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. ( )

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

I decided to reread Anne Lamott’s treatise on writing, Bird by Bird, because I was looking for some inspiration to jump-start my own creative life, and I got it. The underlying messages are:

Everything is OK.

Do it [writing, creating, whatever] because it’s fun, it’s personally satisfying, it helps you and heals you.

Don’t bother being perfect.

These are things I desperately need to hear, probably more than once. ( )

I loved the way she kept me reading page after page. The realism and the similaries between art (writting) and life were a complete snack for my "free-time reading".

to hone your own writing or to remind yourself why good writing matters. "when writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their prose and their truths, and even make us laugh about ourselves or life, our buoyancy is restored. we are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life instead of being squashed by it over and over again." (p. 237) oh, please yes.

I have a secret. It haunts me every waking minute of every day and sometimes steals my sleep. It invades my thoughts, filling my mind with promise and fear and anxiety and doubt. Mostly the doubt overtakes the other feelings, so I end up feeling unsure about myself more than anything else.

Last week, in support of this thing I am hiding from everyone, I went into the local Barnes and Noble. That’s not an uncommon event in my life by any means. But on this day, instead of perusing the remainders and bargains or the local author display, I clandestinely ventured up the escalator to the second floor, searching for a section of books I’d never dared look at before. I glanced over my shoulder furtively several times as I snaked through the shelves, worried someone might be following me. When I spied the titles I was looking for, I looked both ways, ever wary, just like a kid about to pull his first shoplifting caper. My first steps towards the target were quickly retraced as a friendly employee asked if I was finding everything alright. Nervously, with wringing hands locked behind my back, I assured the helpful clerk that I was fine and moved quickly away. Once the coast was clear again, I darted between two shelves and gazed up at the subject of my secret: writing.

I have a secret. I want to write. No, if I’m honest with myself, it’s more. I need to write and, what’s even more, I think I can write. The vanity that fuels such a notion in me is staggering. The idea that anything I produced, any story I told, would be interesting to anyone, that it would be readable, is ludicrous. There’s a healthy dose of that doubt I mentioned earlier.

Nourishing my conceit, I ran my hands over the spines of several studies on writing. There were the familiar ‘Dummies’ guides, offering everything you need to know on writing your first novel, having it published in under a year, and selling the screen rights in under two. There were short, cryptic monographs, offering the least amount of information and support necessary to achieve publication. These little diatribes were published, it seemed, by authors interested only maintaining the mysteries of the profession, authors intent on protecting their own status as big fish in a little pond. There was even a picture book, offering ten or twelve witty quips, with comic book illustrations. Then, my hand came to rest on [Bird by Bird] by Anne Lamott, a title which seemed out of place until you notice the full title on the front cover includes the phrase, Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Securing the book under my arm to hide the title from anyone who might figure me for one of those people who dreamed up talent and wit wildly beyond their true capabilities, one of those people who are constantly imagining that they are only a few words from being discovered as the next great American novelist or poet, I scurried downstairs and checked out, hoping the cashier wouldn’t roll her eyes at me.

Lamott’s book is one part writing class, one part therapeutic treatment, one part theological essay, and one part George Carlin stand-up routine. Such a mix demands attention. And, if that combination wasn’t enough, Lamott’s sardonic personality penetrates throughout, displaying a truly unique and funny voice.

It turns out that Lamott offers as much thought on life as she does on the practice of writing. She sees the act as more of a tool of self-realization and self-expansion than a profession; sees it as more of an extension of our basic human need to be understood. Not everyone is drawn to this frightening outlet in their search for visibility and understanding but anyone who harbors the secret desire of writing or who is a constant and dedicated reader will recognize themselves immediately in this book. For Lamott, writing is ultimately an exercise in opening yourself up and paying attention to the world around you and then allowing yourself to translate those personal experiences to the page, offering them back to the world as a gift.

Don’t despair; the book is not all so ethereal and touchy-feely. Lamott also gives practical, everyday advice on sitting at the desk or in front of a computer and getting words onto paper. She breaks down the daunting act of writing into simple, reachable goals, what she calls, ‘short assignments.’ She provides tips on plot and character and story building. But Lamott never abandons her message of writing simply for the sake of writing, for the growth and perspective it offers. And, though Lamott touches briefly on the publishing world, publication is decidedly not her goal in writing. Sure, Lamott admits, she harbored fantasies about publishing her work to a chorus of praise and a shower of money; she longed to stroke her own ego in reaching millions of readers with her personal thoughts. But Lamott eventually realized that the true reward of writing is in how it affects your own life, not in how it affects others.

All of the authors I love, the best authors, always seem to be working through something for themselves, something personal, in creating their stories and characters. When a book pierces my heart, calls to some part of me, it is usually because the author has hit on some unrequited feeling or unfulfilled need, or, perhaps, because the author has captured a person or a part of life so artfully, so adroitly, that it bears the absolute and terrible ring of truth. In [A Moveable Feast], Hemingway described a recurring conversation he had with himself in jumpstarting his writing. He repeatedly told himself, “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.” Lamott puts it this way, “If something inside you is real, we will probably find it interesting, and it will probably be universal. … Tell the truth as you understand it. If you’re a writer, you have a moral obligation to do this. And it is a revolutionary act – truth is always subversive.” That search for universal truth in life and the sincere desire to translate it for fellow travelers makes for great writing. Tapping into your own soul, your own inner most thoughts and feelings, is both the goal and its own reward.

I have a secret. And it’s a secret that I may never share with many folks. But books like [Bird by Bird] and [Joy Writing] by Ken Amdahl have helped define the secret and invest me in its reality. So, I will write, however conceited it makes me feel, however doubtful I may be of myself. But, in the process, I hope to discover myself, discover the world around me, and, maybe, the truth that reside in both. ( )

I found this book very helpful for any sort of creative effort, be it writing, songwriting, painting, or whatever. ( )

A surprisingly hysterical book about writing and, as the title implies, life. The hype surrounding Lamott's book is definitely well-earned and I can't wait to read more of her work. Much of her advice on writing is practical and no-nonsense as she addresses the difficulties of writing and getting published.

If I had one complaint it would be that I wasn't as inspired to write by the end of the book as I was to be Anne's friend. I definitely appreciated her twisted and unusual sense of humor (I often laughed out loud, not something I was expecting during chapters about editing, publishing, etc.). For example, her thoughts on libel: "If you disguise this person carefully so that he cannot be recognized by the physical and professional facts of his life, you can use him in your work. And the best advice I can give you is to give him a teenie little penis so he will be less likely to come forth." ( )

You should read this book. Even if you don't ever intend to write a single word for fun or profit, you should read this book. It is hilarious and heartbreaking and awesome and painful to read, and I did not want it to end. ( )

Anne Lamott, a writer of fiction and nonfiction, distills the advice she gives to her creative writing students. Using her two cornerstones of writing -- short assignments and "shitty first drafts" -- a lot of humor, personal stories, and memorable metaphors, this is unlike any writing how-to book I've ever read. She doesn't beat you over the head with "you must write every day" (though she suggests writing at least 300 words a day, even if you only write about how much you don't want to write) or give you a formula. She doesn't making writing sound easy but doable, not overwhelming. It made me want to pick up a pen and write myself. ( )

I just love Anne Lamott and her instructions to writers in this book is positively priceless. Rather than writing a how-to writing tome, she guides us through some of the activities that inform her own writing, many of them now part of my own repetoire as a writer.

She's funny, honest, and her advice is spot on. ( )

I picked up this book because I thought it was about birds. Its title and cover art were certainly deceiving. Nevertheless, when I found out it was about writing, I was pleased. I figured I could always use more advice in that realm.

Each of us might not have the talent to write well, but we do have the ability to improve our writing. For those of us who want to try our hand at writing, this is an excellent book with which to begin. Bird by Bird is organized in such a way that it is possible to dip into an appropriate chapter based on whatever topic is most pertinent at a particular time. Very easy to read, it dispenses advice in a friendly and humorous manner. The book deals more with the psychology of writing than with its technical aspects, but this is what many people need to even begin.

I’d recommend this book for anyone who wishes to write, is uncertain about his or her writing ability, or has writer's block. It has inspired me to try to improve my writing. I’ll now be passing this book along to a friend whom I hope to encourage to begin writing once again. ( )

http://alookatabook.blogspot.com/2009... ( )

Essentially worthless, except there is a good exercise about elementary school lunch. ( )

I received this book as a Christmas gift from my parents. I found this book very helpful in the sense that the author shares her successes and failures. Though it does not go in depth in regards to grammar, plot developement, character developement, the author did share some helpful tips. One of her tips is to carry note cards everywhere. You never know when an idea will strike. I tend to lose note cards so I opted for a digital recorder. This book showed me that every other writer goes through the same torture when starting his/her career. I will be sure to read this book again. ( )

Subtitle: Some Instructions On Writing And Life. A funny examination of writing practices and the writing life. ( )

Lamott makes me want to spend my whole life writing. I love her prose, her insight, her wit. ( )

This is my favorite book on writing ever. Annie Lamott has wit, humor common sense, and above all respect for the writer in everyone. ( )

Engaging, if not always inspiring. ( )

This is a “warts and all” guide to a writer’s life by one of my favorite authors. Lamott shares her realities as a writer and writing instructor, with a down-to-earth style that makes you feel like you can write too. The title is a reference to the advice her writer father gave to his son when he was struggling with a book report about birds: “Just take it bird by bird.” And it is that kind of succinct and realistic advice you’ll find here. And as the title says, the lessons aren’t just about writing…they are about living too. ( )

Fantastic book. Infectious energy, enthusiasm, humour, vitality -- can't praise it highly enough. Anyone who wants to write MUST read this book. ( )