Writing to the Bone

By: Veronica B.

                Natalie Goldberg is a teacher from New Mexico and that's where a lot of her inspiration comes from. She wrote her first book, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, in 1986 and has written nine since then. Most of her books revolve around teaching others how to do things, such as writing or painting, while connecting it to spirituality.  She uses insightful, witty, and practical advice to encourage people to dig within and find the right words to use. Writing Down the Bones is a book that is best read in segments, rather than just sitting down and forcing yourself through the whole thing.

                This novel teaches people not only how to write, but also where to write, when to write, what to write on, and so many more things. The biggest bit of encouragement given is to never stop writing. She suggests that you never cross anything out during the first draft― no erasing, no spell check, and forget grammar. The book is parallel was the chronology of a writer's thinking process, from the messy first thoughts to comprising a novel. Goldberg sees writing as a practice that helps people understand life and what is around them, not a chore or a hobby. Writing has no rules, according to this book and Goldberg describes that creativity and effectively.

                I thought Writing Down the Bones to be inspiring and insightful. I didn't feel as though I was reading it to learn how to be a better writer, but more so how writing could lead me to self discovery and become a normal part of life. The chapters are short and you're able to pick up the book at any time, flip to a page, and begin reading. Although the original book dates back to 1986, (she has revised and re-released the book since then) and talks about typewriters or other older forms of word processing, the chapters themselves didn't age with the times, Goldberg's writing is smooth and ageless. I would recommend this book to anyone who already writes because she teaches you how to return to the "beginner's mind" and why that's important. However, I would also recommend this to anyone who longs to write and is looking for a little push. Goldberg doesn't  provide lengthy lessons, but rather a way to listen to yourself and write what you feel.  

                Writing Down the Bones can be found in bookstores worldwide and has been translated into fourteen different languages.

                Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, by Natalie Goldberg, Shambhala Publications Inc., 1986 & 2005, 224 pages