In this long-awaited sequel to her bestselling books Writing Down the Bones and Wild Mind, Natalie Goldberg, one of the most sought-after writing teachers of our time, takes us to the next step in the writing process. You've filled your notebooks, done your writing practice, discovered your original voice. Now what? How do you turn this raw material into finished stories, essays, poems, novels, memoirs? Drawing on her own experience as a writer and a student of Zen, Natalie shows you how to create a field big enough to allow your "wild mind" to wander -- and then gently direct its tremendous energy into whatever you want to write. Here, too, is invaluable advice on how to overcome writer's block, how to deal with the fear of criticism and rejection, how to get the most from working with an editor, and how to learn from reading accomplished authors. With humor and compassion, Goldberg recounts her own mistakes on the way to publication -- and how you can avoid the most common pitfalls of the beginning writer. Through it all there is a deep celebration of writing itself -- not just as the means to an end, but as a path to living a deeper, more fully alive life.
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 one's 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 Goldberg's ruminations on writing and reading. Goldberg tells us about her friend Julie's writing process. Another pal, Kate, talks about plot. We study Styron with Goldberg's 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 it's 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
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Thunder and Lightning from a sometimes annoying but gifted teacher:
As always, an engaging work of nonfiction because she includes so many personal anecdotes and sensory details from her own life. Because her writing is so beautiful and clear, it makes for a fast, effortless read. No question that she is an immensely gifted writer. Its midlife perspective made the book intriguing: she's about 56 years old now and seems simultaneously more relaxed with, and less inclined to romanticize, the writing life. She does push her reading audience (and her students) to publish with... more info
Try It Before You Buy It!:
For someone who spends so much time meditating -- and writing about that experience -- Goldberg is the most neurotic nonfiction writer I've ever tried to read. I'll definitely give her earlier books a read, but there was really nothing new or unique in this work that I could really use. Her "voice" was so irritating that I just had to put it down a third of the way though.
goldberg: a bridge from wanna be to writer:
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... more info
If Natalie Goldberg can't crack your muse, nobody will!!!:
I love this book! I love Natalie Goldberg! I have listened to "Thunder and Lightening" two times already while taking my afternoon walks (what luxury), and I can't wait to get that headset on.
Natalie writing in the coffee shops- eating chocolate, hanging out at the library and bookstores--Natalie's valuable insights into the writing life is electifying and invigorating and inspiring; she actually makes us believe we can all write-- Natalie thought writing would give her everything--but she... more info
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