Barb Best

MIRTH MAVEN * Author * Global Humor Winner @ebww * Humor Books on Amazon * I feel your pain *

[Barb Best @HaBarb]

A journal for a fresh, new day 🥰https://t.co/TvSa1ju10Y

[Jessica Brody @JessicaBrody]

Welcome to the Fast Drafting Revolution ☀️ Page One to Done releases today! Let's start finishing stuff!
https://t.co/Cm4kO1KG8X

[Barb Best @HaBarb]

19 Delightful Quotes from Dick Van Dyke https://t.co/WTZECnKxQ1

[James Patterson @JP_Books]

Books are only magic if kids can read them. I'm partnering with @VanderbiltU to help turn the page on the literacy crisis.

[Barb Best @HaBarb]

Review: Marty, Life Is Short — Movies for the Rest of Us with Bill Newcott | The Saturday Evening Post https://t.co/shxDvOkLHo

[Barb Best @HaBarb]

Someone In Colorado Is Putting Out The Funniest Signs Ever, And The Puns... https://t.co/uqp5UXfGcb via @YouTube

[Barb Best @HaBarb]

Mel Brooks Donates His Archives to the National Comedy Center https://t.co/k2IhXpy9JC via @NYTimes

[Thurber House @ThurberHouse]

Happy Mother's Day! 💐 Excerpts from this 1953 letter show how much James Thurber adored his mother, Mame—and credited her for passing her talents on to him.

___________________
#mothersday #happymothersday #mother #mom #throwback #jamesthurber #thurber

[Barb Best @HaBarb]

Chick Wit – Lisa Scottoline https://t.co/0G9EnGK75w

[Barb Best @HaBarb]

Real-Life Emily Who Inspired ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Character Speaks Out https://t.co/N2kAJoOVDs via @YouTube

[Barb Best @HaBarb]

The Devil Drinks Starbucks by @bobsmileycomedy https://t.co/hAveHVsv6B

[David Perell @david_perell]

Anne Lamott is the queen of writing teachers. Ask 100 writers for their favorite book about the craft, and her book, Bird by Bird, will top the list.

Everybody who's tried to make a work of art knows how loud the inner critic can be. When struggle comes, most people try harder. But Anne says: "The point is not to try harder; it's to resist life less."

Improving as a writer is about becoming more aware and paying closer attention to what's already around you, and this conversation is about how to do that.

It centers around her famous writing advice: “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.”

Timestamps:

0:39 Bird by Bird
2:17 Why writer's block isn't real
3:36 The problem with trying harder
9:06 Every book has three drafts
14:24 Learning to observe the world
15:58 Facing your inner critic
27:59 "Help, thanks, wow"
31:16 You get three pages
35:51 Revenge = fuel
38:26 Anne's #1 writing prompt
48:53 Finding writing ideas
54:57 Writing lessons from movies
1:02:08 The ABDCE storytelling formula
1:05:37 What makes for a good ending?
1:10:57 Dealing with criticism
1:16:28 Writing to be fully alive

I've shared the full conversation with Anne Lamott below. If you'd prefer to watch it, I've published it on YouTube, and you also can listen to it on Apple / Spotify. I've shared those links in the reply tweets.

This is one of those bucket list interviews I've wanted to do ever since I started How I Write, and I hope you enjoy our conversation.

[Popular Science @PopSci]

“You know that cat who always shows up right when you’re trying to work? We’ve recreated that." https://t.co/4I2zYKb4Ll

[Barb Best @HaBarb]

Indie Spotlight: Humor and Satire https://t.co/aE1jWGNXKl

[Michael Warburton @For_Film_Fans]

A funny & moving short film by JUDD APATOW on the lifelong friendship between BON NEWHART and DON RICKLES, who were not an obvious match but who nevertheless were joined at the hip.

BOB AND DON: A LOVE STORY (2023)

It’s also free to view on You Tube.

[Barb Best @HaBarb]

Interview: P!lot https://t.co/2K2wW2v6hL via @suzanneraga

[🌸🎵 Beautiful Melody 🎶💖 @Ducnghia16]

No matter how many times I hear it, I'm still blown away by her voice. She possessed one of the finest singing voices in music history.

Can you name this song? 🤔

[Barb Best @HaBarb]

https://t.co/LWcvfAdHUV

[Things From the Past @pastarchive]

This is where “uppercase” and “lowercase” came from. In the early days of printing, capital letters were kept in the upper compartments of the type case, while the smaller letters were placed below for easier access.

[Barb Best @HaBarb]

Rock Bottom Remainders "Moby Dick" https://t.co/BCZ2cq0wn1 via @YouTube

[Condé Nast Traveler @CNTraveler]

The 2024 Readers' Choice Award winners are here!! https://t.co/coidWQIa7Z