Course Overview:

From November 2024 through February 2025 in Life Writers, we will study Anne Lamott’s classic book, Bird by Bird: Some Lessons on Writing and Life, and I think you’ll love it.

The writing tips in her book are practical, encouraging, and informative, and much of it is presented humorously.

She also includes bits and pieces of her life story.

Bird by Bird was originally published in 1994 and re-released in 2019 for its twenty-fifth anniversary. It is still a widely read and taught book, and one I look forward to sharing with you.

Lamott grew up in a literary home. Her father, Kenneth Lamott, was an author of both novels and nonfiction. Early in Bird by Bird, Lamott shares a story of her father giving his son great writing wisdom, which ultimately became the title of the book.

A documentary titled Bird by Bird with Anne is available to rent on Amazon or for free if you have Amazon Prime, and I’m sure it’s available in other locations. In the film, Lamott freely shares about her addiction and recovery on the personal side and much about writing on the professional side. It’s gleaned from a year’s worth of interviews, public lectures, readings, and more and includes many clips of Lamott in action.

Lamott also has a wonderful TED Talk titled 12 Truths I Learned from Life and Writing, and in it, she speaks one of her most often quoted statements: “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.”

To date, Lamott has published seven novels and thirteen nonfiction books, two about her son and grandson and many others about spirituality. Her latest book, Somehow: Thoughts on Love, was released in April 2024.

Lamott’s unique brand of humor is woven throughout all her books, even those dealing with serious topics.

Here is the reading schedule for Bird by Bird, and I look forward to discussing this book with you.

I can’t find a website for Anne Lamott, but she is active on Facebook, Instagram, and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Please note that these lessons assume you have a copy of and have read or are reading Bird by Bird.

Lessons in this Course:

Downloads for this course

PDF "Bird by Bird" Reading Schedule