Writing Down the Bones

Writing Down the Bones

4.14 of 5 stars 4.14  ·  rating details  ·  11,269 ratings  ·  799 reviews
For more than twenty years Natalie Goldberg has been challenging and cheering on writers with her books and workshops. In her groundbreaking first book, she brings together Zen meditation and writing in a new way. Writing practice, as she calls it, is no different from other forms of Zen practice —"it is backed by two thousand years of studying the mind."

This new edition,...more
Paperback, 171 pages
Published December 6th 2005 by Shambhala (first published 1986)
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Zaki
An excellent tool to loosening up the writing muscles.
Nikki
Reading Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott struck me as reading two very similar books from two distinct voices. Writing Down The Bones is a personal reflection on the craft and what works for Goldberg and might work for you. It's easy to digest, coming in short chapters, and it really does make you think about what you write, how you sit down to work, whether you're really dedicated to writing. The allusions to Buddhism and Judaism and how they affect her...more
Jenny
I heard about this book a lot while doing Nanowrimo last year, and thought I'd read it. It's a little amusing, written in 1984, so pre-computer really. And some of her advice was pretty repetitive, but I did get some glimmers out of there.
"We walk through so many myths of each other and ourselves; we are so thankful when someone sees us for who we are and accepts us."

"You're never free unless you are doing your art."

"I write because to form a word with your lips and tongue or think a thing and t...more
Jenny
This is a great starting-point aspiring-writer's book, terrific for getting the creative juices flowing. I have used Natalie Goldberg's techniques both as a writer and as a writing teacher. But eventually, if you want to write Things That Other People Want to Read and not just Things That Are Fun to Write, you need to work on the less free-spirited, less blue-sky, and occasionally less exciting stuff: structure, pacing, whittling away extraneous words. You need to learn to *re*write, to do somet...more
Anne
I went to a Writing Group in the Hague today for the first time. Seeing the half-read paperback "Writing Down the Bones" on someone's table made me curious as I had heard of it before.

I simply couldn't put it down.

So I negotiated with the owner of the book, the friend who introduced me to the writing group, to swap the book I was reading (something about taking back your life, another self-help book I was half-way through and wanted to finish and give away because there were too many of such bo...more
Jade
At a time when I was ready to quit writing (yet again), I read Writing Down the Bones and felt revived and excited about writing, something I haven't felt in awhile. Even beyond the helpful advice is the author's energy, the ability to stir up in the reader an excitement for writing because she is excited about it, and it clearly shows. Her words gleam and sing with personality; her writing style is sensitive and down to earth.

While the book heavily emphasizes writing freely in a notebook, I f...more
Daniel
Mar 08, 2013 Daniel marked it as to-read Recommends it for: Anyone who is, or would like be, a writer.
Recommended to Daniel by: Creative Writing: University of Derby
This book constitutes a collection of over sixty short essays. I say essays, really, for want of a better term - Each looks at a different aspect of a writers life, specifically the authors, and allows the reader (always assumed to be a writer too) to draw their own insights from them.
When I bought this book, from the internet, for a ludicrously fair price, I was fulfilling a course requirement. I assumed it was just another writer's handbook full of dry 'tips and tricks' to the writer's trade -...more
Michelle Galo
Jul 25, 2008 Michelle Galo rated it 4 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition Recommends it for: Young or beginning writers who don't mind hearing a spiritual dimension added to writing
Recommended to Michelle by: Professor Robert Bensen
I've owned this book for six years. My copy is the pocket-size version. Its cover is wrapped in packing tape to slow the dog-earing.

The first time I read this book in college, and many times since, I carried it everywhere with me, reading it before classes, and over lunch in the dining hall. Natalie Goldberg's short, friendly chapters filled with spiritual and practical wisdom and stories made me feel as though a very warm and welcoming teacher had sat down across the table from me and struck up...more
Angel
Jan 26, 2008 Angel rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: writers, starting out or veterans. Those interested in Zen
I put it under inspirational, since it does have a lot of that, but this is also the best writing book I have read. I got it on the recommendation of a colleague of mine when I was still teaching high school English. It has inspired me to be a better writer myself. And it is just a good book to read when you need something that is easy and relaxing. Goldberg is very encouraging, inspiring, and gentle with a bit of an erotic element. I am finally adding it now as I am rereading it yet again. True...more
Laurie
Sep 14, 2008 Laurie rated it 5 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who wants to improve their writing skills, or understanding of the writing process
Recommended to Laurie by: Dr. Michael Angelotti
Shelves: favorites
This book changed my life as a writer, a teacher of writing, and as an individual!

I use this book currently in my high school Creative Writing I class. I read chapters to the students; we talk about what they might mean, and how the advice given could change their writing. I wasn't sure if this approach would be successful with high school age students, but within weeks I have seen more free writing, more stream of consciousness writing, and more unedited writing than ever before! My students ar...more
Daphne Stanford
Jul 07, 2007 Daphne Stanford rated it 5 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who wants to write!
This book is what got me writing. Absolutely stunning in its simplicity, but also much more deep than one would think upon first glance. Natalie Goldberg is a brilliant teacher who compares writing to many other crafts that necessitate discipline and daily practice, including meditation, friendships/relationships, athletics, and just about everything else.

