Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
30 used & new from £3.77
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer within
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer within (Paperback)

by Natalie Naimark-Goldberg (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.50
Price: £7.49 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £5.01 (40%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Thursday, July 16? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
19 new from £3.78 11 used from £3.77
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover (New edition) 4 used & new from £18.95
Paperback 2 used & new from £45.95
Audio Cassette (Audiobook,Unabridged) Order it used

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with The Artist's Way: A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self by Julia Cameron

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer within + The Artist's Way: A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self
Price For Both: £17.18

Show availability and shipping details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Becoming a Writer

Becoming a Writer

by Dorothea Brande
4.7 out of 5 stars (15) 
What If?: Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers

What If?: Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers

by Anne Bernays
4.8 out of 5 stars (11)  £8.99
The Artist's Way: A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self

The Artist's Way: A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self

by Julia Cameron
4.1 out of 5 stars (25)  £9.69
The Creative Writing Coursebook: Forty Authors Share Advice and Exercises for Fiction and Poetry

The Creative Writing Coursebook: Forty Authors Share Advice and Exercises for Fiction and Poetry

by Paul Magrs
3.9 out of 5 stars (12)  £10.49
On Writing

On Writing

by Stephen King
4.6 out of 5 stars (68)  £6.99
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Shambhala Publications Inc; New edition edition (27 Sep 2005)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1590302613
  • ISBN-13: 978-1590302613
  • Product Dimensions: 21 x 14 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 101,491 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #58 in  Books > Reference > Publishing & Books > Authorship

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)
The Writing School
   www.writingschool.co.uk    at Oxford Open Learning Home Study, Tutor Support 
Article Writing secrets
   articlewritingsecrets.bigpixie.com    ebook reveals secrets to making more money using article writing 
Writing Down
   Ask.com    Find the Best Results for Writing Down. Ask us! 
  
 

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Wherein we discover that many of the "rules" for good writing and good sex are the same: Keep your hand moving, lose control and don't think. Goldberg brings a touch of both Zen and well... *eroticism* to her writing practice, the latter in exercises and anecdotes designed to ease you into your body, your whole spirit, while you create, the former in being where you are, working with what you have, and writing from the moment. --Ali Perry-Gallagher --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"I'm convinced that none of the writers of my acquaintance can go another day without a copy of Natalie Goldberg's magical manual Writing Down the Bones."--Linda Weltner, The Boston Globe
"The secret of creativity, Natalie Goldberg makes clear, is to subtract rules for writing, not add them. It's a process of 'uneducation' rather than education. Proof that she knows what she's talking about is abundant in her own sentences. They flow with speed and grace and accuracy and simplicity. It looks easy to a reader, but writers know it is the hardest writing of all."--Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

See all Product Description

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer within
64% buy the item featured on this page:
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer within 4.4 out of 5 stars (37)
£7.49
Becoming a Writer
12% buy
Becoming a Writer 4.7 out of 5 stars (15)
What If?: Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers
11% buy
What If?: Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers 4.8 out of 5 stars (11)
£8.99
The Artist's Way: A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self
8% buy
The Artist's Way: A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self 4.1 out of 5 stars (25)
£9.69
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

37 Reviews
5 star:
 (30)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (5)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (37 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars a fantastic launch pad, 15 Nov 2006
By A reader (brighton, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer within (Pocket Classics) (Paperback)
This is an excellent introduction for anyone who's ever wanted to write fiction or poetry but was afraid to start. Its friendly tone, direct advice and focus on freewriting have an unnerving capacity to get you going and its short chapters also make it ideal for dipping into once you've finished. It's also exceedingly well-written; intriguing flashes of autobiography lift it above the mass of creative writing text books on the market.

Which isn't to say it's perfect: Goldberg's concentration on generating material means that the twin processes of crafting and drafting are rather neglected in favour of producing more and more freewrites. Anyone wishing to produce work of publishable quality as opposed to writing therapeutically for themselves will probably find that they eventually 'outgrow' it.

Nevertheless, as a book for getting started again, and as a pleasurable read, it remains the best of its kind on the market. Well worth a look.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it, 5 Jun 2003
By D. Fenton "davef_uk" (Sheffield, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer within (Paperback)
I loved the book so much I've bought copies for all my friends.
Many of the chapters pointed to problems in and solutions for my own writing. Especially liked the chapter on self doubt. Her references back to her Buddist beliefs and philosophies really caught my attention. All in all an excellent book for writers or potential writers of all levels.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
97 of 117 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Save your money, 2 Nov 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer within (Paperback)
I've written and published five novels and two works of non-fiction. I still enjoy reading what other people have to say about the art and the craft of writing, but this book really is the most self-indulgent, self-absorbed load of old tosh I've ever read on the subject. The author's attitude is a mixture of New Age flakiness and an unpleasantly dictatorial attitude. She even tells you what kind of notebook to buy. Buy the sort of notebook YOU want, trust yourself and take advice from people who know what they're talking about, eg Dorothea Brande in Becoming A Writer and Stephen King in On Writing.
Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Empty inspiration
I am a published writer. Years ago, when I was still struggling with words, I was recommended this book by a bookseller, who thought it was wonderful. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Angus Dunn

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring.
I haven't had any creative writing urges for over 8 years. I bought this book with the hope that I would find these urges again. Read more
Published 17 months ago by J. Moore

1.0 out of 5 stars utter drivel
would have gave it a 0 star rating, but starts at 1.
one of these days i will find a book about how to write written by someone who has written a book of some note. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2006 by lgrecoix

5.0 out of 5 stars Natalie My Guru
Warm, witty, fun, and above all, one of the best books on the market for new and not so new writers. Follow Natalie's advice and you won't go wrong - you will fly. Read more
Published on 2 May 2005

4.0 out of 5 stars Become one with the page
Follow the advice that Ms Goldberg gives and let yourself become one with the page. There is no paper, no hand, no pen, no block. Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2001 by W. Weinstein

5.0 out of 5 stars The only book you will ever need to get you writing.
This book doesn't tell you how to become a writer, nor how to write. That's because it lets you know, if you are open to it, that you already are a writer. Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible
I wish that I had read this book years ago. I feel that suddenly all the constraints that had been holding me back from writing have finally been stripped away. Read more
Published on 1 Sep 2000 by K. Williams

1.0 out of 5 stars superficial
This book did nothing for me. Perhaps because I read it AFTER reading Dorothea Brande's "Becoming a writer" which is so much better! Read more
Published on 14 Jul 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars Unlearning the rules of writing
When I finished the book, it amazed me that for someone who doesn't actually teach any formal writing skills or structure, Natalie had had a profound imapct on my writing... Read more
Published on 28 Sep 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Natalie is the queen of the rule-breakers.
By teaching us how to flow rather than structure our writing, we are able to dip into the infinite well of creativity. Read more
Published on 14 Aug 1999

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]

   

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

Elemis Resurface and Renew Skin Care Gift Set of 4 Products
From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

›Discover Health & Beauty

  

Beauty without the Beast

Olay Regenerist Daily 3 Point Treatment Cream
From au naturel to party glam, we have all the best names in cosmetics and skincare.

›Discover Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

  

Boys Smell

Lynx Africa Body Spray and After Shave Gift set
But we make sure they smell good...

›Discover male grooming at Amazon.co.uk

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates