Book Report 1: Writing Down the Bones

Natalie Goldberg's book, Writing Down the Bones, is a treasure trove for the serious writer. Though her book is quite dated now (she talks excitedly about the novelty of the computer's ability to wrap text!), her ideas are elemental truths that are universally valuable, shaped by her practice of Zen meditation.

Many of her ideas will be useful to me as I attempt to make writing a larger part of my everyday life. The book itself I wouldn't use with my middle school classes, though I plan to incorporate some of her ideas in my teaching.

The book is divided into a series of short vignettes, each on a different aspect of writing practice. Though it would be best to read the initial chapters first, in chronological order, the rest can be read individually, in any order. Each chapter stands alone as its own gem.

The following are the pieces of advice I appreciate most from her book:

* Practice, practice, practice! Make writing a daily practice.

* Be real, honest, unedited (in the practice writing). Write from your first voice (not the second or third version).

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

* Keep writing from your first voice, where your thinking is in the moment.

* Even if you don't like what you're writing, keep writing! Be patient.

*When your writing is repeatedly on the same topic, it can be like the time spent composting - ideas are decomposing. Eventually a "bright red tulip"will bloom from the now rich soil.

Her ideas will effect my teaching the most in having my students practice writing in small chunks. Instead of spending the majority of our time on big projects that we rework and rework to get to final draft form, we will spend more time in the first draft/initial revising stages. In working with more and smaller pieces, the students will spend more time creating and crafting. As in everything else, it is practice that brings progress.

Kelley Edwards

June 2002