Word by Word
Anne Lamott (Bird by Bird, Audio Reviews, LJ 9/1/96) offers advice to aspiring writers in this recorded workshop. She urges those who want to write to set aside as little as an hour a day, five days a week, and try to write a thousand words each day. A recovering alcoholic and single mother, Lamott stresses the therapeutic value of writing and gently puts down those who want to know only about plot points and how to find an agent. "The reward is in the writing," she insists. Sprinkling her advice with self-deprecating wit, she, nonetheless, offers solid information on letting plot grow out of characterization, paying attention to life's details, and always keeping a supply of index cards nearby to capture noteworthy ideas. Lamott's casual style and speech patterns may not appeal to those who want more formality. On the other hand, by sounding nonliterary, she may appeal to those who never before dared to think they had anything worthwhile to say. This program is a positive addition to the growing number of how-to-write books.?Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at GeneseoCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.