This is no. 30 in a series of micro craft essays exploring the finer points of writing. Check back each week for a new Craft Capsule.
The biggest little book in China is called the Tao Te Ching. One of its most famous sayings is Wu Wei, 無爲, literally, doing nothing or non-doing.
Whereas some people have used this to imbue passivity or laziness with spiritual significance, I think it has something to do with wholeheartedness.
The child at play does not stop to ask herself, “Am I playing?” She is not aware of time, nor constrained by it. Imagine you get so deep into writing, that you forget you are writing. The story just flows from you, through you, and out into the world.
How can you get to that place? Where the act of writing is so much of part of you, it’s effortless. A process of instinct rather than thought—
The first step is to give up the idea you will ever fail, or ever succeed. Prepare to serve only the needs of the story. Then move your hands, breathe.
Have faith.
Laugh.
Cry.
Sleep.
Dream.
Simon Van Booy is the author of nine books and the editor of three anthologies of philosophy. His latest work for adults, The Sadness of Beautiful Things, will be released in October from Penguin, and followed up in November by his latest work for children, Gertie Milk & the Great Keeper Rescue, from Penguin Razorbill.
