Customer Reviews

Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Many books on writing are strictly craft books. Some are about becoming "pro" - dealing with editors, managing your PR. This is not about that. WILD MIND is about practicing the art of writing and about the life of one writer, Natalie Goldberg. But is so clearly instructive, so vividly stimulating, that reading it will automatically boost your own creative fires, and very likely your output. So...in its way, it is a surprisingly practical book.

Like her earlier WRITING DOWN THE BONES, Goldberg has created another wonderful resource for the writer at any stage of his/her craft. She's evolved, refined and developed the exercises presented in Bones, as well as added new ideas. A favorite of mine is to read work aloud often. She writes: "Write, read,write, read. You become less attached to whether it is good or bad. 'I wrote this now I'll read it, no big deal.' " She gives guidelines for working in a writer's group, and has many "try this" suggestions sandwiched in between anecdotal moments from her life which enrich and strengthen us.

As a professional writer for 25 years, I personally learned from this book mid career and continue to revisit eleven years later. A must have for any writer.

After reading it twice, I think this book contains both positive and negative aspects. Basically, I've come to the conclusion that it's not a book on how to write. Instead, I view it as a memoir by a person with a more-or-less interesting life. At times, it makes for fascinating reading; other times, the stories and anecdotes fall really flat. The writing advice itself is sparse though there are several decent exercises to cure writers' block. Goldberg is a remarkable writer who has wisdom and wit, but I expected more actual writing *technique* from this book and was therefore disappointed.

By the way, I pity the narrow-minded reviewers who bash her for writing about her relationships with women. I've read plenty of books by heterosexual authors who constantly mention their spouses, and I don't see readers accusing them of throwing it in their faces.

I read "Wild Mind" for the first time 2 weeks ago. Natalie Goldberg is a phenomenal writer who exposes herself in this book about writing, which, consequently makes it even more enjoyable to read. The book contains some ideas on Zen and everyday living, specifically applied to the context of writing. Throughout the book are many "Try This" writing exercises designed to let creativity flow through the mind, hand, and pen of the writer. It is an inspirational and encouraging read. I was so excited by this book that I have begun to write again, and not only that, but I immediately went out and bought "Banana Rose"(which she mentions in Wild Mind) and "Writing Down the Bones" and finished all 3 books in a week--because I LOVED THEM. Goldberg is brilliant as a writer and you can be too if you follow her advice.

This is the follow up volume to the excellent Writing Down the Bones. If you have read the first book, and still feel blocked, then this book could prove very useful. What I feel is that she covered most of the important aspects of being an aspiring writer in 'Bones, so I feel their is some rehash, and some material that is just not as good as 'Bones.
Still, she builds more on both zen and jewish wisdom, and it does not do anyone any harm to read it.
Of course, this book helped me to appreciate haiku, and that counts for something!

This book is yet another treasure from Natalie Goldberg. It is like being invited into her home for a while, observing her in process... gleaning what gold you can.

Sipping tea, doing writing practice, laughing at her jokes and I imagine telling a couple of your own once you win her favor.

I have incorporated several of the "Try This On" exercises into my own writing practice and have been delighted at the result. It seems as if each "Try This On" yields some benefit, usually beyond what I expect.

My only wish is that I discovered Natalie Goldberg's writing sooner. This is a delicious, filling offering.... Perfect for using after "Writing Down the Bones."

The best kinds of books are ones that you put on a certain part your desk and know that, eventually, you'll be reading it again. Natalie Goldberg's _Wild Mind_ (as well as her _Writing Down the Bones_) is the type of book that is going to follow you through your life because they help writers with a terrible disease... writer's block.

No matter what stage of writer's block you're in... Initial denial... mediocre frustration... or serious hair pulling... Goldberg has a variety of simply exercises which can not only "unstuck" you, but also help develop the writing muscle so that you don't end up always thinking, "Well, I get to my writing real soon now".

For non-writers, a Goldberg read is likely to churn up creative energy. Simply reading a few chapters will open the creativity door wide open and who knows what is going to come out.

I recommend this book to help get the creative juices going for writers and writers-to-be. Although the writing in the book itself is sometimes a little bit dorky or awkward, this is more than compensated by the overall rush of good suggestions and liberating writing exercises, all presented in a way that is unpretentious, confident, entertaining, and sound.

I have been a writer since I was a child but never realized that "being a writer" had little to do with what you write or even how often. It's a way of looking at the world, and Natalie Goldberg captures it and conveys it in a way that (finally) legitimized the writer within for me. For that, I'll be eternally grateful. When people used to say to me, "You analyze too much," I'd feel bad about myself, but now I say to myself, if to no one else, "Yes, that's what makes me a good writer!"

Not only did she free the writer-person within me when I read this book, but she gave me new ways to practice writing from an angle I hadn't thought of. I am not good with descriptions of scenes and, in fact, hate even reading them, but in order to get better at it, I did her little exercises and had fun and sharpened my skills at the same time. (...which reminds me, I need to do them again.)

I reread portions of this book several times a year and I always keep an extra couple of copies of it on hand to give to other writers and wanna-be writers. I hope it never goes out of print!

of Natalie's writing books. I think it is especially good for those who edit themselves as they write. Natalie gives you permission to write badly. You can always clean it up later. She encourages us to let loose and and get it down on the page. And if you're blocked, she offers lots of "try this" exercises.

Several times, people have come to me to critique their writing or give advice, and I've given them this book to read. The effect on their work is remarkable. Total transformation. I recommend this book to anyone who writes -- or wants to write -- for a living. You will read it again and again whenever you need inspiration.