"Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Call Number: 808.02 Lamott
For a quarter century, more than a million readers--scribes and scribblers of all ages and abilities--have been inspired by Anne Lamott's hilarious, big-hearted, homespun advice. Advice that begins with the simple words of wisdom passed down from Anne's father--also a writer--in the iconic passage that gives the book its title: "Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother's shoulder, and said, 'Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.'"

**What does the metaphor "bird by bird" mean in the context of the book, and how does it relate to the process of writing and life in general?
**Lamott emphasizes the importance of writing shitty first drafts. How has this perspective changed your approach to writing, and do you find it applicable to other aspects of life?
**The author shares personal anecdotes and stories throughout the book. How does Lamott's storytelling style enhance the book's message and make it more relatable?
**In the chapter on "Perfectionism," Lamott discusses the challenges of perfectionism in writing and life. How have you personally grappled with perfectionism, and what strategies resonate with you for overcoming it?
**The concept of "shitty first drafts" and the need for persistence are recurring themes. How do these ideas apply beyond writing, and in what areas of your life can you adopt a similar mindset?
**Anne Lamott touches on the role of empathy in writing and life. How can cultivating empathy enhance both our writing skills and our relationships with others?
**The book addresses the importance of finding one's voice as a writer. How do you interpret this concept, and how have you worked towards finding your own voice in your creative endeavors?
**Lamott discusses the role of community and feedback in the writing process. How has sharing your work with others influenced your writing, and what benefits do you see in collaborative creative processes?
**The author explores the theme of faith and spirituality in writing. How does faith, whether in a religious or broader sense, play a role in the creative process for you?
**In the chapter "Radio Station KFKD," Lamott talks about the inner critical voices. How do you deal with your own inner critic, and what strategies does the author suggest for quieting those negative voices?

Anne Lamott is an American author and writing instructor known for her insightful and humorous observations on life and writing. Here is a brief biography of Anne Lamott:

Early Life:

Anne Lamott was born on April 10, 1954, in San Francisco, California, USA.
She comes from a literary background; her father, Kenneth Lamott, was also a writer.

Education:

Lamott attended Drew School in San Francisco.
She later studied at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland.

Writing Career:

Anne Lamott began her writing career as a nonfiction author, addressing topics such as alcoholism and single motherhood.
Her first book, "Hard Laughter," was published in 1980 and was a semi-autobiographical novel.
Lamott gained widespread recognition with her book "Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year," published in 1993. The book is a memoir about her experiences as a single mother.
She continued to explore the challenges of motherhood in her subsequent works, including "Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life" (1994), which remains one of her most popular and influential books.
Lamott has written both fiction and nonfiction, often blending personal anecdotes with insights on faith, love, and the human condition.
Some of her other notable works include "Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith" (1999) and "Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith" (2007).

Teaching:

Anne Lamott is a sought-after writing instructor and has taught at various writing conferences and workshops.
She has shared her wisdom and practical advice on the writing process with aspiring writers.

Themes in Her Work:

Lamott's writing often explores themes of faith, recovery, and the messy realities of life.
Her humorous and honest approach to storytelling has resonated with readers, making her a beloved figure in the literary world.

Personal Life:

Anne Lamott has been open about her struggles with alcoholism and her journey to recovery.
She is known for her candid and relatable portrayal of life's challenges and joys.

Legacy:

Anne Lamott's books have had a significant impact on both aspiring writers and readers seeking insight into the complexities of life.
"Bird by Bird" has become a classic in the field of writing advice and is widely recommended for its practical and compassionate guidance.

Anne Lamott continues to be an influential voice in literature, inspiring others with her unique blend of humor, wisdom, and vulnerability.

