--- title: "19 Want Quotes By Natalie Goldberg" description: "19 Want quotes by Natalie Goldberg. Plus more from Natalie Goldberg and more Want sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/natalie-goldberg-1741_want_own-anything-you-want-in-your-writing-an_1911286.png" --- > [“Own anything you want in your writing and then let it go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/own-anything-you-want-in-your-writing-and-then-let-it-go/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/natalie-goldberg-1741_want_own-anything-you-want-in-your-writing-an_1911286.png) > [That's very nice if they want to publish you, but don't pay too much attention to it. It will toss you away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/that-s-very-nice-if-they-want-to-publish-you-but-don-t-pay-too-much/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/natalie-goldberg-1741_attention_that-s-very-nice-if-they-want-to-publish_275419.png) > [When you write what you know, you stay in control. One of the first things I encourage my writing students to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/when-you-write-what-you-know-you-stay-in-control-one-of-the-first/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/natalie-goldberg-1741_break_when-you-write-what-you-know-you-stay-in_1244374.png) > [Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go. And don't worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/trust-in-what-you-love-continue-to-do-it-and-it-will-take-you-where/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/natalie-goldberg-1741_cybersecurity_trust-in-what-you-love-continue-to-do-it_644313.png) > [You don't need to go to a therapist, you don't need to do all kinds of things. If you want to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/you-don-t-need-to-go-to-a-therapist-you-don-t-need-to-do-all-kinds-of/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/natalie-goldberg-1741_all-kinds_you-don-t-need-to-go-to-a-therapist-you_2330602.jpg) > [ \[T\]he one thing I want for you is to recognize when you are really singing in writing practice and honor that. Trust… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/t-he-one-thing-i-want-for-you-is-to-recognize-when-you-are-really/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/natalie-goldberg-1741_book_t-he-one-thing-i-want-for-you-is-to-reco_1097467.jpg) > [I'm never ashamed to read a book twice or as many times as I want. We never expect to drink a glass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-m-never-ashamed-to-read-a-book-twice-or-as-many-times-as-i-want-we/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/natalie-goldberg-1741_ashamed_i-m-never-ashamed-to-read-a-book-twice-o_1237651.png) > [I don't think everyone wants to create the great American novel, but we all have a dream of telling our stories-of realizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-don-t-think-everyone-wants-to-create-the-great-american-novel-but/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2a/natalie-goldberg-1741_books_i-don-t-think-everyone-wants-to-create-t_1727786.jpg) > [I used to think freedom meant doing whatever you want. It means knowing who you are, what you are supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-used-to-think-freedom-meant-doing-whatever-you-want-it-means/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/natalie-goldberg-1741_earth_i-used-to-think-freedom-meant-doing-what_1663696.jpg) > [It is very important to go home if you want your work to be whole. You don't have to move in with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/it-is-very-important-to-go-home-if-you-want-your-work-to-be-whole-you/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/natalie-goldberg-1741_accepting_it-is-very-important-to-go-home-if-you-w_329923.jpg) > [Sometimes people say to me, “I want to write, but I have five kids, a full-time job, a wife who beats me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/sometimes-people-say-to-me-i-want-to-write-but-i-have-five-kids-a/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/natalie-goldberg-1741_beats_sometimes-people-say-to-me-i-want-to-wri_2778984.png) > [The things that make you a functional citizen in society - manners, discretion, cordiality - don't necessarily make you a good writer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/the-things-that-make-you-a-functional-citizen-in-society-manners/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/natalie-goldberg-1741_citizens_the-things-that-make-you-a-functional-ci_276548.png) > [Finally, if you want to write, you have to just shut up, pick up a pen, and do it. I'm sorry there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/finally-if-you-want-to-write-you-have-to-just-shut-up-pick-up-a-pen/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/natalie-goldberg-1741_excuse_finally-if-you-want-to-write-you-have-to_1916891.png) > [Katagiri Roshi says: "Poor artists. They suffer very much. They finish a masterpiece and they are not satisfied. They want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/katagiri-roshi-says-poor-artists-they-suffer-very-much-they-finish-a/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/natalie-goldberg-1741_alcoholics_katagiri-roshi-says-poor-artists-they-su_2688157.jpg) > [This is the practice school of writing. Like running, the more you do it, the better you get at it. Some days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/this-is-the-practice-school-of-writing-like-running-the-more-you-do-2/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ab/natalie-goldberg-1741_aim_this-is-the-practice-school-of-writing-l_1139974.jpg) > [In the past few years I've assigned books to be read before a student attends one of my weeklong seminars. