What Anne Lamott has said about Bird by Bird
2 quotes · 2 episodes · Jul 31, 2026 – Aug 5, 2026
Anne Lamott, American writer and essayist, author of Bird by Bird, Operating Instructions and Somehow: Thoughts on Love, has been quoted on Bird by Bird 2 times in 2 episodes of The Tim Ferriss Show and TED Radio Hour, most recently on August 5, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Lamott says she does not teach people to write well but to overcome not writing at all.
“I don't try to teach kids or grownups how to write really, really well. I just teach them to stop not writing”
The Tim Ferriss Show: #878: How to Start When You're Stuck, Finish What You Begin, and Stop Waiting for Inspiration — Creative Advice from Elizabeth Gilbert, Seth Godin, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Lamott and More (Aug 5, 2026) · Listen from 8:08
Lamott warns in her TED Talk that publication and creative success are things a writer has to recover from.
“Publication and temporary creative successes are something you have to recover from. They kill as many people as not”
TED Radio Hour: Addiction, motherhood and Jesus with writer Anne Lamott (Jul 31, 2026) · Listen from 11:59
Episodes
#878: How to Start When You're Stuck, Finish What You Begin, and Stop Waiting for Inspiration — Creative Advice from Elizabeth Gilbert, Seth Godin, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Lamott and MoreThe Tim Ferriss Show · Aug 5, 2026 · 59 min
Tim Ferriss compiles writing advice from Elizabeth Gilbert, Anne Lamott, Joyce Carol Oates, Jerry Seinfeld, Mary Karr, Brandon Sanderson and Seth Godin on starting, persisting and finishing.
Addiction, motherhood and Jesus with writer Anne LamottTED Radio Hour · Jul 31, 2026 · 50 min
Writer Anne Lamott talks with Manoush Zomorodi about writing, alcoholism and recovery, faith, single motherhood, her son's addiction, death and turning 70.
Anne Lamott on other topics
- Writing craft · 1 quote
- Perfectionism · 1 quote