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Jane's Reviews > Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
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Where I got the book: purchased from Amazon.
Perhaps I'm reading this, one of the writing community's most referred-to books, too late in life. Perhaps as a 20-year-old English major (which I never was) I would have loved this book. That could explain its popularity; it seems like the kind of writing-advice book that will be invariably set as a mandatory read in an MFA program. And that, in turn, could explain why a certain type of writer will, if asked to give writing advice, sound exactly like Anne Lamott.
Maybe that's the problem: familiarity. I've heard so much of this before that it felt, well, stale. Write every day. Write from the heart. Find your own voice. Or maybe it's because I'm a 52-year-old recovering cynic and I'm a little less EMOTIONAL about the whole writing process. The notion of going on a 3-day alcohol (or later, eating) binge because your editor didn't like your book seems a bit excessive. Paying a therapist to help you get through your jealousy of your successful writer friends? Mmmmmkay.
And Lamott's overwrought prose style made me think of Anne Rice, for some reason. Perhaps it's just because they're both called Anne.
There were moments when I was moved and made to think about writing, so maybe one day I'll read Bird by Bird again and see if I can revise this first impression. It could be that the gems contained within the neurotic twaddle are what make the book shine in the memories of so many writers. But I ended up feeling that I'd learned a lot more about Anne Lamott than I'd learned about writing.
Perhaps I'm reading this, one of the writing community's most referred-to books, too late in life. Perhaps as a 20-year-old English major (which I never was) I would have loved this book. That could explain its popularity; it seems like the kind of writing-advice book that will be invariably set as a mandatory read in an MFA program. And that, in turn, could explain why a certain type of writer will, if asked to give writing advice, sound exactly like Anne Lamott.
Maybe that's the problem: familiarity. I've heard so much of this before that it felt, well, stale. Write every day. Write from the heart. Find your own voice. Or maybe it's because I'm a 52-year-old recovering cynic and I'm a little less EMOTIONAL about the whole writing process. The notion of going on a 3-day alcohol (or later, eating) binge because your editor didn't like your book seems a bit excessive. Paying a therapist to help you get through your jealousy of your successful writer friends? Mmmmmkay.
And Lamott's overwrought prose style made me think of Anne Rice, for some reason. Perhaps it's just because they're both called Anne.
There were moments when I was moved and made to think about writing, so maybe one day I'll read Bird by Bird again and see if I can revise this first impression. It could be that the gems contained within the neurotic twaddle are what make the book shine in the memories of so many writers. But I ended up feeling that I'd learned a lot more about Anne Lamott than I'd learned about writing.
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Reading Progress
July 14, 2010
– Shelved
April 30, 2011
– Shelved as:
about-writing
Started Reading
February 3, 2012
–
Finished Reading
December 20, 2014
– Shelved as:
about-writing
Comments Showing 1-44 of 44 (44 new)
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Lee
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Feb 03, 2012 12:22PM
Why only 2 stars? So many people consider this THE book on writing...
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Personally, I didn't find it helpful...but I thought it was just me.
I think my review explains the 2 stars, which, after all, according to Goodreads means I thought the book was OK. I'm not saying it's trash or anything, just that, well, I didn't think it was that great. It's a subjective thing, as I tried to bring out in my review.
Thanks for this candid and helpful review, Jane! I like the concept behind the "one bird at a time" story. Yet, I have been on the fence for a while on whether to buy this book. I often pick it up at the bookstore, flip through it a bit, and put it back on the shelf. Your point about life experience and different perspectives at different stages of the writing life I think has a lot of merit.
Thanks, Jessica! I think I have that problem with non-fiction far more than with fiction. Also, Lamott's book is becoming dated due to the self-publishing Disruption - time for a new writing classic, perhaps?
this jogged my memory - I read If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit a long time ago. Even though I do NOT want to write, I found it useful
Thanks, Bonnie! I added it to my about-writing TBR. I have a vague ambition to read one book on writing a month in 2012, but we shall see.
As a 20 year old English major, this book is still a load of tripe. I promise, haha.
Shawna wrote: "As a 20 year old English major, this book is still a load of tripe. I promise, haha."Thanks Shawna, that's good to know :D
This sums up my experience. I couldn't finish it...
Welcome to the Writers Who Do Not Worship Ann Lamott Club.
Why is it that negative reviews seem to speak to me more than gushing ones? Maybe I know the answer to that. Thanks for your assessment. I am at a similar place in life. I'm working on a first draft and don't want to waste my time on anything that is not going to help me get published. There I said it. You won me over!
Thanks! And good luck with that draft.
Only half way thru this and I agree totally. I'd suggest reading 'If You Want To Write' by Brenda Ueland instead. Brenda is so generous and inspiring and you can tell she's gone to great lengths to squash her own ego. It's so genuine that all the quotes still resonate with you after you're done the book. She also has students of all ages and walks of life and she talks about each lovingly. On top of that, it's stood the test of time, as it was written decades before Bird by Bird and rings truer. I read it last week and was completely inspired, then picked up this one...In the aftermath of reading Ueland, Bird by Bird just feels so... Try hard.
Thanks for the recommendation Tasha! Sounds way better.
"But I ended up feeling that I'd learned a lot more about Anne Lamott than I'd learned about writing." Yes. Exactly this.
Hello Jane, I really enjoy the book, and think that Anne's target audience is college students. Otherwise her comments on binging, alcohol, and cocaine are not tongue in cheek but rather manic depressive episodes.
