Bird by Bird
by Anne Lamott
"Bird by Bird" is a candid and humorous guide to the writing process by Anne Lamott. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, she emphasizes the importance of taking writing one step at a time, likening it to the slow and steady approach of her father's advice to her brother about tackling a school project on birds. Lamott encourages writers to embrace their imperfections and the messy nature of creativity.
16 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from Bird by Bird, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
Writing is about learning to pay attention and to communicate what is going on.
Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts.
You can make anything by writing.
The only way to get through it is to write the book.
Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.
Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor.
Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted.
Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come.
We write to expose the unexposed.
There is no such thing as a perfect writing process.
You don’t have to be a genius, you just have to be yourself.
The only way to get through is to write through.
We are all in this together, and it's a beautiful thing.
Publication is not the end; it’s the beginning.
I think that all writing is a form of prayer.