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/in-the-past-few-years-i-ve-assigned-books-to-be-read-before-a-student/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b24/natalie-goldberg-1741_book_in-the-past-few-years-i-ve-assigned-book_68751.jpg) > [ Let's say I've directed that \[writing\] energy into writing my latest book but suddenly, I really want to write about an onion.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/let-s-say-i-ve-directed-that-writing-energy-into-writing-my-latest/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/natalie-goldberg-1741_book_let-s-say-i-ve-directed-that-writing-ene_1176445.png) > [First, consider the pen you write with. It should be a fast-writing pen because your thoughts are always much faster than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/first-consider-the-pen-you-write-with-it-should-be-a-fast-writing-pen/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ab/natalie-goldberg-1741_able_first-consider-the-pen-you-write-with-it_261029.jpg) > [Too often we take notes on writing, we think about writing but never do it. I want you to walk into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/too-often-we-take-notes-on-writing-we-think-about-writing-but-never/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/655/natalie-goldberg-1741_dripping_too-often-we-take-notes-on-writing-we-th_1913330.png) ## Other authors on Want ## More by Natalie Goldberg > [“We heard about people who go back to their roots. That is good, but don't get stuck in the root. There is the branch,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/we-heard-about-people-who-go-back-to-their-roots-that-is-good-but-don/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Over and over, we have to go back to the beginning. We should not be ashamed of this. It is good. It's like drinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/over-and-over-we-have-to-go-back-to-the-beginning-we-should-not-be/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I feel very rich when I have time to write and very poor when I get a regular paycheck and no time at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-feel-very-rich-when-i-have-time-to-write-and-very-poor-when-i-get-a/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Actually, when I look at my old notebooks, I think I have been a bit self-indulgent and have given myself too much time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/actually-when-i-look-at-my-old-notebooks-i-think-i-have-been-a-bit/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Our bodies are garbage heaps: we collect experience, and from the decomposition of the thrown-out eggshells, spinach leaves, coffee grinds, and old steak bones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/our-bodies-are-garbage-heaps-we-collect-experience-and-from-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Know that you will eventually have to leave everything behind; the writing will demand it of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/know-that-you-will-eventually-have-to-leave-everything-behind-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [To encounter a fine book and have time to read it is a wonderful thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/to-encounter-a-fine-book-and-have-time-to-read-it-is-a-wonderful-thing/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [In the past few years I've assigned books to be read before a student attends one of my weeklong seminars. I have been astonished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/in-the-past-few-years-i-ve-assigned-books-to-be-read-before-a-student/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“When you draw and pay attention to what is, it's a form of being present. This inspires the mind, makes it happy, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/when-you-draw-and-pay-attention-to-what-is-it-s-a-form-of-being/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Poetry is a dumb Buddha who thinks a donkey is as important as a diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/poetry-is-a-dumb-buddha-who-thinks-a-donkey-is-as-important-as-a/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I told all kinds of stories about going to Japan, about playing ball with my father... I wanted to record my life in case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-told-all-kinds-of-stories-about-going-to-japan-about-playing-ball/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“No matter what a person does to cover up and conceal themselves, when we write and lose control, I can spot a person from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/no-matter-what-a-person-does-to-cover-up-and-conceal-themselves-when/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [To stay close and intimate with experience is to stay close to the mind; the nitty gritty mind of the way things really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/to-stay-close-and-intimate-with-experience-is-to-stay-close-to-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I read Eve Ensler and thought it was fabulous. Not only that, but it was really the only thing I could relate to about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-read-eve-ensler-and-thought-it-was-fabulous-not-only-that-but-it/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [If you feel bored or uncomfortable as you're writing, ask yourself what's bothering you and write about that. Sometimes your creative energy is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/if-you-feel-bored-or-uncomfortable-as-you-re-writing-ask-yourself/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/natalie-goldberg/#itemlist", "name": "19 Want Quotes By Natalie Goldberg", "numberOfItems": 19, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Own anything you want in your writing and then let it go.