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Dec 16, 2009

Gus rated it:

The kind of book (or maybe it's her other one, they are equally horrible) that asks its reader to stand in front of the mirror every day, look one's self in the eye and declare to one's self: "I am a writer." If that sounds like your bag, then I say, have at it...

On another note, Ms Goldberg once came into a bookstore I used to work at. She was one of those nightmare author-customers, the kind who throws a "I need to speak to your manager" tantrum because her book More...

1 comment like (5 people liked it)

Nov 26, 2008

Dj rated it:

I just finished reading Natalie Goldberg’s book on writing. I don’t know how the book ended up in my hands but now that I’m writing, I was intrigued. Overall, I was disappointed. Parts of the book I found classist and other parts bordered on racist. The book is part of Bantam’s New Age collection, so there’s a lot the author tries to convey in a spiritual/philosophical vein. However, her tone seems to conflict with the message she says she wants to convey. As for the book’s structure, I don’t th More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Dec 03, 2011

Isa rated it:

x-posted from http://troubadourcottage.blogspot.com/

This is a wise book. It could teach you how to write, but it could also teach you how to live. The idea that daily writing practice as daily meditation could lead to the kind of wildness that attracts eggplants, motorcycles, zen masters, snake dancers, New Mexico, grimy diners, midnight Madrid women, bright bold schoolchildren into your life - what a revelation. As Natalie says, "Writing is still the wildest thing I know ... and More...

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Jul 27, 2009

Marc rated it:

I hate writing and I hate to read much. So when I had to read a book about writing I was not excited at all. When I got the copy of Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life and started to read it, I caught myself wanting to read more and trying all the "Try This" that I could. Natalie Goldberg approach to writing is completely different from what most people are taught. She breaks down the 238 page book into 62 chapters and 35 "Try This" exercises. Each chapter is very short usual More...

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Oct 13, 2011

Olga rated it:

Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down The Bones, has been sitting on my shelf for a while, started but not finished. There were so many references to Zen Buddhism and Ms. Goldberg's Zen teacher that she lost me before even really capturing my interest so I never got very far. This volume started out the same way but since I got it from NetGalley I felt obligated to review it and so kept reading. I'm glad I did because there is a lot of very good advice in it, such as to slow down and notice things we More...

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Jul 17, 2011

Tamara rated it:

While the first half, or first two-thirds, of this book are filled with mostly common sense (some interesting motivational moments tossed in here and there), the last third of the book was actually page-turningly intriguing to me. I think overall it's a great read for a writer -- inspiring, motivational, at times insightful. Take what you need, leave what you don't.

There isn't much structure to the book, not even within chapters. Somtimes it seems thoughts fly in from nowhere. But More...

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Oct 07, 2011

Jacqueline rated it:

I love reading books on writing and came across this Kindle one. I purchased and read it in a week. I think it's a good book, well worth reading. It has many good writing exercises throughout. I grew tired of a few of the stories by the end (the drug taking, the rant about not needing a degree, etc.). The bit about getting a degree being a waste seemed ridiculous to me, especially since early on she made a point via Hemingway in say that "...if a writer knows something, even if he doesn't w More...

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Sep 10, 2011

Kristi rated it:

I read Goldberg's first book, Writing Down the Bones, years ago and it was fun to revisit her work by reading this book. While she includes many writing exercises and prompts, the most helpful part of this book is its core message: just keep writing, and don't overthink it! This is a great message for beginning writers and for those who struggle with self-censorship. It's a fun book to read and Goldberg can be quite funny, but if you're looking for nitty-gritty technical advice on writing, th More...

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Sep 10, 2011

Evelyn rated it:

Of all the how-to-write books I have read, this one sits in the middle, tending up. Good advice aplenty is found in this volume; some of the "try this" exercises look to be interesting. However, she makes many generalizing statements. I did not feel anger when finishing my novel - does this mean I am not a "real writer"? When she says "the first year writing" it is clear she means the first year you quite a day job to become a writer, but putting it in those wor More...

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Mar 10, 2011

Marlena rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Jan 29, 2012

Rae rated it:

Als ich das Buch im Laden in der Hand hatte, tat ich etwas was ich selten tue: Die ersten paar Seiten lesen. Ich bereue es nicht, denn zu diesem Zeitpunkt war es dann um mich geschehen.
Ich bin kein allzu großer Sachbuchfreund doch dieses Buch hat mich ein Stückchen in die andere Richtung geschuppst. Natalie Goldberg (Autorin des Buches "Schreiben in Cafés") hat einen erfrischenden Schreibstil, der einen leicht von Seite zu Seite gleiten lässt.
Die Kapitel sind kurz und übersch More...

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Nov 04, 2008

Maranda rated it:

A few weeks ago I posted a blog on my livejournal and myspace pages about how I was in the mood to write…which a rare occurrence for me. A friend suggested I read a book called “Wild Mind” by Natalie Goldberg. Naturally, me being the book addict I am, automatically flipped to bn.com to research this title. I found out that the book was about ‘living the writer’s life” and included tips and practice techniques for writing. I purchased the book within a week.

I love books…I love going More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 27, 2011

Apryl rated it:

(25.05.1994), There are a lot of great exercises in this book. I’ll use them.
I disagree with Ms Goldberg in one respect. By exploring the mind, we don’t have to degrade ourselves. We can keep some sense of integrity. One can be fully committed and loyal to oneself. It doesn’t make a difference between light and dark. I can be an artist without relinquishing the light. I can even write to let the light shine brighter and farther. Know thyself. Share the truth.

