I am free to write the worst junk in the world. Natalie Goldberg More Quotes by Natalie Goldberg More Quotes From Natalie Goldberg In the middle of the world, make one positive step. In the center of chaos, make one definitive act. Just write. Natalie Goldberg stepswritingworld A writer's job is to give the reader a larger vision of the world. Natalie Goldberg visionjobsgiving Failure is what we're all running from, we're always running toward success with failure at our back. Natalie Goldberg always-runningrunning I consider writing practice a true Zen practice because it all comes back at you. You can't fool anyone because it's on the page. Natalie Goldberg pagespracticewriting We are searching for the core of our lives; our culture intuits that writing, that ancient activity, might be the pathway...Awakening does not feed ego's needs and desires; it pulverizes the self. Our society couldn't knowingly bear such reduction, so we've tricked ourselves into the same path but call it writing. Natalie Goldberg egoselfwriting There's no such thing as a writer's block. If you're having trouble writing, well, pick up the pen and write. No matter what, keep that hand moving. Writing is really a physical activity. Natalie Goldberg blockwritingmoving We always worry that we are copying someone else, that we don't have our own style. Don't worry. Writing is a communal act. Contrary to popular belief, a writer is not Prometheus alone on a hill full of fire. We are very arrogant to think we alone have a totally original mind. We are carried on the backs of all the writers who came before us. We live in the present with all the history, ideas, and soda pop of this time. It all gets mixed up in our writing. Natalie Goldberg firewritingthinking Poems are taught as though the poet has put a secret key in his words and it is the reader's job to find it. Poems are not mystery novels. Natalie Goldberg poetrykeysjobs Even an ice cream parlor - a definite advantage - does not alleviate the sorrow I feel for a town lacking a bookstore. Natalie Goldberg ice-creamsorrowbook I'm never ashamed to read a book twice or as many times as I want. We never expect to drink a glass of water just once in our lives. A book can be that essential, too. Natalie Goldberg glassesreadingbook This is what metaphor is. It is not saying that an ant is an elephant. Perhaps; both are alive. No. Metaphor is saying the ant is an elephant. Now, logically speaking, I know there is a difference. If you put elephants and ants before me, I believe that every time I will correctly identify the elephant and the ant. So metaphor must come from a very different place than that of the logical, intelligent mind. It comes from a place that is very courageous, willing to step out of our preconceived ways of seeing things and open so large that it can see the oneness in an ant and in an elephant. Natalie Goldberg elephantsintelligentbelieve Poetry is a dumb Buddha who thinks a donkey is as important as a diamond. Natalie Goldberg dumbpoetrythinking Indefinite plans get dubious results. Natalie Goldberg dubiousplanningresults Clarity and perseverance are difficult in American society because the basis of capitalism is greed and dissatisfaction. Natalie Goldberg clarityperseverancegreed If you love the work, it will love you back. Natalie Goldberg working-itifslove-you This is the practice school of writing. Like running, the more you do it, the better you get at it. Natalie Goldberg writingrunningschool I honor English majors. It's a dumb thing to major in. It leads nowhere. It's good to be dumb, it allows us to love something for no reason. That's the best kind of love. Natalie Goldberg dumbkindhonor Great lovers realize that they are what they are in love with. Natalie Goldberg great-loverealizinglovers Poetry has never been a favorite American pastime. Natalie Goldberg pastimepoetry There is no security, no assurance that because we wrote something good two months ago, we will do it again. Actually, every time we begin, we wonder how we ever did it before. Natalie Goldberg monthswondertwo
