Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
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- Create Date：2021-10-05 09:54:00
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Anne Lamott
- ISBN：0385480016
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Summary
A previous edition of this title can be found here。
For a quarter century， more than a million readers—scribes and scribblers of all ages and abilities—have been inspired by Anne Lamott’s hilarious， big-hearted， homespun advice。 Advice that begins with the simple words of wisdom passed down from Anne’s father—also a writer—in the iconic passage that gives the book its title:
“Thirty years ago my older brother， who was ten years old at the time， was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write。 It was due the next day。 We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas， and he was at the kitchen table close to tears， surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds， immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead。 Then my father sat down beside him， put his arm around my brother’s shoulder， and said， ‘Bird by bird， buddy。 Just take it bird by bird。’”
An essential volume for generations of writers young and old， Bird by Bird is a modern classic。 This twenty-fifth anniversary edition will continue to spark creative minds for years to come。
For a quarter century， more than a million readers—scribes and scribblers of all ages and abilities—have been inspired by Anne Lamott’s hilarious， big-hearted， homespun advice。 Advice that begins with the simple words of wisdom passed down from Anne’s father—also a writer—in the iconic passage that gives the book its title:
“Thirty years ago my older brother， who was ten years old at the time， was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write。 It was due the next day。 We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas， and he was at the kitchen table close to tears， surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds， immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead。 Then my father sat down beside him， put his arm around my brother’s shoulder， and said， ‘Bird by bird， buddy。 Just take it bird by bird。’”
An essential volume for generations of writers young and old， Bird by Bird is a modern classic。 This twenty-fifth anniversary edition will continue to spark creative minds for years to come。
Reviews
Ella
，
2。49 stars — imagine a book that combines the bad halves of a writing book and a self help book together。 voila， you get this。 there was much too much over sharing details （particularly boring details） and something about the writing style just didn’t click with me， tho i gotta admit， some one liners were pretty great
Keryn Powell
，
It lived up to its promise of laugh-out-loud。 After a few hundred pages it did get a teeny bit jaded but the bare-all honesty of Anne was refreshing and reassuring。 I do hope she asked permission from the friends she quoted and described！ I'll remember the wisdom of this book by two words: birds and broccoli。 It lived up to its promise of laugh-out-loud。 After a few hundred pages it did get a teeny bit jaded but the bare-all honesty of Anne was refreshing and reassuring。 I do hope she asked permission from the friends she quoted and described！ I'll remember the wisdom of this book by two words: birds and broccoli。 。。。more
John Boyack
，
Golden！ Moment:"The second question my students ask about a writing partner is this: what if someone agrees to read and work on your stuff for you， and you have agreed to do the same for him， say， and it turns out that he says things about your work， even in the nicest possible tone of voice， that are totally negative and destructive？ You find yourself devastated， betrayed。 Here you've done this incredibly gutsy thing， shown someone your very heart and soul， and he doesn't think it's any good。 H Golden！ Moment:"The second question my students ask about a writing partner is this: what if someone agrees to read and work on your stuff for you， and you have agreed to do the same for him， say， and it turns out that he says things about your work， even in the nicest possible tone of voice， that are totally negative and destructive？ You find yourself devastated， betrayed。 Here you've done this incredibly gutsy thing， shown someone your very heart and soul， and he doesn't think it's any good。 He says how sorry he is that this is how he feels。 Well， let me tell you this --- I don't think he is。 I think destroying your work gave him real pleasure， pleasure he would never cop to， pleasure that is almost sexual in nature。 I think you should get rid of this person immediately， even if you are married to him。 No one should talk to you like this。 If you write a long piece， and it is your first， and you are wondering if it's publishable， and it isn't， even by a long shot， someone should be able to tell you this in a way that is gentle yet not patronizing， so that you are encouraged --- maybe not to pursue publication， but to pursue writing。 Certainly this person might suggest you get a second opinion。 But if he is too strident or adamant， ditch the sucker。 Would you stand for someone talking this way to your children --- for instance， telling them that they are not very talented at painting and shouldn't even bother？ Or that their poetry is not very interesting？ Of course not。 You'd want to go pay this person a little visit with your flamethrower。 So why， if someone says something like this to you， would you want anything further to do with him？ Why waste what little time you have left with such scum？I worry that Jesus drinks himself to sleep when he hears me talk like this。 But about a month before my friend Pammy died， she said something that may have permanently changed me。We had gone shopping for a dress for me to wear that night to a nightclub with the man I was seeing at the time。 Pammy was in a wheelchair， wearing her Queen Mum wig， the Easy Rider look in her eyes。 I tried on a lavender mini-dress， which is not my usual style。 I tend to wear big， baggy clothes。 People used to tell me I dressed like John Goodman。 Anyway， the dress fit perfectly， and I came out to model it for her。 I stood there feeling very shy and self-conscious and pleased。 Then I said， "Do you think it makes my hips look too big？" and she said to me slowly， "Annie？ I really don't think you have that kind of time。"And I don't think you have that kind of time either。 I don't think you have time to waste not writing because you are afraid you won't be good enough at it， and I don't think you have time to waste on someone who does not respond to you with kindness and respect。 You don't want to spend your time around people who make you hold your breath。" 。。。more
K M Surges
，
For an author who advises writers to have reverence for all different kinds of people， she sure has some ignorant things to say about disabled people。
Sherry Seymour
，
Hilarious， mind-opening， and inspiring！
Leanne Albillar
，
There’s some good writing advice here， but it’s buried in a sea of endless self-deprecation， flowery language， unrelated rambles， and shitty jokes about genocide， disabled people， and mental illness。 If an author spends their entire writing advice book talking about how awful writing is and how bad of a writer they are， I’m not inclined to respect them。 I’m also frankly disgusted by the way she talks about her writing students， elderly people， disabled people， and pretty much everyone else。
Abhijeet Kumar
，
Bird by bird is a novel， telling the story of a writer。 Anne shares about her life and other people around。 She tells about her published works and what all she went through to become a published writer。The book would be beneficial for fiction writers。 But it would also come handy for anyone who's looking for a motivation to write about themselves in a blog or even social media。I would say Bird by Bird is a book which helps you get the mindset of a writer。 It's somewhat similar to Stephen King's Bird by bird is a novel， telling the story of a writer。 Anne shares about her life and other people around。 She tells about her published works and what all she went through to become a published writer。The book would be beneficial for fiction writers。 But it would also come handy for anyone who's looking for a motivation to write about themselves in a blog or even social media。I would say Bird by Bird is a book which helps you get the mindset of a writer。 It's somewhat similar to Stephen King's book On Writing。 。。。more
John Lazenby
，
I really loved the writing in it！ She is very funny and clever。 However was too "for writers" specific for my interest。 I really loved the writing in it！ She is very funny and clever。 However was too "for writers" specific for my interest。 。。。more
Jane
，
I just don't click with Lamott。 Every time I started to appreciate something she was talking about， her humor or attempts to be cute would turn me off。 All her books are autobiographical and I g0t tired of hearing about her family and friends and her recovery。 There is also a childishness about her that seems off to me。 I know others have found this book on writing helpful， but I found it a slog--and sad。 I just don't click with Lamott。 Every time I started to appreciate something she was talking about， her humor or attempts to be cute would turn me off。 All her books are autobiographical and I g0t tired of hearing about her family and friends and her recovery。 There is also a childishness about her that seems off to me。 I know others have found this book on writing helpful， but I found it a slog--and sad。 。。。more
Gillyz
，
Some parts are quite insightful， but most of the book actually makes me feel like I'm having a beer and taking to Anne in a pub。I don't think it added much to my knowledge， but it's still an easy and fun read。 Some parts are quite insightful， but most of the book actually makes me feel like I'm having a beer and taking to Anne in a pub。I don't think it added much to my knowledge， but it's still an easy and fun read。 。。。more
Kit
，
I just didn't vibe with it。 🤷🏻♀️ I just didn't vibe with it。 🤷🏻♀️ 。。。more
Lulu （the library leopard）
，
Life is too short to pretend you're reading books you haven't touched for months！ Also I found out that Anne Lamott is a white lady with dreadlocks and that made me lose enough respect for her that I was like "Why should I read a book full of her advice？" Life is too short to pretend you're reading books you haven't touched for months！ Also I found out that Anne Lamott is a white lady with dreadlocks and that made me lose enough respect for her that I was like "Why should I read a book full of her advice？" 。。。more
