I was first introduced to writer Anne Lamott during a creative nonfiction class I took as a junior in college. We read her book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, as a way to learn how to write narrative essays without getting bogged down.
When I’m stuck writing I love to go back to her book for particular passages. It reminds me that it’s ok to be neurotic, it’s ok to have a shitty first draft, but that you just have to sit down and do it. As a writer, Lamott is open and honest and funny — three qualities I appreciate from anyone who spends time writing about themselves.
Although I’m not as familiar with it, Lamott is also novelist and memoirist (is that even a word)? Lamott describes her writing like this:
“I try to write the books I would love to come upon, that are honest, concerned with real lives, human hearts, spiritual transformation, families, secrets, wonder, craziness — and that can make me laugh. When I am reading a book like this, I feel rich and profoundly relieved to be in the presence of someone who will share the truth with me, and throw the lights on a little, and I try to write these kinds of books. Books, for me, are medicine.”
I’ve never read her fiction, but have always wanted to read her three books on faith – Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, and Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith. I wasn’t raised going to church or anything like that, so I feel like Lamott’s rambling journey and discoveries would be lovely to read.
Anyway… Anne Lamott turns 55 today, so let’s all wish her a very happy birthday!
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Happy birthday, Anne! Thanks for letting us know. She is one of my favorite authors of all-time. Traveling Mercies is her best book on faith.
Great tribute post. I loved reading Bird by Bird!
Bird by Bird became one of my favorite “writers-on-writing” when I read it last year; I rank it up there with Eudora Welty’s On Writing and Flannery O’Connor’s Mystery and Manners. I have Grace (Eventually) but haven’t read it yet—hope to get to it soon!
Bird by Bird was the best thing I took from my creative writing class. I loved the book and even though my professor had very specific requirements for a creative writing class, I managed to take Lamott’s ideas and use them in my writing.
What a fantastic tribute to a wonderful writer – I love Anne Lamott’s work and her book Bird by Bird is one of those books I have re-read and look to for inspiration in my own writing. Happy Birthday, Anne!
I love her Bird by Bird, as well as Traveling Mercies. I’ve read Plan B, want to read Grace (Eventually), and I’ve read at least one of her fiction titles.
Happy birthday, Anne!
I hadn’t heard of Anne Lamott before today, but thanks for the head’s up. A book you return to over and over has got to be a life saver.
I have Bird by Bird in my TBR. While I consider myself a writer wannabe, I still haven’t taken time int he past year to *write* so I guess I have a ways to go….
I really enjoyed Bird by Bird, too,
I love all of her non-fiction. All new mothers enjoy Operating Instructions, for instance. And as a person of doubt, I still enjoy the ones you mention (Traveling Mercies, Plan B, Grace Eventually). Oddly, though, I don’t much like her fiction.
Good to know about Traveling Mercies, although I think I’d grab that one first anyway since I’d like to read the progression through the three books.
I’ve never read the Welty or O’Connor pieces you mention, but I’m sure they must be great (those are two authors I liked when I read them in school).
I hope you like Grace (Eventually), and will look for a review.
I love going to back to specific chapters of Bird by Bird when I’m having a writing block. I haven’t had to write as much this semester (weird for a journalist, I know), but I’m sure once finals role around the book will come back out.
Really specific requirements for creative pieces always weird me out, but I sort of get why professors need to have them.
Thank you
And yes, a very happy birthday!
I haven’t read any of her fiction, although I have one book on my TRB shelf (it’s piled behind some stuff now, so I can’t see what it is from here at the computer).
Agreed. I think I like going back to Bird by Bird because it makes me feel, somehow, less neurotic about writing.
I’m a writer wannabe too. I do stuff for school, but I’ve always wanted to be an essayist (I’m just not creative enough for fiction). Someday, someday