How I Write Anne Lamott Teaches Unforgettable Writing | How I Write
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Apr 29, 2026 
Anne Lamott, bestselling novelist and memoirist behind Bird by Bird, talks about writing through fog, trusting messy drafts, and why writer’s block gets misunderstood. She gets into strong verbs, lived-in dialogue, childhood memories, ten-minute walks, and the kinds of people creatives should keep close.
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Skip Ahead Or Add A Character To Unstick Drafts
- Break writer's block by using prompts, skipping ahead, or introducing a new character to shake the scene loose.
- Anne Lamott suggests moving from page 37 to 50 or adding someone who knew both enemies from fifth grade.
Use Ten Minute Walks To Wake Up Your Eyes
- Take short walks or artist dates and deliberately notice what reveals itself in ten minutes.
- Anne Lamott says any ten-minute walk can uncover truth and beauty, from new buds to a café scene worth getting on paper.
Her Grandson Exposed The One Page Truth
- Anne Lamott taught kindergarteners to squint at the movie screen behind their eyes and capture one scene.
- Her grandson complained she promised a book but taught one page, and she answered that one page is all she has.