How Not To Be Discouraged and Keep Writing
About the book “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”. Author — Anne Lamott.
The world of the XXI century is the realm of mathematics and natural sciences. The language of numbers is spoken here.
But the soul requires other food. Books, where exciting scenes are played out and new meanings of the old life are revealed. The writers are the knights of this invisible front-live on a rollercoaster ride. It could be so exciting, in that moments your life is like a geyser of creativity. And after that, it is empty and lonely, and there is no one to give a hand (did you recognize yourself?).
Anne Lamott has created a whole “manifesto of the Order of the creative”, and this is the book “Bird after Bird. Notes on writing and life in general”. It will answer the most exciting questions of aspiring writers.
Where to get ideas for a story?
“To write means to live consciously,” says Lamotte. To be in the moment: to watch the flight of an annoying fly or a beautiful butterfly, for everything that is in front of your nose.
People tend to fly away somewhere in their thoughts, go back to the past and analyze mistakes, guess about the future and fear the unknown. But there is none of this, there is only “here and now”. And the better the writer feels the present, the more observant he is — plucking out pieces of everyday reality with his eyes-the juicier the plot of his book.
The American writer calls on all creative people to finally throw off the shackles of morality, drive the parental censors out of their heads, and then brilliant ideas will be born, and the characters will be strange, but extremely catchy.
“That’s what we are for — to serve as a mirror where people will see themselves without embellishment”. The book reveals the essence of the writer’s craft. Relax, watch, and be ready for anything. Real-life is always cooler than a fictional, polished story.
How to get over writer’s block?
There is no need to explain to writers what it is.
Writers have become familiar with these changes — from abundance to creative drought. But beginners tend to blame themselves. How often have you turned it around in your head: “I’m exhausted, I have nothing more to say, the plots are flat and clumsy, and the characters are frozen like mummies. I can’t write anything worthy of attention, so why do I even exist?”
Anne Lamott puts medicine on these wounds as well — it immediately becomes easier to breathe. If the crisis inevitably has to be, then “you can breathe freely and start to fill up again.” This and other secrets of her creative recovery can be read in the book. It helps a lot.
And how not to leave the thing halfway?
And this is the hardest part. Where to get motivation, if the recognition has not yet come, and no one is waiting for your brainchild.
The writer goes against the wind, against people’s expectations. As a reward, he may one day hear: “Yes, everything is just like in this book. It is very vital!”. But until then, he will languish in the lack of money alone with his doubts.
“There is nothing more beautiful than life “near literature” when all the time — you read, write, communicate with your workmates. It’s uplifting, “ said in the book. And I add — let creativity become a value in itself. And if the reward eventually finds its hero, you will be published — then you will not be upset!
