Writing Down the Bones–A Review of an Essential Writing Guide

By Charles Schnell

Are you having trouble writing a novel? How about a poem? A play? Perhaps, one of the essays Ms. Zachik, Mr. Griffin, or Dr. Carr has ordered? Don’t worry; Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones is just what you need.  This roughly 200-page book is essentially a guidance counselor for writers. Goldberg has written a practical, anti-textbook that tells you what you want to know and inspires you to write. She details various stages of a writer’s mind in development, ranging from philosophical advice (how to tackle doubt), to practical, simple words of wisdom (don’t think and don’t wait — write).

Goldberg applies her spiritual wisdom to the physical world. When reading the book, it’s almost as if she is there in person, teaching you. And, it’s not as if the book is very long. She says what she wants to say, tells the stories she wants to tell, and does it quickly. Each chapter is about two pages.

A few of my favorite chapters are “A Meal You Love,” “Doubt is Torture,” and “Don’t Tell, but Show.” The first is all about detail and making your words come alive on the page. The second, “Doubt is Torture,” is about what might be the biggest struggle of all artists–DOUBT. Doubt can stem from many things: fear, past failures, or lack of money. Goldberg understands this very well: “Every other month I am ready to quit writing….These thoughts are torture….Doubt is torture….It is a constant test of perseverance.” In this chapter, Goldberg shows how you’re not the only dreamer who doubts. You can overcome. Finally, in the chapter “Don’t Tell, but Show,” Goldberg explains why showing feelings through actions, rather than just stating, is deeper and more real than simply telling, and gives her advice on how to show. Her advice has proven to be really useful.

Of course, all of the chapters in this book are helpful and contain much advice that I cannot simply state in this review. To be honest, you’ll probably learn more from reading this book than taking some writing workshops (although, both are recommended). The book could even function as a refreshing daily meditation on writing, to be read over and over, chapter by chapter.

This and much more is why I appreciate this book, and I highly suggest it for anyone who needs help and is stuck in a seemingly permanent writer’s block (remember, it is not permanent), whether that block be in writing a short story, an English essay, or even a book review for your weekly post on thebirdonfire.org….

 

Editor: Claire Jenkins