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Bird by Bird : Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Bird by Bird : Some Instructions on Writing and Life

List Price: $12.95
Your Price: $10.36
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Streaker's Delight
Review: Anne Lamott is always a brave and honest writer, but in "Bird by Bird" she streaks through your psyche, leaving her self evaluations and confessions burned into your mind like the image of the naked stranger you walked in on by accident in the dressing room. You get the feeling you should look away, but you can't help taking a peek. Often funny, sometimes uncomfortable, but always, to the last page, authentic. If you're a writer, I bet you'll read it more than once.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Like sitting down with a wonderful and witty friend.
Review: Anne Lamott loves writing and she loves writers. She tells you that she knows how pitiful and overwhelmed you feel, with your little insights and that great big piece of blank paper. But as her father told her brother, as he sat, the day before it was due, to start the huge research paper on birds he was supposed to have been working on for months, you just take it bird by bird, buddy. She reminds you why you write--not to validate your parking ticket, but to feel the pleasure of making your thoughts and experiences into words. She shares with you her own experiences and the words that have helped her. She quotes E.L. Doctorow as saying that writing is like headlights on a highway--you can go a long way, just lighting the little space in front of you. And she lights that space, to get you going. You'll also enjoy her earlier non-fiction book, Operating Instructions, about her son's first year, and her novels -- she is a pleasure to spend time with, and her advice applies to all aspec

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Excellent little book.
Review: Anne Lamott, Bird By Bird (Doubleday, 1994)

For years, people have been recommending I read Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird. I have always countered with Natalie Goldberg (Wild Mind and Writing Down the Bones are the best pair of how-to-write books I have ever read). Now, I will do the same thing, but I can tack on "well, I HAVE read Bird By Bird" at the end.

Whatever else Bird by Bird is, it's exceptionally well-written. It reads far less like a how-to manual or transcripts of class lectures than it does a conversation you're sitting and having with someone over burgers and drinks. It is an easy, excellent read, and there is much to be found in it of worth. It is good to remember, however, that everyone approaches writing in a slightly different method, and what works for Anne Lamott may not work for you. Much of what's here is universal (writers, in the main, should find writing groups and workshops to get their stuff critiqued, for example), but some will only work for a select few; others may find themselves frustrated.

Ultimately, that's why I'm still calling Goldberg's first two books the best pair of how-to-write books I have ever read, but Bird By Bird comes in a solid third. Even non-writers are likely to get something out of this. A deeper appreciation in reading, perhaps. But one way or the other, read it. ****

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great discussion of writing in general
Review: Bird by Bird, for me was a great discussion of writing, how to make it a part of your life, and a very realistic outlook on what choosing writing as a carreer will entail.

This book was required reading for a creative writing class that I'm just about to finish. Although, as a class, we did not agree with a lot of Anne's opinions of what works in writing and what doesn't, this book made for good discussion.

I think the the most beneficial aspect of this book is that it gets you thinking about writing. It makes you contemplate what will work for you and what won't. Anne also does a good job of explaining that getting published is not like being an overnight success in Hollywood. She makes it very clear that if you don't like writing in itself, then you're writing for all the wrong reasons and it is doubtful that you will enjoy writing very much.

If you are an aspiring writer, and you have something inside of you that wants to come out, and you think writing is the way to do it, I highly reccomend this book. I will qualify that with the fact that you should take everything in this book with a grain of salt. Anne is only one writer, and some things that she says won't work for you, but a lot of it will. One thing this book will do is to get you seriously thinking about writing and how will it fit in your life.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A wonderful meditation that transcends "writing books"
Review: I had to write a review, mainly in response to a few other reviews complaining of a lack of "craft" or "concrete instructions" in Ms. Lamott's book. To those people I say go to your local Barnes and Noble, check out the writing section, and select any three books at random. If cut-and-dried breakdowns of plot, character, and theme are what you want, you are sure to find it in it's many generic permutations in any number of writing books. Ad Nauseum. Bird by Bird offers something more intricate, sensitive, and perhaps too advanced for folks who think they are above a little spiritual guidance with their conversations about writing. In fact, I'm kind of pleased the book went over your heads--it's a bit of a litmus test, I've found, for who really gets it. I keep this book on desk in my office, and I'm always interested to see who picks it up and exclaims about how much they've loved it too. Usually, these are the only people I end up wanting to know or work with anyway. Lastly, I have to assume that people who are disappointed at not receiving blow-by-blow instructions on how to write the perfect Great American Novel have very little inherent talent and are searching heartily for an easy way out. You know who you are. This is a beautiful book!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Inspired me as a writer
Review: I saw "Bird by Bird" in a bookstore, displayed with a selection of "How to be a rich writer" type books. Which is quite ironic, since one of Anne's key points is that very few writers will be rich, and that writing shouldn't be done for monetary success. Writing is from the heart and it's in the process that we find the beauty in our words, not from the dollar signs.

The first half of Bird by Bird is inspiring yet honest. It made me want to write regardless of how she insists that very few of her writing students will be able to sell their work. She talks about the art of writing as being the goal, the final copy is a by-product of our creative process. Writing, especially fiction, is a constantly evolving journey. She quotes E. L. Doctorow in saying "writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as the headlights. But you can make the whole trip that way."

The second half is much more light hearted, although still on track with what writing is really all about. By the end, I was in tears with laughter and a little bit of sadness, and I was fully inspired to say what I had to say on a piece of paper.

One of the really important points that Anne makes in Bird, is the it's OK and it's important to write a bunch of crud before finding the gem that will fit perfectly in the next story. She gives us permission to write horribly as a way to discover our own voice and to figure out who our characters are and what we really want to say.

