Craig Mod, a writer and photographer who's embraced Japanese culture for 20 years, shares insights from his new memoir about a 300-mile pilgrimage. He discusses creative setbacks that shaped his journey and the delicate balance between artistic integrity and commercial success in publishing. Mod highlights the intertwining of walking, memory, and friendship in his storytelling. He also emphasizes the importance of reflection, adaptability in writing, and the joy of creating a dedicated space for creativity.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Novel Project Shaped His 30s
Craig Mod worked on a novel about burying his dad for several years that never got published.
Despite rejection, the project enabled residencies and connections that shaped his 30s profoundly.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Finish Small Creative Projects
Complete smaller creative projects to practice tools and finishing work.
Finishing work is a powerful skill often overlooked by many creatives.
insights INSIGHT
Themes Emerge Organically
Themes in Craig Mod's work emerge organically through immersion and reflection rather than conscious planning.
Physical walking and dictation release ideas that then reveal natural thematic connections during editing.
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Kissa by Kissa is a book that combines travelogue, photography, and cultural studies as Craig Mod walks the ancient Nakasendō highway from Tokyo to Kyoto. The book focuses on the vanishing kissaten cafes and the cultural significance of pizza toast in post-war Japan. It is a beautifully crafted volume with photographs and essays that reflect on the human and cultural geography encountered during his journey.
Bird by Bird
Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Anne Lamott
Susan Bennett
Bird by Bird is a comprehensive guide to writing that covers various aspects of the craft, from the initial stages of starting a project to the technical details of plot, character, and dialogue. Lamott emphasizes the importance of persistence, faith, and hard work in writing. She advocates for writing imperfect first drafts and warns against the pitfalls of perfectionism and self-criticism. The book also delves into the emotional and spiritual aspects of writing, encouraging writers to confront their deepest fears and desires. Lamott's approach is down-to-earth, humorous, and generously filled with personal experiences and practical advice.
Things Become Other Things
Craig Mod
Things Become Other Things blends memoir and travel writing, recounting a 300-mile walk on Japan's Kumano Kodō routes. The journey reflects on the author's childhood, experiences as an adoptee, and his relocation to Japan, while exploring history, literature, and spirituality in rural Japan. The book is a poignant exploration of personal growth and cultural insight.
On Writing
A Memoir of the Craft
Stephen King
This book is both a memoir and a writing guide. It details Stephen King's life, from his childhood and early writing endeavors to his struggles with addiction and his near-fatal accident in 1999. The book is divided into sections that cover King's life ('C.V.'), the nature of writing ('What Writing Is'), writing mechanics ('Toolbox'), his advice on the craft ('On Writing'), and his recovery from the accident ('On Living: A Postscript'). King offers practical tips on writing, including the importance of vocabulary, grammar, and style, as well as the need for consistent writing routines and ruthless editing. He emphasizes that good writing comes from within, driven by curiosity, wonder, and emotional honesty rather than commercial motives.
Wool
Hugh Howey
In 'Wool', the first book of the Silo series, Hugh Howey depicts a dystopian future where humanity lives in a self-sustaining underground silo. The story follows Sheriff Holston and later Juliette, a mechanic turned sheriff, as they uncover the sinister truths and conspiracies within the silo. The novel delves into the lives of the silo's residents, who are kept in the dark about the true state of the outside world, and the harsh punishments for those who express a desire to leave. The book is known for its suspenseful and engaging narrative, exploring themes of survival, hope, and the quest for truth in a confined and controlled environment.
Tinker Creek
Tinker Creek
Annie Dillard
Today, the Spotlight shines On Craig Mod, a writer, photographer, and walker who's spent the last 20 years making Japan his home.
Random House has just released Things Become Other Things, a walking memoir that traces his 300-mile journey along ancient pilgrimage paths in rural Japan. The book blends sharp prose with striking photography, capturing conversations with aging fishermen, inn owners, and cafe "mamas" while reflecting on friendship, loss, and the disappearing village life of Japan's Kii Peninsula. This is an expanded and reimagined mass market edition of the title Craig issued in a fine art edition directly to his online community of followers.
His previous books include Kissa by Kissa, which explores Japan's old cafe culture, and he reaches some 40,000 readers through his newsletters on photography, literature, and walking. Craig's work sits at a perfect intersection of deep attention and wandering feet.
Spotlight On 
