Bird by Bird  (English, Paperback, Lamott Anne)

Bird By Bird: Some Instructions On Writing And Life is a guide on what is needed to be a writer and how life is in the world of writers.

Summary Of The Book

The title of the book has been based on an incident from the author’s childhood, when her elder brother, who had to write an assignment on birds on a very tight deadline, was told by his father to take it bird by bird.

Bird By Bird: Some Instructions On Writing And Life is a guide on how to write books and manage an author’s life. It focusses on the dull reality and the spirituality of a writer’s life. The author encourages, inspires and instructs through her insights on introductions, assignments, characters, false starts, first drafts and appropriate endings. She also talks of writer’s associations and publications, with an honesty and sense of fun rarely seen these days.

She goes on to say that the will to write for oneself is reason enough to write. According to her, writing is important because of one’s spirit and their heart as they widen, deepen and extend the purpose for our living. She gives ideas on how to find inspiration and deal with a project that sounds overwhelming.

Bird By Bird: Some Instructions On Writing And Life is a hilarious, grounded, practical, and warm guide for those who have wondered what is required to be a writer and what it means to be a writer.

It not only carries good advice on craft, art and life, but is also funny, entertaining and cynical. By mentioning ‘shitty first drafts’, the author also makes it clear that most possibly, the first draft would not be perfect; therefore, also making it quite evident that it is alright to make errors.

About Anne Lamott

From being a non-fiction writer to a novelist, a political activist, a teacher and a public speaker, Anne Lamott is an American author who wears a multitude of hats.

Other books by the author are Operating Instructions: A Journal Of My Son’s First Year, Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, All New People and Grace (Eventually): Thoughts On Faith.

She has been identified to use a style of narrative non-fiction, often referred to as particularism, in her works.
Anne Lamott has mostly written autobiographical accounts laced with honesty and humor. Born and raised in San Francisco, she graduated from Drew School.