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Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Shambhala Library) Hardcover – March 30, 2010

by Natalie Goldberg (Author)

547 customer reviews

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With insight, humor, and practicality, Natalie Goldberg inspires writers and would-be writers to take the leap into writing skillfully and creatively. She offers suggestions, encouragement, and solid advice on many aspects of the writer’s craft: on writing from “first thoughts” (keep your hand moving, don’t cross out, just get it on paper), on listening (writing is ninety percent listening; the deeper you listen, the better you write), on using verbs (verbs provide the energy of the sentence), on overcoming doubts (doubt is torture; don’t listen to it)—even on choosing a restaurant in which to write. Goldberg sees writing as a practice that helps writers comprehend the value of their lives. The advice in her book, provided in short, easy-to-read chapters with titles that reflect the author’s witty approach (“Writing Is Not a McDonald’s Hamburger,” “Man Eats Car,” “Be an Animal”), will inspire anyone who writes—or who longs to.

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Shambhala Library)

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Product Details

Series: Shambhala Library
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Shambhala; 1 Expanded edition (March 30, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1590307941
ISBN-13: 978-1590307946
Product Dimensions: 4.6 x 0.9 x 7 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (547 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #387,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #483 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Eastern > Buddhism > Zen > Spirituality
- #539 in Books > Reference > Writing, Research & Publishing Guides > Publishing & Books > Authorship
- #1170 in Books > Self-Help > Creativity

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Customer Reviews

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Top Customer Reviews

Has a place of honor on my reference shelf.

ByBonnieon April 28, 2001

Format: Paperback

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.

0Comment 78 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

A Writing Classic

ByKay Porterfieldon April 24, 2004

Format: Paperback

Natalie Goldberg's insights about writing as a spirtual practice are just as valid today as they were in 1986 when this book was first published. Her suggestions to writers work, both for beginning writers and for writers who depend on words in order to make a living. I recommend this book to the emerging writers I mentor as a must-have reference second only to a good dictionary.
As a professional writer who has written over 20 books and 500 magazine articles, I've given Writing Down the Bones away several times after mistakenly deciding that I'd outgrown it. Just as often I've had to go out and buy another copy to remind myself that there's more to the writing life than rejections, and royalties. Every time I reread it, I find something new. Last year I read Goldberg's memoir, Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America, which provides insights about how she came to her beliefs about writing and spirituality. I suggest reading both books.

0Comment 186 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

So Good I Couldn't Put It Down

ByStogie Chomperon August 31, 2001

Format: Paperback

When I took a creative writing course a few years ago, Natalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones" was a required text. It was so good I couldn't put it down.
Natalie points out that all beginning writers are controlled by their "inner censor" and therefore write what they think other people want to hear, or they put a false face on their writing. Natalie does indeed "free the writer within," by giving us permission to "just write sh--" (her words,not mine). The gist of the book is this: just write. Go for volume, not quality. The quality will come as you gain experience and lose your inhibitions. Natalie says everything you write, not just the good stuff but the bad as well, creates a "compost heap of the mind." It stays in your subconscious and mellows and ripens, ready to fertilize your skills and imagination for future writing projects. I actually put Natalie's suggestions into practice and kept a writer's journal for several years (and still do), and wrote thousands of words. I feel that my writing skills did indeed improve and even shine.
Natalie also discusses some things to try, like writing in different places, and discusses useful topics like metaphor and simile. Her book is not a technical manual, but rather an easy read, a personal insight into the joy and freedom from uninhibited writing. I always recommend this book first to anyone who expresses an interest in learning to write.

0Comment 57 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

A Mixed Bag of Bones

ByJ. Joneson December 5, 2001

Format: Paperback

I align myself more with the negative reviews of this book. It's easy to get caught up in some of the philosophical warm-fuzzy rhetoric of Ms. Goldberg. Akin to watching Oprah pull at an audience's heartstrings, Ms. Goldberg pulls readers in with story after story trumpeting the same message of writing from the heart. The initial reaction is to feel that there's nothing to question about what Ms. Goldberg says.
When I purchased the book, I saw nothing to indicate that it was specific to one particular form of writing, but after reading it, I feel that the author speaks much more to poetry than other forms of writing. The author on several occasions admonishes us to write in the moment and not dwell on ideas we've had in the past. She relates an experience of one student who had a fully-formed idea while out jogging but couldn't reproduce it when s/he got home to the blank page. Goldberg went into a spiel about how we should just let go of those thoughts that are not inspired or conceived in the moment that we sit down to write. That's where I have a fundamental disagreement with her and feel her philosophy becomes almost destructive to new writers. Perhaps poetry functions that way. Perhaps someone has to have that spontaneous quality about their work in order for it to be fresh and exciting. I don't know. I'm not a poet. However, for novels, short stories, and longer works, you would be a fool to let great ideas get away. Personally, I like to let some of those ideas percolate for weeks and even years. Yes, we mature and our perspectives change, but in a lot of cases that only means that we can approach a subject in a different way as we grow older. It doesn't make the subject any better or worse to write about.
Bottom line: I came away from the book with mixed feelings. In my opinion she crossed over the line of reason too often in the book to put forth her spiritual views. It was like a one day seminar that gets you pumped up, but then you get home and review your notes, and realize, sadly, that it was mainly hype with very little substance. I can summarize her tome with three bullet points: Be true to thine ownself. Always observe the world around you. Make writing a habit in your life.

1111 comments 501 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Most Recent Customer Reviews

Five Stars

thanks!

Published 13 days ago by Michelle D. Mccune

Simply the Best!

There's no one better than Natalie Goldberg! A must read for any writer or deep thinker!

Published 21 days ago by Marijo H.

The writer is free indeed!

This book inspires me o write even more. Natalie and her sense of humor is off the charts.I encourage everyone who is interested in writing to purchase this book asap!.Read more

Published 27 days ago by Eric Wright

Five Stars

Great book! And in excellent condition.

Published 29 days ago by Amazon Customer

Excellent for the creative spirit in everyone.

Outstanding book. I suggest it to all of my creative friends.

Published 1 month ago by Loraine Paige

Five Stars

This is a great book on writing. The voice she writes with is lovely.

Published 1 month ago by Amazon Customer

Helpful

I have found the book to be very useful. I journal more and I journal better. It helps both personally and professionally.

Published 1 month ago by biscuitous

One of my favorite books on writing!

One of my favorite books on writing hands down The love that Natalie Goldberg has for writing is evident and infectious. I am a writer partly because of this wonderful book.

Published 1 month ago by Michelle M

It was okay.

It's a decent book. I was just looking for a product to give more details about how to teach students to write compelling essays for college.Read more

Published 1 month ago by Carina L.

Excellent

This book was the wake up call I needed. I always need that push. It was the obvious lesson I needed to read.

Published 1 month ago by Kindle Customer

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