# Quote — Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones

> 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.

- Author: [Natalie Goldberg](https://www.leafyquotes.com/natalie-goldberg.md)
- Book: [Writing Down the Bones](https://www.leafyquotes.com/natalie-goldberg/writing-down-the-bones.md)
- Page: 169
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Natalie_Goldberg#Writing_Down_the_Bones_(1986)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/natalie-goldberg/writing-down-the-bones/but-last-night

## More from this book

> What is important is not just what you do - "I am writing a book" - but how you do it, how you approach it, and what you come to value.
>
> […] There are many realities. We should remember this when we get too caught in being concerned about the way the rest of the world lives or how we think they live.

p. 127 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/natalie-goldberg/writing-down-the-bones/what-is-important.md)

> We give a lot of names to our excuses, to the reasons we don't want to write or we're afraid to. 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. Shut up and write.
>
> […] It's pretty nice to be talented. If you are, enjoy, but it won't take you that far. Work takes you a lot further.
>
> […] In writing I have confidence. Because I say I'm going to do it and I do it. That's all. Writing is the one thing in my life I continually show up for. I have given 100 percent to writing practice. That's what builds confidence.
>
> […] Don't be tossed away by your monkey mind. … These little voices are constantly going to be nagging at us. If you make a decision to do something, you do it. Don't be tossed away. … Don't be thrown off by yourself or anyone else. Let your big mind move forward.

p. 183 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/natalie-goldberg/writing-down-the-bones/we-give-a-lot.md)

> Push yourself beyond when you think you are done with what you have to say. […] It is beyond the point when you think you are done that often something strong comes out.

p. 112 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/natalie-goldberg/writing-down-the-bones/push-yourself-beyond.md)