Short Assignments, False Starts, Shitty First Drafts, and Index Cards – what do these three things have in common? They are all chapters in Anne Lamott’s Bird By Bird (affiliate link, if you purchase the book, I will receive a small payment). This book is a great reference whether you’re writing a report on birds (Lamott’s younger brother undertook this task, which is how the book got its title) or you’re writing a novel. Lamott’s advice is outstanding.
Bird By Bird Is a Must for a Writer’s Bookshelf
This is one of the greatest books on writing that has been written in the last twenty-five years, and it is one of the few writing books I have read that I still refer to regularly. Lamott is very candid in her treatment of the writing craft and gives tips on how you can avoid the dreaded writer’s block, how to get feedback from others, how to know when you’re done with a project, and how to combat perfectionism in writing.
Long Live the Shitty First Draft
Perhaps my favorite chapter in this book is the one covering the “Shitty First Draft.” Let’s face it, nothing comes out perfect the first time. By permitting yourself to write a terrible first draft, you can beat perfectionism. Let’s face it, a writer’s worst enemy is perfectionism. Instead, when you’re writing your first draft, focus only on getting your thoughts down on paper (or the computer screen) as fast and without judgment as possible.
In fact, in my task list, you’ll often see “write SFD of ____.” This is where I permit myself to do my worst. The great thing about the advent of word processing is that you can write a terrible draft – and easily go back to fix it without harming any trees.
While this writer’s manual doesn’t include writing exercises or long examples of what makes for a great plot, it does talk about living the writing life. It’s a book I’d recommend to anyone who writes or wants to write. What’s your favorite book on writing?
