blog #8

Annie Lamott’s essay “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life” had some very helpful advice when it came to writing. However, there was an excessive amount of sarcasm that did not really add anything to the paper. The first part of the essay about short assignments gave great advice to just take the assignment one step at a time and just focus on one important section. Unfortunately, that advice is lost in the other six or seven paragraphs of unnecessary backstory. Lamott appears to be writing to a specific audience, writers. The whole first paragraph is unsuccessful in explaining the fear and anxiety that goes with writing a short assignment. The metaphors she uses are creepy and confusing. Then Lamott goes on to repeat the idea of procrastination. First she lists her fears and problems, then she goes on to set goals for herself to improve her life and finally she finishes with a to-do list. She then repeats this whole idea by using the metaphor of a dog playing with a chew toy. Lamott then uses three different stories to make the same point. First she cites E. L. Doctorow comparing writing to driving a car at night with headlights. Then she uses the story of her dad giving her brother advice to “Just take it bird by bird,” while completing his research project, and then she references the movie Stripes. All of these examples are just reiterating that in order to write a short assignment you need to take it step by step, calm down, and focus. Lamott’s advice on shitty first drafts is very helpful. I constantly write horrible first drafts so that I can get all of my ideas down on paper and I am glad she confirmed that this is a helpful practice. However, again Lamott used too much sarcasm that it was not funny. Lamott makes a joke about hating a writer who writes perfect first drafts, and it somewhat funny, but then in the next paragraph she makes the same joke. Lamott’s advice on finding someone to read your drafts is also great advice, but making the joke of getting rejected and having to see your therapist, twice, is too much. I also was completely lost when she mentioned her friend Patty who died. She quoted Patty saying, “Annie? I really don’t think you have the time,” referring to the fit of a dress. I did not understand how she related this to not having the time to deal with people who are too judgmental. Over all I thought Lamott had some great advice, but the way she presented it made it difficult to take her seriously. She was targeting a specific audience and I could not relate to a lot of her jokes and confessions. I think she was trying just a little too hard.

Citation: Lamott, Annie. “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.” Works in Progress. Hayden-McNeil Publishing. Plymouth, MI.  2012. Print