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Writing Down the Bones - Book Review |
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Book Reviews -
Writing and Other Creative Topics
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Written by Jennifer Thompson
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 Writing
Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg
If there is one author that I think all writers should know about, itÌs
Natalie Goldberg. And if I could only recommend one of her books, it
would have to be Writing
Down the Bones. You seasoned writers out there know what IÌm
saying, and I hope I can snare a whole new group of writers-in-waiting
into the Natalie Goldberg club.
Writing
Down the Bones is a book to use when you canÌt get started
or are feeling stuck, which is how I feel a lot of the time. But itÌs
more than just a collection of writing prompts or a book of doÌs
and donÌtÌs. ThereÌs something about Natalie GoldbergÌs
style that motivates and encourages Ò almost compels Ò you
to pick up your pen and get writing. Her book is a treasure trove of
good ideas, helpful hints, motivating passages, how-toÌs and other
things to Ïfree the writer withinÓ.
ÏCompostingÓ is one of my favorite sections. By ÏcompostingÓ
she means the process of taking in information though our senses and
then letting them simmer and shift within our minds, to turn into something
rich and useful at some point down the road. This is one of Ms. GoldbergÌs
strengths Ò finding just the right way to describe or explain something.
I mean, take the word Ï composting.Ó ItÌs perfect! We
take in all matters of material, and eventually it becomes something,
something rich. Here is what she says:
ÏOur
bodies are garbage heaps: we collect experience, and from the decomposition
of the thrown-out eggshells, spinach leaves, coffee grinds, and old
steak bones of our minds come nitrogen, heat, and very fertile soil.
Out of this fertile soil bloom our poems and stories÷Ó
Writing
Down the Bones is simply one of those must-have books
for any writer who needs a kick in the rear end to get started.
ItÌs an encouraging book and one that speaks to the writer
living in all of us, whispering, yelling to that writer, ÏYou
can do it! Start now.Ó
Copyright
2002
This review is available for reprint.
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