Bird by Bird

One of the fellows at work heard that I was an aspiring writer, and he recommended (and more importantly, lent me) Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott. In the last few years, I've read a few books on writing (hated Reading Like a Writer by the ironically named Francine Prose) and literature interpretation (loved How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster), but this is by far the best I've ingested thus far. I think it has to do with the tone. Like Foster, Lamott has a light, confessional tone. I feel like a confidant and friend when I read the book, rather than an incompetent, bumbling fool.

"Oh, so everyone writes a shitty first draft," I smiled when I read the chapter called Shitty First Drafts. I mean, I knew that intellectually, but it was nice to see a successful writer commit it to print.

Lamott is funny and generous in sharing her experiences and lessons learned. Although I have a zillion other things I need to be doing, I am savoring every morsel of this book. Lamott offers up the goods. Just thought I'd share.