Communication

Bird by Bird: 8 key ideas

by Anne Lamott

The core ideas of Bird by Bird, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.

1. IDEA 1 OF 8

   Write one step at a time

   Lamott takes her title from advice her father gave her brother, who was overwhelmed by a school report on birds: deal with the birds one by one.

   She argues that writing, like any big task, must be done step by step.

2. IDEA 2 OF 8

   Start with small assignments

   Lamott suggests giving yourself short assignments, such as writing just one small scene.

   Small tasks are less frightening. In her view, finishing a small piece builds confidence, and many small pieces add up to a finished work.

3. IDEA 3 OF 8

   First drafts can be bad

   Lamott argues that first drafts are supposed to be messy.

   Writers improve them in later drafts. In her account, the writer's task at the start is only to get something onto the page. Shaping and polishing come after that.

4. IDEA 4 OF 8

   Perfectionism blocks writing

   Lamott argues that perfectionism keeps writers stuck.

   Accepting imperfection lets work begin. In her account, the wish to get everything right can freeze a writer before a single sentence appears. Lamott sees this fear as normal.

5. IDEA 5 OF 8

   Look through a small frame

   Lamott suggests focusing on what can be seen through a one-inch picture frame.

   Narrow focus makes writing manageable. In her account, a small view of a large task makes it less frightening and easier to begin.

6. IDEA 6 OF 8

   Characters drive stories

   Lamott argues that characters should come first, with plot growing from who they are.

   In her view, readers care about people they can believe in, and the events that follow should arise from what those people want and fear.

7. IDEA 7 OF 8

   Keep notes everywhere

   Lamott carries index cards to jot down ideas and observations.

   Details collected this way enrich writing. In her account, small notes saved on the spot keep good moments from being forgotten. Later, they offer real material to draw on.

8. IDEA 8 OF 8

   Writing teaches attention

   Lamott argues that writing helps people pay attention to life.

   It is a way of seeing more clearly. In her account, noticing small things around us makes daily life richer, even apart from the writing that comes from it.