Kati Rose
，
Really great book on the patience and craft of writing。 Bird by bird。。。read the book to find out why this is the best advice！
Amanda Artist Cat
，
While simple to understand and witty at times， I didn't learn very much from "Bird by Bird" that I hadn't read somewhere else。It was interesting to read from Anne Lamott's personal writing experiences， I sometimes found her overly cynical， though the Chinese translator may be to blame for that。 （I wish I could have read the English version， but sadly it wasn't available。） While simple to understand and witty at times， I didn't learn very much from "Bird by Bird" that I hadn't read somewhere else。It was interesting to read from Anne Lamott's personal writing experiences， I sometimes found her overly cynical， though the Chinese translator may be to blame for that。 （I wish I could have read the English version， but sadly it wasn't available。） 。。。more
Steve Fox
，
A surprisingly easy to read book about writing。 Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life" is about more than writing。 I compare it some ways to Steven King's "On Writing" that similarly surprised me in it's practical advice and easy readability for essentially a guide on how to work as a writer。I made journalism my career - professional writing in another sense than these books focus on - so can relate in many ways to the challenges and struggles writers face。 I am also A surprisingly easy to read book about writing。 Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life" is about more than writing。 I compare it some ways to Steven King's "On Writing" that similarly surprised me in it's practical advice and easy readability for essentially a guide on how to work as a writer。I made journalism my career - professional writing in another sense than these books focus on - so can relate in many ways to the challenges and struggles writers face。 I am also in awe of those who write prolifically outside of the non-fiction genres。 。。。more
Tetiana
，
Читаючи цю книгу， вкотре переконалася， що певні тексти приходять до нас саме в той， потрібний момент。 Це значно більше， ніж порадник із письменництва。 Там немає чітких 1。。。， 2。。。， 3。。。， які до кінця книжки зроблять із того， хто читає， видатного автора。 Але зі всього написаного ви точно візьмете багато для роздумів про власне життя。 Про мрії， на які часто не вистачає сміливості。 Про очікування， які не збігаються з реальністю。 Про бажання і мету писати。Енн Ламотт до цієї книги була невідомою мені Читаючи цю книгу， вкотре переконалася， що певні тексти приходять до нас саме в той， потрібний момент。 Це значно більше， ніж порадник із письменництва。 Там немає чітких 1。。。， 2。。。， 3。。。， які до кінця книжки зроблять із того， хто читає， видатного автора。 Але зі всього написаного ви точно візьмете багато для роздумів про власне життя。 Про мрії， на які часто не вистачає сміливості。 Про очікування， які не збігаються з реальністю。 Про бажання і мету писати。Енн Ламотт до цієї книги була невідомою мені авторкою。 Але сторінка за сторінкою， пташка за пташкою， я знайомилася з людиною， яка добре розуміє， для чого і для кого пише。 Вона розповідає про письменницький шлях без рожевих окулярів。 Але це не означає， що їх ніколи не було。 Це означає， що з часом вони тріснули й розлетілися на маленькі друзки。 Бо шлях непростий。 Бо написати добру книгу означає залізти в найтемніші кутки свого серця。 Знову засвітити там світло， а разом з ним і болі， і розчарування， і незагоєні рани。 "Ми пишемо， аби висловити невимовне"， - каже Ламотт。 І на таке висловлення часом дуже страшно наважитись。 Ось ці тези влучили найбільше。 Бо читання книги видавалось таким， ніби мене зачинили в кімнаті з власними непроговореними історіями。 І ті історії， одна за одною， як короткометражки， блимали перед очима і тиснули。 Значить， усе ще болить。。。Недарма це， окрім письменництва， "порадник із життя загалом"。 Слово "порадник" я б узагалі викинула з назви。 Це просто розмова。 Хоч і непроста。 Розмова і спроба читача сказати своїм болям кілька важливих слів。 Можливо， нарешті пережити， переплакати， перерости。 А може， колись і написати про це。 Щоб полегшити чийсь тягар。 Тож книга ця не лише для тих， хто хоче писати。 Вона для всіх。 І добре， що вид-во "Апріорі" переклало її українською。 І добре， що я зайшла того дня у книгарню。 Як виявилось， зовсім не випадково。 。。。more
Chris Regan
，
What an amazing little book。 Reading this feels as if Anne Lamott and I just sat over coffee shooting the shit about writing for a few hours。 Albeit she did most of the shooting。These pages overflow with wisdom and practical advice， laugh out loud moments （“give him a tiny penis”） and those that bring you to the brink of tears （“she’s teaching you how to live”）。I made myself read through once completely without taking notes （just earmarking pages） - but rest assured I’ll be filling my copy up wi What an amazing little book。 Reading this feels as if Anne Lamott and I just sat over coffee shooting the shit about writing for a few hours。 Albeit she did most of the shooting。These pages overflow with wisdom and practical advice， laugh out loud moments （“give him a tiny penis”） and those that bring you to the brink of tears （“she’s teaching you how to live”）。I made myself read through once completely without taking notes （just earmarking pages） - but rest assured I’ll be filling my copy up with notes fast than you can say Purple Shark Skin Suit。I still stink at writing （mostly due to my woeful inconsistency） but I feel that this book me two and a half steps closer to the Writer I plan on becoming。 。。。more
