Goldberg and Cameron Readings

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.