“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life…”
-Anne Lamott
Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life is one of those classic writing books that has popped up at different times in my life for different reasons. When I was a tentative student, Lamott offered practical and technical advice, and it applies just as much now that I am a cynical veteran (of a sort). Where Bird by Bird really shines, though, is by giving us an honest look at the joys and struggles of a successful writer’s process. It’s a treasure trove of wisdom, not just for aspiring writers but for anyone struggling with creative expression.
The book is peppered with quotable quotes like”
“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.”
“Clutter and mess show us that life is being lived…Tidiness makes me think of held breath, of suspended animation… Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the artist’s true friend.”
“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.”
“The problem is acceptance, which is something we’re taught not to do. We’re taught to improve uncomfortable situations, to change things, alleviate unpleasant feelings. But if you accept the reality that you have been given- that you are not in a productive creative period- you free yourself to begin filling up again.”
“I don’t know where to start,” one [writing student] will wail. Start with your childhood, I tell them. Plug your nose and jump in, and write down all your memories as truthfully as you can.”
“One writer I know tells me that he sits down every morning and says to himself nicely, “It’s not like you don’t have a choice, because you do– you can either type or kill yourself.”
“Some people wanted to get rich or famous, but my friends and I wanted to get real. We wanted to get deep. (Also, I suppose, we wanted to get laid.).”
One of Lamott’s key themes is that writing is journey, not a necessarily a destination. Her advice on“shitty first drafts” is perhaps her most liberating, reminding everyone that you can’t edit a blank page and even the most accomplish authors have to start with that first rough draft. Giving up the idea that it will be brilliant, at least at first, might just be the thing you need to get moving on your story.
Another theme is the need to take it step by step, or bird by bird. (The title comes from a piece of advice her father gave her brother when he was overwhelmed by a school project on birds.) Lamott suggests focusing on small sections, scenes, or even sentences at a time, making the process feel more approachable and less daunting.
Lamott’s humor and warmth make the book a joy to read. She doesn’t shy away from discussing the darker or more difficult parts of writing—the envy, self-doubt, and even loneliness that sometimes come with the territory–but somehow these moments never feel heavy. Instead, they feel like a conversation with a wise, funny friend who truly understands the highs and lows of creative work.
Ultimately, Bird by Bird is more than a book about writing; it’s a book about life, offering lessons in humility, equanimity, and perseverance. Lamott’s down-to-earth advice, infused with wisdom and compassion, makes this book an indispensable companion for anyone looking for guidance, inspiration, or simply a reminder that you are not alone in your creative struggles.