The book is supportive and humorous, offering both advice and anecdotes of Lamott’s own experience as a writer.

You may be wondering about the title, Bird by Bird; the author explains it in an early chapter, “Short Assignments” (p. 18):

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. … 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 arms around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’ “

Bird by Bird encourages the reader (writer) with Lamott’s advice of writing “short assignments” (keep writing, one sentence at a time), gives permission to let go of perfectionism, shares tips for mining memories for detail, and and offers tips on character, plot, dialogue, and setting.

It is not, as proclaimed on the book blurb, as step-by-step guide. Rather, it’s a user-friendly tool to get the writer through a rough patch, to bring the task back into focus and keep moving. Jill at Fizzy Thoughts recommended Bird by Bird to me after I was whining on Twitter that my NaNoWriMo piece was all junk, but I had to keep writing, couldn’t look back to edit it, had to make my word count goal, etc. I read an excerpt of the book online, then went out and picked up a copy the next day.

It didn’t leave my side for the rest of November as I worked toward writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. I completed the writing; it’s not pretty, but, hey, Anne Lamott writes about “shoddy first drafts” (except she uses a different word which is a perfect description but doesn’t meet my G-rated blog rating).

Later in the book Lamott discusses situations that might apply to an actual writer, including publication and jealousy of the success of peers. I read these sections, and found them illuminating, but it was the first half of the book that I connected with the most.

I’ll share just one excerpt from the chapter titled “Jealousy.” Lamott was experiencing extreme envy of a friend who was not only successfully published, but was, apparently, raking in money as well as acclaim. Here you’ll get a sense of the wry and self-deprecating wit she uses to illustrate her point:

I recommend Bird by Bird, whether your writing goals are journaling, a short-term challenge, or something more elaborate.

Full review at: http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/20...
She Is Too Fond of Books ( )

Not just an inspiration for would be writers but a gift for living life one day at a time. ( )

This is more or less a distilled version of one of Lamott's writing courses. In it she explains the importance of shitty first drafts, short assignments, and writing partners, among other things. She shares many intimate moments from her life, both writing and otherwise, as well as her responses to the usual questions from her students. This book came recommended as one of those books that every aspiring writer must read. In a way I agree with this: Lamott is brutally honest about the trials and tribulations of writing without sounding bleak or condescending (like some other people I have read). On the contrary, she's very funny. Her descriptions of her anguish as she waits for a response from her agent and her suspicion that all her friends are having a party behind her back are great, mostly because I - like most writers - have definitely been there. She puts a humorous spin on the artistic angst that comes with the territory. You may feel like every other writer on the planet sits down at their computer with a sunny disposition and a thousand ideas that pour out like liquid gold onto the page, but that's simply not true. Lamott's entertaining wit helped remind me that all this nonsense really is normal, and the only remedy is to get back to writing.

However, this book did not fill me with the heaping piles of inspiration that other writing books have in the past. Some part of me is now filled with the newfound fear that I am neither brave enough nor honest enough to churn out truly excellent fiction. But in the end, perhaps that's not really the point. After all, if you're not writing because you want to write - if you just want to be published and receive all the attention and reassurance that you believe it brings (which it really doesn't) - then maybe you should be rethinking this whole writing thing. To the artist, the creation of the art, however anxiety-ridden or frustrating or exhausting the process may be at times, is its own reward. Sure, it may never be published and nobody but your family may ever read it, but you still can change lives. Maybe even your own. ( )

Actually? I really loved this book. It was incredibly encouraging, especially since it pre-dates Travelling Mercies. ( )

Actually? I really loved this book. It was incredibly encouraging, especially since it pre-dates Travelling Mercies. ( )