Advice on writing by Anne Lamott
As an aspiring writer, I consume any book on the writing process that I can get my hands on. One book that keeps coming up in recommendations from experienced writers is Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott. After reading it, I am no longer surprised that it is so frequently suggested as an excellent introduction to writing. The book has been out fo over 25 years since, but the advice it contains remains timeless.
Writing is a reward in itself
Getting published is not really the goal, the process of writing is. While it might seem like a solution to all of your problems, it won’t make you feel more worthy or validate your abilities if you don’t believe in your abilities and your voice. The act of writing, on the other hand, which can often feel like a chore, offers so much to learn about oneself. This new avenue for self-discovery is the only constant in the journey of writing.
Practice short writing assignments
It all comes down to showing up every day and setting realistic writing goals. When you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck, imagine yourself holding a one-inch picture frame, which is exactly how little you need to write to begin a paragraph, set the stage for your story. I like to think of it like a Polaroid instant picture instead:
And, as the title suggests, take your writing bird by bird. This was Lamott’s father’s advice to her brother, who was struggling to write a school report on birds due the next day. Instead of trying to tackle an entire piece of writing at once, take it bit by bit, one step at a time.
Write shitty first drafts
In order to create something good, you need to allow yourself to write terrible first drafts that can be improved upon later. This is probably the most difficult piece of advice for me to follow. Being a perfectionist, I have a very different idea about first drafts: mine are usually the perfect, polished versions of an assignment. But allowing yourself to write poorly for the first time is the only way to produce better second drafts and fantastic third drafts.
Where do I begin?
As understanding who we are is at the heart of the human experience, good writing should convey some kind of truth. Write openly about your experiences and memories, starting from your childhood years, for example. This advice inspired me to begin documenting my family’s history. And don’t be concerned about being vulnerable. Being absent or distant in your story is something to be worried about.
Most importantly, writing is an exciting journey. You never know where it will take you on any given day. Reading the book helped me not only to accept the anxiety that arises when I sit down to write, but also to view writing as an adventurous time. In the end, the result, despite being rewritten several times, is always better than what I had imagined it to be. Everything you need to tell your stories is already within you and you are the only one who can share them with the world.
