Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

“The first thing I tell my new students on the first day of a workshop is that good writing is about telling the truth.”

This is the first sentence of Part 1. In referring to her students, Lamott builds on the motif of education, indicating that the book itself is a kind of class in The Practical Craft of Writing. This also develops the theme of Writing as a Comfort to the Self and Others, in that telling and being told the truth can be comforting.

“Writing can be a pretty desperate endeavor, because it is about some of our deepest needs: our need to be visible, to be heard, our need to make sense of our lives, to wake up and grow and belong.”

This passage develops the theme of Writing as a Comfort to the Self and Others. Having some of these needs met through writing, or reading, can be comforting.

“Still, even on those days, you might notice how great perseverance feels. And the next day the scent may seem stronger—or it may just be that you are developing a quiet doggedness. This is priceless.”

Here, Lamott discusses a key part of The Practical Craft of Writing: to make writing a daily ritual. To improve at your craft, you need to work on it regularly. This ritual can also be comforting.

“Use up lots of paper.”

In this quote, Lamott argues for not holding back in your rough drafts. Rather, write as much as you can. This is an important element of The Practical Craft of Writing.

“When students ask me for the best practical advice I know, I always pick up a piece of paper and pantomime scribbling away.”

Here, Lamott’s advice about The Practical Craft of Writing is to write a lot. The physical action is an imitation of something Lamott saw the author Natalie Goldberg do.

“Every single one of us at birth is given an emotional acre all our own.”

This is part of Lamott’s discussion of character development. As a metaphor for the collection of emotions that make up a personality, the “acre” is suggestive of a need for exploration. The writer has to move around, to learn the emotional terrain of the character, through writing.

“Besides, deciding what is interesting is about as subjective as things get.”

This passage is about making characters interesting. A writer should allow their subjectivity to give their writing direction. Their characters reveal what fascinates them. This attention to character is an element of The Practical Craft of Writing.

“Everyone I know flails around, kvetching and growing despondent, on the way to finding a plot and structure that work.”

In this passage, Lamott discusses how to organize a manuscript, part of The Practical Craft of Writing. Rather than outlining, she suggests allowing the characters to interact with each other and allowing the plot to develop organically out of those interactions. Then, once you have the raw material, you can organize scenes in an order that works.

“You end up wanting your characters to act out the drama of humankind. Much of this drama does not involve witticisms and shimmer.”

Here, Lamott argues in favor of natural sounding dialogue and writing about the mundane, or ordinary, parts of life. Writing a compelling story with strong characters is more important than showing off your wit. This is part of The Practical Craft of Writing.

“I always tell my students about the Gulf Stream: that what it means for us, for writers, is that we need to align ourselves with the river of the story, the river of the unconscious, of memory and sensibility, of our characters’ lives, which can then pour through us, the straw.”

In this passage, Lamott lists the various aspects that make up the Practical Craft of Writing. Writing uses imagination and memory to create characters and plots. Writers are merely a conduit for these different aspects.

“Being a writer guarantees that you will spend too much time alone.”

This passage develops the idea of Mindfulness as a Tool for Writing and Life. Being able to focus your mind while alone and writing can help you calm your mind at other times. Also, the work of writing is a solitary practice.

“You don’t always have to chop with the sword of truth. You can point with it, too.”

This is one example of Lamott’s humorous tone. A student of hers offered very harsh criticism in a writing workshop, and this is what Lamott told the student privately afterwards. Lamott believes in being kind as well as truthful when offering feedback.

“To live as if we are dying gives us a chance to experience some real presence.”

This passage develops the theme of Mindfulness as a Tool for Writing and Life. Mindfulness is being present in the current moment and aware of your sensory experiences. One way to approach the practice of mindfulness is to act as if you are experiencing everything for the last time.

“But what you have to offer is your own sensibility, maybe your own sense of humor or insider pathos or meaning.”

Here, Lamott discusses how to combat the feeling that everything has already been written. Our own personal perspectives can distinguish our writing from what already exists. Developing your own voice is part of The Practical Craft of Writing, and humor is a distinct part of Lamott’s voice.

“Write an incredibly shitty, self-indulgent, whiny, mewling first draft. Then take out as many of the excesses as you can.”

This quote is about The Practical Craft of Writing. You have to start with a messy rough draft with more words than needed, then edit it down. This even applies to writing about emotional subjects, such as when Lamott wrote about the death of her father.

“If you give freely, there will always be more.”

Here, Lamott is paraphrasing a passage by Annie Dillard, who advocates for giving your all to every piece of writing. This advice is about both craft and comfort. Writing while passionate and fully engaged can lead to good writing, and it can be comforting to know that you can consistently find your passion.

“Writing takes a combination of sophistication and innocence; it takes conscience, our belief that something is beautiful because it’s right.”

Lamott argues for reconnecting with your sense of childlike wonder at the world. This should be paired with the sophistication of reading a lot of books, so you are familiar with the medium you’re working in as an artist. Both of these elements help you develop beautiful sentences.

“Write toward vulnerability.”

Here, Lamott suggests exploring your emotions to develop your writing. She is opposed to being emotionally unavailable. Engaging in emotional labor will improve your writing.

“And it is a revolutionary act—truth is always subversive.”

Lamott brings up the idea of truth frequently in Bird by Bird. Like Keats, she believes that truth is beauty. Truth also is discovering your own path, rather than simply following the status quo. Speaking truth can be a great comfort, developing the theme of Writing as a Comfort to the Self and Others.

“I tell my students that they should always write out of vengeance, as long as they do so nicely.”

This passage is an example of Lamott’s sense of humor. While this quote has a humorous tone, it is part of a serious point about using writing to transform trauma and grief into art.

“You seem to want to write, so write.”

This is what Lamott says to the students who take her classes. Saying this to the reader develops the motif of education. Much of The Practical Craft of Writing consists of creating a story one word at a time. You need to practice writing, just as you practice a musical instrument or other artistic medium.

“I still think they should write with everything they have, daily if possible, and for the rest of their lives.”

Lamott believes that writing is beneficial, even if writers do not become rich or famous. Keeping up a daily writing habit and being passionate about your writing will improve your quality of life by offering comfort and developing your sense of mindfulness.

“It is spiritually invigorating, says a friend, who converted at eighteen from Christianity to poetry.”

Lamott argues that writing and reading are spiritual practices. This is due to the aspects of mindfulness and comfort in the craft of writing. These aspects are also part of spirituality.