Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg is one of my all-time favorite books about the writing life. Even though the original was published back in 1986, it remains relevant and relatable. I recently listened to the audio version of the 30th anniversary edition. I read this for the first time years ago, and I’m pleasantly surprised at how much it all came back to me. I love that the author herself is the one reading the audiobook. She will pause occasionally to offer commentary on her own writing, which is both helpful and entertaining. At some point in the past I owned a copy of this book in paperback. I donated it during a bookshelf clean out long ago; I don’t even remember what house I last had it in. I have no idea why at the time I thought I didn’t want it anymore. Now it has earned the distinction of being the only book I have ever parted with and then end up repurchasing years later. The book is divided into many small sections that stand on their own, rather than grouped into traditional chapters or sections. You could flip to any of the more than five dozen individual pieces and read whatever you land on; the order is not critical. Most of these self-contained parts only run between two to five pages. Following are some of my favorite takeaways from my most recent read of Writing Down the Bones: Writing requires practice, a lot of practice. You can’t just say I’m going to write a novel, or a poem, or an essay. You have to put in the practice work. It is similar to the way you couldn’t simply decide: I’m going to go run a marathon. The training you do prior to that event is critical. There’s a reason journaling sessions and writing prompts are frequently referred to as writing exercises. The only way to improve your writing muscle is to use it. Be willing to write until something beautiful emerges. Sometimes we have to put down some really, really bad stuff before we get to the really, really good stuff. You might write for many, many pages and simply think none of it makes sense and it’s all complete trash. But then you hit up on something and realize what is emerging is what you were looking for all the time. In the book she compares it to composting; sometimes you need to sift through a lot of what looks like garbage to get to the beautiful flower. Pay attention to detail, but don’t marry the fly. Specifics can be very important {as mentioned next} but don’t become so distracted by them that you drift too far from your main point. You don’t want the reader to become disillusioned with where the story is heading. Be precise, but don’t let your love of description cause your mind to wander. Stay on target so you don’t lose the reader. Be as specific as you need to be. If an exact word can be used, you should use it. If this means you need to put in the effort to learn the specific names of things, then by all means do it. In the book she uses the example of learning the names of trees and flowers in a specific area and how details such as these make you feel more connected to your writing. Drop qualifiers from your statements. Ooh. This is such a hard one for me personally. Don’t undermine your own writing by including a lot of wishy-washy terms, such as I think, maybe, I’m not sure but, etc. if you have something to say, say it. If you need to question something, question it. It’s not enough to just show up and follow the rules. The author refers to this as “the goody two-shoes nature.” While goals to write every day or to fill up a certain number of pages can be useful in getting you started, ultimately you need to put your heart into your writing. Knowing when to take chances and knowing when you need to step back and rest are both equally important. Developing a strong connection to your writing is worth the effort. Gaining confidence in your own writing can be challenging. Trusting in the process and trusting in yourself both take time. Have patience. This is truly a lovely book and definitely worth a read {or listen}. The 30th edition also includes an interview with the author. One additional point I feel I should mention: The author makes multiple references to Buddhist philosophy and Zen practice. I did not find that this distracted from the overall message of the book, but it is a rather obvious recurring theme. I’m not usually crazy about writers who try to tie in spiritually to the writing process, but it seemed to work here.

This is a necessary read for writers , readers and everything else in between . Quite simply put , this is one of the best books Ive ever read, and will read over and over again . The infornation is universal and can be applied to ALL aspects of life and enlightenment . Inspiring , motivating ating and comforting . Writing Down tbe Bones is visiting an old friend for coffee , donuts and cigarettes, a conversation over the phone with an old friend on a rainy afternoon. Its a classic read . I love this book .

