Skip to content
Walking in Symbiosis with Writing
Craig Mod talked frequently in his articles about the symbiosis between walking with his creativity. The set of rules he applied to all of his planned walks, the clockwork routines of the days, the accomodation and logistics all sorted out before he went on his walk—all is there to support the work that he does. Not just material for his books, but the very reason he can create and be so prolific.
If you’re interested in reading this collection of ideas written in his own words, summarizes all of his general philosophies around walking—walking solo for long continuous uninterrupted time, how this creates boredom and solitude and how that boredom act as a platform and foundation for being present, looking closely, and through it, creativity.
The articles below are all the ones related to his idea of the connection between walking and creativity, grouped by how much additional context it gives to this philosophy. My personal favorites are tagged with ‘Favorite’ and ‘Favorite++’ respectively.
Articles on Walking <-> Creativity
Tags
walking solo
walking logistics
walking rules
creativity
walking <-> creativity
meditation
looking closely
prep
update
Walks
Tōkaidō
Additional Context
Alllll the Context
Tags
walking solo
creativity
walking <-> creativity
aloneness
Additional Context
Context
Tags
creativity
walking <-> creativity
resist the algorithm
looking closely
impermanence
Books/Projects
Pachinko Road
Walks
Tōkaidō
Additional Context
Favorite++
Tags
walking <-> creativity
book-making
Walks
Kumano Kodo: Nakahechi and Kohechi
Tags
walking <-> creativity
walking solo
Tags
update
walking solo
walking <-> creativity
creativity
taste
film
Walks
Kii Peninsula
Craft and Mastery
Outside of walking, Craig has mentioned repeatedly that mastery in any craft is born through , through , through , and also simply just . To do things again and again until you understand it because you’ve given it enough of your time and attention. To look closely enough, to pay enough attention to see the details in the mundanity of life. To care about the things that you put out in the world, caring about the details that people won’t notice consciously, but might feel.
Articles on Mastery and Supporting Ideas
Ridgeline
15
Roden
8
Essays
3
Other Publications
1
Walks
Nakasendō
Tags
near-death
walking solo
repetition
mountains
Additional Context
Favorite++
Walks
Nakasendō
Tags
walking solo
repetition
photography
mountains
Additional Context
Favorite
Walks
Nakasendō
Tags
stillness
maintenance
creativity
Additional Context
Favorite
Tags
reading/books
resist the algorithm
repetition
Additional Context
Favorite
Walks
TOKIO TŌKYŌ TOKYO² — Winter Edition
Tags
repetition
places
rewalking
walking solo
passage of time
Additional Context
Favorite
Walks
Tōkaidō the Sequel
Tags
resist the algorithm
rewalking
richness
repetition
looking closely
Additional Context
Favorite
Tags
boredom
walking solo
resist the algorithm
richness
looking closely
Additional Context
Context
Tags
walking solo
creativity
walking <-> creativity
aloneness
Additional Context
Context
Walks
Tōkaidō
Tags
resist the algorithm
boredom
meditation
rhythms
change
looking closely
maintenance
Additional Context
Alllll the Context
Walks
Tōkaidō
Tags
walking solo
walking logistics
walking rules
creativity
walking <-> creativity
meditation
looking closely
prep
update
Additional Context
Alllll the Context
Walks
Nakasendō
Tags
responses
resist the algorithm
gear
Books/Projects
The SMS newsletter
Walks
Nakasendō
Tags
responses
meditation
resist the algorithm
walking solo
Books/Projects
The SMS newsletter
Tags
book-making
creativity
update
Books/Projects
Kissa by Kissa
Walks
Nakasendō
Tags
walking solo
richness
repetition
resist the algorithm
walking rules
prep
Walks
Ten Great, Strange, Mid-sized Cities in Japan
Tags
update
prep
walking solo
resist the algorithm
walking rules
Books/Projects
Tiny Barber, Post Office