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Jan 24, 2012

Literary added it

Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones and Wild Mind. The first was given to me around 2000 as I tried to infuse my academic prose with life. This book gave me the freedom to scribble outside the lines. Don't doubt, just trust yourself and go, she seems to say. I bought Wild Mind shortly afterward, and off I went.
Read Literary Mama's full review here: http://www.literarymama.com/reviews/arch...

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Feb 27, 2010

Amber rated it:

This is a great book if you want to write. I love reading and writing, so this book amazed me, even as a high school student. Natalie Goldberg has a way of teaching you to pull out everything inside of you and slap it caty-whampus on a page. It is , very simply, a book on how to find your inner writer, whether you have any intentions of being a writer professionally or not. It has you start out with morning pages ( although I think that's what they call them in "the Artist's Way") More...

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Sep 05, 2011

Cynthia rated it:

I confess: I didn't do the exercises. Felt too much like homework. I struggled to read this book -- picking it up and putting it down with months in between. I feel like the author has a little too much "woo-woo" spiritual nonsense about the craft of writing. Anne Lamott and Carolyn See do more for my writing. I will flip through it again and try to write a better review later. In a few months ... maybe.

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Dec 31, 2008

Patty rated it:

I am not a writer and I never plan to be. However what Goldberg has to say about writing can be applied to almost any thing that you want to do or be. If you want to be something you need to show up and do it regularly.

For me, this was an important reminder to weave more. If I want to get more weaving done, I have to do it every day, every opportunity.

Thank you Natalie Goldberg for the reminders.

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Jun 20, 2011

Lyn rated it:

Most writers refer to Writing Down the Bones as a good book to read, but I'd have to say that I enjoyed the sequel better. Wild Mind promotes what Goldberg calls Writing Practice, which is when you free-write until the nonsense turns into sense. It's a collection of essays that touch on life and art issues and it is truly one of my favorite books on writing to date.

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Sep 03, 2009

Debbie rated it:

Since I read Wild Mind and Writing Down the Bones practically at the same time, I have them in my head as one book. One bit of advice helped me with my morning pages, when I am stuck and sitting there knowing I have to write three pages longhand before I get up and feeling completely blank and distracted by everything else I have to get done today (wow...run on sentence!) Simply start with "I remember"...before this, my morning pages were really just daily journaling of complaints and More...

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Feb 05, 2011

Martha rated it:

This was on a reading list for a university course. I often think back to Goldberg's advice about writing as an exercise for writing, and not getting caught up with correct grammar and syntax. She emphasizes the importance of getting ideas flowing through your pen/keyboard and saving the editing piece for much later. There are helpful writing exercises in each chapter which are great to revisit.

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Sep 08, 2011

Michelle rated it:

Despite the lack of structure, I enjoyed Wild Mind perhaps more than Writing Down the Bones. I read both books at once, and through them I've been brought back into my everyday writing practice, and hold a greater understanding that the writing process is a state of mind and way of living for me.

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Apr 14, 2010

Philippa rated it:

Not quite on the same level as Bones (one of my all time favourite books) but Goldberg still manages to intrigue and inspire with her collection of personal essays and observations about the writing life. It feels like you're chatting with a writing friend, who understands the struggle.

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Apr 08, 2010

PJ rated it:

I read this book ages ago in college back when i was a wannabe poet/writer and developed a serious crush on NG even attending a wriring retreat she was teaching. I don't know how well it holds up these days, but back then I found it very inspiring and I'll always treasure my autographed copy.

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Aug 23, 2011

Diana rated it:

I bought this after Peter Bakowski recommended it at his workshop. It's more spiritual than I had anticipated. Goldberg is a practising Zen Buddhist, so I'm cautious of her the way I am about anyone religious. That aside, she has an interesting approach to writing. No, not interesting, radical. This isn't just a few tips for improving style (though it does have these). It's about making writing the centre of your life, your way of existing in the world. She uses writing practice as a kind of dha More...

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Aug 21, 2008

Nicole rated it:

Natalie Goldberg has definitely been a writing guru and true inspiration for me over the years. This book, along with her other book, Writing Down the Bones, sit on my desk as books I can open I be reminded why I write and how to get into the meat of how to write.

"You have to let writing eat your life and follow it where it takes you. You fit into it; it doesn't fit neatly into your life. It makes you wild..." she writes.

Her books morphed me from writing a More...

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Feb 06, 2012

Jean rated it:

I think I was too young or too out of it [with two young sons at home] to get into this. It was required reading for a post grad course I took. Also, I am a READER, not a writer, which is probably why I did not "get this book.

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Jul 16, 2011

Siggy rated it:

This book came at a good time for me. I like Natalie Goldberg's philosophy and the central metaphor of the wild mind works for me. It's good to be reminded that writing is as much about process as product. I admire Goldberg's searing honesty and humour.

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Jul 04, 2011

Goriler of 4b rated it:

Five years of HE has given me both a horror of writing and an appreciation of its necessity. I'm reading this in an attempt to get over the horror. Natalie G is ever-so-slightly *woo*, but in a good, proper zen way rather than a bullshit way. She writes beautifully. And she inspires me to get on with writing like no-one else.

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May 26, 2011

Jimmy rated it:

I found it helpful in my writing tutoring work with young students. I found Natalie's difficulty in writing a novel rather interesting. It's almost as if her tips didn't help herself.

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Jun 15, 2010

Kristian rated it:

Goldberg's books make a difference, and can be applied just as easily to living life in general as to writing, which shows she understands how wholistic the process of writing is.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)