Natalie Goldberg is a poet, teacher and author of eleven books, including her classic Writing Down the Bones, which has sold more than a million and a half copies and been translated into 14 languages. She studied meditation with Zen master Katagiri Roshi at the Minnesota Zen Center for many years. Then one day, knowing of her interest in creativity, he said: 'Why don't you make writing your practice? If you go deep enough in writing, it will take you everywhere."
All those who view writing as a spiritual practice will find this book to be a stimulating and creative resource. Goldberg presents a series of exercises designed to spur memory and put in perspective the varied facets of a lifetime. She also quotes from memoirs and shares a list of her favorites including Bones of a Master by George Crane, An American Childhood by Annie Dillard, Romantic Education by Patricia Hampl, Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams, and At Home in the World by Joyce Maynard.
At the outset, Goldberg notes:
"Writing is an athletic activity. It comes from the whole body, your knees and arms, kidneys, liver, finger, teeth, lungs, spine — all organs and body parts leaning in with you, hovering in concentration over the page. And just like any other sport, it takes practice. Behind the football we see on TV, the players have put in hundreds of hours before the big game. The muscles of writing are not so visible, but they are just as powerful: determination, attention, curiosity, a passionate heart."
Goldberg likes to work the imagination with ten minute sprints. Here are some exercises she suggests for harvesting the experiences and abundant material from your life:
• Write everything you know about mashed potatoes.
• Make a list of ten witless activities that you do.
• Talk about silence.
• What can you give up knowing?
• Let go of trying to please or trying not to please.
• Don't try to make it pretty.
• Trust your insides to lead you.
