Tolerable Entertainment Book

I just finished reading Natalie Goldberg's book on writing. I don't know how the book ended up in my hands but now that I'm writing, I was intrigued. Overall, I was disappointed. Parts of the book I found classist and other parts bordered on racist. The book is part of Bantam's New Age collection, so there's a lot the author tries to convey in a spiritual/philosophical vein. However, her tone seems to conflict with the message she says she wants to convey. As for the book's structure, I don't think there was any. There was no flow between sections, no organization, no building upon previous lessons. This work should have been edited down by about 100 pages and forged into a coherent progression.

There are two things I'll take away from this book that are incredibly useful. First, she gives four things you must do in order to be a writer and do writing: (1) keep your hand moving; (2) lose control; (3) be specific; and (4) don't think. I liked these so much I printed them on an index card I keep in front of me while I write. Second, her advice to would-be writers: "If you want to write, write. This is your life. You are responsible for it. You will not live forever. Don't wait" (p. 45).