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/own-anything-you-want-in-your-writing-and-then-let-it-go/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/natalie-goldberg-1741_want_own-anything-you-want-in-your-writing-an_1911286.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/natalie-goldberg-1741_want_own-anything-you-want-in-your-writing-an_1911286.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/natalie-goldberg-1741_want_own-anything-you-want-in-your-writing-an_1911286.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Own anything you want in your writing and then let it go.” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's very nice if they want to publish you, but don't pay too much attention to it. It will toss you away. Just continue to write.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/that-s-very-nice-if-they-want-to-publish-you-but-don-t-pay-too-much/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/natalie-goldberg-1741_attention_that-s-very-nice-if-they-want-to-publish_275419.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/natalie-goldberg-1741_attention_that-s-very-nice-if-they-want-to-publish_275419.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/natalie-goldberg-1741_attention_that-s-very-nice-if-they-want-to-publish_275419.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's very nice if they want to publish you, but don't pay too much attention to it. 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One of the first things I encourage my writing students to do is to lose control - say what they want to say, break structure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/when-you-write-what-you-know-you-stay-in-control-one-of-the-first/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/natalie-goldberg-1741_break_when-you-write-what-you-know-you-stay-in_1244374.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/natalie-goldberg-1741_break_when-you-write-what-you-know-you-stay-in_1244374.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/natalie-goldberg-1741_break_when-you-write-what-you-know-you-stay-in_1244374.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you write what you know, you stay in control. 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You will eventually have a deep security when you begin to do what you want.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/trust-in-what-you-love-continue-to-do-it-and-it-will-take-you-where/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/natalie-goldberg-1741_cybersecurity_trust-in-what-you-love-continue-to-do-it_644313.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/natalie-goldberg-1741_cybersecurity_trust-in-what-you-love-continue-to-do-it_644313.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/natalie-goldberg-1741_cybersecurity_trust-in-what-you-love-continue-to-do-it_644313.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go. 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If you want to write, you physically have to do it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/you-don-t-need-to-go-to-a-therapist-you-don-t-need-to-do-all-kinds-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/natalie-goldberg-1741_all-kinds_you-don-t-need-to-go-to-a-therapist-you_2330602.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/natalie-goldberg-1741_all-kinds_you-don-t-need-to-go-to-a-therapist-you_2330602.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/natalie-goldberg-1741_all-kinds_you-don-t-need-to-go-to-a-therapist-you_2330602.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You don't need to go to a therapist, you don't need to do all kinds of things. 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Maybe that doesn't make a whole book but that is the true seed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/t-he-one-thing-i-want-for-you-is-to-recognize-when-you-are-really/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/natalie-goldberg-1741_book_t-he-one-thing-i-want-for-you-is-to-reco_1097467.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/natalie-goldberg-1741_book_t-he-one-thing-i-want-for-you-is-to-reco_1097467.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/natalie-goldberg-1741_book_t-he-one-thing-i-want-for-you-is-to-reco_1097467.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[T]he one thing I want for you is to recognize when you are really singing in writing practice and honor…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm never ashamed to read a book twice or as many times as I want. We never expect to drink a glass of water just once in our lives. A book can be that essential, too.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-m-never-ashamed-to-read-a-book-twice-or-as-many-times-as-i-want-we/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/natalie-goldberg-1741_ashamed_i-m-never-ashamed-to-read-a-book-twice-o_1237651.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/natalie-goldberg-1741_ashamed_i-m-never-ashamed-to-read-a-book-twice-o_1237651.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/natalie-goldberg-1741_ashamed_i-m-never-ashamed-to-read-a-book-twice-o_1237651.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm never ashamed to read a book twice or as many times as I want. We never expect to drink a glass of water…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think everyone wants to create the great American novel, but we all have a dream of telling our stories-of realizing what we think, feel, and see before we die. Writing is a path to meet ourselves and become intimate.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-don-t-think-everyone-wants-to-create-the-great-american-novel-but/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2a/natalie-goldberg-1741_books_i-don-t-think-everyone-wants-to-create-t_1727786.