Post by CynanMachae on Jan 21, 2010 1:06:46 GMT -5
Hey guys, I read this today and wanted to share it with all of you. It's from Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones (a very popular work, so you may have heard of it).
"I don't think everyone wants to create the great American novel, but we all have a dream of telling our stories -- of realizing what we think, feel, and see before we die. Writing is a path to meet ourselves and become intimate. Think about it: Ants don't do it. Trees don't. Not even thoroughbred horses, mountain elk, house cats, grass, or rocks do it. Writing is a uniquely human activity. It might even be built into our DNA. It should be put forward in the Declaration of Independence, along with the other inalienable rights: 'Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness -- and writing.'
And it's inexpensive. All you need is a pen, paper (of course, computer, if you are so inclined), and the human mind. What crannies of untouched perception can you explore? What autumn was it that the moon entered your life? When was it that you picked blueberries in their quintessential moment? How long did you wait for your first true bike? Who are your angels? What are you thinking of? Not thinking of? What are you looking at? Not looking at? Writing can give you confidence, can train you to wake up."
"I don't think everyone wants to create the great American novel, but we all have a dream of telling our stories -- of realizing what we think, feel, and see before we die. Writing is a path to meet ourselves and become intimate. Think about it: Ants don't do it. Trees don't. Not even thoroughbred horses, mountain elk, house cats, grass, or rocks do it. Writing is a uniquely human activity. It might even be built into our DNA. It should be put forward in the Declaration of Independence, along with the other inalienable rights: 'Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness -- and writing.'
And it's inexpensive. All you need is a pen, paper (of course, computer, if you are so inclined), and the human mind. What crannies of untouched perception can you explore? What autumn was it that the moon entered your life? When was it that you picked blueberries in their quintessential moment? How long did you wait for your first true bike? Who are your angels? What are you thinking of? Not thinking of? What are you looking at? Not looking at? Writing can give you confidence, can train you to wake up."
