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Natalie Goldberg, Old Friend from Far Away – The Practice of Writing Memoir, December 21st, 2007 (to play video, click either green arrow twice)
Natalie Goldberg has a new book coming out on February 12th, Old Friend from Far Away – The Practice Of Writing Memoir. One of our readers tipped us off to a video clip from the Free Press Division of Simon & Shuster (thank you, Jackie).
Without Natalie, there is a good chance that red Ravine would not be here. Nor would Writing Practice. We are grateful for everything she has taught us.
To Natalie, a deep bow. And thank you.
Millions of Americans want to write about their lives. With Old Friend as the road map for getting started and following through, writers and readers will gain a deeper understanding of their own minds, learn to connect with their senses in order to find the detail and truth that give their written words power and authenticity, and unfold the natural structure of the stories they carry within.
An absolute joy to read, it is a profound affirmation of the capacity of the written word to remember the past, free us from it, and forever transform the way we think about ourselves and our lives. Like Writing Down the Bones, Goldberg’s classic book about the practice of writing, it will become an old friend to which readers return again and again.
-posted on red Ravine, Thursday, January 10th, 2008
-schedule of Natalie’s workshops: Natalie Goldberg Workshops
This clip of Natalie is beautiful. I am so glad you posted it…I’ve watched it three times. I vacillate between wanting to email everyone I know to watch it and keeping it all to myself.
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Teri, I know what you mean. I had some of those same feelings. There is a calmness about her in this video, a groundedness that feels like the way it is when we sit in the silence and write. I watched it a few times and felt happy that Simon and Shuster made the video to help promote Natalie’s book.
I think it shows some of the reasons she is such a different kind of writing teacher. And why we like studying with her so much. But when it comes down to it, it’s the way she teaches the practice. Beautiful.
I loved the intro and the sound of the sweeping broom. Doesn’t that just take you back to the chores in the zendo? 8)
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Yes, the zendo chores. And the walking through the woods. And how she talks about loneliness and slowing down for our lives. When I watched the clip I was filled with gratitude.
You’re the one who told me about Natalie, QM. You’ve always been good at sharing with other writers. You have been teaching me that for years.
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I once heard Natalie read a poem about a hawk killing a bluejay, a poem by Galway Kinnell. She read it to a group, and we were mesmerized by the words. When I heard the poem (I’m remembering today), I didn’t ever expect to witness what Kinnell had. And then, on the street today, I saw the exact scene–a hawk perched on top of a bluejay in the process of killing it. I eased my car up slowly for a better view, and watched the life and body of the smaller bird diminish moment by moment.
If I had never heard the poem, I would have driven right by–consumed with thoughts of groceries and errands and things that don’t matter. Studying with Natalie gives you the chance to wake up and stay awake. She plants seeds that keep you alert to the world.
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Teri, thank you for saying that. There are so many people who have passed on their knowledge and wisdom to me. I don’t think I’d be writing or creating if they had not shared what they knew. I am glad I have the opportunity to do the same. I often find I get 10 fold in return.
Yes, slowing down for our lives. She taught me that, too. I walk in the world differently as a result of studying with her. And I’m a better writer and artist. It’s so hard to slow walk these days. Everything moves so fast. I have to keep practicing.
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Sinclair, wow, what an experience. To have experienced the hawk and the blue jay. I wonder why hawks are drawn to that particular bird? I’ve never researched that.
The poem you are talking about by Galway Kinnell is called Ode and Elegy. I have never forgotten it since the day she read it in a December workshop I was in.
I did a piece about Galway Kinnell a bit ago and posted that particular poem. Below is the link for anyone who would like to read it. It’s an intense poem. And I wonder, Sinclair, when you read the poem again, now that you have seen the hawk and jay, how it will ring for you.
Ode To Galway Kinnell (We Are Not The Poem) with the poem, Ode and Elegy (LINK)
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I followed your link and read it again. Yes. The poem is entirely different for me now. Alive. I see the words with my own eyes.
