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2nd out of 23 books
—
5 voters
Word By Word
by
Anne Lamott (Goodreads Author)
Author of "Bird by Bird," "Traveling Mercies" & "Operating Instructions."In this workshop, Anne Lamont's animated, witty words take you beyond her book "Bird by Bird." Good writing, she says, slow you down, opens your heart and teaches you who you are. Good writing arrives through your fingers, knowing what. But you must endure terrible first drafts and use short assig...more
Audio CD
Published
by Writer's Audio Shop
(first published 1996)
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I stumbled across this at the library. Well, not literally. It wasn't lying on the floor waiting to trip me. Anyway, it's an audio program of a workshop Lamott did as an outgrowth of her book, Bird by Bird.
This is not technically a book. It's not available in print. I'm adding it here anyway because I know a lot of you are interested in writing.
Anne Lamott is a very entertaining lady, and her humor comes across much more effectively in her speaking than in her writing. There's not a great deal...more
This is not technically a book. It's not available in print. I'm adding it here anyway because I know a lot of you are interested in writing.
Anne Lamott is a very entertaining lady, and her humor comes across much more effectively in her speaking than in her writing. There's not a great deal...more
I am a huge fan of Lamott's Bird by Bird ever since I discovered it while sitting on the cool tile floor on a hot summer day, checking out my poet aunt's bookshelves. So I was just delighted to stumble across this while browsing the Overdrive for Ipod downloadable selections at the also very cool Louisville Public Library. Word by Word is an afternoon seminar, handy to listen to while procrastinating instead of writing, bicycling instead of writing, deadheading insteading of writing, in short, t...more
Good supplement to Anne Lamont's classic how-to-write novel, Bird by Bird. Clearly as talented a speaker as she is a writer, Anne Lamont proves to be a wealth of information as she lectures and conducts a Q&A in a University setting. She adds just the right amount of humor and biographical information to her lecture on motivating writers everywhere. Some of the lessons I took from this audio book, such as the index card technique, will be long remembered on my my journey as I continue to pra...more
I came across this as an available library download and I'm glad I gave it a lesson. There were times I laughed out loud and I really hadn't expected that from a tape of an oral seminar she'd given. I wish I could impress upon my about getting started with her writing projects and feeling a certain amount of comfort with " short assignments and sh*tty first drafts." This is a book I'd recommend to her when she's in high school to help her get through some of the drudgery she seems to feel about...more
This is a recording of a talk Lamott gave almost a decade ago. She says a lot of things I don't necessarily want to hear -- that publishing a book doesn't automatically make you happier and more fulfilled, for example -- but she's Anne Lamott, so you know it's all OK in the end.
It was great to hear her speak extemporaneously, rather than just reading one of her audiobooks aloud. She's really talking off the cuff. A lot of it was familiar from Bird by Bird, but this had a bit more edge and bite...more
It was great to hear her speak extemporaneously, rather than just reading one of her audiobooks aloud. She's really talking off the cuff. A lot of it was familiar from Bird by Bird, but this had a bit more edge and bite...more
Apr 25, 2013
Tim
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Prospective Writers
Shelves:
audiobook,
non-fiction
This is an audio-only book because it's the recording of a workshop she did after the publication of Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.
She gives some excellent advice, most notably she stresses that B+ is a good grade (highlighting that things don't have to be perfect) and that one should work on short assignments to get practise in the art of writing. She recommends that one write 300 words a day (so basically a page) and over the course of a year, you'd have a draft of a nov...more
She gives some excellent advice, most notably she stresses that B+ is a good grade (highlighting that things don't have to be perfect) and that one should work on short assignments to get practise in the art of writing. She recommends that one write 300 words a day (so basically a page) and over the course of a year, you'd have a draft of a nov...more
Writing comes from a place of inner stillness, where word by word flows effortlessly, says Anne Lamott in this recording of one of her seminars. It thrives on a sense of wonder about other lives, other places and other things. It follows characters and stories, unfolding of their own accord, without manipulation by the writer. It's good when it touches the heart. And it is its own pleasure.
The inserted foul language and tone nearly caused me to abandon this early on. Ann, however, reminds me of someone I dearly love and the topic kept my attention. Holding onto the fishing line, I gleaned some valuable composites and felt the presence of my friend of so long ago.
Purchased on my iPhone and plan to test this out during my daily one hour commute. I've listened to samples and I can say that her speaking voice is dull and nowhere near as engaging as her words, so I think it will be challenging to listen to.
Audio book - I really wanted to hear what she sounds like! Her trademark humor comes through and also her unabashed realism about motherhood, writing, and life. It made me become a bit more alive/aware of my surroundings. She speaks well to the writer within me.
This is actually a recording of a speaking engagement, not a true audio book. However, it provides additional bits of advice and encouragement for writers.
A terrfic listen for those who want to write but whose fear of being only a B+ isn't good enough holds them back.
I like it. Good to read and very good to listen. (I love to listen authors of the book voices)
I listened to this on cassette so much that the tape broke and I now need to replace it.
Totally honest, inspiring and encouraging.
This is an audio of a lecture given by Anne Lamott about writing. She tells a number of entertaining and (some) informational stories and provides some "point solutions" for writing. Her casual tone helped the story. Practice, practice, practice. I liked her Bird by Bird a bit better.
This came across as more of a speaking engagement/ pep talk for a writing group. Anne Lamott is engaging and witty. She also comes across as down to earth and very real.
As one who writes, I may revisit this one if I need a cheerleader.
As one who writes, I may revisit this one if I need a cheerleader.
Great information and pretty entertaining for nonfiction.
May 17, 2013
Julie
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2013
Pamela Hatchfield
marked it as to-read
May 05, 2013
Marcia Conner
marked it as to-read
Apr 25, 2013
Mick
marked it as to-read
Apr 24, 2013
Gianna
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Apr 20, 2013
Pam
marked it as to-read
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Anne Lamott is an author of several novels and works of non-fiction. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, her non-fiction works are largely autobiographical, with strong doses of self-deprecating humor and covering such subjects as alcoholism, single motherhood, and Christianity. She appeals to her fans because of her sense of humor, her deeply felt insights, and her outspoken views on topics such...more
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May 09, 2012 09:20pm
updated May 09, 2012 10:44pm