elevision - Natalie Goldberg: How to Write

Natalie Goldberg is author of the most popular how-to-write book ever, Writing Down the Bones. She also happens to be Buddhist, irreverent, fun & sweet enough to sit down with elephant journal.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• elephant
• writing
• zen
• buddhism
• eco
• yoga
• spirituality
• instruction
• bones
• organics
• wisdom

[leahhaswings]

She is my favorite teacher, from afar. Love her.

[brdy]

@ltum2 And if you want to write prescriptive commercialized garbage, then Natalie is not the person you want to have as a writing coach

[Squareplanets]

@DeathToAllReligions 

[Jexxmix]

her book is so condescending, like writers are a different breed of human. it's really irritating

[djdollase]

what she is talking about isn't product but PROCESS. the teacher can only (hopefuly) help you open the door/awaken you to the possibilities. she/he shouldn't shove you thru or you haven't gotten there on your own/made it your own. what NG has done for many people (myself included) is energize that "what-the-hell-go-for-it" attitude that can make the difference between doing it or sitting on the sidelines taking the cowardly, easy "critic" dork "show me the money" stance of some here....

[ZachClooney]

THat guy read her book when he was 13. And look: he still hasn't made it. He is still a nobody. So you go and figure !! No substitute for talent, regardless of how many of these second rate 'how to' books one reads !!

[sgagos]

wow you guys are harsh, have any of you taken a workshop with her?

[Starcasegurl]

...So what does she write other than self help books for writers? Has she published anything else? CAN she publish anything else??????

[tumadoireacht]

read her short short story Pen and Notebook on the smokelong site - she cannot write for toffee- what a tiresome bag of clichés the story is -if it representative of her writing -YEUCH ! how awful- like the tripe she is spouting here -Writing is NOT about being a good citizen- what a plonker !

[brdy]

@ltum2 I believe the POWER in a good story stems from the experience, esteem and knowledge that she encourages

[StellaJervis]

this woman has done great things for beginning writers, but she is so rude and full of herself. She is extremely condescending, especially to people under thirty. Her ego is ironic especially when considering her zen background. I don't reccomend seeing her in person; and don't be surprised if she belittles you. Seriously, this woman needs to be taken down a peg.