A (very!) paraphrased/off the TOP of my head quote:

[You may have $2 in the bank account, your children are screaming, your loved one is begg...more
Melanie
Jul 17, 2007 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition Recommends it for: writers, zen masters, artists
This book is great! Everything about it is great! I especially like that it's four inches high and can fit in your back pocket. Unlike other writing books I've read (incl. "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott) it never gets redundant or dull. You can pick it up and read any section at any time. It has great tips, great little sources of inspiration, and is really fun to read. Can be read virtually anywhere because each section takes approximately two minutes to get through. Also good advice for life. R...more
Gina
Great book of non-dork writing prompts.
Cassandra Carico
In addition to being an avid reader, I am also a passionate writer. I am always writing poetry and prose, and looking for ways to improve my writing. It makes sense that I would combine two of my loves by reading about writing. The book I most recently read on this subject was Writing Down the Bones.

I had no idea that I would love this book so much when I picked it up. It was recommended to me by a friend, and remained on my
Amazon Wishlist for a great long while, never being a priority. It was n...more
Beth Cato
I've seen this book mentioned time and again for being a huge inspiration to writers. I lucked out and found a copy at Goodwill recently; it is a first edition, so therefore it may not be the exact same as the current edition.[return][return]The full title of the book is Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within. That sums up the book very well. Goldberg draws heavily on her Buddhist faith (mixed with her Jewish background) to show how mindlessness and freedom help a writer to actually w...more
Jeff
Today I’m finishing up "Writing Down the Bones – Freeing the Writer Within" 1986. I’ve also read another of her books called "Wild Mind – Living the Writer’s Life" also by Natalie Goldberg, 1990. This is another book about the craft and life of the writer.

Both books were purchased long ago while I was still a new-be writer. I was really a writing enthusiast. I wrote in my journal from time to time, wrote an occasional article but hadn’t really gotten serious about thinking I could do writing as...more
Lacey Louwagie
This is actually the second time I've read "Writing Down the Bones." I wrote a rather scathing review of it the first time around . . . and yet, why did I return?

I was asked to teach a writing class for seniors, and immediately this book came to mind as a potential textbook. Despite the fact that I hadn't liked it much, something about it stuck with me. So I read it again, and decided that yes, I am going to use this as my textbook for the class. But why?

What stuck with me from this book was a g...more
Richard Szponder
So many books on writing delve specifically into the craft of writing, explaining how to structure sentences, create memorable characters, move plotline along, or write interesting dialogue. Writing Down The Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg is not one of those books. In her writing how-to, Goldberg discusses the writing life, including why writers write, how to engage with the universe through the act of writing, and how to get past the internal blocks and censors that would...more
Tim Dudek
Having heard great praise for this book from several people I respect I had high hopes. Like many, I found it lacking. Golberg wrote a book not about writing but about using Zen to overcoming self doubt. I am sure this could be quite helpful to many prospective writers. Judging by the many positive reviews this is the case. And to those of you I say, “More power to ya”. I rarely wallow in self doubt of my writing ability. I fail to write not because I am afraid, but because I am lazy and easily...more
April
I was recommended this book by the children's author Judith Bernie Strommen. I met Judith at a picnic table in Clearwater, MN, when I was about 11, and we kept in touch via letters for years. Of all the things she deserves thanks for, I would put name-checking this book as the most important.

I have re-read this book once a year for years. Natalie Goldberg is cheesy and sincere and straight-forward. In the simplest language, she urges you to write about anything at all, uncensored & unedited...more
Charles
I started reading this right after finishing Robert McKee's STORY, with my head full of structure and the principles of story, my hands working on planning a novel. Goldberg's book had been sitting on my shelf for a couple of years and I'd picked it up and started reading once before. The chapters are quick little things, full of wisdom, and this wisdom initially put me off -- my head was elsewhere, in structure land, planning, working in linear space and time, and the wild simplicity and urges...more
Doug Dillon
Writing Down the Bones has been around for a long time but it is still a classic guide for writers. Following her Zen philosophy, Goldberg offers what she calls an "uneducation process" to her readers. Essentially, this is method of throwing out the old rules in order to stimulate creativity. Just in how she presents her own ideas she continuously demonstrates how this outlook actually works for her.

