Book Recommendation: Writing down the Bones” by Nathalie Goldberg

Do you love writing, but feel like inner blocks and your inner critic are constantly holding you back?

Then I want to recommend a very special book to you today:

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg.

It’s full of valuable and inspiring advice that can help you reconnect with your writing—whether you prefer pen and paper or writing directly on your laptop.

I still remember how, as a teenager, I used to write everything down—my thoughts, my feelings, my observations. I didn’t overthink it. I just let it all out, often without worrying about punctuation or grammar. Writing was my outlet. My space. A place that was just mine.

But over the years, my inner critic grew louder and louder. I started writing mostly during times of crisis—and even then, I couldn’t resist going back afterward to fix the grammar and polish my wording. The freedom of simply writing had disappeared.

Eventually, I realized: I needed to free myself from that.

I started a regular writing routine and made a commitment to write something every day—anything at all. At first, it worked really well. But over time, my discipline started to fade.

Then I discovered The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, and my writing routine came back to life.

The difference this time?

I wrote freely. Without pressure. Without judgment.

Then Writing Down the Bones took my routine even further.

This book showed me how to find my way back to the kind of writing I had been missing: writing that is honest, raw, alive—and most importantly, my own.

Natalie doesn’t just offer wonderful prompts and inspiration. She also gives you practical exercises for daily writing, especially if you struggle with writer’s block. She explores ways to get around the perfectionism that so often keeps us from putting the essence of our thoughts onto the page.

Here are just a few of the topics covered in the book:

• How do I even begin writing something?
• How do I keep going when emotions or other thoughts start taking over?
• What places are especially inspiring for writing?
• How do I write with heart and soul without becoming too attached to my words?

Even if you’ve never written a book or never felt like you had anything “important” to say, I highly recommend this book if you’ve ever enjoyed writing—or felt the desire to start writing (again).