Your review makes a valid argument. How do older writers deal with blocks, rejection, etc? How do they cope with solitary skill of writing? Are they really that jealous of successes of their peers? Thank you for your comment it added more insight for me into this book.
Thanks Moscow Mike! I think there's a big difference between the way younger and older writers deal with rejection and writing problems, although there are always exceptions. I'm glad I waited till later in life to get into writing seriously. I suffer far less from emotional highs and lows now than I did when younger, and while I envy younger writers their energy and the time left to them to develop their careers, I really wouldn't have it any other way.
I love that you took up serious writing later in life! I actually get annoyed at some writing advice. Stephen King said in his book about writing that if you can't do 1000 words a day, you might as well hang it up. That’s so arrogant though. Who’s to say what someone's true creative level is. After all, if you're working 50hrs a week, it's kind of hard to fit in a creative hobby. When you get older, you get a little wiser to human nature.
Agree. And writers have their phases where they have trouble putting down those words per day, either because of life stuff or because of writer's block (which is a very real disease). Being given artificial targets really doesn't help anyone. If you really want to write, sooner or later you'll find the creative energy somewhere, somehow.
I think she writes nicely, but I agree that it didn't give me the help I need. Try Sol Stein or John Gardner.
My about-writing shelf contains many gems that have been recommended to me, some that I've read. I wish I had time to read more.
I know this review is old but I just wanted to say I whole heartedly agreed with it. And I'm only 32.I do like the author's style and humor. I also like the sections that give actual writing advice. But it feels like most of the book is about dealing with depression, alcoholism, jealousy and the like. She says writing brings all of these things out of her but that she still likes to write. I cannot imagine why.
Anyway, after getting to the part about dealing with jealousy of more successful writers, the negativity started getting me down and I had to come see if other reviewers were mentioning this. Yours was the first review on the page.
Hurrah for being the first review on the page! A ton of writers absolutely love, LOVE this book. I've been in so many writer conversations where it's mentioned with reverence and I just don't get it. Maybe they didn't read it all the way through?
Thank you for this. I'd heard nothing but good things about it, and after hitting the 20% mark (ebook from the local library), I'm shelving it due to a lack of interest and exhaustion from the rambling.
David wrote: "Thank you for this. I'd heard nothing but good things about it, and after hitting the 20% mark (ebook from the local library), I'm shelving it due to a lack of interest and exhaustion..."I'm waiting for somebody to scold me for bashing Anne Lamott, but oddly enough it's never happened.
I felt the same way. After reading the introduction, everything started tl sound redundant.
The non-fiction about fiction that has resonated with me have been about how to be a better reader. The more critically I think about reading - the more comfortable I feel as a writer. Show v. Tell - meh!
Certainly the best writers are readers first and forever...you can always tell.
Certainly the best writers are readers first and forever...you can always tell.
Interesting take. My feeling is that if a writer lacks emotional connection, the feeling that your life depends on the success of your work, perhaps that writer might prefer other endeavors. I once came across a quote to the effect of: if you're having fun writing, you're doing it wrong. I've learned this over time. I've arrived at the point where my writing is my life (and that's scary, because I have a long way to go before I might be considered "good," whatever that means). So Annie's words resonated with me; placated my unease. And I'll read it a few more times.
I'm totally doing it wrong then. I'm having fun and making a decent living from writing fiction, and never once have I felt that my life depends on my writing being a success. If writing were making me unhappy, I'd stop and go work on a farm or something. I think the whole tortured artist thing is a myth left over from the 19th century.
I'm in the middle of the book, but, so far, I agree with you Jane. I find myself waiting for Lamott to write " a writer must be true to one's self, " or some similar modern day pseudo-philosophical emptyism. I learned much more about writing from A Moveable Feast.
I haven't read that one--just put it on my list, thanks. Although there's a world of difference between moving in louche literary circles in Paris and my life as an entrepreneurial indie! Again, that's the mythical representation of the writer's existence that was true for a few people way back when. Most writers I know walk the dog, write a couple thousand words, mow the lawn and make dinner. Or write before heading to the boring office job that pays the bills. The point is that they fit writing into their day. I think it was Heinlein who said: write, finish what you write, sell what you finish. That's basically it--how, when, how often you write is a lifestyle choice, but if you can do those three things over and over again, you'll be a working writer.
hmm just had this book recommended to me but after reading your review and the comments I think I'll avoid.
I enjoyed reading the book but I have to say I agree with you. What I enjoyed was reading about Anne Lamott rather than writing. I found her style to be highly entertaining but the ideas about writing did seem a bit stale. It could be because she wrote the book 24 years ago and these ideas are now too familiar.
I think it’s a fantastic book. Refreshing. Haters.
I totally agree with your review.
Thanks for the excellent review. Glad to know I'm not alone.
Oh come on, she's well known for her self-deprecating writing style and dark humour. I don't think she was seriously suggesting new writers go on drug crazed binges and stuff themselves with cake if they feel bad. She's having a laugh at herself.
Katia wrote: "Oh come on, she's well known for her self-deprecating writing style and dark humour. I don't think she was seriously suggesting new writers go on drug crazed binges and stuff themselves with cake i..."Quite possibly I just didn't get it. Perhaps this book works best for readers who are already familiar with Lamott? Maybe one day I'll read it again and change my mind, at which point I'll happily change my review. Until then, this one's just a speck in my rear view mirror.
