The Stuff:
This book consists of short, interrelated essays and anecdotes on writing and being a writer—being a human—grouped around larger themes. The parts are 1) Writing, 2) The Writing Frame of Mind, 3) Help Along the Way, 4) Publication and Other Reasons to Write, and 5) The Last Class.
One of the essays in the “Writing” section is titled “Shitty First Drafts.” Here, Lamott writes, “All good writers write [shitty first drafts]. This is how we end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts.”
She then goes on to say that despite the perception that some great writers can sit down and hammer out a perfect draft, “Not one of them writes elegant first drafts. All right, one of them does, but we do not like her very much.” (pp. 21-22)
This sets the tenor for the whole book.
Thoughts:
I laughed a lot while reading this. Lamott has many good one-liners. She is not afraid to be vulnerable or show her own failings. When a newbie writing friend keeps calling to extol her sudden unexpected success (“I don’t know why God is sending me so much money this year!”), Lamott is supportive of her friend but shows the reader how jealous she is. The reader sees her trying to rid herself of that jealousy and anger. Something occurs to her to see it from a new perspective.
The idea of writer’s block also arises. She discusses this in her typical roundabout way. See it not as a block but as a well that’s gone dry. Maybe you need a change of pace. Maybe you need to remember.
While I found the book a pleasant read, I hesitate to say that it was helpful with respect to writing. Lamott is a cheerleader—nothing wrong with that. But for me, it was too amorphous and vague. It was as if she expected the reader to get her points by osmosis, as if she were saying something like:
“Now get out there and write! Yeah, it’ll suck, and you’ll want to do something more fun. Just do a little bit. And do a little more. Do what you want to do. Make what you’ve written suck less.”
Many people enjoy this book. It is indeed enjoyable. Helpful? Maybe.
Bio: Anne Lamott (b. 1954) is an American author, writer, teacher, and speaker. She is the daughter of the late writer Kenneth Lamott. Among her works are Imperfect Birds (2010) and Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace (2014).
Title: Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Author: Anne Lamott (b. 1954)
First published: 1994
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 
Bird by Bird will always have a special place in my heart. I was newly retired and struggling to write fiction. I’d start a story with enthusiasm then get bogged down because I’d go back and start rewriting when I wasn’t anywhere near done with a rough draft. And then, when I couldn’t figure out where I wanted a story to go, I’d freeze up and give up. I was trying to write the perfect first draft, which would only be in need of a light polishing when finished. Someone at a writers’ coffee klatch told me, “You need to let yourself write a shitty first draft.” Then they recommended that I read Anne Lamott’s book, so I did. To me as a new writer, it was very freeing and encouraging. And it make me laugh, too. That book made me realize I was a normal writer, and I began writing lots of shitty first drafts!
That is excellent advice. And I’m glad Lamott helped you. I enjoy reading your writing.
I took a creative writing class years ago. One exercise included handing in a draft of something to be critiqued by other class members. Mine came back with nothing but snotty and unhelpful notes. The person had the gall to make disparaging remarks but not sign his/her name. At first, I was devastated. Then I thought, “It’s a first stab at something. This person was supposed to help. They tore down. To hell with them.”
And I’ve written unapologetically shitty first drafts ever since. I just don’t show them to anyone. I can edit crap; I can’t edit a blank page.