Books I’ve Read No. 05

 

Books I’ve Read No. 5

By Len Morgan

I randomly picked up a book in Waterstones.  I let it fall open and started reading.  Five minutes later I was £8.99 poorer but the book was mine!

Natalie Goldberg – Wild Mind 

The small piece I read described perfectly how I feel about writing but haven’t been able to put into words.  This I will attempt to describe.

 

Her first chapter gave her rules for writing and, it seems, for life:-

 

1. Keep your hand moving.
2. Be Specific.
3. Lose control.
4. Don’t think.
5. Secondary thoughts:

• Forget about spelling, grammar & punctuation.
• Write the worst junk in the world.
• Go for the jugular.

 

 

From chapter two on, she has a section (short section) – called Try this:

Followed by simple exercises for would-be writers:

Try this:

Write for ten minutes on each of the following:-

1. (a) I remember.  (b) I don’t remember.
2. (a) I know.         (b) I don’t know.
3. (a) Thinking of.   (b) Not thinking of.
4. (a) I want.          (b) I don’t want.
5. (a) I feel.            (b) I don’t feel

Warming up your mind, stretching your mind, opening up hidden places.

The rest of the book was not disappointing, it made me aware of ‘Monkey mind’  ‘The critical Mind’  &  ‘self-censorship’ that little voice in the back of your mind that says: You can't write that!  ~  Well, you can & will!

 I will say no more; don’t want to spoil the experience for you. 

If you like the idea I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend it.

Len Morgan