Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

Nathalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within" is an excellent read. If you are a writer or an aspiring writer this is a must read and one that you will find yourself going back to again and again.

A number of years ago I began to become interested in writing poetry and this book was recommended. I must say it has helped along with several others and I recommend it to others exploring learning poetry.

Since I first decided to write seriously in 1995, this book has been my bible for writing practice and I continue to use it today. Natalie Goldberg has been an incredibly important influence on my writing life and in my daily life. The writing practice serves as a foundation upon which I can always rely to gently coax me back to that place below the surface and her mindful meditation practice has served me in my day to day. I can't even count how many copies of this book I have purchased for friends, fellow scribes, and strangers. I can't say enough about Wild Mind and the special spirit of Natalie Goldberg and her teachings! Wild Mind is timeless and life changing!!

This is not only a book about writing for writers, it is a book about creative process for any artist of any kind. It is also a book about the importance of a creative community of some kind while engaged in any art form. Even if one does not consider oneself "an Artist" what I loved about this book is how Goldberg encourages the reader to live life as a creative experiment. She writes from her own personal journey. I have read the book various times. Always inspiring, supportive ,affirming...thank you Natalie Goldberg

Excellent book with many good examples of how to keep the creative process going. I would recommend it to any English student, or teacher that would like to expand on their writing skills or methods.

After reading Natalie Goldberg's classic Writing Down the Bones, I knew that I needed to read more of what she had to say about writing. Wild Mind did not disappoint me. Although other writers tend to write longer more comprehensive essays about how to write, Goldberg writes about writing in vignettes which I found helpful. As she would put it, my monkey mind chatters non-stop, so I find paying attention to longer pieces about writing difficult. As such her smaller vignettes, although not as comprehensive as other writers, were easy for me to digest and learn from.

Given what I know now, I would read Writing Down the Bones first, and then perhaps after a couple of months I would read Wild Mind. Natalie has a lot to say which comes across at first as, "Duh!" but after you ponder what she has to say for a bit her duh-ness transforms into brilliance!

A look inside of Natalie Goldberg's life while she was writing some terrific books on writing. Great as I expected, for she is a marvelous writer. The condition of the book was as expected and delivery and packing was great.

Full of awesome expercises - like a workbook. I am helping my niece learn to love writing and this is doing the trick - we have so much fun being creative with story telling and writing exercises that are engaging, fun, and take us on mind journeys together.

Full of awesome expercises - like a workbook. I am helping my niece learn to love writing and this is doing the trick - we have so much fun being creative with story telling and writing exercises that are engaging, fun, and take us on mind journeys together.

A justifiably classic book on how to write; recommended by the National Novel Writing Month, which uses many of the same concepts. Full of specific advice, prompts, and a general creative sense that is highly motivating.

I loved this book. It was meant for teaching, but reads like you are a voyeur in the author's life, learning along with her. Or like listening to an entertaining speaker at a seminar. Well worth the price, even if you do not have a degree to earn!

This is an excellent book. The chapters are short and focused on one topic so it is a quick easy read. It is also very understandable and very motivating. It gives ideas on how to avoid writer's block and how to actually become a good writer. It found it very motivating and helpful.

Natalie Goldberg's book did for me exactly what the title says. It encouraged me to just write about what I feel and what I know. Giving a clear view of what the writing life can be. I highly recommend this to every aspiring writer and artist, and anyone else who aspires to be creative.

Natalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones" has become a classic. Ask any writer who has read this book, and many have: This is the book that got us writers writing, overriding our inner critic. One of the best books on writing and a way of life.

Natalie Goldberg has a way of making a person know that they can be a writer. This book is very down-to-earth and filled with good stuff for all writers. A small warning: it references Zen several times.

I bought Natalie Goldberg's book "Thunder and Lightening" years ago and have read it so many times the spine is hardly recognizable. When I saw that "Writing Down the Bones" was required reading for my Creative Writing class I was so excited. Why had I not bought this book before? It is fabulous. Filled with wisdom and bare bones writing advice (no pun intended) I will definitely be reading and rereading this book for years to come.

The book is written by one who has taught writing before. The scope includes beginning writers. The suggestion of "practice" writing is presented in clear and practical instructions. Another view point.