Immensely readable, Goldberg merges Zen meditative outlook with the craft of writing. With wonder...more
Cassandra Hawkins-Wilson
Yesterday, I finished "Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within," by Natalie Goldberg. I started reading this book years ago. I began this book, when I was attending the University of Mississippi Writing Project Summer Institute. This Summer Institute was designed to teach teachers how to write and teach writing. At that time, I was only a special education teacher with a Master's degree in English, yearning and longing to teach English. Who would have thought that years later I would f...more
Cindy Joor
It's probably been ten years since I read this book, and so much of it still sticks with me, so it must be a winner! One of Natalie's suggestions that falls within my top ten strategies is to be specific and speak of objects by name, such as: "Playing Monopoly with my family always brought laughter, but in the end, someone left the room, disgruntled. In fact, when all was said and done, only one person left with a smile, usually the one who owned Boardwalk and Park Place ... the winner." By spea...more
Katherine
This book reminded me of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron which I read shortly after it came out in 1992. Like it, the focus is on letting go of all the negativity and self-imposed pressures that prevent us from writing or doing anything considered to be ‘creative’. I would heartily recommend this book (The Artist’s Way, as well for that matter) to anyone who would like to write but doesn’t quite know where to start. The answer is simple enough – you start with a pencil and a piece of paper. So...more
Chris Wolak
Jul 08, 2012 Chris Wolak rated it 5 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who writes or want to write.
Recommended to Chris by: required book from graduate writing seminar
I've read this book so many times and it always makes me feel full of endless possibilities. It reignites my writing and my spirit. If I could only keep one writing book, it would be this one.
Tai Harris
I am always in search of a book that discusses and give personal experiences and exercises on perfecting the craft of writing. “Writing Down the Bones” is a great beginner’s reference book for aspiring writers and writers experiencing writer’s block. I found this book to be very insightful in aiding me to keep my fingers on the keys and my pen on paper; to get my creative juices flowing again. Goldberg offers timed exercises that get you to write without thinking. She says “Of course you can si...more
Shane
A sincere commitment to writing as a vocation - that message comes out clearly in this book which harks back to the hippie era. It's a pity that Goldberg is more a poet than a novelist as I was looking for some tips in the latter genre. Yet I uncovered a few gems that are still fresh:
1) Obsessions - a writer's constant themes and what he writes most powerfully about
2)Fill a notebook per month with random writing. Eventually, after they have composted, they may render something beautiful
3) Don't...more
Leah
I'd heard a lot of good things about this book, but hadn't gotten around to reading it until now. NaNoWriMo is next month so, wanting to prepare, I figured that now would be the opportune time to read it.

The book is a series of really short chapters or essays on different aspects of writing. I read the book straight through, but one could just as easily read the chapters in any order. Although it wasn't the most cohesive book on writing I've ever read, I did find it to be very inspirational. Tr...more
W.
ฉันไม่รู้ว่าจะบอกว่านาตาลีเป็นนักเขียนหรือไม่ เพราะสิ่งที่ฉันพบคือ การเรียนรู้ชีวิตและตัวตนภายในจากการเขียน
เธอ ปลุกเร้าให้ผู้คนขึ้นมาเขียนหนังสือ (นิยายส่วนใหญ่)โดยฟังเสียงภายในที่เชื่อมั่นในสิ่งที่ตัวเองกำลังจะบอกออกไป สิ่งสำคัญเธอเน้นให้เห็นเสมอว่า การเขียน ต้องเพียร และเพียร อย่าหยุดกับความสำเร็จ จงเขียนต่อไป เขียน ต่อไป

เธอทำให้ดูเป็นแบบอย่าง
จิตวิญญาณที่ผ่านในหนังสือที่สอนเกี่ยวกับการเขียนนี้เธอได้รับอิทธิพลจากอาจารย์เซนอย่างคาตางิริ โรชิ ที่เขียนเรื่อง Zen Mind ,Beginner's Mind

ฉันว่าเธอน่า...more
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The Dinner Scene 3 43 Jan 23, 2012 07:31pm  
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Paperback)
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Paperback)
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Hardcover)
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Pocket Classics)
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Kindle Edition)

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Natalie Goldberg lived in Brooklyn until she was six, when her family moved out to Farmingdale, Long Island, where her father owned the bar the Aero Tavern. From a young age, Goldberg was mad for books and reading, and especially loved Carson McCullers's The Ballad of the Sad Cafe , which she read in ninth grade. She thinks that single book led her eventually to put pen to paper when she was twe...more
More about Natalie Goldberg...
Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America Thunder and Lightning: Cracking Open the Writer's Craft Old Friend from Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir Banana Rose

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“Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open.” 334 people liked it
“We are important and our lives are important, magnificent really, and their details are worthy to be recorded. This is how writers must think, this is how we must sit down with pen in hand. We were here; we are human beings; this is how we lived. Let it be known, the earth passed before us. Our details are important. Otherwise, if they are not, we can drop a bomb and it doesn't matter. . . Recording the details of our lives is a stance against bombs with their mass ability to kill, against too much speed and efficiency. A writer must say yes to life, to all of life: the water glasses, the Kemp's half-and-half, the ketchup on the counter. It is not a writer's task to say, "It is dumb to live in a small town or to eat in a café when you can eat macrobiotic at home." Our task is to say a holy yes to the real things of our life as they exist – the real truth of who we are: several pounds overweight, the gray, cold street outside, the Christmas tinsel in the showcase, the Jewish writer in the orange booth across from her blond friend who has black children. We must become writers who accept things as they are, come to love the details, and step forward with a yes on our lips so there can be no more noes in the world, noes that invalidate life and stop these details from continuing.” 83 people liked it
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