The hawk would hammer at the neck of the bluejay–scattered a flurry of feathers. Twice the hawk looked over at me watching. There was no fear in its eyes. Steely. Angry. After pecking like a woodpecker, it would stop, hold down the wings, and then peck again. More feathers scattering on the frozen ground around the bluejay. Another car came down the street at a normal speed, and the hawk lifted off the ground carrying the jay to safer ground. It glided, strong…confident. Its wings beating the air slowly. Flap-Flap. Flap-Flap.
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No fear. Complete instinct. That’s so cool. I often run across tufts of feathers on walks through the woods. Or owl pellets, and can only imagine what’s gone on there. To be awake enough to stop and see with your own eyes. A gift.
Sinclair, you should do some poetry about it. Or write a non-fiction short. There’s a lot in the process of witnessing that.
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Writing as spiritual practice, of fostering interconnectedness…that reminds me of something I read today over at Pamplemousse’s recent posting, Mending Fences, in which she refers to the need to mend bridges, not fences.
I have often thought of poems as prayers, of the practice of writing as a meditative practice. I read Natalie Goldberg’s work so many years ago, I wonder if I just integrated her wise philosophy into my own and can no longer tell where it knit in. Her book, Writing Down the Bones, was one of my first writing books, then came Wild Mind. I am happy to be reminded right now to just “keep the hand moving” as it seems to have stilled somewhat.
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I’m beginning to love poetry more than ever, but have a deer-in-the-headlights reaction to thinking about writing any myself. However, I remain open as I read the likes of Galway Kinnell.
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Oh, QM, so glad that I checked in at red Ravine today. Thank you for posting this beautiful video. It made me lonely for Natalie’s company and excited for the release of her new book.
I also suddenly found myself wanting to see your face and Terri’s on a video…to be in the company of our good writing intensive clan again.
Natalie introduced me to haiku poetry. This year, I am committed to write one each day (or more if I choose.) Here is one from January 3, 2008:
same above, below:
visual monotony
color of old snow
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breathepeace, thanks for checking in. So great to hear from you. I miss you. Were you in Taos in December? I received more than a penny’s worth of thoughts. And also that copper postcard you sent was the best. Really made me smile. 8)
My goodness, a video of Teri and QM….well, it might not be too far down the road. Liz is checking out video cameras this week. Who knows what might appear on the face of red Ravine.
One haiku a day sounds like a great practice. Thanks for sharing. visual monotony – really describes the color of old snow.
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Ivy, I think things do kind of integrate after a while and we can’t tell what was the teacher’s, what was ours. The practice becomes our own. And we can’t tell where we begin and the teacher ends. What’s that old saying, we become the teacher?
It’s great that Bones was one of your first writing books. Then Wild Mind, that’s one I tend to give to other people who want to write, too. Yeah, keep the hand moving.
Continue under all circumstances. Don’t be tossed away. Make positive effort for the good. I found myself wanting to get tossed away this week. But I’m finding my ground again. Reminders are good!
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QM,
I am glad to hear you are “finding your ground again,” i was concerned about the heaviness you said you were feeling…but I know you have the inner strength to rebound. In reading the comment from breathepeace, I thought Haiku must be “in the stream of consciousness.” Last night, in my writing group, one woman shared a poem she had written in Haiku form. Today, from our office window, I was watching the wind blow the branches of a huge pine tree around, and thought I would look up Haiku on the internet. I read a concise statement about the form. If I remember it…”the challenge of haiku is to paint an image in the reader’s mind, with only 17 syllables!” As I looked out the window, I picked up a pencil and wrote:
The wind is sweeping,
pine branches push her away,
birds bounce up and down.
OK, that’s my very first poem in haiku form…let’s hear it from the gallery…have no mercy…I’m here to learn.
I think I will try writing one a day, also, for a while anyway. I love the video of Natalie.Her “Bones” book is one of my first writing books, too, but I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting her. Thanks for sharing!
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Marylin, great haiku. pine branches push her away….I think the haiku practice is a good one. I was even considering it myself. I so enjoy the playfulness and centeredness of haiku. And I’m kind of looking for a new practice this year that is fun and takes a short time. Glad you like the video. You might be closer to New Mexico than I am….maybe you’ll get down for a class with her some day.