Natalie Goldberg opens with this request: "listen to my slow Jewish voice." Which, upon first hearing, made me think, "Oh brother." It didn't take long to lose the resistance at all. Writing Down the Bones is a gem of a listen, it's like the oddest little ear candy ever. Her steady metronome style of speaking is filled with rules of engagement, with kindness, and with some arguments to counter your own self when you meet your true resistance. This was written well before the marketing / writing / promoting self-help boom came along, and thank goodness. Natalie Goldberg's book is entirely without jargon and tactics, god how I hate that word now, and yet it is a complete guide to "writing your asses off." I lived in Boulder and went to Naropa and everyone and their dog was all agog over Writing Down the Bones. It reminded me of being in junior high when all of the girls in my grade were going crazy over Flowers In the Attic, which did nothing for me. As a result, ok years later as an adult, I found fault with the title - I hated it actually. And then refused to read it. My own loss. Thankfully, years and years later I was making another long commute in the car, and had run out of things to listen to. Radio reception in the mountains, late at night, meant being hostage to the 3 stations that had no static: orchestral music and Jesus channels. No thank you. I grabbed Writing Down the Bones cassette pack (remember those?) from the library in haste... OK already, I yelled at myself. And popped in the tape and began my drive. It was a delightful late night drive that left me energized, alert, optimistic. She sprinkles in bits about her Buddhist practice which informed her writing of the book, without relying on too much woo, for those of you who think Buddhism is for the birds. It reminded me of my own really haphazard practice of Maitri, which means loving kindness. If you listen to Writing Down the Bones, you are engaging in an act of loving kindness to yourself. And if you allow yourself to take that extra step of actually writing, you're deepening that experience. Or, that's how I take it. You might actually also have a story to show for it. I've gone through the cassettes numerous times. And this is actually my 2nd purchase of the mp3 file since I couldn't recall the account and password I'd used for the first purchase. It's worth it to me to have Natalie Goldberg handy in my back pocket. You might think so, too.

This is an intimate approach to the journey of writing. Goldberg is a writing teacher and a practitioner of Japanese Zen. Goldberg believes that learning to write–that’s the course ahead–hinges greatly on “first thoughts.” These first thoughts have tremendous energy and are unencumbered by the ego. I actually like this path because it probably does free up the writer to let go of all the controls that might deter or stagnate a good story. Of course Goldberg says to trust the mind and body and create your own practice. These are the bones where you create the structure for yourself. Goldberg identifies three things that all writers must do: read a lot; listen well and deeply; write a lot. Zen works from the theory of becoming whole, and this is Goldberg’s theory too. There is a Zen "interconnectedness in your writing–feel it," she says. I've been reading and reviewing lots of writing books lately and this one has not only solid advice but inspiration too.

"Writing Down The Bones - Freeing the Writer Within" did and does exactly what the title says it will, free the writer within. For years I have had stories, thoughts, dreams and aspirations rattling around in my head. Unfortunately, in school I never really grasped the idea of writing as a way to get them out. Normally, I'd just tell someone but there are some things you just don't want to or can not share with others. I was never a person who writes. This book guides people like me through a number of ways to get the ideas out of their heads in fun and clever ways. One of the best things about this book is the chapters are short and easily digestible. For a new writer when you get to the end of one where you feel you missed the meaning, it's only an investment of a few more minutes to read it again. There are some reviews who said this was a poor book because all it really says is to write a lot and write whatever comes to mind. Others say that it's geared toward poetry and not useful for other types of writing. I have to disagree wholeheartedly. Obviously this was not the book for them but it was absolutely the correct one for a person like me. Someone who needs to find his voice and see examples of new ways to write that have never crossed their mind before. Because of the way the book is written, I don't think it was intended for experienced writers like those reviewers seemed to be. The first chapter after the introduction is entitled, "Beginners Mind, Pen and Paper," if that tells you anything. It is not my intention to write "The Great American Novel" as the author, Natalie Goldberg puts it. Not even the "Crumby American Novel." In fact I will likely never even attempt to get any of my work published. Goldberg gets that. If you are a student having trouble writing English papers, a person who wants to write a journal in an intelligent way or someone like me who not only wants to record their thoughts but to do so in a way that conveys the feeling behind them while exercising the mind, "Writing Down The Bones - Freeing the Writer Within" is a must read and you should do it soon.

