Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

• Genre: Nonfiction; writing reference
• Originally Published: 1994
• Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
• Structure/Length: Introduction, 5 parts, 28 chapters; approximately 237 pages; approximately 6 hours, 36 minutes on audio
• Central Concern: Bird by Bird is Anne Lamott’s guide to becoming a better writer. Through chapters that combine the forms of memoir, personal essay, and writing advice, Lamott advocates rolling with the punches, being honest with yourself and your readers, writing daily, not being afraid of first drafts, and ensuring against isolation.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Death of a parent; terminal illness; mental health; alcoholism; brief profanity 

Anne Lamott, Author

• Bio: Born in 1954 in San Francisco, California; American novelist, nonfiction writer, progressive political activist, and writing teacher; graduate of Drew School and student at Goucher College for two years; awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1985; inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2010; wed for the first time at age 65; often includes autobiographical content in nonfiction work, touching on alcoholism, single-motherhood, depression, and religion
• Other Works: Hard Laughter (1980); All New People (1989); Crooked Little Heart (1997); Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith (1999); Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith (2005); Imperfect Birds (2010)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• The Practical Craft of Writing
• Writing as a Comfort to the Self and Others
• Mindfulness as a Tool For Writing and Life

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Explore background information on Anne Lamott and writing instruction to increase engagement with and understanding of Bird by Bird.
• Read/study paired texts and other brief resources to deepen understanding of themes related to The Practical Craft of Writing, Writing as a Comfort to the Self and Others, and Mindfulness as a Tool for Writing and Life.
• Demonstrate understanding of Lamott’s ideas about writing by writing a short piece using the process she advocates and reflecting on the experience.
• Demonstrate understanding of Lamott’s ideas about writing by comparing and contrasting them with an academic writer’s ideas.
• Analyze and evaluate various elements of the text, such as analogy, metaphor, genre-blending, and content choices, and construct essay responses tying these to the text’s meaning and effectiveness.