The Writing Life [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Natalie Goldberg (Author), Julia Cameron (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2005

Through their many bestselling books, Natalie Goldberg and Julia Cameron have done nothing less than deepen the way millions of us experience the art and practice of writing and creativity. Now for the first time, Cameron and Goldberg join forces in a revealing dialogue that speaks to our common search for an everyday spirituality, with The Writing Life. Join these two creative giants as they explode cherished misconceptions about who should write, and why they should do it, opening the door to the writer's world for everybody, not just a chosen few. How can writing best be practiced? What is the difference between therapeutic writing and writing for publication? How do we conquer the twin dragons of mood and time? Is it dangerous or inspirational to dabble in different arts such as music, painting, and writing? How is addiction related to the writer's life? Goldberg and Cameron examine these and many other questions, while taking us inside their personal lives as committed writers and spiritual seekers. Edgy, surprising, and useful for its hard-won advice, The Writing Life is an invitation to a life-transforming act that requires no more than a pen, some paper, and the will to get started.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Best of the Best. People trying to find the inspiration to write can tap the wisdom of these two authors, who hold open the writing door for everybody and explore the writing process in depth. Cameron and Goldberg also take listeners inside their personal lives as committed writers and spiritual beings. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Julia Cameron is an award-winning playwright, poet, filmmaker, fiction writer, and author of the national bestsellers The Artist's Way (over one million copies in print) and The Vein of Gold. Her latest book is The Right to Write.

Natalie Goldberg is a poet, teacher, writer, and painter. A student of Zen Buddhism for 25 years, she is ordained in the lineage of Katagiri Roshi. Natalie Goldberg teaches writing workshops based on the methods present in her national bestseller Writing Down the Bones. Her other books include Thunder and Lightning, Wild Mind, Long Quiet Highway, Banana Rose, and Living Color.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated; Unabridged edition (October 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591794021
• ISBN-13: 978-1591794028
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #892,131 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Find somebody who loves to write and listen to them!, June 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Writing Life (Audio Cassette)

"Artists are the antennae of the race." (Ezra Pound).. so quote the authors interviewed on this tape. Both Natalie Goldberg and Julia Cameron stress that writing is "a form of listening, a conduit that connects you to everything within yourself as well as to everything outside of youself." Therefore, writing is about receptivity. It's not always about the finished product but about the process.

On this two tape set Natalie Goldberg and Julia Cameron talk about the writing process: What to do with the critical voice, specificity in writing, character development, criticism, jealousy, the use of morning pages, persistence and the willingness to show up.

What qualifies these two authors to teach is not only their love for writing but the fact that they actually write. They are engaged in the writing process. They speak from experience not theory. The authors advise, "find someone who is in love with writing and they will help you!" Follow that advise and it will lead you to this set of tapes.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comfort and Encouragement, January 21, 2003

By 

Beth McKenzie (South Eastern USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Writing Life (Audio Cassette)

I was forunate to initially rent this audiobook on a cross-country trip. I listened to it 5 times in that week. I don't think, "I need to do my morning pages." I hear Ms. Cameron say, "Morning pages are mandatory". I hear the change of inflection when Ms. Goldberg says "Writng Down the Bones". You could read the instruction that finding a safe, functional place to write is a necessity or you can listen to the story about the cafe with the bad coffee and hear from the tones how important this factor was in the success of "Bones". Ms. Cameron tells a story about a walk in a dreary northern concrete and asphalt city and the inspiration she found in a single flower forcing its way through the cracks, one tiny and colorful thing living in a block of massive gray inanimate objects. Just reading the words would make this another self-help writing manual. The voices are haunting, inspirational and comforting.

Yes, I bought the audiobook.

Yes, I listen to it still.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Writing Life, August 28, 2009

By 

Angela M. Lockhart "Brooklyn Poet" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Writing Life (Audio CD)

Having been engaged in the writing practice as suggested in Julia Cameron's The Artist Way for more than 15 years, I am now a successful unblocked creative person. As a result I no problem participating in a writing workshop where was introduced to the writing practice of Natalie Goldberg and her book Wild Mind. Without realizing it I combined the practice of my writing the morning pages as suggested by Julia Cameron and throughout the day the 10 minute "Keep your hand moving" practice as suggested by Natalie Goldberg. My creative productivty moved in directions I would have never thought possible. I was so excited I when I came upon this CD in researching for my own writing workshop. Julia Cameron and Natalie Goldberg share their experience, beliefs and insight of the creative process that moves way beyound the mechanics of writing. This is a great CD for anyone looking for a jump start in their creative process. Highly recommended.