"Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to write. [It] was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother's shoulder, and said. 'Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.'" With this basic instruction always in mind, Anne Lamott returns to offer us a new gift: a step-by-step guide on how to write and on how to manage the writer's life. From "Getting Started,' with "Short Assignments," through "Shitty First Drafts," "Character," "Plot," "Dialogue." all the way from "False Starts" to "How Do You Know When You're Done?" Lamott encourages, instructs, and inspires. She discusses "Writers Block," "Writing Groups," and "Publication." Bracingly honest, she is also one of the funniest people alive. If you have ever wondered what it takes to be a writer, what it means to be a writer, what the contents of your school lunches said about what your parents were really like, this books for you. From faith, love, and grace to pain, jealousy, and fear, Lamott insists that you keep your eves open, and then shows you how to survive. And always, from the life of the artist she turns to the art of life. "An inspiring book about writing as a way of finding the truth -- San Francisco Chronicle "Surpasses all the other books on writing already out there -- even the wonderful stuff by Natalie Goldberg, John Gardner, and Annie Dillard." -- Seattle Times "Well-written, funny, and useful." -- Denver Post "I ended up reading it twice and expect to dip into it again in times of need. I recommend this book to other writers without reservation....This woman is uncanny." -- Marie Winn, Wall Street Journal "A quirky, personal, mordant, down-to-earth guide to fiction writing by a wonderful novelist essayist. Lamott makes writing seem like something you could actually enjoy." -- The Nation
Think you've got a book inside of you? Anne Lamott isn't afraid to help you let it out. She'll help you find your passion and your voice, beginning from the first really crummy draft to the peculiar letdown of publication. Readers will be reminded of the energizing books of writer Natalie Goldberg and will be seduced by Lamott's witty take on the reality of a writer's life, which has little to do with literary parties and a lot to do with jealousy, writer's block and going for broke with each paragraph. Marvelously wise and best of all, great reading.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Not my favorite writing book...:
We used this as a text for my writing class. My professor said it was great, but it didn't help me much. I've read better.
Learn to become a better writer and a better you.:
Very interesting read that offers sound, simple strategies sure to improve your writing. I especially enjoyed LaMott's tidbits that offer some insight into overcoming life's obstacles. I found an audio recording from LaMott called WORD BY WORD and played it for some of my English students at an alternative high school. They loved it. They laughed and shared similar anecdotes from their own lives. LaMott's writing is a great example of strong voice. Her honesty and vulnerability resonates on each page and is... more info
BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott:
Bird by Bird is a 1994 book on writing and life by novelist and writing instructor Anne Lamott. This is partly a book on writing and partly a memoir - obviously, when writers write books on writing, this is not an infrequent combination, although Lamott more or less melds them inextricably together - there is no "writing" section and "memoir" section. There is relatively little in Bird by Bird on craft. Lamott gives a few tips on plotting, character and dialogue, but by and large she's more concerned... more info
Wonderful Book!:
Lamott frames her book with the story of her then elementary school-aged brother's struggle to complete an assigned book report on birds. Lamott recalls her father's advice to his overwhelmed son--"Just take it bird by bird," he said. This is the main message of Lamott's book as well, as she outlines specific techniques writers can use to break the process of creative writing down into digestible pieces, and how to take it one step at a time. Lamott truly demystifies the writing process with this book,... more info
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