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wafflefonfabre's review
1.0
Did not Finish. This book too much biography for me. I don't care about the author being religious or her heritage yet she talks so much about it. Its annoying and every advice in here is very basic. Don't read. Anything by Bell and Refuse to be done are better and less biography.
thebookhaze's review
5.0
All the times I've started and not finished this book, was because I got too eager to write and then never got around to finishing the book.
I love the stories, the advice, the thoughts and ideas shared in this book. I love the obvious passion for writing and the feeling that writing is something inside of us that just has to be done. We can make all the excuses we want, but we have to write, we just do.
I've picked this book up so often, and each time I did, it motivated me to start writing again. The problem was, it was the key to getting my engine started, but it wasn't the petrol to keep me going. I had to get my own petrol. I had to keep myself motivated, inspired, and disciplined. I had to get rid of the fear of writing.
Recently, things happened in my life and I got a revelation. I have to write. There's nothing else I can do. I have no idea how I'm going to do it. I have no idea what I'm going to write about, but just the fact, just knowing that I do have to write, that it's the only thing I *can* do... destroyed most of my resistance to it.
I still resist, I have to admit, and I still fear... But I'm working on it, and every day I'm losing more and more of my fear and resistance.
Thanks to this book, thanks to the wisdom and the gems and the inspiration from the stories in the book. Thanks to Natalie Goldberg, and to the hundreds of authors out there whose books inspire me and give meaning to my life.
I love the stories, the advice, the thoughts and ideas shared in this book. I love the obvious passion for writing and the feeling that writing is something inside of us that just has to be done. We can make all the excuses we want, but we have to write, we just do.
I've picked this book up so often, and each time I did, it motivated me to start writing again. The problem was, it was the key to getting my engine started, but it wasn't the petrol to keep me going. I had to get my own petrol. I had to keep myself motivated, inspired, and disciplined. I had to get rid of the fear of writing.
Recently, things happened in my life and I got a revelation. I have to write. There's nothing else I can do. I have no idea how I'm going to do it. I have no idea what I'm going to write about, but just the fact, just knowing that I do have to write, that it's the only thing I *can* do... destroyed most of my resistance to it.
I still resist, I have to admit, and I still fear... But I'm working on it, and every day I'm losing more and more of my fear and resistance.
Thanks to this book, thanks to the wisdom and the gems and the inspiration from the stories in the book. Thanks to Natalie Goldberg, and to the hundreds of authors out there whose books inspire me and give meaning to my life.
yvonne_s's review
5.0
I read this book when I was in the middle of an MA in Creative Writing and coping with the birth of my premature baby. To say writing was a struggle for me at the time would be an understatement, and reading this revolutionised how I wrote. I followed her advice to go for first thoughts, to dive into what is scary and to write the same chapter several times without checking over what I'd already written. I also followed her advice to use the Samurai sword. I got a Distinction for that MA. I'm currently stuck with my second novel so I think it's time for a reread…
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
nhilton's review against another edition
5.0
Short chapters make this an easy read. There’s great encouragement in here to just write and let go of the excuses.
hswhite's review
4.0
I assigned this as supplemental reading for my freshman Creative Writing class this semester, and it made me change my mind about this book’s value and utility.
Having first read it a year or two after finishing college, I found it to be a little general and basic in its commentary. On a second read through alongside my freshmen students, I’ve come to realize that it’s actually the perfect introduction to “creative writing as a practice” for students who are just starting to explore the subject.
And as it turns out, much of the “basic” commentary that I had already learned when I read this book the first time actually originated with this text, which from what I understand was fairly revolutionary for its time (published 1986).
I highly recommend this book for anyone struggling to find their voice or to establish a writing practice.
Having first read it a year or two after finishing college, I found it to be a little general and basic in its commentary. On a second read through alongside my freshmen students, I’ve come to realize that it’s actually the perfect introduction to “creative writing as a practice” for students who are just starting to explore the subject.
And as it turns out, much of the “basic” commentary that I had already learned when I read this book the first time actually originated with this text, which from what I understand was fairly revolutionary for its time (published 1986).
I highly recommend this book for anyone struggling to find their voice or to establish a writing practice.
lgmaxwell722's review
3.0
In this easy to read, at times humerous account offers advice for those who want to dive deeper into writing. This book is less about completing specific excercises, and more about giving yourself the freedom and courage to write, "just keep your hand moving." For anybody who wants to begin writing, or hone their craft this is a good book to keep handy.
sjgrodsky's review
3.0
I am taking a "Bones" class from American University's adult education section that is based on this book. The class is team-taught by a man and a woman, both named Pat -- warm and kind personalities with completely conventional life histories.
Contrast that with Natalie Goldberg, who is not just posing when she does the warrior pose. No, this Brooklyn girl emigrated to California at the height of the hippie era, then spent at least ten years as a zen student. Her advice is littered with quotes from her zen master and stories of her own adventures in zen practice. Which can be summarized as: Sit. Breathe. Listen. Write what you hear as quickly as you can, without editing or judging.
This is pretty good advice if your goal is the goal stated in her subtitle: freeing the writer within. But writing is a craft too, and your story is only interesting to others if it is well told. Natalie doesn't even mention the elements that help you tell well: plot, pacing, suspense, character, setting, dialog.
So. Her book is good as far as it goes, but I stated what I learned from it in those few sentences above. You don't need to read the whole book to get that substance. And indeed, I didn't. After reading the preface and introduction word by word, I started skipping and skimming. And that's probably ok. Because, in the end "writing down the bones" is a thing you do, not a book you read.
Contrast that with Natalie Goldberg, who is not just posing when she does the warrior pose. No, this Brooklyn girl emigrated to California at the height of the hippie era, then spent at least ten years as a zen student. Her advice is littered with quotes from her zen master and stories of her own adventures in zen practice. Which can be summarized as: Sit. Breathe. Listen. Write what you hear as quickly as you can, without editing or judging.
This is pretty good advice if your goal is the goal stated in her subtitle: freeing the writer within. But writing is a craft too, and your story is only interesting to others if it is well told. Natalie doesn't even mention the elements that help you tell well: plot, pacing, suspense, character, setting, dialog.
So. Her book is good as far as it goes, but I stated what I learned from it in those few sentences above. You don't need to read the whole book to get that substance. And indeed, I didn't. After reading the preface and introduction word by word, I started skipping and skimming. And that's probably ok. Because, in the end "writing down the bones" is a thing you do, not a book you read.