Trevor's Writing

Book review: “Bird by bird” by Anne Lamott

No Comments »9th April, 2010; Category: Books, Reading, Reviews

I bought this book some time ago but only recently finished reading it. I had read about it in many other books about writing. Everyone raved about how wonderful the book was and so I thought I’d treat myself.

I must say that, as a book about writing, it disappointed me at first. I guess I was looking for another guide book about writing, giving step by step instructions on how to write a novel, or a short story or whatever. This book is not like that. It is not something one can read from cover to cover and come away knowing everything there is about writing.

Instead, it is the kind of book that creeps in under your guard, sneaking into your pores and inhabiting your inner writer. The sub-title is very revealing: “Some instructions for writing and life.” Ah, so it’s about more than merely being a writer. Anne Lamott uses a broad brush and paints a wonderful, yet challenging, picture of the writer’s life and how life experiences can and must impact the writing.

I enjoyed reading this entertaining book, but it left me with a suspicious mind. I suspect I’ll get far more out of it on a second and subsequent readings.

Reference:

Lamott, Anne 1995, Bird by bird: some instructions on writing and life. Random House, Anchor Books, New York.

Imagine it and make it happen

2 Comments »7th April, 2010; Category: Fiction, Goal setting, Novels, Quotes, The Writer's Life

Today’s quote about writing:

“All the things we achieve are things we have first imagined and then made happen.”

David Malouf, Australian writer

Imagination is a powerful, essential, elemental, almost organic tool of the writer. It is the driving force behind all writers, especially writers of fiction. Without our imagination our stories cannot take shape, the characters cannot come to life and the plot limps along until either the reader or the writer give it up as a hopeless cause.

But when the writer calls upon an active imagination, the story can soar to wonderful heights, the characters can develop vibrant, energetic lives and the plot grabs the attention of the writer demanding to be written. And when this happens the readers are carried along in that imaginary world of delights and the book cannot be put down. Hopefully it also sells many copies via word of mouth too.

But I wonder if David Malouf was actually thinking along these lines?

Was he instead thinking about dreams and goal setting? It doesn’t really matter for it doesn’t negate what I’ve already written. Dreaming big dreams and setting goals with our writing (and all other areas of life) can result in amazing outcomes. Without dreams and goals we tend to drift through life aimlessly.

Dream big – you might just surprise yourself.

I’ll give you a few examples:

Imagine holding your first novel in your hands. Feel it, look at it, smell it.
Dream about the day you sign a three book contract – and the satisfied feeling it engenders.
Visualise walking across the stage to receive that literary prize.
Plan and rehearse what you are going to say and do when you launch your first book.

On the last item my wife and I attended a friend’s book launch last year. My wife took detailed notes on what to do and how to run a launch – and she keeps reminding me of this. It spurs me on to get that manuscript finished and off to a publisher.

Dream big.

Make it happen.

Good writing.

Write the best you can

No Comments »5th April, 2010; Category: Quotes, The Writer's Life, Writer's block

Today’s quote:

“I have tried simply to write the best I can; sometimes I have good luck and write better than I can.” Ernest Hemingway.

I guess countless writers would like to write as well as Hemingway. Many have tried, few have succeeded.

In any endeavour this is an excellent maxim on which to base one’s activities. Always strive to do your best, sometimes you will surprise even yourself.

I guess one could also say that sometimes we get lucky and write really well. I would contend, however, that if we continue to strive to be better writers, and constantly and consistently persist at the craft, that we will improve. I know I have and my readers tell me so. My most demanding reader and critic is my wife; she tells me that I’ve improved out of sight in the last few years. That is encouraging, and it helps me to keep going – and keep improving.

Good writing.

I would love to write a book

4 Comments »4th April, 2010; Category: Quotes, The Writer's Life, Writer's block, Writing a novel

Today’s quote:

“I would love to write a book, but unfortunately, I don’t have a pen.” (Unknown source – it came to me from a Facebook friend)

We might laugh at a saying like this, but for some people, any simple excuse is enough to stop them from writing. Some common excuses are:

I don’t have enough time.
The timing is wrong – I’ll wait until I retire.
I don’t have a good computer.
I don’t know what to write about.
I’m too busy.
I’m too tired after a day at work.
I have nowhere where I can write.
I don’t have a pen.

You get the drift?

Excuses. Excuses. Excuses.

If you want to write a book, you actually have to start putting words down on paper – or at least in the hard-drive of your computer. There is no other way. Books will not write themselves. (Someone reading this in my archives in 50 years time might be able to argue that point, but I won’t be around to defend myself.)

So you want to write a book?

Good. Now stop reading this – and start writing (but don’t forget to come back here tomorrow; I’ll be waiting for you).

Good writing.

Related articles:

Writing a novel – articles outlining how I went about writing a novel.
A writer’s virtues: patience and persistence

Updating my blogs

No Comments »3rd April, 2010; Category: Blogging, Blogs, The Writer's Life, Writing a novel

Over Easter I’m having a short break from writing my novel. This weekend I’ve concentrating on writing numerous posts for my various blogs (see the links on the sidebar). I’m writing these now and dating them to appear on a daily basis for the next few weeks. I often do this as it helps me with my writing.

Once Easter is over I will be very busy on two other projects: finishing the final draft of my novel and preparing to present four sessions at our church camp. I won’t have much time for blogging so I like to get the posts written and have them appearing regularly without having to bother about them. I often do this when I know I’m going to be away for a length of time, especially those times when I might only have limited internet access, for example, when travelling.

There is another benefit. Writing a dozen or more blog posts in one day builds momentum, and before I know it I’ve written five or ten or more. You get in the groove and get very productive. I like that. You can do the same with writing a novel, editing some stories or doing that horrible administrative stuff that writers have to attend to from time to time – like submitting work to publishers.

Must get back to blogging.

Good writing.