Bird by bird : some instructions on writing and life

Summary: This volume presents the author's offbeat wisdom about how to write. She recounts her personal experiences to reveal her writing techniques and how she overcomes obstacles that interfere with the writing flow. The author offers concrete suggestions about character, plot, setting, and other topics of interest to writers. She also offers irreverent advice about how to navigate through the dark underbelly feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, and jealousy that are inevitable parts of any writer's experience. Her humorous advice is based on her own experience and honest self-analysis which provides writers the necessary perspective to keep writing through the difficult times that all writers encounter.

Record details

ISBN: 0385480016
ISBN: 9780385480017
ISBN: 9781439558164
ISBN: 1439558167
Physical Description: print
xxxi, 239 pages ; 21 cm
Edition: 1st Anchor Books editrion
Publisher: New York : Anchor Books, [1995].
Copyright: ©1994

Content descriptions

General Note:

Originally published: New York : Pantheon Books, 1994.

Formatted Contents Note:

Writing. Getting started -- Short assignments -- Shitty first drafts -- Perfectionism -- School lunches -- Polaroids -- Character -- Plot -- Dialogue -- Set design -- False starts -- Plot treatment -- How do you know when you're done? -- The writing frame of mind. Looking around -- The moral point of view -- Broccoli -- Radio Station KFKD -- Jealousy -- Help along the way. Index cards -- Calling around -- Writing groups -- Someone to read your drafts -- Letters -- Writer's block -- Publication and other reasons to write. Writing a present -- Finding your voice -- Giving -- Publication --The last class.