Never Say You Can't Survive by Charlie Jane Anders
Call Number: 808.02 Anders
Things are scary right now. We're all being swept along by a tidal wave of history, and it's easy to feel helpless. But we're not helpless: we have minds, and imaginations, and the ability to visualize other worlds and valiant struggles. And writing can be an act of resistance that reminds us that other futures and other ways of living are possible. Full of memoir, personal anecdote, and insight about how to flourish during the present emergency, Never Say You Can't Survive is the perfect manual for creativity in unprecedented times.
Before and after the Book Deal by Courtney Maum
Call Number: 808.02 Maum
Everything you've ever wanted to know about publishing but were too afraid to ask is right here in this funny, candid guide written by an acclaimed author. There are countless books on the market about how to write better but very few books on how to break into the marketplace with your first book. Cutting through the noise (and very mixed advice) online, while both dispelling rumors and remaining positive, Courtney Maum's Before and After the Book Deal is a one-of-a-kind resource that can help you get your book published. Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer's Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book has over 150 contributors from all walks of the industry, including international bestselling authors Anthony Doerr, Roxane Gay, Garth Greenwell, Lisa Ko, R. O. Kwon, Rebecca Makkai, and Ottessa Moshfegh, alongside cult favorites Sarah Gerard, Melissa Febos, Mitchell S. Jackson, and Mira Jacob. Agents, film scouts, film producers, translators, disability and minority activists, and power agents and editors also weigh in, offering advice and sharing intimate anecdotes about even the most taboo topics in the industry. Their wisdom will help aspiring authors find a foothold in the publishing world and navigate the challenges of life before and after publication with sanity and grace. Are MFA programs worth the time and money? How do people actually sit down and finish a novel? Did you get a good advance? What do you do when you feel envious of other writers? And why the heck aren't your friends saying anything about your book? Covering questions ranging from the logistical to the existential (and everything in between), Before and After the Book Deal is the definitive guide for anyone who has ever wanted to know what it's really like to be an author.
The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr
Call Number: 809.935 Karr
Author of three memoirs of her own, Mary Karr synthesizes her expertise as graduate writing professor and therapy patient, writer and spiritual seeker, recovered alcoholic and "black belt sinner," providing an irreverent window into the mechanics and art of the form. Anchored by excerpts from her favorite memoirs and anecdotes from fellow writers' experience, The Art of Memoir lays bare Karr's own process. In addition, all those inside stories about how she dealt with family and friends after writing about them get told -- and the dark spaces in her own skull probed in depth. As she breaks down the key elements of great literary memoir, she breaks open our concepts of memory and identity, and illuminates the cathartic power of reflecting on the past. Anybody with an inner life or complicated history, whether writer or reader, will relate.

*Audiobook & e-book on Libby
*Audiobook on hoopla
On Writing by Stephen King
Call Number: 813.54 King
In 1999, Stephen King began to write about his craft -- and his life. By midyear, a widely reported accident jeopardized the survival of both. And in his months of recovery, the link between writing and living became more crucial than ever. Rarely has a book on writing been so clear, so useful, and so revealing. On Writing begins with a mesmerizing account of King's childhood and his uncannily early focus on writing to tell a story. A series of vivid memories from adolescence, college, and the struggling years that led up to his first novel, Carrie, will afford readers a fresh and often very funny perspective on the formation of a writer. King next turns to the basic tools of his trade -- how to sharpen and multiply them through use, and how the writer must always have them close at hand. He takes the reader through crucial aspects of the writer's art and life, offering practical and inspiring advice on everything from plot and character development to work habits and rejection. Serialized in the New Yorker to vivid acclaim, On Writing culminates with a profoundly moving account of how King's overwhelming need to write spurred him toward recovery, and brought him back to his life. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower--and entertain--everyone who reads it.

*Audiobook & e-book on Libby
The Questions That Matter Most by Jane Smiley
Call Number: 813.54 Smiley
Essays that show how Smiley draws inspiration from across literary history to invigorate her own writing. Among the authors she examines are Marguerite de Navarre, Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain, Willa Cather, Franz Kafka, Halldor Laxness, and Jessica Mitford.
Writes of Passage by Paula Deitz (Editor); Dean Flower (Introduction by)
Call Number: FICTION SHORT STORIES W939DE
Contains coming-of-age stories and memoirs published over the course of twenty-five years in "The Hudson Review," including selections by Wendell Berry, Tennessee Williams, Elizabeth Spencer, and many others.

Islington Branch Book Club - Past Titles: "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott

"Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott

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