Her book, Writing Down the Bones, is a classic. Since it was published 25 years ago, Goldberg’s been inspiring writers in person, too, at workshops and writing retreats. And now, a new book summarizes what you’d learn and experience at one of them.
The essence of her teachings? “Shut up and write.” Don’t talk about it. Just do it. Goldberg conveys this to her students by conducting her classes… in silence.
Even if you don’t aspire to publish, Goldberg says you can connect to your emotions with writing and language.
She’ll be in town to talk about it on Saturday at Crossroads School in Santa Monica. I talked with her by phone from her home in New Mexico: