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Writing Down the Bones  By  cover art

Writing Down the Bones

By: Natalie Goldberg
Narrated by: Natalie Goldberg
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Publisher's summary

With nearly one million copies of the book Writing Down the Bones in print, Natalie Goldberg has helped change the way writing is practiced in homes, schools, and workshops across America.

Here is a new collector's edition of this modern classic as you have never heard it before, read by Natalie Goldberg herself and then infused with her most personal reflections about this "magic manual" for all writers. Try these ingenious, Zen-based exercises to expand your writing skills - or just for fun.

© Natalie Goldberg; (P) Sounds True

Featured Article: 45+ Quotes About Writing from Famous Writers


No matter how passionate you are about it, writing can be difficult. Whenever you’re struggling with writer’s block, rejection, competition, insecurity, or any of the countless obstacles that wordsmiths encounter daily, it can help to get encouragement from those who have successfully overcome the very same challenges. If you're looking for inspiration to start your next project, these quotes about writing from writers themselves are sure to be welcome reading!

What listeners say about Writing Down the Bones

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Annoying voice

The information was good, but I could barely tolerate the reader.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

A Lot of Yapping but not many writing tips

Author is quite self-absorbed and goes on and on and on about personal details that have nothing to do with writing. Not much usable writing advice despite all the yapping. Oddly enough, except for this book she would be a total unknown. Unfortunately, Audible won't let me return it for a credit.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A very special guru

This is a really wonderful book for anyone interested in writing... in any form. Natalie Goldberg has an inspired and incredibly empowering outlook on what it means to sit down, choose words and construct sentences.

I've listened-to/read a number of similar books, but this one is special. Goldberg has an irreverence towards the craft, which is somehow steeped in her own Zen Buddhist training, and the product is something which gives the writer a compass for how to view life, how to view writing, and what the relationship is between the two. She never goes so far as to proselytize her beliefs, but rather explains them in a completely comprehensible and arresting way.

This audiobook version is particularly special in that she seems to comment on each chapter after it's been read... I'm not sure if that's in the actual updated print version of the book, but it sounds like an improvised riffing on what she thinks about the book with several years of hindsight.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great, Needed book for Anybody writing a book

She covered what I needed to hear, being a determined person with filled notebooks and nothing more, my spirituality and meditation and writing keep me always aware and recording meaning. Now I have a better mental and emotional hold doing this for the first time in isolation and have gotten far by myself! The interview summed up deeper questions only a writer of her style could answer! It was a surprise and treat! now onto my 42 chapter book. looking after 3 chapters to be in the realm of 50k w! hitting it more whole

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Helpful

At first, I found the book to be too repetitive. I found myself counting how many times she said "writing practice. I almost didn't finish the book until she finally started talking about details and other helpful writing tools. I found the book to be pretty good after that.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Delight!

It's a bit intimidating to write a review for a renowned classic such as Writing Down the Bones. The book is flawless. But I adore this recording with Natalie, not only reading her work, but then adding thoughts and commentary on her writing. Insightful and perhaps one of the most enjoyable Audibles I've listened to, just to hear the author's thoughts on her work.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow! Love this!

When I listened to the sample recording, I wasn’t sure if I could stand to listen to the whole book. Natalie Goldberg speaks with the calm patience she has developed over years of meditation practice. Honestly, my brain isn’t relaxed enough to listen at that pace. I set my audible speed to 1.25 and it was perfect. Do not miss this book just because you don’t like the pace of her speech. It is worth listening to if you enjoy writing.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good book about writing

At first, I thought this is going to be boring, but I leaned in. I had a purpose for reading this book. It was like taking a writing course. Picked up tips. I will listen to it again. I would recommend.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A writer's best friend, in need of an update

These books mean the world to me -- they got me writing long before I went to school for it, and they believed in me long before I believed in myself. They're still kinder to me than I am to myself. But the recordings are dinosaurs -- technology has so vastly improved and with a good, solid narrator performing, I could have these books in my ear alongside Anne Lamott's 'Bird By Bird' when the going gets tough.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Insightful and funny

I love that Natalie is making new comments after reading each chapter of her bestseller.

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1 person found this helpful