Anne Lamott shares her wisdom on slowing down, paying attention, and just doing.
- All writers have the same problem: their minds
- We’re all here, trying to communicate important, complex, human things
- Every day, you gotta “do your scales” – sit down, practice the “mundane”, just do it – that’s how you get to play Mozart, Chopin
- “I don’t believe in inspiration” – waiting to write until you’re inspired can be an excuse
- You figure out how to do stuff by doing it – you take the action
- “Take the action and insight follows”
- Listen. Take things in. And take notes. Don’t just write down what people say. Write how they say it.
- “I write down everything I love.”
- When you write, even if it’s too much or not that great, it’s still something.
- “I will have six pages that didn’t exist before that.”
- We need to try things. And fail. And try again. And fail again. And try better. Fail better.
- Your most important spiritual practice is to be where your butt is.
- A B+ is a fantastic grade.
- Half of creativity is taking stuff out.
- On drafts
- First one: child’s draft (SFD!)
- Second one: adult’s draft (better)
- Third one: dental draft (get in the weeds, wiggle each detail, fine-tune what needs to be stronger and what needs less polish)
- Pay attention. Breathe.
- Share your story. It’s good enough.
- Perfection is the voice of the oppressor.
- “Make more messes.”