also need to be a writer who eats. Pro tip. 👍
• Read lots is outdated advice. Yes, read lots, but also consume lots. Entertainment, I mean. We have the interweb; we have Netflix. We have Steam, XBox, VR, TikTok, YouTube and Spotify. A million more. That's your competition as a writer for your readers' attention. That's what you're up against. Consume it all, so that you at least know your enemy. If you can't compete, again, you won't eat. As a writer, eat. 👍
• Reaction videos. On YouTube. They're a goldmine. You need to become an expert in watching people watching shows. Playing games. Listening to music. Pay close attention to the storytelling beats, the musical compositions and timestamps, that cause we humans to react emotionally. Take those things, and work them into your writing. Now, you're competing with modern entertainment. You're giving your readers the same dopamine hits they might find elsewhere. You're keeping their limited attention. And, they'll pay you. And you use what they pay you, to eat. We like eat. 👍
Want an example of what I mean? This is a really good one.
My favourite musicians are a band named Tool, and this is one of my mostest favouritest songs by them. It's a long one; it's a journey. But watch these reactors' faces. Watch how the music makes them light up. Even when this genre isn't their thing. But it's universal. It's storytelling. And you, if you're a writer, should definitely be taking notes.
⚡👉 Watch The Best Reactions To "Lateralus" by TOOL 👈⚡
And yes, this could be a lengthy post, with like twenty in-depth paragraphs. But it's Sunday. Nobody needs that kind of work on a Sunday, especially not me. So here's three. Three bullets. Want more? Pay me. ;)
• If you want to write books, hit a wordcount every day. 500, 1000, 5000 words, up to you. Every damn day. Go David Goggins on it. No excuses. No writer's block. Writers with writer's block don't eat. If you want to be a writer long-term, you also need to be a writer who eats. Pro tip. 👍
• Read lots is outdated advice. Yes, read lots, but also consume lots. Entertainment, I mean. We have the interweb; we have Netflix. We have Steam, XBox, VR, TikTok, YouTube and Spotify. A million more. That's your competition as a writer for your readers' attention. That's what you're up against. Consume it all, so that you at least know your enemy. If you can't compete, again, you won't eat. As a writer, eat. 👍
• Reaction videos. On YouTube. They're a goldmine. You need to become an expert in watching people watching shows. Playing games. Listening to music. Pay close attention to the storytelling beats, the musical compositions and timestamps, that cause we humans to react emotionally. Take those things, and work them into your writing. Now, you're competing with modern entertainment. You're giving your readers the same dopamine hits they might find elsewhere. You're keeping their limited attention. And, they'll pay you. And you use what they pay you, to eat. We like eat. 👍
Want an example of what I mean? This is a really good one.
My favourite musicians are a band named Tool, and this is one of my mostest favouritest songs by them. It's a long one; it's a journey. But watch these reactors' faces. Watch how the music makes them light up. Even when this genre isn't their thing. But it's universal. It's storytelling. And you, if you're a writer, should definitely be taking notes.
⚡👉 Watch The Best Reactions To "Lateralus" by TOOL 👈⚡