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2a/natalie-goldberg-1741_books_i-don-t-think-everyone-wants-to-create-t_1727786.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2a/natalie-goldberg-1741_books_i-don-t-think-everyone-wants-to-create-t_1727786.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think everyone wants to create the great American novel, but we all have a dream of telling our…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I used to think freedom meant doing whatever you want. It means knowing who you are, what you are supposed to be doing on this earth, and then simply doing it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-used-to-think-freedom-meant-doing-whatever-you-want-it-means/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/natalie-goldberg-1741_earth_i-used-to-think-freedom-meant-doing-what_1663696.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/natalie-goldberg-1741_earth_i-used-to-think-freedom-meant-doing-what_1663696.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f5/natalie-goldberg-1741_earth_i-used-to-think-freedom-meant-doing-what_1663696.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I used to think freedom meant doing whatever you want. It means knowing who you are, what you are supposed…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is very important to go home if you want your work to be whole. You don't have to move in with your parents again and collect a weekly allowance, but you must claim where you come from and look deep into it. Come to honor and embrace it, or at the least, accept it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/it-is-very-important-to-go-home-if-you-want-your-work-to-be-whole-you/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/natalie-goldberg-1741_accepting_it-is-very-important-to-go-home-if-you-w_329923.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/natalie-goldberg-1741_accepting_it-is-very-important-to-go-home-if-you-w_329923.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/natalie-goldberg-1741_accepting_it-is-very-important-to-go-home-if-you-w_329923.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is very important to go home if you want your work to be whole. You don't have to move in with your…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes people say to me, “I want to write, but I have five kids, a full-time job, a wife who beats me, a tremendous debt to my parents,” and so on. I say to them, “There is no excuse. If you want to write, write. This is your life. You are responsible for it. You will not live forever. Don’t wait. Make the time now, even if it is ten minutes once a week.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/sometimes-people-say-to-me-i-want-to-write-but-i-have-five-kids-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/natalie-goldberg-1741_beats_sometimes-people-say-to-me-i-want-to-wri_2778984.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/natalie-goldberg-1741_beats_sometimes-people-say-to-me-i-want-to-wri_2778984.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/natalie-goldberg-1741_beats_sometimes-people-say-to-me-i-want-to-wri_2778984.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes people say to me, “I want to write, but I have five kids, a full-time job, a wife who beats me, a…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The things that make you a functional citizen in society - manners, discretion, cordiality - don't necessarily make you a good writer. Writing needs raw truth, wants your suffering and darkness on the table, revels in a cutting mind that takes no prisoners...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/the-things-that-make-you-a-functional-citizen-in-society-manners/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/natalie-goldberg-1741_citizens_the-things-that-make-you-a-functional-ci_276548.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/natalie-goldberg-1741_citizens_the-things-that-make-you-a-functional-ci_276548.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/natalie-goldberg-1741_citizens_the-things-that-make-you-a-functional-ci_276548.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The things that make you a functional citizen in society - manners, discretion, cordiality - don't…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Finally, if you want to write, you have to just shut up, pick up a pen, and do it. I'm sorry there are no true excuses. This is our life. Step forward. Maybe it's only for ten minutes. That's okay. To write feels better than all the excuses.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/finally-if-you-want-to-write-you-have-to-just-shut-up-pick-up-a-pen/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/natalie-goldberg-1741_excuse_finally-if-you-want-to-write-you-have-to_1916891.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/natalie-goldberg-1741_excuse_finally-if-you-want-to-write-you-have-to_1916891.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/natalie-goldberg-1741_excuse_finally-if-you-want-to-write-you-have-to_1916891.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Finally, if you want to write, you have to just shut up, pick up a pen, and do it. I'm sorry there are no…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Katagiri Roshi says: \"Poor artists. They suffer very much. They finish a masterpiece and they are not satisfied. They want to go on and do another.\" Yes, but it's better to go on and do another if you have the urge than to start drinking and become alcoholic or eat a pound of good fudge and get fat.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/katagiri-roshi-says-poor-artists-they-suffer-very-much-they-finish-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/natalie-goldberg-1741_alcoholics_katagiri-roshi-says-poor-artists-they-su_2688157.