Thunder and Lightning: Cracking
Open the Writers Craft by Natalie
Goldberg
If Natalie Goldberg Can't Crack Your Muse, Nobody Will!!!
More musings from Natalie Goldberg on writing as a spiritual path, as an
authentic Zen way. Goldberg has some nice things to say about the
importance of the process of writing. She recommends her students
spend two years at writing practice before undertaking a specific project,
so that they can get in touch with their wild minds. The most inspired
writing, she says, comes when ones conscious mind gets out of the way.
Still, we are puzzled by Thunder and Lightning: is it really meant to show
us how to turn our flashes of inspiration ... into a polished piece of work,
as the book jacket touts? It comes off more as a collection of Goldbergs
ruminations on writing and reading. Goldberg tells us about her friend
Julies writing process. Another pal, Kate, talks about plot. We study
Styron with Goldbergs workshop students and take a road trip through the
South to try to figure out just how some of the poorest states in the union
managed to produce so many great writers. There are some good stories

here, and its vaguely interesting to know what Nat likes to order when she
does her café writing or lunches with her editors, but we end up desiring a
little less wandering and a little more focus. --Jane Steinberg
Personal Review: Thunder and Lightning: Cracking Open the
Writers Craft by Natalie Goldberg
natalie goldberg, famous for writing down the bones, is a sister, an
encourager, a deep artist-maker-writer-soulstress who lays open her
insight, her striving, her struggle, her bannana rose triumph and despair,
her writing rules, her friendships, her jewish origin and zen discoveries, her
brilliance to serve as a bridge from wanna be to writer. she does it
effortlessly--or so it seems, exuding the leadership, the know-how, the
willingness, the courage, to stand at the front of the room in the workshop
in your mind.
i think i bought and started reading this book back in june of last year--
when james was home last. it inspired me to start some writing activities
at artescape. it inspired me to recommit to the daily act of my own writing.
it inspired me to keep going, keep putting the words down, keep my hand
moving, keep getting to the end of the page, keep practicing, keep keeping
on. and, as with all spiritual practices, along the way, i started and
stopped, i seized on ideas, i took detours, i had insights, i learned, i grew, i
glimpsed a new shadow in the the big mystery.... and i continue, through
what she calls writing practice and what julia cameron calls morning pages
to get the benefits of the exercise: to grow.
here's what goldberg has to say about writing practice:
"we wrote for half an hour, read to each other, wrote another half hour,
read aloud. by the end we were both beaming. writing practice had done it
again--digested our sorrow, dissolved and integrated our inner rigidity, and
let us move on. i don't even remember what we wrote about. it didn't
matter. the effort of forming words, physically connecting hand with mind
and heart, and then having the freedom to read aloud transformed us. yes,
writing practice is good."
and so, throughout this book and all her others, i am encouraged. i love
the words of artists and others who encourage me--who keep me moving,
keep me fueled, keep me creating and trying and growing as an artist, as a
writer. she is in the sacred sisterhood of my bookshelf. she is a regular
healer i visit often--with her wise insight and bravery. she is ahead of me
on the path--and, knowing i (and others) are following, is kind enough to
leave her bread crumbs in such an appetizing book. she is a map maker--
my map maker--having charted the course to the new world and
encountered the sea monsters and natives and she has left word of the
journey, so that i might make my own way.
For More 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price:

Thunder and Lightning: Cracking Open the Writers Craft by Natalie Goldberg 5 Star
Customer Reviews and Lowest Price!