Reviews for Writing the Natural Way: Turn the Task of Writing into the Joy of Writing

The average rating for Writing the Natural Way: Turn the Task of Writing into the Joy of Writing based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2010-02-17 00:00:00 Daniel Dobsinsky Great Central Idea but... The central idea of this book is golden. It made me realize the value of the simple technique of "clustering" - or in layman's terms, "mind mapping" or "brain storming" - when it comes to writing. I began applying this technique to my writing and it has proved very useful. I knew about the technique for the longest time but I had never put it to use in generating ideas. Now I see how potent and effective it is. There are, however, a few major problems with the book. First, there is a lot of excess in this book. Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 7 are pretty much reiterations of Chapter 2 and unnecessary in my opinion. The exercises are fun to do, but the chapter topics are frustrating to read since you already know the main points from Chapter 2. Second, although the author seems to claim that each chapter contains a new tool, most of them simply do not. Instead, they show examples and different topics to focus on when clustering, such as language rhythms, images, metaphors, and nuances. The book is about one and only one technique: clustering and its applications (re-creation and pre- and re-clustering). The last three chapters on polarity, brevity, and constellations are definitely more interesting than the preceding 9 chapters as they focus on reconciling contradictions, editing/re-designing, and making a larger work out of many smaller works - all of which is of great interest to any serious writer. One truly regrettable thing is that the book does not explain how we can apply clustering to writing essays and novels. It focuses mostly on short poems and vignettes, and does not venture into other areas of writing. For example, how is one to use clustering effectively in structuring a novel? Coming up with an exciting plot? Do we just keep writing what comes to mind on a whim and hope for our right brain to find a pattern? That may be awfully inefficient in that it takes an incredibly long time and great effort to read through a novel, much less in one sitting, re-design it, and make them into a constellation. While it may be possible and interesting, I think it's more efficient to use clustering to first write the plot summary of the story and then start writing scenes. I will be experimenting with either methods. I recommend reading Chapters 2, 12, 13, and 14 as they are the most interesting and practical. For the rest, read whatever topic engages your fancy. I will be doing all the exercises as warm-ups before plunging into writing my novel. Overall, great thesis, but poorly executed.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-02-27 00:00:00 Efstathios Mavrokordatos Gabriele Rico, who is transitioning from this life into the next realm, made a huge impact on my life with this book and with her amazing presence. I wrote about her here: