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Writing the Natural Way: Turn the Task of Writing into the Joy of Writing
Writing the Natural Way , first published fifteen years ago, has shown hundreds of thousands of readers how to turn the task of writing into the joy of writing. Completely revised, newly illustrated, and with a wealth of updated, field-tested exercises, this popular classic will help unlock natural writing styles and storytelling abilities.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
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February 24, 2010
Great Central Idea but...
The central idea of this book is golden. It made me realize the value of the simple technique of "clustering" - or in layman's terms, "mind mapping" or "brain storming" - when it comes to writing.
I began applying this technique to my writing and it has proved very useful. I knew about the technique for the longest time but I had never put it to use in generating ideas. Now I see how potent and effective it is.
There are, however, a few major problems with the book. First, there is a lot of excess in this book. Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 7 are pretty much reiterations of Chapter 2 and unnecessary in my opinion. The exercises are fun to do, but the chapter topics are frustrating to read since you already know the main points from Chapter 2.
Second, although the author seems to claim that each chapter contains a new tool, most of them simply do not. Instead, they show examples and different topics to focus on when clustering, such as language rhythms, images, metaphors, and nuances. The book is about one and only one technique: clustering and its applications (re-creation and pre- and re-clustering).
The last three chapters on polarity, brevity, and constellations are definitely more interesting than the preceding 9 chapters as they focus on reconciling contradictions, editing/re-designing, and making a larger work out of many smaller works - all of which is of great interest to any serious writer.
One truly regrettable thing is that the book does not explain how we can apply clustering to writing essays and novels. It focuses mostly on short poems and vignettes, and does not venture into other areas of writing.
For example, how is one to use clustering effectively in structuring a novel? Coming up with an exciting plot? Do we just keep writing what comes to mind on a whim and hope for our right brain to find a pattern?
That may be awfully inefficient in that it takes an incredibly long time and great effort to read through a novel, much less in one sitting, re-design it, and make them into a constellation. While it may be possible and interesting, I think it's more efficient to use clustering to first write the plot summary of the story and then start writing scenes.
I will be experimenting with either methods.
I recommend reading Chapters 2, 12, 13, and 14 as they are the most interesting and practical. For the rest, read whatever topic engages your fancy. I will be doing all the exercises as warm-ups before plunging into writing my novel.
Overall, great thesis, but poorly executed.
The central idea of this book is golden. It made me realize the value of the simple technique of "clustering" - or in layman's terms, "mind mapping" or "brain storming" - when it comes to writing.
I began applying this technique to my writing and it has proved very useful. I knew about the technique for the longest time but I had never put it to use in generating ideas. Now I see how potent and effective it is.
There are, however, a few major problems with the book. First, there is a lot of excess in this book. Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 7 are pretty much reiterations of Chapter 2 and unnecessary in my opinion. The exercises are fun to do, but the chapter topics are frustrating to read since you already know the main points from Chapter 2.
Second, although the author seems to claim that each chapter contains a new tool, most of them simply do not. Instead, they show examples and different topics to focus on when clustering, such as language rhythms, images, metaphors, and nuances. The book is about one and only one technique: clustering and its applications (re-creation and pre- and re-clustering).
The last three chapters on polarity, brevity, and constellations are definitely more interesting than the preceding 9 chapters as they focus on reconciling contradictions, editing/re-designing, and making a larger work out of many smaller works - all of which is of great interest to any serious writer.
One truly regrettable thing is that the book does not explain how we can apply clustering to writing essays and novels. It focuses mostly on short poems and vignettes, and does not venture into other areas of writing.
For example, how is one to use clustering effectively in structuring a novel? Coming up with an exciting plot? Do we just keep writing what comes to mind on a whim and hope for our right brain to find a pattern?
That may be awfully inefficient in that it takes an incredibly long time and great effort to read through a novel, much less in one sitting, re-design it, and make them into a constellation. While it may be possible and interesting, I think it's more efficient to use clustering to first write the plot summary of the story and then start writing scenes.
I will be experimenting with either methods.
I recommend reading Chapters 2, 12, 13, and 14 as they are the most interesting and practical. For the rest, read whatever topic engages your fancy. I will be doing all the exercises as warm-ups before plunging into writing my novel.
Overall, great thesis, but poorly executed.
May 10, 2018
In the last chapters Gabrielle, the author, talks about how less writing is more. Quality over quantity. Very clear writing is mostly less. She also talks about vignettes, which are paragraphs that are independent and whole, and she compares them to the DNA of a human body.
Overall this book is very good for people who need the help, plus there are also exercises in the book that help you make progress.
The way Gabrielle writes her ideas down is very specific, clear and understandable. After a while of practicing the tools she gives you in the book, they help you make great progress in your writing.
Overall this book is very good for people who need the help, plus there are also exercises in the book that help you make progress.
The way Gabrielle writes her ideas down is very specific, clear and understandable. After a while of practicing the tools she gives you in the book, they help you make great progress in your writing.
February 27, 2013
Gabriele Rico, who is transitioning from this life into the next realm, made a huge impact on my life with this book and with her amazing presence. I wrote about her here:
http://beingandwriting.blogspot.com/2...
http://beingandwriting.blogspot.com/2...
April 15, 2017
This is the BEST book on writing I have ever seen. I read the original years ago and now the updated version and the techniques bring amazing results. It is full of fun exercises to go with the clustering activities and it really feels natural and effortless. If you want to write better or if you teach writing in elementary, middle, high school, college or graduate school or if you homeschool, get this book!
November 11, 2011
First off before reading this book realize that the main psychological left/right brain principle which it is entirely based on has now been proven to be wrong.
This really makes most of the books content useless. BUT some of the exercises in it are still useful, and the idea webs that are used throughout the book can be quite handy. Just be careful to ignore any of the psychological information in the book.
There are much better books on the subject than this ancient 70's book.
This really makes most of the books content useless. BUT some of the exercises in it are still useful, and the idea webs that are used throughout the book can be quite handy. Just be careful to ignore any of the psychological information in the book.
There are much better books on the subject than this ancient 70's book.
November 30, 2009
Great exercises for connecting with your creative mind, for clearing out driftwood and releasing the creative writer. As refreshing as yoga!
I haven't touched this book for a while, so I'm putting it back on the shelves for a while and will probably pick it up again in January, the month when I work on things internal, under a blanket of snow.
I haven't touched this book for a while, so I'm putting it back on the shelves for a while and will probably pick it up again in January, the month when I work on things internal, under a blanket of snow.
September 23, 2018
روشی رو برای نوشتن خلاق یا طبیعی بیان کرده که روش دوستداشتنی و کاربردیه. اما ترجمه به قدری افتضاح و ناروانه، که خیلی خسته کننده میشه خوندنش. خراب کردن کتابو واقعا.
February 6, 2025
i found this book in one of those little libraries and i’m really glad i decided to walk down that road on that day. most of this book is highlighted and scribbled on - i love picking it up sometimes and reading what i’ve underlined. good to get you out of a bad block :)
October 2, 2014
I enjoyed reading this book, and I will continue to enjoy the writing exercises in it. I think it would be even better in a purse-sized writing journal format -- that would allow me to read and write without having to put the book down. They are perfect little writing exercises, that you can do quickly or take your time to savor the experience. (It's all part of the wonder! See page 15!)
I understand some of the book may be a bit outdated, but the method behind the writing exercises remains timeless. Brainstorming is something we continue to teach to our students, even though I personally haven't used the term "clustering" that this book uses. I appreciate the quotes throughout the book from authors of various genres that seem to tie this work to "serious" works of literature, like the poetry of William Butler Yeats or Golding's Lord of the Flies.
I especially enjoyed the author's focus on imagination and childlike wonder. If we could just tap into our childhood curiosity, writing would become so much less a chore! As the author writes near the book's conclusion, "continue to tap your natural writer with an attitude of wonder and an impulse to story your experience." Excellent inspiration, indeed.
I understand some of the book may be a bit outdated, but the method behind the writing exercises remains timeless. Brainstorming is something we continue to teach to our students, even though I personally haven't used the term "clustering" that this book uses. I appreciate the quotes throughout the book from authors of various genres that seem to tie this work to "serious" works of literature, like the poetry of William Butler Yeats or Golding's Lord of the Flies.
I especially enjoyed the author's focus on imagination and childlike wonder. If we could just tap into our childhood curiosity, writing would become so much less a chore! As the author writes near the book's conclusion, "continue to tap your natural writer with an attitude of wonder and an impulse to story your experience." Excellent inspiration, indeed.
December 23, 2007
This book is ideal for teaching you how to shut out the critic during the writing process. The formal school system generally takes the unfortunate approach of teaching youngsters to think about their punctuation, spelling, organization and audience while in the midst of the writing process. The critical faculty should only be brought online after the first draft has been produced.
Rico helps writers (and aspiring writers) to find their natural voice through fun and practical exercises. Incidentally, natural writing tends to be holistic and well-written such that the first draft may require very little tweaking by the critic. Once you have mastered some of Rico's techniques, you will likely find that you've come to trust your natural voice enough to simply write and allow the critic to emerge at the appropriate point in the process.
Rico helps writers (and aspiring writers) to find their natural voice through fun and practical exercises. Incidentally, natural writing tends to be holistic and well-written such that the first draft may require very little tweaking by the critic. Once you have mastered some of Rico's techniques, you will likely find that you've come to trust your natural voice enough to simply write and allow the critic to emerge at the appropriate point in the process.
November 14, 2015
This is an excellent book not only for writing but for processing life--figuring things out. There's a nice blend of sciences here: neurology, biology, psychology, and philosophy. One of my favorite chapters was about creating tension by embracing both/and thinking rather than either/or thinking. I will use a lot of Rico's strategies not just in writing fiction, but also in my personal journaling. I read through this book too quickly, only doing a handful of the exercises. It would be much better to take this book as designed, over a couple of months time and do ALL the exercises to ingrain its benefits.
May 13, 2018
Originally would have given it 4-5 stars. After some time away from it, I’m sad to say I think it is 2 star. The exercises don’t promote original writing, and the cluster method leads to “surface” ideas if it is followed on long enough, and while I feel more comfortable with poetry, it did not improve my sentences (poetry is nice but not what I want to write).
January 30, 2008
I liked the premise of this book-- using free association word bubbles to craft stories, but after reading a few chapters, I felt like the author kept repeating herself and not really going anywhere further than the word bubble associations.
January 18, 2016
The new edition is a far cry from the earlier. It is full of psycho-babel and horrid examples of "good" writing. The earlier edition was a decent writing manual. This is a waste of good paper.
November 16, 2022
this made me want to peel my eyes out of the sockets lillian why did you make me read this
June 2, 2017
I absolutely love this book. I’ve actually had it for years and have dabbled with it off and on, always finding the exercises useful, but recently decided to read it cover to cover and do the exercises at the same time. I really enjoyed it and found something useful in every chapter, and even ended up with some decent work. More importantly, I kept my creative juices flowing.
Rico bases her work on right and left brain differences, what she calls Sign and Design mind. She uses a process called clustering to access that part of the brain that sees patterns and to (temporarily) bypass the internal editor in order to get ideas down on paper. She is a proponent of playing while writing and trying to re-discover that child-like wonder that many of us have forgotten.
For me, this is a wonderful approach, as I like to get my ideas down, get the words on the paper, play with words, and then edit it later. I found myself often coming full circle and making interesting, just like she said natural writing often does. And most of the exercises take 5 minutes or less.
I highly recommend this book for new and experienced writers. Rico’s approach is fun and easy — deceptively so, teaching us to trust ourselves and our brains to make connections and write from a natural place. As she illustrates in her book, this method works for both children and adults. If you are a writer and have ever experienced writer’s block, don’t know where to begin, or are looking to explore your creativity, I highly recommend checking out this book.
Rico bases her work on right and left brain differences, what she calls Sign and Design mind. She uses a process called clustering to access that part of the brain that sees patterns and to (temporarily) bypass the internal editor in order to get ideas down on paper. She is a proponent of playing while writing and trying to re-discover that child-like wonder that many of us have forgotten.
For me, this is a wonderful approach, as I like to get my ideas down, get the words on the paper, play with words, and then edit it later. I found myself often coming full circle and making interesting, just like she said natural writing often does. And most of the exercises take 5 minutes or less.
I highly recommend this book for new and experienced writers. Rico’s approach is fun and easy — deceptively so, teaching us to trust ourselves and our brains to make connections and write from a natural place. As she illustrates in her book, this method works for both children and adults. If you are a writer and have ever experienced writer’s block, don’t know where to begin, or are looking to explore your creativity, I highly recommend checking out this book.
December 24, 2021
This was revelatory for me but in a way that's hard to explain. The closest I can coming to expressing it is to say it helped me overcome a kind of fear being creative in my writing which left me leaving any creativity to seemingly random moments when the stars aligned, I'd had whatever the correct amount of alcohol is, and the ego had flown off to repress some other damsel in distress. It helped me be able to write when I felt like I had five then six then seven then eight ideas in my head at the same time and couldn't write without losing one of them. I'd get overwhelmed by the mental juggling act of of saying everything I wanted to say while having to start with idea number one and then two and then three and moving through to eight while remembering at the same time what one through eight actually were and with little more than a vague sense that they're all connected somehow - something that for a long time has made me want to tear my eyeballs so I could give my brain a couple of hard prods. The book helped me understand that big mess of a process and cope with it, harness it - and even trust it.
July 10, 2024
I found this book while donating half of my library for my apartment moveout (which tells you how bad I am at shrinking my library) and I found this book for a buck. The main focus is clusters, where you take notebook paper, put your main idea in the middle, and write down any associations freely as they come to your head. This simple idea frees creativity from your critical mind and makes writing flow smoothly. We are held back by our logical minds because we're so used to it being in the steering wheel while writing due to school and work projects, but Rico's thesis that creative writing can only thrive if the critical mind loosens its grip is fundamentally true.
My one criticism is that (as other people have pointed out) a lot of the chapters are redundant. The useful part of this book could be put into a 4 page pdf. That said, clusters are so golden I still feel positive about the book.
This makes me want to start a writing club with my friends but I'm not sure any of them would be interested lol.
PS: Why yes, I did use clusters to write this review, how could you tell?
My one criticism is that (as other people have pointed out) a lot of the chapters are redundant. The useful part of this book could be put into a 4 page pdf. That said, clusters are so golden I still feel positive about the book.
This makes me want to start a writing club with my friends but I'm not sure any of them would be interested lol.
PS: Why yes, I did use clusters to write this review, how could you tell?
October 23, 2020
I actually tracked this down today through numerous searches, because I wanted to read it again (I couldn't even remember the name!). I have very fond memories of the original edition, from when I read it in the early 1990s. I found the 'clustering' technique revolutionary for my writing. I really enjoyed writing when I used it and I wrote much more creative pieces. Knowing me, I probably didn't finish the whole book! So there may have been even more good stuff I didn't read. Originally I wanted to get a book today to help a friend with writer's block. But I think I will also myself make sure to read the whole thing. I haven't written for enjoyment in a long time (I was a journalist and adman) and I'm sure the techniques will get me going in a fun way.
October 17, 2018
I can't comment on the updated edition, but I read the original back when it was new and I was a girl of thirteen or fourteen. I liked it a good deal at the time--I retain a certain amount of nostalgia even for the cover, with its paint-dripped typewriter--and the clustering technique taught in the book is one I have returned to again and again over the years. Perhaps it is, as some have suggested, more useful for poetry than anything else, but I have used it for other types of writing to help figure out what I wanted to say or to help organize a mass of thoughts. I consider it well worth the time spent reading it and doing the exercises.
March 14, 2020
I was skeptical at first, as this seems like simply mind mapping. However Rico provides direction and focus to reffectively exploit that technique. I have found that I return again and again to the process developed here. This has been such a useful resource!
May 23, 2018
The exercises in this book were precious. highly recommend for tapping back into your writer.
December 7, 2020
I used the knowledge learned from this book to write short stories, craft lyrics and prepare talks. It is an excellent resource for all things in the pursuit of 'writing.'
March 11, 2022
This 1980s era writing workbook has useful evergreen exercises and examples for many writers and authors across the genres.
September 15, 2022
This book deserves 5 stars for the exercises and examples alone. 4.5/5 because it gets a bit redundant in the middle. I cannot wait to see how this evolves my writing. Highly recommended.
November 12, 2022
This book is so fucking B A D
October 17, 2023
یک کتاب خیلی تخصصی، حاوی تمرینهایی برای تقویت نوشتن با نیمکرهی راست.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2023
An interesting writing craft book that’s all about tapping into different methods to get your words flowing. It encourages the use of flowcharts and touches on imaging, using repetition, and a writer’s notebook to create clusters and vignettes through writing exercises. If you’re a fan of writing exercises, this book is most definitely for you. It wasn’t for me for that reason, but I can see how it would be helpful for writers who like to work that way, and I think this type of book and what it encourages would be great for poets.
December 2, 2014
Right-brain studies have been used for years (well, okay, the last 10-20 years) to enhance the teaching process for visual artists, but Rico was the first to extend this research into the realm of the writer. You cannot deny her scholarship nor her science--the brain hemisphere theory is quite accepted today, and has been proven in a number of ways. So how does this theory help one become a writer.
First off, as any author will tell you, writers write. Rico cannot give you a magic spell that will somehow change you into a New York Times Bestseller overnight. But if you have ever suffered from the dreaded "writer's block" or had difficulty in spurring yourself to write on a particular subject, Rico provides some exercises here that will help you "tap" into the creative side of your brain. The basis for all her exercises is what she terms the cluster--a free association on the subject that brings in emotions, colors, sounds, and taste to the visual world of your subject. Getting you past your left-brain adherence on perfection and sequential order is her first goal, then awakening you to the connections that you are capable of through creative tension, recurrences, and rhythm.
Okay, I'll admit that my personal view of Rico is not as positive as the above might appear. While I saw the advantages of everything she puts forward, I found her presentation of these ideas to be tinged with a slight "new age" flavor, and the only new thing she really brings to the table is the "cluster" idea. I have used it since reading about it, and I have found it useful, but I'm not sure it was worth the 280+ pages to obtain this one idea. On the other hand, I've never really been "stuck" for words (I'm sure you could not have guessed that).
A new revision of this book is due this year, and I am interested in how Rico responds to the 90s (or, even, if she does).
First off, as any author will tell you, writers write. Rico cannot give you a magic spell that will somehow change you into a New York Times Bestseller overnight. But if you have ever suffered from the dreaded "writer's block" or had difficulty in spurring yourself to write on a particular subject, Rico provides some exercises here that will help you "tap" into the creative side of your brain. The basis for all her exercises is what she terms the cluster--a free association on the subject that brings in emotions, colors, sounds, and taste to the visual world of your subject. Getting you past your left-brain adherence on perfection and sequential order is her first goal, then awakening you to the connections that you are capable of through creative tension, recurrences, and rhythm.
Okay, I'll admit that my personal view of Rico is not as positive as the above might appear. While I saw the advantages of everything she puts forward, I found her presentation of these ideas to be tinged with a slight "new age" flavor, and the only new thing she really brings to the table is the "cluster" idea. I have used it since reading about it, and I have found it useful, but I'm not sure it was worth the 280+ pages to obtain this one idea. On the other hand, I've never really been "stuck" for words (I'm sure you could not have guessed that).
A new revision of this book is due this year, and I am interested in how Rico responds to the 90s (or, even, if she does).
April 24, 2020
Instagram Review: www.instagram.com/p/B8KqQBuAf_2/
To begin, I remember most that I enjoyed my time working through Writing the Natural Way. I wanted to sit down to the desk every day to read the chapter and work the exercise, do the natural writing that I always thought of as weird, produce the poetry that I always thought of as weird, feel the breed of happy that I always considered kind of weird. If all the other writing texts and writing support texts I had been reading were school, this text was recess, and Rico was the slightly crazy English teacher with a pile of hair and dangly earrings and a gigantic, horsey smile and high, over-rouged cheekbones out on the playground to watch over things.
In Natural Way, Rico doesn't talk about the elements of fiction, or grammar and mechanics. She offers a process for writing that you might think of as controlled or contained free writing. I was incredibly skeptical when I first started reading her text, but I gave a few of the exercises a try, and I found the process kind of interesting. I worked through her whole book and created some really weird, wonderful poetry that I'm not sure has any commercial value, but I like it for a beginning place. I can see a place for this system when I get ready to start my memoir work, whenever that time comes.
If you're looking for a way to break out of your routine, either permanently or just for a break, this is definitely the text for you. Give this book a chance for a fresh approach to personal writing -- combined with experimental forms, Rico's form of writing can yield some stunning results. Have fun cutting loose and being creative, fellow writers and poets!
To begin, I remember most that I enjoyed my time working through Writing the Natural Way. I wanted to sit down to the desk every day to read the chapter and work the exercise, do the natural writing that I always thought of as weird, produce the poetry that I always thought of as weird, feel the breed of happy that I always considered kind of weird. If all the other writing texts and writing support texts I had been reading were school, this text was recess, and Rico was the slightly crazy English teacher with a pile of hair and dangly earrings and a gigantic, horsey smile and high, over-rouged cheekbones out on the playground to watch over things.
In Natural Way, Rico doesn't talk about the elements of fiction, or grammar and mechanics. She offers a process for writing that you might think of as controlled or contained free writing. I was incredibly skeptical when I first started reading her text, but I gave a few of the exercises a try, and I found the process kind of interesting. I worked through her whole book and created some really weird, wonderful poetry that I'm not sure has any commercial value, but I like it for a beginning place. I can see a place for this system when I get ready to start my memoir work, whenever that time comes.
If you're looking for a way to break out of your routine, either permanently or just for a break, this is definitely the text for you. Give this book a chance for a fresh approach to personal writing -- combined with experimental forms, Rico's form of writing can yield some stunning results. Have fun cutting loose and being creative, fellow writers and poets!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews