Bird by Bird Response

When attempting to answer the question ‘why should one write?’ Anne Lamott, in her wry and insightful book Bird by Bird, concludes: “maybe what you’ve written will help others, will be a small part of the solution. You don’t even have to know how or in what way, but if you are writing the clearest, truest word you can find […] this will shine on paper like its own little lighthouse” (235). Bird by Bird is a lighthouse. It is hope, encouragement, a literal gift to anyone who wishes so badly to write, to tear out the words that are bottled up in their souls, and yet for whatever reason cannot.

My reason is fear. I am terrified of those little voices Lamott seems to know so well, the voices that tear you down, telling you that you’re not good enough, that you’ll never be good enough, and that it was the height of hubris to imagine you could one day be a published author. And Lamott's response is—keep on writing. Write that terrible first draft, spill those words out; never, ever let yourself be stifled and silenced by your own thoughts. Don’t give in to the “oppression” of perfectionism (28).

To have a professional writer, someone for whom crafting words is their job tell you— nay order you—to write in spite of your own shortcomings is a treasure beyond price. I felt as if Lamott was giving me permission to reach for my dreams, lighting the way through the darkness of self-doubt, and the only possible response to such generosity is a heartfelt thank you.