Bird by Bird
"Just take it bird by bird," Anne Lamott advises at the opening of her new book, "Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life." "Just take it one sitting at a time."
It's simple advice, but not necessarily easy. It takes patience and focus to write well. But often the hardest part is getting started. You may have a vague idea of what you would like to say, but can't quite organize your thoughts into words on a page (or screen). And those pesky thoughts that resist being captured seem so much less troublesome when they are still dancing in our heads. They are also more likely to be distracted by the lure of a half-finished task or a good book, or maybe a better job.
I have come to this realization only recently, after years of struggling to write and other things I've been wanting to do. In some ways, my life is full of unfinished tasks, that stubborn little voice that says "just one more thing…" and my own niggling self-doubt about whether I will ever manage the brevity the writers I admire bring to their work.
I should say that my journey has not been typical. Many writers share similar frustrations with writing and other creative pursuits (as well as family, friends, and jobs) but they do it anyway. They work and work, giving a little and giving more, until finally they are able to write successfully. But many of us have found that starting to write is in itself a major challenge.
When I started my first book about fifteen years ago, I don't think I ever believed it would become a success. Nor did I think it would take me fifteen years to finish! In fact, the book took me nearly seven years before it was published, long after the life expectancy of most books. But I had to start somewhere, with something and that something was a mess of a book. You see, as an editor at the time and an aspiring writer, it had been my job to read and critique others' writing. Having taken several writing classes myself, I thought I knew what I was doing and that I could do it better than anyone else; that all the things I was editing out – the clutter and wordiness – would be put back in with my own words. But when it came to writing my own narrative I realized those same problems were in there too.
I wanted a mentor to talk me into starting again but instead all my friends told me they liked the book regardless of its clumsy parts. "It's not that it's bad," they said, "it's just that you're a better writer than this."
I'm glad someone told me that. But the truth is, I am still the same person I was fifteen years ago – just with a lot more experience under my belt and perhaps a little more humility. (Though there are definitely days when I still think I know better than anyone else!) Part of being a writer is learning to be content with your work and yourself and accepting the fact that as you learn, you will make mistakes – as every other writer has and does.
In the process of learning that, I've also learned to start small – in this case, with a much shorter book. "Bird by Bird" is full of simple advice and even simpler words on writing. It also has plenty of stories from writers who have struggled to put thoughts and feelings into words. While reading the book I found myself smiling or laughing as she described her own doubts or frustrations. I felt her honest joy as well as her heart-ache.
Anne Lamott really practices what she preaches: she works steadily and tries to be kind to herself and others in between writing efforts. You can find a link to "Bird by Bird" on her page at the Writer's Almanac.
Top image: A bird sits down on a branch of a tree; by Alexey Kuznetsov via Shutterstock.com. (c) 2014 PEN America, Inc. All rights reserved.
Related posts: Birth of an Idea, and other stories from Anne Lamott's new book Bird By Bird [ARTICLE START] But what if you're only starting? Should you just start at the beginning? If you're not sure exactly where to start, then read through this list of Best Beginner Books or go here for Anne Lamott's article "What Writers Should Do Before They Write.
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Bird by Bird