LIBRARY JOURNAL:

This edited version of Goldberg's writing workshop reiterates the rules of writing she presents in her books Writing Down the Bones (Shambhala, 1986) and Wild Mind (Bantam, 1990). Here, she emphasizes the importance of "writing practice." All one needs is pencil, paper, a block of time, and the perseverance to work on a continuing basis. Goldberg urges writers to ignore the "monkey mind," that inner voice that prevents the expression of real thoughts. She relates how Zen and her tutelege under Daimin Katagiri Roshi contributed to her success and includes her reading of the introduction to Long Quiet Highway (LJ 2/1/91). The audio presentation allows the audience to hear the author's ideas in her own encouraging, relaxed style. Recommended for libraries with writing programs.–Catherine Swenson, Norwich Univ. Lib., Northfield, Vt.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In this abridgment of a two-day writing workshop, Goldberg interacts with her audience of writers and would-be writers. Gone is the near-hypnotic drone (except when she reads aloud). With real folks she's natural, warm, funny and sincere as she presents her "Rules of Writing Practice," a distillation of 20 years of hard-won discoveries. The abridgment is helped by Goldberg periodically letting listeners know where the program is in the weekend. Most inspiring are the voices of the participants reading their practice works—some of their writing is stunning. E.K.D. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine