Hold on tightly let go lightly

I can't find a more profound source for this quote than the film 'Croupier' but for now that will do. Having recommended 'Writing Down the Bones' http://amzn.to/jZaevS in a tweet earlier this morning I took a look at the negative reviews. It seems the objection of most of the reviews is that to get together a book you need form and discipline and structure. No doubt. But before you can form and structure things, you need to have written something. That's what this book is brilliant at advocating and explaining. It shows you a way to just get writing, and to keep writing. It's interesting that several of the negative reviews are from 'published authors.' Hidden in their comments is the assumption that this would be the only reason that you would tap a keyboard or put pen to paper. But of course, for most people, the idea 'is this sentence of publishable quality' would be utterly crippling to their writing. What Natalie Goldberg is encouraging is the literary equivalent of "Dance as is if no one's listening." Of course the reality is that we need both sides of the coin - holding on and letting go. We need an id and a super ego. We need plans and we need to be able to make stuff up on the spot. This book tells you it's OK to let go in a far more convincing and reassuring way than any of the other books mentioned in the negative reviews.

Ok, I'm going to get myself a fresh 'Regular Americano, Extra Shot," and write zazen as advocated in "Writing Down the Bones" for an hour.
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