The Common Creative S7E120: Episode 120: Paul and Chris - Bird by bird
Nov 19, 2024
A lively chat about Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird and why it rewards rereading. They explore how authenticity in fiction mirrors real life. They unpack humor as a way to reveal truth. They talk about silencing inner critics to let creativity flow. They return to the 'bird by bird' idea of taking creative work one small step at a time.
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Fiction Masks True Confessions
- Paul describes rereading Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird and laughing at her darkly comic examples.
- He recounts Lamott's tip to fictionalize real people to avoid trouble and to reveal hidden truths about yourself.
Character-Building Reveals Your Truth
- Paul notes that building characters exposes your deepest secrets and invites reader recognition.
- He argues authenticity in fiction (and other arts) connects creators to audiences by revealing universal private thoughts.
Raised In A Writer's Household
- Paul summarises Lamott's upbringing with a writer father and boisterous literary friends.
- He links her odd childhood and sense of humour to how she became a writer.