Her candor is refreshing. She talks about the life of a writer like no other. Her insights into the writer's psyche makes me wonder sometimes if she can see into my mind.

Funny, brave, straightforward, truthful, she has a lot of good things to say and brings to light the real reasons to write, as well as some examples of how to improve our writing without losing our own personal style (no talk about "how" to write, but how to let ourselves write from our heart.)

I recommend this book first before any other writing book, especially for those that are worried that they don't have anything good to say, or that they think that a writing career is only about how much money we make.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I've been looking for books that'll help me get out of my creative writing slump. I bought this one because of all the positive reviews. But I found it extremely disappointing. It seems to me that the author is trying too hard to be funny and not hard enough to provide good, solid advice. Her jokes regarding paranoia, appearance, and hypochondria stop being funny after the seventh or eighth time she presents one. The book is written for novices -- writers struggling to be published -- rather than established writers who just need some motivation or inspiration. The only thing of value I got out of the book was the simple tip to carry around index cards for writing notes on the go. I kept reading, hoping to glean something more from her rambling narrative, and found myself put off by her self-centered prose and sad stories of her personal triumphs and tribulations. Is it my imagination, or are most writing books written by second-rate, almost-succeeded authors? And if so, what can we really learn from them? I enjoyed Steven King's "On Writing" so much more.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Review Bird by Bird
Review: In the world of writing there are many different books that one can check out to find guidance and inspiration. This book explains how to write in a down to earth way. Writing is like walking, taking one step at a time until you end up where you want to be. Oferring everything from she has ever learned about writing Anne Lamott presents it in a way that is humorous, inspirational and can help any writer who is having trouble. After you finish reading this book you will be motivated to want to write for hours upon hours.

The first part of the book is a basic overview of how to write a work of literature. The number one rule of writing is to tell the truth. The reader does not want to read a story from an unrealiable source. After the writer swears to write the truth Lamott says to start from the very beginning of your life. Write down everything: where you went to school? who your friends and teachers were? What clothes you wore? things like that. Then expand the details, write the fine points and then just keep going. Writing is observing what is around you and putting that on paper. To get into the mood for writing, make it a habit, sit down at the same time, and just write. The only way to get better at something is to practice, so practice writing. This process is the same for everyone.

Once you start the writing, the characters need to come into play. What are the different personalities of these people? Are they good with morals? Or are they bad to the bone? Now ask yourself different uestions and think of an answer that the character might respond with. Get to know your characters personally and let there be something at stake or else the story will be very boring. One way to familiarize yourself with the characters is to base them on people you know.

As the plot thickens, Lamott says that the characters interacting make the plot. Two characters who learn about each other day by day are bound to have something happen to them at some point.

After the characters are in place, the set needs to be accounted for. This accounting is where the author gets to be the director and set everything into place. What does the room or surroundings look like? What time is it? What does the area smell like? These and many other questions need answere to make the plot work.

Bird by Bird also has many examples as to why to write in the first place. You can give your writing as a gift. Write someone a story and they will chereish it forever. Write for the communitiy, in a paper. Tell the populaceyour view of an event happening in the town. The best reason to write, is to have it published. To have your words immortalized in a book is one of life's ultimate moments. Although Lamott says that it is not as big as, one would make it. Once you have a published book, you think that it could have been better written she argues.

Lamott has a lot of advice to give to writers who feel stuck in their writing. Her advise can be put to good use. The first advise is to carry index cards, when a good idea pops into your head, just whip out an index card and jot down your idea. Later gather your index cards while writing and put your good ideas to use. Lamott says that a telephone is a good resource to use on writing. When you need a second opinion about something or need some expert advice just use a telephone to instantly contact someone. Another good piece of advice is to shut up that voice that says that your work is worthless, that it is not perfect, and that it does not sound good. Silence that voice in order to achieve perfection. Probably the most important advice is to keep writing. Practice makes perfect.

This book has taught me a lot about writing. I thorougly enjoyed the book. Lamott explains how to write well in a simple, humorous, way that makes writing enjoyable. I highly recomend Bird by Bird. Even though I will not pursue a career in writing, I can not wait to start my own story just to be writing.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Ever Meet Someone As Crazy As Yourself?


Review: Reading Anne Lamott is like sitting down with a close friend who shares all of your idiosyncracies and insanities, as well as your warped sense of humor. Bird by Bird gives Lamott's view of the writing life and confronts all of the little details and major crises faced by anyone who's ever wanted to write. Filled with warm and witty anecdotes from her own writing career and from the classes she teaches, Lamott takes you gently by the hand and then proceeds to push, pull, or drag you to the pencil or the keyboard because you suddenly feel that you have to write something, right now! This is a book to keep next to the bed or the computer, or wherever else you're likely to be when you need a nudge to keep going and a major dose of inspiration. Read this book with a highlighter grasped tightly in your sweaty palm, because you're going to want to come back to certain lines over and over again. Highly recommended.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Typical "Woe-Is-Me, The Misunderstood Writer" Fluff
Review: This book has received rave reviews from many writers. I have often seen it written up as a "must-read." I disagree. While Anne Lamott writes well and is entertaining, there is really no useful information in this book.

Like many writing books, this one basically says, "I don't know what it takes to be a writer. I don't know how writing happens. It just does. And if you want to be a writer, just sit down, start writing, and the muse will eventually come." And, while that is true, it's not anything new and it is certainly not helpful to a new writer.

If you are a writer looking for empathy, you'll probably like this book--especially if you are the stereotypical misunderstood writer who has never really fit in. If you are a writer looking for practical advice about the craft, this book is not the one you're looking for.

I also got bored with the author's apparent lack of self-esteem. It got old fast.

Go to your local library and get this one. It might be good to read once, but it's not one that you'll want to refer to over and over again.


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