Wild mind Living the writer's life

Start writing, Natalie Goldberg says, then keep doing it for five years. It'll take you that long to get the bugs out of the system and be ready to really write. Five years, then, after the immensely popular Writing Down the Bones comes this book, perfectly timed for would-be writers who have reached the point where, for instance, they're aware of the complications of juxtaposition within a paragraph or the fine line between waiting expectantly and procrastinating. This is arguably a better book, because the message of Bones was, over and over, to just keep writing. Here is a more expansive Goldberg. In addition to excellent tips on writing and lots of intriguing exercises, there is a fuller explanation of the Zen of writing. Particularly clear and important is her distinction between "monkey mind"--the bean-counter within, ready to agitate us with needless worry--and the "wild mind" of the title, that vast space that includes our unconscious as well as "mountains, rivers, Cadillacs, humidity, plains, emerald, poverty, old streets in London, snow and moon." An inspiring, inspired work. ~--Pat Monaghan

This book is well intended but flawed by its somewhat incoherent style, lack of good writing, and an inability or unwillingness to target an audience. The brief autobiographical chapters offer counsel and moral support to the aspiring author, with a little Zen thrown in for good measure. There are several exercises for writing practice that are useful but can be invented or found elsewhere. The cosmic angle may appeal to those with New Age inclinations, although it may annoy others. While this book is inexpensive and accessible, a work on writing ought to contain some fine examples (e.g., Strunk and White's Elements of Style, or anything by William Zinsser).-- Janice Braun, Medical Historical Lib., Yale Univ. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.