13 writing tips from Anne Lamott

Great advice from a beloved writer.

Anne Lamott’s book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life is one of the best resources I’ve read about the writing craft. Here are some writing tips from Lamott.

1. Set your sights small.

2. Think of your writing as a pond — now go play in it.

3. There’s no shame in hitting the “delete” button.

4. Your first draft will stink — and that’s OK.

5. Find a couple of critics you love.

6. Imagine the book you dream of finding, and then bring it to life.

7. You’ll get so much more out of writing than just a manuscript.

8. It will probably take some trial and error before you find your voice as a writer.

9. Don’t wait to be “in the mood” to write — unless you want to wait forever.

10. If all else fails, send Stevo Lamott a letter.

11. Waste more time and more paper.

12. Try to be your own coach.

13. Think of your writing as a gift to the world.

In this article, Lamott goes into depth on each point. Here is an example:

“Writing is like playing piano or learning tennis; if you do it every day, you’re going to get better and better. It’s not about writing when you feel like writing. I can honestly tell you that I never feel like writing. I feel like taking the dog for a walk; I feel like catching up on the new New Yorker. When I was teaching, all my students explained to me that they’d start writing ‘as soon as’ — they were going to get serious when their last child left home or they were about to retire. And I’d say, ‘You’re either going to write tonight at 10:00, or you’re never going to write.’”

Here is Anne Lamott’s TED Talk:

To read the rest of the article, go here.

To read 100s more interviews with writing insights and inspiration, go here.