Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

I first heard of Anne Lamott through a recommendation made by my friend, Karin (who will also be reviewing for Book Savants). From the Facebook posts Karin would share with me, to the snippets I would read here and there, I knew I was in for a good read from the moment I opened Bird by Bird. And I wasn't disappointed. Bird by Bird is a realistic and honest account of writing and may be especially helpful for someone with tunnel vision set on publication.

The premise of Bird by Bird is, as its subtitle suggests, "Some Instructions on Writing and Life." The title comes from a time when her brother waited until the last minute (of a three month period) to begin working on an essay about birds. He was distraught at the kitchen table with unopened books and anxiety up to his ears. But their father encouraged him to just get started and take it "bird by bird."

Bird by Bird is a culmination of Anne Lamott's first-hand knowledge and experience of writing up to the point of its publishing. She offers tips and stories of the classes she's taught. She dispels myths about the process and offers real, undecorated advice that keeps the reader grounded. It's going to be tough, you'll probably suffer and in the end you might not get published. You might come so close to being published, but in the end be told to start over again anew. But the joy, Lamott suggests, comes in the writing process itself. You may not make a living writing, but you can learn to give wholly of yourself to the blank page. You can learn to appreciate the internal struggle of writing and committing to one story line versus another.

Author, Anne Lamott

For me, Bird by Bird was helpful in getting started. Lamott suggests focusing on a "one inch picture frame." Imagine a snapshot of a setting, or a character, or a small fraction of a scene and describe it. Just start writing. And if what you write tomorrow is totally unrelated, so be it. Eventually those snippets might reconnect in a plot that comes to you as you drive down the interstate or fly across the pond.

Also, dedicate time to writing. Every morning at 6 a.m. give it an hour. Or every evening at 9:00. Whatever you do, continue doing it. You might sit in agony for twenty minutes with a blank page and a busy mind but close your eyes, empty your internal voices and give it the time you've promised. Eventually it will become habit and trigger your mind to shift into its creative gear when you sit down.

Aside from the writing process, Lamott addresses the struggles writers go through with jealousy of other writers. Being a writer is more than producing written work. It's being human, experiencing the world, struggling with emotions and life and working hard to keep your chin up. And those struggles are often what can inspire our work, but we can't let them suffocate it.

Lamott's Bird by Bird has taught me a number of things, and I'm certain anyone who reads it will also walk away with something whether it be new motivation for writing or perhaps a different perspective on things. You don't have to be a writer to appreciate the lessons contained in Bird by Bird. And if you are a writer, I believe Lamott's advice that getting published isn't going to change your life and solve your problems. It's more important to focus on the journey and be the best artist you can be. Love yourself and love your work.

Now get out there and jump into a "shitty first draft" and tell your story.

You can find Bird by Bird at a library near you or purchase it on Amazon.