While I'll admit that I haven't finished this book, I'm really satisfied with it. It's not totally imperative that it be read straight through or entirely (a plus in my book, as I'm busy and scatterbrained), and I like how each chapter is short, clear, concise, and (perhaps my favorite) inspiration. Sure, she often relates to Zen Buddhism, but I don't really see that as a negative aspect - I mean, practically every book that talks about building a skill refers to running, so truly what's the difference in reading a couple lines per chapter of Goldberg's favorite Roshi quotes or an ideal or two about meditation? I find it an interesting, light read that doesn't get too didactic, has a nice flow without sounding overly pretentious, and is great for when I can't read long chapters before rushing off to class. Note that this book isn't a "how-to-write" book, but perhaps just a set of reminders and tips when it comes to taking your work to the next level (especially in creative writing). All in all, I'd say it's a good read for the busy aspiring writer who needs some motivation, some basic tips, or just something pleasant to read while on a bus commute.

I was first introduced to this book when it was required for a writing class I took in college—it completely changed how I wrote. Each chapter is a short nutrient-dense nugget about the craft of writing and is easily one of the most important books ever written on the topic of writing. Writing at a professional level is not easy. Writing Down the Bones will help you write like a real writer.

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. I needed more concrete activities and guidance. This book didn't provide that, but it was a decent read. [...] My Star Ratings (with Amazon Ratings in parenthesis): 1 Star (I hate it!) : The lowest score possible. Definitely not worth the money and time and effort! should only use this when the product really does not reflect the product listing. If there are any positives at all to the product or its use, you should not give it 1 star. 2 Stars (I don't like it.): The product is not exactly as described, either appearance-wise or functionally. The product may still be usable but it’s very different to what was described. The product may have a few faults. I'm not a fan of this item as it is no where close to my expectations and I won't order it again, but I can imagine a few others might find it functional as it has at least one positive quality. 3 Stars (It's okay): This item has both positive and negative qualities. I can definitely see some people loving or liking it as it may work for them, but I would likely not purchase in future. While you might think a 3-star score equates to average, 3 stars counts against the product as a negative score. So if you’re not meaning to give it a negative score, rethink your 3-star rating! 4 Stars (I like it): The product is as described and functions well. There may be a few minor issues, but all in all, the product is solid. This item arrived and functions as advertised. I would change a few things about this, but is a good product overall. I would use this item. 5 Stars (I love it!): This item is AWESOME. I will use it and recommend it to others! I just LOVE it! It works as advertised and is an all-around great product. product is amazing! You love it! This is the highest of the highs. If you would recommend it to your friends, family — it’s definitely a 5-star score. Be unbiased here; if the product is exactly as described and meets expectations, but the product isn’t your personal favorite, it could still be 5 stars. Disclaimer: I received this product for free or at a discounted rate in exchange for product inspection and authentic review. I am under no obligation to provide a compelling review, and received or accepted any incentives or accolades for doing so. My intention is to feature strengths and weaknesses that I would want to know about as a buyer, not promote the commodity for the manufacturer to increase appeal and sales. My remarks are candid and earnest. I work arduously to examine and scrutinize diligently as well as write insightful reviews for each item. My desire is that these reviews shed some light to whomever are hesitant to purchase the product. In order for self development, please let me know how I am doing by voting “YES” if you think that my review helped you. If it did not, please comment with how I can improve; this helps become better reviewer. No criticism will be overlooked or neglected and will take it as constructive criticism. While it is true that many items received at discounted prices or as complementary are biased, my reviews contain no prejudice and are absolutely genuine. Once more, this is just my own impression and experience with the product, your own opinion and experiences may differ. I received no monetary compensation and am not required to give a compelling review. [...]