Writing down the Bones : Freeing the Writer Within

by Goldberg, Natalie

• ISBN13: 9781570624247
• ISBN10: 1570624240
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 1998-10-01
• Publisher: Shambhala

Summary

Natalie Goldberg's word-of-mouth hit has sold well over half a million copies. Goldberg, who has conducted writing workshops for both beginners and professionals all over the United States, sees writing as a practice that helps us comprehend the value of our lives. With insight, humor, and practicality, she inspires writers and would-be writers alike to take the leap into writing creatively and well.

Author Biography

Natalie Goldberg is the author of ten books. Writing Down the Bones , her first, has sold over one million copies and has been translated into twelve languages. For the last thirty years she has practiced Zen and taught seminars in writing as a spiritual practice. She lives in New Mexico.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Introduction	p. 1
Beginner's Mind, Pen and Paper	p. 5
First Thoughts	p. 8
Writing as a Practice	p. 11
Composting	p. 15
Artistic Stability	p. 18
A List of Topics for Writing Practice	p. 21
Fighting Tofu	p. 25
Trouble with the Editor	p. 28
Elkton, Minnesota: Whatever's in Front of You	p. 29
Tap the Water Table	p. 32
We Are Not the Poem	p. 34
Man Eats Car	p. 36
Writing Is Not a McDonald's Hamburger	p. 39
Obsessions	p. 42
Original Detail	p. 45
The Power of Detail	p. 47
Baking a Cake	p. 50
Living Twice	p. 53
Writers Have Good Figures	p. 55
Listening	p. 57
Don't Marry the Fly	p. 60
Don't Use Writing to Get Love	p. 62
What Are Your Deep Dreams?	p. 65
Syntax	p. 67
Nervously Sipping Wine	p. 72
Don't Tell, but Show	p. 75
Be Specific	p. 77
Big Concentration	p. 79
The Ordinary and Extraordinary	p. 81
Talk Is the Exercise Ground	p. 84
Writing Is a Communal Act	p. 86
One Plus One Equals a Mercedes-Benz	p. 89
Be an Animal	p. 90
Make Statements and Answer Questions	p. 93
The Action of a Sentence	p. 95
Writing in Restaurants	p. 98
The Writing Studio	p. 103
A Big Topic: Eroticism	p. 105
A Tourist in Your Own Town	p. 108
Write Anyplace	p. 110
Go Further	p. 112
Engendering Compassion	p. 114
Doubt Is Torture	p. 117
A Little Sweet	p. 119
A New Moment	p. 120
Why Do I Write?	p. 122
Every Monday	p. 126
More About Mondays	p. 128
Spontaneous Writing Booths	p. 130
A Sensation of Space	p. 133
A Large Field to Wander In	p. 136
The Goody Two-Shoes Nature	p. 140
No Hindrances	p. 144
A Meal You Love	p. 147
Use Loneliness	p. 149
Blue Lipstick and a Cigarette Hanging Out Your Mouth	p. 151
Going Home	p. 152
A Story Circle	p. 156
Writing Marathons	p. 160
Claim Your Writing	p. 164
Trust Yourself	p. 167
The Samurai	p. 169
Rereading and Rewriting	p. 172
I Don't Want to Die	p. 177
Epilogue	p. 179
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