10 Amazing Things You Didn't Know About Haruki Murakami

8. He Has An Incredibly Strict Routine

In the years since he began writing, Murakami has published dozens of books (and had dozens translated into English and various other languages around the world). The man's output is nothing short of prolific, but it makes a bit more sense when you learn just how strict his writing regimen is. According to Murakami, he goes to bed around 9pm every evening (which can often make socializing quite difficult) and wakes up around 4am without an alarm. After that, he writes for a solid five or six hours. Not only that, but Murakami believes in keeping his body healthy in order to facilitate further writing. His diet is strict and he often goes for a swim or a run after he finishes writing. Indeed, Murakami's love for running is extremely well-documented €“ he even wrote his own running memoir titled What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.