Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg, 1986 

The author writes a ‘how to write’ book from the perspective of a Zen practitioner—-just sit, move your hand, and write page after page without editing, rewriting, thinking, or being critical.  Let your ‘inner writer’ free and you will achieve inner peace through expression of love for the earth, others, and yourself.  Well, that may be a bit oversimplified, but not much.  There are some pearls among the 190 some pages—specific techniques for writing, keeping a journal, making it a part of your every day, etc, but there’s much too much New Age mantra chanting for me.  Probably a good book for every aspiring writer to read, but then move on to the nuts and bolts of the craft, ala Verlyn Klinkenborg.  This is evidently a cult classic for Zen writers.  Glad I read it.