brendaclay's review against another edition
5.0
This book is BRILLIANT. Also laugh-out-loud funny in parts, which I didn't expect. Although the author and I come from very different perspectives, I totally got her points and think they'll be helpful and valuable in my writing. This is definitely a future re-read!
smalefowles's review against another edition
5.0
This is a writing book about being a writer, and honestly, just about being a person. Goldberg's Zen Buddhist leanings really suffuse this text, and give it a very particular ethos, which I found very likable.
(I'm in a writer's book club, so I'll be reading one writing book every month this year, except for November, most likely.)
(I'm in a writer's book club, so I'll be reading one writing book every month this year, except for November, most likely.)
amymo73's review against another edition
4.0
It was 2005 when I went to Women's Quest and one of the staff members, Diane, recommended I read this book. I was wanting to write, not just newspaper articles but WRITE stories and novels and poetry and books. I promptly bought the book. It arrived. I put it on my bookshelf. It pretty much sat there ever since.
As I take up new writing project, I've been thinking a lot about that Women's Quest trip and the leap of faith I took that jump started my belief that really, somewhere inside, was an athlete who had a lot to teach me. So as I work on that project, I pulled out my copy of Writing Down the Bones and began to read.
I read straight through although you could turn to any chapter, read it, and use it as a writing prompt. I've combined the notion morning pages with some of her writing prompts as a way to warm up my words each day.
I found myself old-school underlining in the book. Many of the ideas were not new to me, but presented in a fresh way at a time when I needed the reminder.
"Writers, when they write, need to approach things for the first time each time."
"Poems are taught as though the poet has put a secret key in his words and it is the reader's job to find it. Poems are not mystery novels."
"Stay with the original work. Stay with your original mind and write from it."
"Even miracles are mundane happenings that an awakened mind can see in a fantastic way."
"If we see their lives and festivals as fantastic and our lives as ordinary, we come to writing with a sense of poverty. We must remember that everything is ordinary and extraordinary."
"You never leave who you are. If you are a writer when writing, you are also a writer when you are cooking, sleeping, walking. ... You can't divorce yourself from parts of yourself."
"There seems to be a gap between the greatness we are capable of and the way we see ourselves and, therefore, see our work."
As I take up new writing project, I've been thinking a lot about that Women's Quest trip and the leap of faith I took that jump started my belief that really, somewhere inside, was an athlete who had a lot to teach me. So as I work on that project, I pulled out my copy of Writing Down the Bones and began to read.
I read straight through although you could turn to any chapter, read it, and use it as a writing prompt. I've combined the notion morning pages with some of her writing prompts as a way to warm up my words each day.
I found myself old-school underlining in the book. Many of the ideas were not new to me, but presented in a fresh way at a time when I needed the reminder.
"Writers, when they write, need to approach things for the first time each time."
"Poems are taught as though the poet has put a secret key in his words and it is the reader's job to find it. Poems are not mystery novels."
"Stay with the original work. Stay with your original mind and write from it."
"Even miracles are mundane happenings that an awakened mind can see in a fantastic way."
"If we see their lives and festivals as fantastic and our lives as ordinary, we come to writing with a sense of poverty. We must remember that everything is ordinary and extraordinary."
"You never leave who you are. If you are a writer when writing, you are also a writer when you are cooking, sleeping, walking. ... You can't divorce yourself from parts of yourself."
"There seems to be a gap between the greatness we are capable of and the way we see ourselves and, therefore, see our work."
ashtonbakerreads's review
3.0
I've read a couple books on writing before. The ones that have stood out are Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott and On Writing by Stephen King. While I have not read either in a while, I know that I enjoyed them and learned from them. I was curious after seeing online recommendations for Writing Down the Bones. I love learning about my craft.
This book was, in part, interesting. I took a highlighter to portions I thought helpful. Personally, I don't have a lot of highlights here. There were definitely sections I will go back to from time to time, but I highly doubt I will read it in its entirety again.
It was repetitious, and after getting approximately halfway through the book, I found myself losing interest. Still, even then I found a line or two that was insightful and that I would like to remember.
The main idea I walked away with was to just let yourself go. Sit down, write, don't think about anything, just write. Don't let your hand stop during that timed writing. Don't listen to the inner critic. Just do it!
There were times that I felt distant from her, the writer, as she spoke to me, a fellow writer. I don't want to say she spoke too poetically, too flowery, too much on Zen or Buddhism (which are very interesting to me and I understand their importance to those who practice). I just didn't feel the connection to her that she seems to feel with the world. I felt more inclined to skim many sections that delve deeply into them.
I do recommend that writers check this book out and hear her advice. There were valuable parts to be certain. Since we're all so different, we're all going to take away different portions, highlight or copy different sections, love the book or dislike it or regard it as I do: not my favorite, but a book I'm glad I read.
This book was, in part, interesting. I took a highlighter to portions I thought helpful. Personally, I don't have a lot of highlights here. There were definitely sections I will go back to from time to time, but I highly doubt I will read it in its entirety again.
It was repetitious, and after getting approximately halfway through the book, I found myself losing interest. Still, even then I found a line or two that was insightful and that I would like to remember.
The main idea I walked away with was to just let yourself go. Sit down, write, don't think about anything, just write. Don't let your hand stop during that timed writing. Don't listen to the inner critic. Just do it!
There were times that I felt distant from her, the writer, as she spoke to me, a fellow writer. I don't want to say she spoke too poetically, too flowery, too much on Zen or Buddhism (which are very interesting to me and I understand their importance to those who practice). I just didn't feel the connection to her that she seems to feel with the world. I felt more inclined to skim many sections that delve deeply into them.
I do recommend that writers check this book out and hear her advice. There were valuable parts to be certain. Since we're all so different, we're all going to take away different portions, highlight or copy different sections, love the book or dislike it or regard it as I do: not my favorite, but a book I'm glad I read.
twig_larkin's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
annemariewellswriter's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed listening to these ideas of focusing on your writing practice. I related to many of the hinderances and excuses and felt released by the ideas of keeping going. Some writers stay put and some move around their whole lives - that resonated with me.
verity_lilolia's review
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all writers.
irenewind's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a balm for the writer's soul. I'd recommend it to everyone who writes or is somehow related to a writer.
msbethreads's review
4.0
I'll be reading this again. This is one of those books that cause new ideas/revelations to occur to you every time you read it (I've already reread a couple of the chapters - I also used a high lighter =D). I found it to be a restful kind of book as well. I like to write so it was also useful. It makes you think.
I intend to keep it by my writing spot so I can read a chapter here and there if I'm stuck.
I intend to keep it by my writing spot so I can read a chapter here and there if I'm stuck.
mkayverse's review
3.0
Aside from the Stephen king memoir about writing; this is the second book on writing that really inspired me. so much so, I even took some notes and highlighted a few things as well.
however, unlike Stephen king, this book is a more about the writing craft and less of a memoir about it. Goldberg's approach is much different than King's. but the one thing they share that is important is that where one writes, one much also read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm so glad my creative writing teacher made us buy this book. it was indeed worth the read in my own time.
however, unlike Stephen king, this book is a more about the writing craft and less of a memoir about it. Goldberg's approach is much different than King's. but the one thing they share that is important is that where one writes, one much also read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm so glad my creative writing teacher made us buy this book. it was indeed worth the read in my own time.