Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott

I really appreciate you stopping by today. As this blog takes shape, I will be making small changes to things. The first change I've decided to make is the day of the week I'll be posting things to. Mondays are pretty dreary by nature, so I thought I would try and lift a few spirits out there with a beginning-of-the-week post. If this ends up making Monday even more difficult for you, I invite you to say so in the comments. But please keep in mind, that as a writer I am hyper-sensitive to rejection. As a result, I hope you will choose the kindest vocabulary you can find.

As I mentioned, I will be posting a book review from time to time. I just read a real beauty, so I wanted to share it with all of you. If you haven't read this book yet, I hope you will consider doing so. I've come away so much richer. 

Here is my review ...

I had heard about the impact of this book in various writing circles through the years. It was one of those books that conjured up a desperation in the sharer's face. With scrunched cheeks and evened out eyebrows, she'd speak with the intensity of somebody calling a person back from the ledge. "You've got to read this book." And as I listened, I let the words swirl around, but they would not yet land on my already full calendar. But the intensity with which the message was delivered kept the title tucked away somewhere. And now I know why.

Lamott, a writer who has reached every plateau of publishing success, tells the truth about what it really means to pursue such madness. Her rendition of a writer's insecurities put names to the characters who follow me around each day. This made me feel known and understood. I somehow felt less haunted. Tears poured down my cheeks and my stomach muscles ached. She'd given me permission to laugh at myself, and because of this, my spirit was lifted to new heights.

With composure and tact, Lamott dares to debunk every myth we've ever believed about what it means to pursue publication. I came away with a new reverence for the hard work that goes into being brave enough to write. And because she shared with such honesty, I will also be able to entertain the little moments of magic. But no longer, will I be ruled by them.

The book's message is a cry for humanity and the need to look outside of ourselves long enough to consider giving back. Writing demands that we take the time to be filled, whether that means working in the garden, placing ourselves at the center of a party or getting lost in a deep conversation with a friend. This is not simply for the sake of becoming whole, but it is encouraged so that we can turn around and invest in somebody else.

I've been deeply inspired and my whole outlook on writing will never be the same. I highly recommend this book for anybody who'd be interested in writing. But even more, this book is for anybody who feels courageous enough to stare their fears in the face, invite them to have a seat, and to be willing to learn from each one. 

What have you read recently that has changed your whole outlook on life?

How to Write a Book Review

You’ve just turned the last page of a life-altering novel. Part of you is grateful for the sleep you’ll be able to get now instead of pulling another all-nighter. But the other part of you grieves. You will miss the characters you just closed the book on. They understand the deepest places of your own journey and in some ways have felt like friends.

If you were anything like me, you wanted to throw on a robe, grab an overnight bag and hop on the next plane to wherever the author might live. You felt compelled to tell her that you literally gave her book a standing ovation in the middle of your living room while ignoring the strange looks from family members. But after thinking it through, the whole idea felt a little ... well, insane. So how could you honor all of the hard work and artistry that went into a project of this magnitude? How could you give the author the accolades she’s due?

You can write a book review.

Yes, you. The Internet has made it really easy to assert your opinion about a score of different things with likes, pokes, Emojis and even reviews.

I’ve listed a few questions below to help you get started.

     What was the story about?

Who was the main character?
What kind of problems did she encounter?
Were you able to relate to any of the characters in the story?
Have you ever felt some of the ways the characters did?
Did you like the book?
What was your favorite part?
Would you recommend this book?

The two websites I’d like to recommend posting your review to are: www.goodreads.com and www.amazon.com.

A review is a wonderful way to show appreciation to an author. After all, showing up on somebody’s doorstep looking frazzled and holding a copy of her latest release probably won’t provide you with the best response anyway. Writing a book review is really the way to go.

Have you read anything worth mentioning lately? I have a gift for the first person to share a book review on one or both of the websites listed above. Please be sure and let me know if you’ve done so. I will be posting book reviews to this blog every now and then to keep the conversation going.

By the way, thanks for putting that book down long enough to participate in today's post.

Happy reading!