Writing Down the Bones (1986) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters/People edit see section history

• Katagiri Roshi: Add a description of this character.
• Natalie
• Kate

Quotes edit see section history

• “The aim is to burn through to first thoughts, to the place where energy is unobstructed by social politeness or the internal censor, to the place where you are writing what your mind actually sees and feels, not what it thinks it should see or feel.”

• “Writing is the act of discovery. You want to discover your relationship with a topic, not the dictionary definition.”

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• “Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go.”

  Highlighted by 145 Kindle customers

• Accept loss forever Be submissive to everything, open, listening No fear or shame in the dignity of your experience, language, and knowledge Be in love with your life

  Highlighted by 125 Kindle customers

• If you are not afraid of the voices inside you, you will not fear the critics outside you.

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• Basically, if you want to become a good writer, you need to do three things. Read a lot, listen well and deeply, and write a lot. And don’t think too much. Just enter the heat of words and sounds and colored sensations and keep your pen moving across the page.

  Highlighted by 108 Kindle customers

• I used to think freedom meant doing whatever you want. It means knowing who you are, what you are supposed to be doing on this earth, and then simply doing it.

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• Go for the jugular. (If something comes up in your writing that is scary or naked, dive right into it. It probably has lots of energy.)

  Highlighted by 91 Kindle customers

• Don’t identify too strongly with your work. Stay fluid behind those black-and-white words. They are not you. They were a great moment going through you. A moment you were awake enough to write down and capture.

  Highlighted by 88 Kindle customers

• This book is about writing. It is also about using writing as your practice, as a way to help you penetrate your life and become sane.

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• THE BASIC UNIT of writing practice is the timed exercise.

  Highlighted by 73 Kindle customers

• When you write, don’t say, “I’m going to write a poem.” That attitude will freeze you right away. Sit down with the least expectation of yourself; say, “I am free to write the worst junk in the world.” You have to give yourself the space to write a lot without a destination.

  Highlighted by 68 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Minnesota
• Paris
• New Mexico
• New York
• Taos
• Nebraska
• Owatonna
• Minneapolis
• Israel
• America
• Europe
• Brooklyn

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Writing practice: Describe this theme.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Natalie Goldberg (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 808.02

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Health, Mind & Body › Self-Help › Creativity
• Books › Reference › Publishing & Books › Authorship
• Books › Reference › Writing
• Books › Biographies & Memoirs › Memoirs
• Books › Literature & Fiction