Tags
trains
repetition
mastery
creativity
photography
impermanence
reading/books
Additional Context
Favorite++
Walks
Tōkaidō
Tags
creativity
walking <-> creativity
resist the algorithm
looking closely
impermanence
Additional Context
Favorite++
Books/Projects
Pachinko Road
Walks
Nakasendō
Tags
tiny-loops
technology
resist the algorithm
repetition
richness
change
boredom
Additional Context
Favorite
Tags
book-making
photography
film
spending time
resist the algorithm
Additional Context
Favorite
Books/Projects
Kissa by Kissa
Tags
meditation
boredom
stillness
photography
reading/books
resist the algorithm
Walks
Kii Peninsula
Tags
update
walking solo
walking <-> creativity
creativity
taste
film
Tags
book-making
covid
creativity
update
Books/Projects
Kissa by Kissa
Tags
reading/books
habits
resist the algorithm
Additional Context
Favorite
Walks
Tōkaidō
Tags
walking solo
looking closely
resist the algorithm
Books/Projects
Pachinko Road
Walks
Nakasendō
Tags
impermanence
resist the algorithm
margins/edges
rhythms
Books/Projects
The SMS newsletter
Pachinko Road Walk With Me
Walks
TOKIO TŌKYŌ TOKYO² — Winter Edition
Tags
rewalking
looking closely
repetition
passage of time
Looking Closely, in Writing
If you look at Craig Mod’s writing that doesn’t talk about walking, it practically oozes with the idea of looking closely. All of it—whether he’s culture in Japan, or about the people he meets during his walks—is written from the perspective of noticing the details that other people overlook. It’s present not just in the way he writes them, but also in his decision of things to write in the first places. The places he chose to visit—. He goes on trails , even though they are well-maintained.
Here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of articles he wrote on people, places, and kissaten. Personal favorites marked in blue.
Kissaten, Places, and People
Ridgeline
30
Roden
3
Other Publications
3
Tags
kissaten
people
change
community-space
Additional Context
Favorite++
Walks
TOKIO TŌKYŌ TOKYO
Tags
walking solo
change
places
people
walking rules
rewalking
richness
passage of time
Additional Context
Favorite++
Tags
kissaten
people
community-space
imperfection
passage of time
Additional Context
Favorite++
Walks
TOKIO TŌKYŌ TOKYO² — Winter Edition
Tags
repetition
places
rewalking
walking solo
passage of time
Additional Context
Favorite
Walks
TOKIO TŌKYŌ TOKYO
Tags
places
change
community-space
Additional Context
Favorite
Walks
Ise-ji with Friends
Tags
rewalking
mountains
places
people
kissaten
change
Additional Context
Context
Walks
Tōkaidō
Tags
resist the algorithm
boredom
meditation
rhythms
change
looking closely
maintenance
Additional Context
Alllll the Context
Walks
Nakasendō
Tags
walking solo
unresolved
imperfection
people
places
Walks
Ten Great, Strange, Mid-sized Cities in Japan
Tags
people
looking closely
Walks
Kii Peninsula
Tags
places
looking closely
Walks
TOKIO TŌKYŌ TOKYO
Tags
places
walking rules
passage of time
change
update
walking solo
Books/Projects
TOKIO TŌKYŌ TOKYO
Tags
looking closely
walking rules
people
places
jazz
kissaten
Books/Projects
Jazz Kissa
BASIE!BOP!JAMAICA!
Tags
update
memberships
jazz
kissaten
Books/Projects
Jazz Kissa
BASIE!BOP!JAMAICA!
Walks
Wainwright Coast-to-Coast
Tags
walk and talk
people
places
gear
Walks
Thailand Walk and Talk
Tags
walk and talk
people
places
Walks
Bali Walk and Talk
Tags
walk and talk
people
places
Walks
Bath Walk and Talk
Tags
walk and talk
people
places
Walks
Nakasendō
Tags
tiny-loops
technology
resist the algorithm
repetition
richness
change
boredom
Additional Context
Favorite
Walks
Nakasendō
Tags
walking solo
people
update
memberships
recording
interview
looking closely
Walks
Nakasendō
Tags
walking
kissaten
walking solo
Walks
Kii Peninsula
Tags
kissaten
Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.
This is not the way.
Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (
CtrlP
) instead.