Writing the Natural Way: Turn the Task of Writing into the Joy of Writing, 15th Anniversary Expanded Edition

This isn't so much a book about writing as it is a book about thinking and creativity that uses writing as a medium. In this volume, Ruco offers her theory on how the brain creates, a theory which relies heavily on the somewhat pseudoscience-y ideas of the hemispheric brain. She also translates that theory into a system for writing what she calls "vignettes," which are short, typically personal either poems or stories. With very few exceptions, the vignettes I produce using this system are pleasant but of little publishable value. I see value in this system-- I get blocked often, and I can see sitting down and producing vignettes within an ongoing story's existing universe being a very useful way to unblock, for example. Also, I didn't find this system very useful in helping me produce my fiction, but it did help me produce some surprisingly good and personal poems, which is not my typical form. Four stars for getting me to do some surprising things, keeping me engaged enough to stick with the whole book despite my skepticism, and for giving the thought map a new face.

Read though this book and do some of the exercises. Take his clustering technique to a higher level-push it. This has so much greater value than you might suppose. I have both the first and second edition and found it truly valuable. Adding sensory aspects and color enhance the value. Get this book, be diligent, and see the difference in your writing.

I am using this book in a graduate writing class. Using the techniques in this book, I have been pleasantly surprised--no, shocked--at the latent creativity this book is tapping into. It is a bit hard to read at times, but just about any writer would find their writing enhanced by the techniques and exercises in this book. And every teacher of writing would find tons of ideas to bring to a classroom of pretty much any student from elementary to adult! Highly recommended!

I love this book! It amazes me how my thought processes are sharpened and my creative powers enhanced by the exercises in this book. I am an author and have used the clustering technique to get past writer's block and also to create scenes in my mind. I'm not much of a poet, but even I am kind of a poet when I use these right-brain exercises. I have used this book successfully at a workshop for writers and once for a church seminar. Those who let loose and enjoy the process, the experience, are usually surprised at what they can create. I highly recommend this book for serious writers of prose and poetry as well as for those who just love to fool around with words. Eunice Boeve  Ride a Shadowed Trail

I found no original ideas here at all, certainly nothing to help improve my writing. It's primarily a tribute to the concept and practice of clustering. I'm actually a huge fan of clustering but this book wasted my time.

I am a quilter who thinks of myself as a creative person but not as an "artist". I sew landscape quilts. I can take a photograph and replicate it in fabric to hang on a wall. MY passion is landscapes with horses. I have well developed technical skills and make beautiful quilts, but intuitively, I always knew my landscapes were lacking something. They are nice to look at but never really "told a story". And I am currently working at my own start up quilting business making landscape quilts with horses.I happened to read about Writing the Natural Way and just two chapters into the book, my life has changed! Since I am a strong left brain thinker, lineal in my thought process, I didn't have the ability to "just wonder". My using Gabriele's clustering method, I now can tap into the creative, right side brain thinking.My quilts now have emotion and tell a story. Another added benefit is I have been able to write more meaningful stories to family and friends.I highly recommend this book to everyone. I have already passed the book on to peers at work and they too report positive impact on their lives.

I'm not very disciplined about doing writing exercises and tend to do them only when stuck on a project. This book has some great exercises in it to release writer's block and to get the creative juices flowing. I am always amazed with what comes out of my pen when doing them. Great tool to have in your writer's toolbox.

Classic approach - very, very helpful. This is an excellent book to use if you really READ it and do the exercises as suggested to gain significant confidence in your writing style and writing voice.

Exactly as described- some underlining and the dustcover was a bit torn, but for $0.01, completely worth it!! No missing pages or serious damage, and it's the correct edition (and it shipped pretty quickly). Overall I'm very happy, thank you :)

Fascinating subject matter and a critical read for anyone exploring creative writing.

Really nice take on things

Rico's method isn't only great for writers, it's valuable advice for all creatives. It helps finding your own voice and unleash your creative power.

I love this book for all of you out there with writer's block, it's the book for you! Gets you thinking in a different way when writing. Gabrielle died recently, ​unfortunately.