This book was filled with lots of good suggestions for practicing writing. Even if one has no interest in writing memoir, her questions, ideas, and assignments can bring long forgotten memories to mind. ( )

Natalie Goldberg has become a famous name among modern teachers of writing. In this short audiobook, she focuses on her process of writing memoirs. She talks about the delicate process of writing from memories and bringing out essential details that eventually form a narrative structure. The audiobook, narrated by the author, is incredibly short but power-packed at around 150 minutes.

Goldberg’s main mode is to start writing first and then piece it together later. Along the way, she includes numerous writing prompts to bring out recollections with maximal energy behind them. As a good teacher, she is incredibly encouraging and gracious while still firm in her guidance. For those who aspire to leave a set of memories in print – for humanity or just for family – this short audiobook provides excellent prodding to get started. ( )

I liked this book, but as I was reading it through, it was not easy to handle. The reason is that this is a book meant to be read, and for people to do the writing exercises. I constantly wanted to stop and do some writing, but since I was borrowing the book (from my library), I could not stop. I would definitely buy a copy of this book for myself at some point. I remarked in one of the updates that I still liked Writing Down the Bones better, and I can say that statement is still accurate. That other book seemed more primal; this one is good, but it seems a bit more refined, which is not necessarily a bad thing. For aspiring writers, and I think even for veteran writers, there are a lot of good writing exercises and ideas. The book's focus is on writing memoir, but it is still applicable to other forms of writing. I think the only reason I did not give it five stars is that some of the illustrative passages (like an excerpt from this or that) seemed either a bit long or not as engaging (to me at least), but that is a minor thing. Overall, if you want to get writing, and you want to do so with minimal nonsense or fluff, then this is a good book for that. If you have read the author before, you know what you are getting. If not, this is a good place to start. Now, go read it, and then go grab pen and paper (or your keyboard), and write. ( )

Natalie Goldberg reads on 2 CDs. Another excellent set of writing lessons. ( )

Je autobiografie is niet een opsomming van hier geboren, daar naar school, keurig langs het gangpad van je leven.
De momenten moeten erin staan, waarop je de auto keerde en van de brug af in de rivier sprong omdat het water zo helder was, en je opeens moest denken aan boterhammen met pindakaas, en het liedje dat de bakker vroeger floot.
Of toen je besefte dat je er helemaal niet van hield om aandrijfriemen voor tractors te verkopen.
Een autobiografie is ook geen ouwemensenland. Duik erin, hoe oud of jong je ook bent. Waar je dit boek ook openslaat, er staat een stukje tekst, en daaronder het woord GO. En je stroomt over van inspiratie, en van blijdschap dat het er nog steeds is, dat stukje schrijverschap in je, ook al gunt het leven je geen tijd voor je roman, ook al blijven de gedichten steken achter het geroep van plichten.
Ten minutes, GO!