Simi’s Reviews > Bird by Bird > Status Update

Less is resonating in this section. Stand out points: observe, be compassionate and empathetic, and the heart of what you write should be something you can stand by at a moral level.

I'm very curious to pick up fiction by Lamott now. And possibly her father, though I don't think he's in my usual literary wheelhouse.
I was surprised when I read she was only 28 when she worked through her second novel, spending 3+ years on it! That means she started working on it around 25. Which means her first came out when she was younger. At 25, I was ... an ignorant fool. Now I'm just a fool.

Lots of good tips in the Plot chapter

I feel like I'm studying again, but for myself.
This is such a meta read - there are, of course, actual tips and bits of guidance for writing. But the actual writing of these things is, in itself, a lesson (no, many lessons) on good writing.

The 31-page intro should absolutely count towards writing. I read this book back in 2012 and have a memory of liking it and thinking it was really good. Possibly slightly influenced by my professor, who I adored. But it's frequently on the list of books to turn to for writers, so I'm coming back to it as I start my own writing workshop.