Shop
  • Deals
  • Deal checker
  • Black Friday
  • Buying guides
  • Brands
  • Stores
Travel
  • Flight deals
  • Hotel deals
Company
  • Research
  • Press
  • deal.ai apps
Black Friday 2026
  • Walmart
  • Best Buy
  • Target
  • TVs
  • Laptops
  • Headphones
  • Apple
  • Gaming
  • Vacuums
  • Kitchen
  • Toys
  • Smartwatches
  • Tablets
  • Furniture
  • Mattresses
© Deal.ai Inc.
TermsPrivacy
Deal.ai › