Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

April 26, 2010 at 9:07 pm (Uncategorized)

I finally picked up the book Bird by Bird.  I’ve heard of it many times and even have one writer friend who says it is one of her favorite books on writing, but I was just never interested.  The title always put me off.  I interpreted it as some stuffy book by some self aggrandizing writer.  I could hear a British accent saying, Bird… by Bird.  Then the most recent issue of Writer’s Digest came out and they had an article by Anne Lamott which turned me on to what the book really is.  Part memoir and part writing instruction manual, Anne Lamott’s book is very accessible.  I’m only a couple chapters in but I very much identify with what she has to say.  I recognize myself in her memoir and her advice makes sense.  I still wish that I could make a living writing fiction, but I know that she’s right in saying that it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and I should focus on enjoying the writing process.  I highly recommend the book.