--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know anything but writing…" description: "\"I don't know anything but writing practice, and so what I really do is direct that energy as if it were flowing down a river.\" — Natalie Goldberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/natalie-goldberg-1741_direct_i-don-t-know-anything-but-writing-practi_3033319.png" --- # I don't know anything but writing practice, and so what I… ![“I don't know anything but writing practice, and so what I really do is direct that energy as if it were flowing down a river.” quote by Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/natalie-goldberg-1741_direct_i-don-t-know-anything-but-writing-practi_3033319.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/natalie-goldberg-1741_direct_i-don-t-know-anything-but-writing-practi_3033319.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/natalie-goldberg-1741_direct_i-don-t-know-anything-but-writing-practi_3033319.png) > “I don't know anything but writing practice, and so what I really do is direct that energy as if it were flowing down a river.” [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is likened to a river, channeling energy into creative flow. **In simple terms:** Writing channels energy like a river. Key Takeaway Write to harness inner flow. Themes creativity energy flow Mood calm focused inspirational Type creative mindful metaphorical When to use this quote - journaling - creative workshops - stress relief Key Concepts mindfulness artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How does flow affect productivity? - What blocks creative currents? A Different Perspective River metaphor may oversimplify discipline needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Flowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flowing/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I came out with a book called The True Secret of Writing: Connecting Life with Language. It's a book that describes how writing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-came-out-with-a-book-called-the-true-secret-of-writing-connecting/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [What writing practice, like Zen practice does is bring you back to the natural state of mind...The mind is raw, full of energy, alive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/what-writing-practice-like-zen-practice-does-is-bring-you-back-to-the-2/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [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 truth about writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/learning-to-write-is-not-a-linear-process-there-is-no-logical-a-to-b/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“What writing practice, like Zen practice does is bring you back to the natural state of mind…The mind is raw, full of energy, alive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/what-writing-practice-like-zen-practice-does-is-bring-you-back-to-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [In writing practice, there's no direction. You enter your own mind and follow it where it takes you. We have a great need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/in-writing-practice-there-s-no-direction-you-enter-your-own-mind-and/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [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…](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/) > [ \[T\]he one thing I want for you is to recognize when you are really singing in writing practice and honor that. Trust that. When… ](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/) > [I consider writing practice a true Zen practice because it all comes back at you. You can't fool anyone because it's on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-consider-writing-practice-a-true-zen-practice-because-it-all-comes/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Writing practice brings us back to the uniqueness of our own minds and an acceptance of it. We all have wild dreams, fantasies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/writing-practice-brings-us-back-to-the-uniqueness-of-our-own-minds/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“When we start a relationship, professional, romantic or otherwise, even when we're born, we establish these threads of energy that connect us to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-maum/when-we-start-a-relationship-professional-romantic-or-otherwise-even/) [Courtney Maum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-maum/) > [All human beings, without exception, are continually creating themselves with the life-energy that is flowing within them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masami-saionji/all-human-beings-without-exception-are-continually-creating/) [Masami Saionji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masami-saionji/) > [Nobody wants to be in a mediocre organization. You don't have the same energy flowing through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/nobody-wants-to-be-in-a-mediocre-organization-you-don-t-have-the-same/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“We are all surrounded with so much static energy, that it is actually crucial to develop the ability to remove that and to flow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/we-are-all-surrounded-with-so-much-static-energy-that-it-is-actually/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [Remember to stop as often as necessary to re-connect your energy. Stay full, stay in a state of love. Remember that once you achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-redfield/remember-to-stop-as-often-as-necessary-to-re-connect-your-energy-stay/) [James Redfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-redfield/) > [I was on automatic pilot; ideas for gadgets kept coming, fed by a force of energy flowing through me and around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-baylis/i-was-on-automatic-pilot-ideas-for-gadgets-kept-coming-fed-by-a-force/) [Trevor Baylis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-baylis/) ## 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/) [Explore all 212 Natalie Goldberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) ## More Direct quotes > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it's not an art. 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Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) Browse all 3,391 Direct quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know anything but writing practice, and so what I really do is direct that energy as if it were flowing down a river.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie Goldberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-don-t-know-anything-but-writing-practice-and-so-what-i-really-do-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Direct" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-don-t-know-anything-but-writing-practice-and-so-what-i-really-do-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/natalie-goldberg-1741_direct_i-don-t-know-anything-but-writing-practi_3033319.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/natalie-goldberg-1741_direct_i-don-t-know-anything-but-writing-practi_3033319.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/natalie-goldberg-1741_direct_i-don-t-know-anything-but-writing-practi_3033319.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't know anything but writing practice, and so what I really do is direct that energy as if it were…” — Natalie Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Natalie Goldberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't know anything but writing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-don-t-know-anything-but-writing-practice-and-so-what-i-really-do-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-don-t-know-anything-but-writing-practice-and-so-what-i-really-do-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```