Sinclair, I was thinking..what about the haiku a day to ease into poetry? The form kind of leads me to forget I am writing poetry. It seems to flow from nature and the center. Just a thought. 8)
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QM: What you said in #15 has proved true for me. Haiku is a precise way of working with words and I have found that it does lead me to other writing: poems, essays, etc. I’ve also learned that it helps me to focus on detail, finding just the right word (with the right number of syllables!) and, yes, it is a bite-sized writing practice.
I’m happy to hear others exploring and playing with the haiku form. Great start, Marylin….keep going.
I was in Taos in December. Very special time…but the Sugar Nymph’s Cafe was not the same without you!
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I just looked at this video this morning. (I’ve been almost obsessively engaged in a home project this past week.) The shots of her home were beautiful. The flowers in the pot, the portal, and yes, the sound of sweeping. I love Natalie’s voice. It is slow, and it slows me down just hearing it.
breathepeace — wonderful haiku. visual monotony. Yes. Visual and in other ways, too, old snow can be monotonous. We don’t get much old snow where I live, and yet I’ve seen old snow enough to connect with your words.
Marylin, yes, right on! Write on! The birds bobbing on the bough in the wind, it’s amazing they stay there. I wonder if it’s like a little diversion for them: hey, it’s windy, let’s go bob! (smile)
I’m excited for this book to come out, QM. I’m ready for a new infusion of her writing wisdom.
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[…] I visited red Ravine recently, I mentioned on the posting in honor of Goldberg’s upcoming book that my first writing books were Writing Down the Bones and Wild Mind. I believe that a lot of what […]
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breathepeace, you went to the Sugar Nymph’s Cafe without me. 😦 That was such a cool place tucked in the middle of nowhere. I took some photographs while I was there last time. I think they might have been film (not digital). I wonder where those are (?). Glad you got to go back in December.
Ivy, great list of books on writing. I hope people check out the link to Keep your hand moving in Comment 18. Your list got me excited to dig out all my writing books that inspire me!
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She seems through her voice in the video to be the kind of writing teacher I have sought all my life, but I feel so damaged by other teachers I can’t imagine putting my trust and financial investment in any teacher again. I will look forward to reading her book.
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TIV, Natalie is sure a different kind of writing teacher. Different than taking a class at The Loft. Or going to the Iowa Writers Workshop. As she mentions in the video, she teaches writing as a spiritual practice that came out of her own practice. And she teaches form by having us read other writers. Not by editing and critiquing our work. (There are already enough critics in the world, and lots of other places to gain that kind of knowledge.)
I suppose there are as many different ways to teach writing as their are writers. But her work has resonated with me. She believes our practice will take us where we need to go – in our writing and our art (she is also a painter). Through my own practice, I have come to believe her.
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[…] we did our post a few days ago on the release of Natalie Goldberg’s new book, Old Friend from Far Away, one of our regular readers, breathepeace, made several comments on haiku as a practice: Natalie […]
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I got a call from Birch Bark Books yesterday. My reserved copy of Old Friend from Far Away had arrived.
After I picked it up I felt like a hungry animal needing to read it for sustenance. I kept opening it at red stoplights, and would get so absorbed in the chapter headings that I’d get honked at. More than a few times.
It is a particular thrill, as several events of the 4-Season Intensive are mentioned: the trip to Ghost Ranch, Do the Neola, Natalie’s recitation of William Carlos Williams. And the authors she introduced us to: Jimmy Baca, James Baldwin, Steve Almond. They are all in the book. And at the end (in true Natalie form), there are about 75 books for us to read.
She dedicated the book to her students. Our dear Nat.
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Teri, so happy you are reading Natalie’s new book already. I hope to pick it up this week at the independent we are going to on Valentine’s Day. It’s a packed week this week – lots going on.
I am looking forward to seeing how all the chapters she was writing during the Writing Intensive last year came out in the book. So glad to hear about the book list at the end, too. I’m excited for the book. Let us know if you have more insights along the way after reading it.
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[…] bought Natalie Goldberg’s new book, Old Friend from Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir, on February 14th, Valentine’s Day. Actually, Liz bought it for me, the creative version of […]
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[…] Natalie Goldberg — Old Friend From Far Away […]
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