Writing Down the Bones

By: Natalie Goldberg

Narrated by: Natalie Goldberg

Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

With nearly one million copies of the book Writing Down the Bones in print, Natalie Goldberg has helped change the way writing is practiced in homes, schools, and workshops across America.

Here is a new collector's edition of this modern classic as you have never heard it before, read by Natalie Goldberg herself and then infused with her most personal reflections about this "magic manual" for all writers. Try these ingenious, Zen-based exercises to expand your writing skills - or just for fun.

© Natalie Goldberg; (P) Sounds True

The Substance

I almost passed on this gem after reading all the negative reviews here, so it feels like a duty to add the positive. Natalie Goldberg is not an actress who portrays an author in order to appease audiences; she is the actual author. This book provides genuine coaching from an actual writing coach. It is less about appearances and more about substance. She reads the chapters that she wrote two and a half decades ago, then elaborates afterward as an older and wiser writer. The writing is informative, language is lovely, and perspective is helpful for anyone who LOVES to write. She sounds like an older Jewish lady from New York. So what? She is.

Lots of great advice

Really enjoyed this. Hearing what she thought about what she wrote years earlier gave it more resonance and made it more real. I really like the idea of writing sprints. She talks a lot about writing practice and I remember reading Kristine Kathrin Rusch saying that all writing is practice. Each story and book is practice. I'm also reminded of Day Bradbury saying write a.short story a week. You can't write 52 stories and all of them be bad. At least a few will be good. It mAkes sense that you write and you grow as a writer. You practice and you get better. Listen to this and get inspired. Listen and then write.

Tip: author’s voice more enjoyable on 1.25 or 1.5 speed

Don’t miss out on this fabulous book because you aren’t crazy about the author’s voice. Some books go too fast when the narrator’s voice is sped up, but not this one. This book is chock full of helpful lessons.

A MUST HAVE for Creatives

There are two books I turn to now and then just to tweak my creative juices...

Natalies book "Writing Down the Bones" and Julia Camerons "The Artists Way".

These two resources have very useful tools and ideas to keep the creative muse flowing. As a songwriter and writer, I never get writers block since reading this book. Natalies personalized approach is so fresh and engaging that I often just listen to this book because I feel like I'm spending time with my dear friend.

Just purchase this book and listen. You'll not only resolve your writers block but you'll gain a new friend.

Inspiring!!

Love it! So inspiring. I have to stop it so many times to write.
Recommend!!

The Art Of Writing

I had the chance to read this in high school and kicked myself for not picking it up then. I have spent the last two years or so on and off studying writing, mainly structure. This has left me to see writing in a loosely one dementional process.
I'm close to getting the mechanics, but this book showed me the art, philosophy of writing. I've learned, in part thanks to it, to stop being so critical of myself when writing. And that's made a world of difference.

Filled with humor, great insights and love

Natalie Goldberg passes on to her listeners the love she received from her teacher Katagiri Roshi. I love the book and listen to the audio book whenever I want inspiration and encouragement to write.

Enjoyable Read!

this book is filled with ideas that will get you writing and Natalie has a way of inspiring you to get up immediately and write.

wonderful for improving writing

Too often I find books about writing that talk about the what. but this book actually tells you the how. I love how the author creates a parallel between the self and writing as a practice. I was able to relate to her methodology very well.

I came here for help writing nonfiction acedemic works. Although the tips weren't specifically targeted towards my genre, they were just as helpful. I can tell these ideas presented in her book have already helped me stay grounded while writing.

thank you! 😊

Zen and the Art of Journaling

Consult any article on learning how to write and this book will come up. In truth, this book should be called "Zen and the Art of Journaling." Goldberg seamlessly infuses his personal practice of zen meditation with the art of writing. Let me tell you something straight up: this is NOT a "how to write" book. It is more a guide on how to spiritually benefit from and energize your writing. There are plenty of writing exercises and insights for the aspiring writer to enjoy in this book, but Goldberg's main focus is how to be in the now and then write in the now. The more I listened I realized how her perspectives were best used for poets and anyone who likes to journal. Sure, keeping a journal will help the writer develop their voice. But this is really a guide to get a closer, more intense spiritual experience from your writing. Even if you're not into Zen, the insights that Goldberg offers are well worth your time.

In this edition, Goldberg revisits her own text, adding additional ideas and experiences she's had in the 30 years since it was originally published. The problem is this is where the audio production fails. I can't tell what is the book and what is a current insight. Not that it matters much, but Goldberg's delivery is constant throughout the recording so it's impossible to tell where the book stops and her current thoughts begin.

This is a decent book for the aspiring writer to pick up and get a little energy boost, but don't expect any earth-shattering insights into the practice of writing. Go to Stephen King's "On Writing" for that. Also, I've listened to some live recordings of Goldberg's lectures and they are far more entertaining and interesting than this book. She has learned a lot in 30 years, so while it's good to revisit the original text here, I think her more recent insights will probably be more valuable. Just my $0.02.