Customer Reviews

Writing the Natural Way

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This book inspired me to write, and it offered great practical advice with the technique of clustering and writing with my Design mind. Rico helped me to realize that anything I wanted to write was already inside, waiting to be tapped. Using Rico's techniques, I am able to write in ways that continue to astound me. I have used her techniques to write papers as a student in classes, as well as to write on my own. I am now a published writer of fiction and non-fiction, and I continue to use her ideas and inspiration.

Here's the scientific way to becoming a writer -- that is, by using right brain techniques to release your expressive powers: clustering, recurrence, revision (meaning re-seeing), image and metaphor, creative tension, trial web and language rhythm.

Rico begins by teaching the reader how to release the "inner writer." Her method is one of brainstorming, but she calls it clustering. It's free association designed to call the subconcious into creative action. It works. It's the modern and scientific adaptation of a technique Dorothea Brande wrote about in the 1930s in BECOMING A WRITER.

Most writers like to watch their words appear on paper -- or on the computer screen. Then we read them to see what we think. I call it writing from the heart; Rico calls it right brain activity. Whatever you call it, it works, it's useful and learning to use it can change your writing -- for the better -- forever.

No serious writer should be without this book, no matter what he/she writes. Don't just read it, do the exercises. They're fun, they'll surprise and enlighten you and whether you're a novice or a pro, they'll make you a better writer.

Consider this: all writing begins with an idea. The art of writing is the act of expressing that idea as succinctly and wholly as possible. And that's the hardest thing for many writers ~ getting on screen the right words, in the right order.

Whether it's a lack of inspiration, an overload of information or just muddled thinking, writer's block is a very real affliction that affects most writers at some stage.

The good news is that 'Writing the Natural Way' offers a solution for those faced with this problem.

Put simply, psychologist and author Dr Gabriele Rico has developed the concept of 'clustering', which essentially circumvents the left hemisphere of the brain (what she refers to as the 'Sign Mind'), so that you can release raw creativity from the right hemisphere (or 'Design Mind'), which is responsible for artist pursuits.

Her book contains a variety of simple exercises and strategies that stimulate the left and right hemispheres to work individually or simultaneously to solve problems. They are also designed to enhance a writer's potential, by accessing latent language, story-telling abilities and natural styles.

Rico's work is ground breaking but it is not new. In fact, this book was originally published more than 15 years ago. This new edition has been completely updated with inspirational quotations, 'before and after' writing samples from her students as well as a range of techniques and activities to help the reader make the transition to this new way of thinking and writing.

Admittedly, I had not heard of Rico's 'clustering' technique before reading her book. However I had used for a number of years a similar technique, called 'mind mapping'. The two techniques essentially work in the same manner. What I like about Rico's approach are the many examples and exercises she includes.

Her tools allow anyone to think laterally and to write with greater power, focus and effect. It's all about excavating ideas from seemingly dormant recesses of the mind and shaping this raw material into powerful forms of communication . . . something the author does well.

This is an excellent guide and painless workshop manual for any new or experienced writer who wants to discover a new dimension in their work.

Rico offers a simple but powerful tool that any writer can understand and apply to their work. Once you've used it a few times, you'll find it indispensable for brainstorming and writing literally any kind of work.

-- Michael Meanwell, author of the critically-acclaimed 'The Enterprising Writer' and 'Writers on Writing'. For more book reviews and prescriptive articles for writers, visit www.enterprisingwriter.com

I have read alot of books on writing and mind mapping/clustering. This one demonstrates a practical way to use mind maps/clustering to improve the way you write. The best thing about the book is that is really works and is easy to use. I now do all my writing this way. It has made a BIG difference in the content and quality of my writing and thinking.

Is this book any good? Well lemme put it this way. I read it once or twice back in the mid 80s when I was a teenager. Since then I've: (a) remembered the mindmapping technique, (b) used it a countless number of times in research projects, writing ads, writing poems, writing book reports, coming up with new ideas, finding the connections between seemingly unconnected things, working out the pros and cons of any given proposition, and for practically anything that requires taking a huge amount of information and breaking it down logically. (c) i've also taught the mindmapping technique to dozens of people, including such diverse groups as advertising execs and 5th graders. (d) they've all benefitted enormously. why? because the mindmapping technique serves to BOOST YOUR CREATIVITY AND UNLEASH YOUR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. so any person who complains that this book is strictly about learning to write poetry is being VERY SMALL-MINDED INDEED! i suggest these people do a mindmap ON MINDMAPS THEMSELVES (!) and see what comes up! A superb book in every way, I give it my highest recommendation. AN INSTRUCTION BOOK FOR YOUR BRAIN. that's what it's really all about.

I am a student of writing books. I've read dozens and am always on the look out for one that will enrich my writing. But I've never read one quite so powerful as "Writing the Natural Way." The author has the uncanny ability to zero in on the very DNA of the writing process and make the process eminently understandable and accessible.
She herself is a wonderful writer. The prose is clear and her excerpts of other works are fascinating. Even the quotations that frame pages are inspirational. This clearly is a well thought-out book.
I seldom read a book that I rush to pick up the first thing in the morning and have to force myself stop reading it at night. This is such a book. I feel lucky to own it.
But it's an intense book though. It's chock full of writing excercies and stirs you to reflection. But if you stick with it, your writing will improve beyond your wildest dreams. My already has. Anyone with a keen interest in the writing process should possess this book.

This book is the reason I've not experienced writer's block since I read it, when it was published in 1983. I use her techniques to plan books and articles and information products I create. The clustering technique is especially useful, not only in writing but in everything else I do: project planning, working through problems--you name it.You will be amazed and delighted at how these techniques free your creativity.

I was given an older version of this book by a friend and thought I would try it, just for the heck of it. This book is phenomenal. The exercises free you up to write without your inner critic even having the opportunity to object. My writing has flowed beautifully ever since I started using this book.

It's like broccoli. Good for you, but you don't enjoy eating it. Rico has some great ideas for tapping the creative power of your "right" brain, but you need to be fairly "left" brained to read the book without dozing. I think her ideas and techniques ARE effective, but the book reads like a college text. Also, the book is clearly written with the poet in mind. Most of her examples and exercises center on poetry. Other writers will probably walk away from the book feeling a little left out and wondering exactly how to apply her techniques to longer forms of writing (i.e., short stories and novels). Still, if you've ever had trouble writing because your left brain overpowers your right and forces you to hit the DELETE key after every other sentence, then this book will help you establish balance -- if you stay awake long enough to finish it!

Ricco is very imaginative and persuasive with her ideas about clustering and creativity and writing. I did the exercises all the way through the book, which, despite the best of intentions, I usually don't get around to with other similar texts. Well worth the purchase.