"But last night we started to work with the Samurai. Tom brought in a loosely finished piece, xeroxed copies, and we went over it. First of all, we looked for where there was energy. It was mainly in the third paragraph. William Carlos Williams said to Allen Ginsberg: "If only one line in the poem has energy, then cut the rest out and leave only that one line." That one line is the poem. Poetry is the carrier of life, the vessel of vitality. Each line should be alive. Keep those parts of a piece; get rid of the rest. […] it's where our writing is burning through to brilliance that it finally becomes a poem or prose piece. And anyone can hear the difference. Something that comes from the source, from first thoughts, wakes and energises everyone. I've seen it many times in a writing group. When someone reads a really hot piece, it excites everyone. Be willing to look at your work honestly. If something works, it works. If it doesn't, quit beating an old horse. Go on writing. Something else will come up. There's enough bad writing in the world. Write one good line, you'll be famous. Write a lot of lukewarm pieces, you'll put people to sleep."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Buddhists from the United StatesNon-fiction authors from the United StatesEducators from the United StatesJews from the United StatesOrators from the United States
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Essay, "The Samurai". p.169, 170-171
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Natalie_Goldberg
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Natalie Goldberg
28 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Natalie Goldberg →
Related Quotes
"Read a lot, listen well and deeply, and write a lot. […] If you read good books, when you write, good books will come…"
"Be specific. "Don't say "fruit". Tell what kind of fruit. Learn the names of everything: birds, cheese, tractors, car…"
"As writers we have to walk in the world in touch with that present, alert part of ourselves, that animal sense part t…"
"A million-plus readers have followed Natalie's bold plunge into the world of words. "Just dive in," urges Natalie, te…"
"You tell the truth and you depict it in detail."
"I went home with the resolve to write what I knew and to trust my own thoughts and feelings and to not look outside m…"
"Learning to write is not a linear process. There is no logical A-to-B-to-C way to become a good writer. One neat trut…"
"First, consider the pen you write with. Think, too, about your notebook. […] A cheap spiral notebook lets you feel th…"
"The basic unit of writing practice is the timed exercise. 1. Keep your hand moving. 2. Don't cross out. 3. Don't worr…"
"Writers move with grace in and out of many worlds."