Julia Cameron’s The Right to Write was a very well
written novel for instructions for writing. I found that she made many valid
points subjecting the ready to want to take her advice and begin writing,
whether it is something terrible or award winning. One such argument she
mentioned was that if “we didn’t worry about being published or judged, how
many more of us might write …”. This is such a true statement! I find that
there are many people who will write something and are too terrified of the
potential ridicule that may be received to even have anyone look at their text.
Instead of being scared of being judged, we should simply write to write. We
should live in the moment and don’t waste time on the scoring of others.
Writing should be something as relaxing as “being in your pajamas”. What I get
most from Cameron’s book is that someone doesn’t have to write something
perfect in order to write something fabulous.
Although she has many valid points
in that we should take advantage of time and write whenever opportunity arises,
I don’t agree that we always have the time to write. In this day in age, people
are extremely busy and by the time they have a moment to let a creative second
arise they are too tire or stressed to think. I believe some people may wait
for the opportune time to sit down and write because they can get all of their
ideas onto paper at one time. I’ve gone back to notes/chapters/sections of
stories that I was writing in some spare moments in time and found that at some
points I couldn’t connect what I was trying to say. I find that my best work is
when I just plop down and just get out all of what is on my mind at the moment
and then edit later. In addition, to some degree I feel as though she makes the
reader feel guilty for not writing. I understand that she is attempting to
inspire us all to write whenever we can; however, it almost seems as though she
is forcing us to write. I think it should come natural, and she Goldberg has
excellent examples to help authors do so.
Writing
Down the Bones by J. Goldberg is an interesting guide to trusting yourself
as a writer and tips to how to express one’s self. For example, Goldberg states, ‘Trust in what
you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go’. I
think this statement applies to more than just writing. In everyday life there
are moments when we question our ideas or actions. By having the confidence to
express yourself without fear of ridicule really can open your horizon of ideas
and perspectives.
In the beginning part of the
chapter Beginner’s Mind, Pen and Paper Goldberg
discusses the type of pen that should be used in order to write quickly. At
first I thought this was just ridiculously silly since some people may prefer
pencil to pen, or typing to handwriting; however, when I really attempted to
see what the author was trying to say I found that writing comfortably, whether
on computer or by hand, speaks and illustrates your passion better than when
you are slowed down by a form you are not used to. An affirmation of this idea
was made in Goldberg’s statement, “Choose your tools carefully, but not so
carefully that you get uptight or spend more time at the stationery store than
at your writing table.”. I laughed at the moment when Goldberg says, “I am free
to write the worst junk in the world.”. It is such a freeing statement! We all
have that small artistic ability to create something, and to not worry if the
outcome is a masterpiece or just “junk” allows us to explore our innovative
minds.
Later in Goldberg’s instructional chapter,
A List of Topics for Writing Practice,
the author points out that making a list of ideas are good. “Your body is
starting to digest and turn over your materials, so even when you are not
actually at the desk physically writing, there are parts of you raking, fertilizing,
taking in the sun’s heat, and making ready for the deep green plants of writing
to grow.” I totally agree with this statement. Although I mentioned earlier
about me not being able to connect my writing when I submit ideas to paper in
sections, I do find that when I make lists I have some sort of a template
created. It helps in some way to get your ideas into some form of context.
Overall, whether it was lists or topics to discuss Goldberg simply states that
we should simply write to write and to enjoy words coming to life on paper.