BIRD BY BIRD: SOME INSTRUCTIONS ON WRITING AND LIFE

by Anne Lamott
Anchor, 1994, 238 Pages

Bird by Bird is a delight to read. Lamott offers writing advice that would work for both fiction and creative non-fiction writing while interspersing personal stories (mini-memoirs) about how writing has figured in her life. Lamott is a likable narrator, with a funny, sometimes self-deprecating voice, who shows readers that she is human in the face of her overwhelmingly successful writing and teaching career.

The book is organized into five major sections: Writing, The Writing Frame of Mind, Help Along the Way, and Publication- And Other Reasons to Write, and The Last Class. The short chapters within each section are stand alone pieces and can be read in any order. This is a feature that proves useful if a reader only wants to review how Lamott suggests using index cards in keeping track of ideas and observations or how Lamott suggests starting writing with short assignments in mind instead of being overwhelmed by novel length projects. A few essays do build upon concepts introduced in the previous chapters, but there is enough context provided that a reader understands what Lamott is trying to say without having to go read or re-read a previous section.

My favorite part of the book is the chapter “Plot Treatment,” where Lamott recalls a grueling experience trying to get her second novel to work. Lamott had a deep love for her characters, and everyone who read excerpts said the characters were great. Lamott’s editor, however, twice delivered the bad news that the story, the plot wasn’t working.

An older, wiser Lamott tells how her 28 year old, less experienced writing self went on a near hysterical rant with the editor, defending why her characters were outstanding and why things were happening the way they were happening in the novel. The older Lamott voice explains that this verbal deluge uncovered a great deal of plot and motivation that was not written anywhere on paper. The editor told Lamott to write a plot treatment based on the rant, and Lamott was able to restructure her writing, filling in the gaps that existed in the text. This story demonstrates how frustrating the writing process can be, but it also shows that if a writer has faith in his/her characters and storyline and enough persistence, that fabulous writing can eventually emerge. It is a story of struggle and hope that many writers will find inspiring.

I would definitely recommend Bird by Bird. Lamott has useful writing advice as well as interesting, funny anecdotes about how she learned the writing lessons she is imparting. I’m sure that I will use some of the writing tips Lamott suggests, and that I will re-read parts of this book many times.

You can find an Anne Lamott fan page here.