Tonight, we focused on pages 103-121, “Broccoli” through “Jealousy,” of Anne Lamott’s, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, and used this question to guide our discussion:

In the chapter, “Radio Station KFKD,” Lamott talks about writing rituals, a practice she says is a “good signal to your unconscious that it is time to kick in.” Do you have a writing ritual that tells your writing self it’s time to shine? If so, what is your writing ritual? How does it prepare you to write? If you do not have a writing ritual, what is something you can do consistently to prepare yourself to write? Are you willing to try using a writing ritual for a month to see if it makes a difference?

If you’d like to learn more about writing rituals, watch episode fifty-four of the Life Writers Vlog, aptly called “Writing Rituals,” which features our own Dave Godin.

On page 119 in the “Jealousy” chapter, Lamott refers to a Clive James poem about the author’s enemy’s book being remaindered, which occurs when sales slow, and the publisher attempts to recoup its investment by selling the title as a bargain book. Listen to James read his poem, “The Book of My Enemy Has Been Remaindered.”