Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

by Anne Lamott

Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the artist’s true friend. What people somehow (inadvertently, I’m sure) forgot to mention when we were children was that we need to make messes in order to find out who we are and why we are here—and, by extension, what we’re supposed to be writing.

I honestly think in order to be a writer, you have to learn to be reverent. If not, why are you writing? Why are you here?