R.H. Walker, Author

When I picked up Bird by Bird it seemed like everyone had already read it. I’d sat in quiet embarrassment in multiple writing conferences as people gushed over it. It was at the very top of every curriculum I scoured in making my list for this project. A couple of my coworkers even spotted me reading it at my not-writing job and commented how much they loved it. All this to say, please don’t feel bad if you haven’t read this book yet (I am still going to join the chorus of voices recommending it though, and you can’t stop me).

As someone who has been writing since they were young, but has struggled finding success, Lamott’s advice is comforting. She repeatedly encourages the “class” to trust their instincts, to chase what feels right and worry about if it’s “good” later. It affirms even the least experienced of writers, and I think this is the reason this book is recommended so often in courses and conferences, the places where beginning writers of all ages flock. Sometimes you don’t need advice, you just need the encouragement to keep going. After all, experience is the true teacher. All a writing coach can really offer you is a push.

One of the biggest points I agree with Lamott on is that of the “writing life” being one worth living. While I do consider myself a writer, it is not currently my primary profession. Like millions of writers before me, I’ve had to eke out time to write around my paying job, trying to complete both my professional and personal projects without completely burning myself out. But I don’t think I’d have it any other way. I, like many writers, feel called to it. Even if I am never professionally published, I will always be searching to improve. If writing is art, and if art is the expression of the soul, then it will always be worth pursuing, with or without monetary gain.

So, yes, I think you should read Bird by Bird, at least once. Whether or not you agree with Lamott, I hope she provides you encouragement, and the courage to keep going.