Gloria
，
I’m not a writer， but heard I should read this book anyway。 It was a lovely reminder to engage with your creativity， your imagination， your ability to create… to make time for all these things。 To be disciplined… a bit。 :） The book is written with so much humor。 Highly recommend。
Mariah Kempf
，
page 13
Rohini Davuluri
，
I love how she infuses humour into her writing。 The book gave me the confidence to sit down to my writing。 A lot of admiration for the author。
Lauren K
，
One of the best writing books I've read。 One of the best writing books I've read。 。。。more
Francis Concepcion
，
Filled with poignant and insightful stories about the craft， as well as practical tips on the craft of writing。
Darth
，
So， I've read On Writing by Stephen King and it was good。 Like， really good。 But this？ This was a revelation。 Maybe it's the bleeding heart， edgy， write or die creative in me， but I felt like Lamott was speaking directly to me。 And， sure， parts of it pissed me off， but on reflection， I realized that it was because it was hitting too close to home--way too close to home。 There were parts of this book that I really needed to hear， that I've never heard before， not even when I spent four-years fork So， I've read On Writing by Stephen King and it was good。 Like， really good。 But this？ This was a revelation。 Maybe it's the bleeding heart， edgy， write or die creative in me， but I felt like Lamott was speaking directly to me。 And， sure， parts of it pissed me off， but on reflection， I realized that it was because it was hitting too close to home--way too close to home。 There were parts of this book that I really needed to hear， that I've never heard before， not even when I spent four-years forking out loads of cash to get a degree in English。 Which， aside， one of the most helpful things I heard during that time wasn't all the survivorship bias bullshit （all those stories of people like Stephen King and JK Rowling et al gritting their teeth and standing their ground and hammering a nail in their wall to hang their rejections on until they finally get published） it was when my mentor， Stephen Graham Jones came into class one day， head low， kinda sad， and sat down in the front all quiet-like。 We asked him what was up and he told us that one of his stories had just gotten rejected from the Dark Magazine and that it kinda sucked because he was friendly with the editor。 When we were all like， "Oh， wow，" he looked up， shrugged， and said， "That's just the name of the game though。 It's basically just luck。"That's what this book was。 Real and raw。 Whereas， in my opinion， I think On Writing was way more optimistic， way more "just do it and you'll get there eventually。" This was， "write because you have to， not for money or fame or respect。" I appreciated that。 And I needed to hear it。 All that said， I think both books serve a writer well and if you need a pick-me-up， you should read both。 Meaning， one's not better than the other。 。。。more
Brenna
，
Encouraging， truthful， and hilarious。 I will be reading this one again！
Toby Philpott
，
Full of Practical Advice and HumourThis book is literally what it says on the tin by someone who has been there and done it and experienced the joys and miseries of the writer's world。 There is plenty of advice to the aspiring and current writer on how to find content， avoid libel and the potential payoffs of writing。 You may not get rich from it but the riches are in getting your story down。 Highly recommended。This review was bizarrely banned by Amazon… Full of Practical Advice and HumourThis book is literally what it says on the tin by someone who has been there and done it and experienced the joys and miseries of the writer's world。 There is plenty of advice to the aspiring and current writer on how to find content， avoid libel and the potential payoffs of writing。 You may not get rich from it but the riches are in getting your story down。 Highly recommended。This review was bizarrely banned by Amazon… 。。。more
Katie Tu
，
Must read for any aspiring or amateur writer - puts a lot of things in context and gives you ammunition to keep going or start writing ！ Perfect before embarking on novel writing November challenge
Craig Broadbent
，
Loved this。 It is essentially a book of instruction for anyone that is interested in writing a book but its so much more than that。 Anne Lamont writes so beautifully and it was a pleasure to read this book。
Đăng Phú
，
So much things and feeling can't tell。 Had a fire light up to my heart while I was reading it， flickering fire。 So much things and feeling can't tell。 Had a fire light up to my heart while I was reading it， flickering fire。 。。。more
Liz Bradford
，
Definitely a case of chew on the meat and spit out the bones。 Told with humor， Anne has some great advice if you can get past the crassness and new age philosophy。
Jacy
，