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I was in a 1:1 with my boss, and he asked off-hand if I had ever read Bird by Bird, which I had not. He shared a story from the book about a young boy who was given a task of writing a report about various bird species in his local area. And, just like something I would do, the boy neglected to start on his report until the last second. Very “Oh no, that’s due today. I had 9 months to work on it, I did nothing”-esque*. So, sitting in his home in a panic, the boy asks his dad what he should do, and his dad just looks at him and says. “Well, you’ll just have to go bird by bird”. And this story resonated with me not only because I have been that boy so many times in life, but also because whatever we were talking about was a project that we need to tackle in a “bird by bird” fashion. So, right during our meeting I bought the book and I’ve just finished it.
I must say, it’s completely different from what I expeced. After all, I was initially imagining a story about a boy who needed to write a report about birds, and assumed I was going to be a passenger learning about how he managed to pull off writing his report, surely failing to do so in time for his assignment but along the way learning a fundamental life lesson? Or something like that? But, actually the book is, like the subtitle says; “Some Instructions on Writing and Life.” The book was great, and I really enjoyed reading something that I was absolutely not looking for. I have no intention to write a book, or to ever publish anything outside of on my own blog. But, Anne gave me a “one-inch picture frame view”** into the life of a writer. The dread, the fear, and the doubt. And also the satisfaction, the meaning and the importance of writing. I want to write even more now. I wish people who I love would write more - because I want to read what they have to say.
So, go write, if you want to. There will be no parade when you finish writing, but maybe someone who loves you will find meaning in it, or maybe someone who doesn’t even know you will find meaning in it. Or they’ll hate it. Or they won’t even read it.
* Brian Regan - The Science Project
** read the book