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/natalie-goldberg-1741_alcoholics_katagiri-roshi-says-poor-artists-they-su_2688157.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/natalie-goldberg-1741_alcoholics_katagiri-roshi-says-poor-artists-they-su_2688157.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Katagiri Roshi says: \"Poor artists. They suffer very much. They finish a masterpiece and they are not…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is the practice school of writing. Like running, the more you do it, the better you get at it. Some days you don't want to run and you resist every step of the three miles, but you do it anyway. You practice whether you want to or not. You don't wait around for inspiration and a deep desire to run ... That's how writing is too ... One of the main aims in writing practice is to learn to trust your own mind and body; to grow patient and nonaggressive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/this-is-the-practice-school-of-writing-like-running-the-more-you-do-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ab/natalie-goldberg-1741_aim_this-is-the-practice-school-of-writing-l_1139974.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ab/natalie-goldberg-1741_aim_this-is-the-practice-school-of-writing-l_1139974.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ab/natalie-goldberg-1741_aim_this-is-the-practice-school-of-writing-l_1139974.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is the practice school of writing. Like running, the more you do it, the better you get at it. Some…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the past few years I've assigned books to be read before a student attends one of my weeklong seminars. I have been astonished by how few people -- people who supposedly want to write -- read books, and if they read them, how little they examine them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/in-the-past-few-years-i-ve-assigned-books-to-be-read-before-a-student/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b24/natalie-goldberg-1741_book_in-the-past-few-years-i-ve-assigned-book_68751.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b24/natalie-goldberg-1741_book_in-the-past-few-years-i-ve-assigned-book_68751.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b24/natalie-goldberg-1741_book_in-the-past-few-years-i-ve-assigned-book_68751.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the past few years I've assigned books to be read before a student attends one of my weeklong seminars. I…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 17, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let's say I've directed that [writing] energy into writing my latest book but suddenly, I really want to write about an onion. I don't say to myself, \"No, you have stay on the subject,\" because I know that the longer I stay on the subject the more boring I get. So, if my mind wants to write about an onion, it might be a deeper way to go into what I'm working on, even though it might seem irrelevant. This is how I've learned to follow my mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/let-s-say-i-ve-directed-that-writing-energy-into-writing-my-latest/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/natalie-goldberg-1741_book_let-s-say-i-ve-directed-that-writing-ene_1176445.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/natalie-goldberg-1741_book_let-s-say-i-ve-directed-that-writing-ene_1176445.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/natalie-goldberg-1741_book_let-s-say-i-ve-directed-that-writing-ene_1176445.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let's say I've directed that [writing] energy into writing my latest book but suddenly, I really want to…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 18, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "First, consider the pen you write with. It should be a fast-writing pen because your thoughts are always much faster than your hand. You don't want to slow up your hand even more with a slow pen. A ballpoint, a pencil, a felt tip, for sure, are slow. Go to a stationery store and see what feels good to you. Try out different kinds. Don't get too fancy and expensive. I mostly use a cheap Sheaffer fountain pen, about $1.95… You want to be able to feel the connection and texture of the pen on paper.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/first-consider-the-pen-you-write-with-it-should-be-a-fast-writing-pen/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ab/natalie-goldberg-1741_able_first-consider-the-pen-you-write-with-it_261029.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ab/natalie-goldberg-1741_able_first-consider-the-pen-you-write-with-it_261029.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ab/natalie-goldberg-1741_able_first-consider-the-pen-you-write-with-it_261029.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“First, consider the pen you write with. 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I want you to walk into the heart of the storm, written words dripping off hair, eyelids, hanging from hands.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/too-often-we-take-notes-on-writing-we-think-about-writing-but-never/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/655/natalie-goldberg-1741_dripping_too-often-we-take-notes-on-writing-we-th_1913330.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/655/natalie-goldberg-1741_dripping_too-often-we-take-notes-on-writing-we-th_1913330.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/655/natalie-goldberg-1741_dripping_too-often-we-take-notes-on-writing-we-th_1913330.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Too often we take notes on writing, we think about writing but never do it. 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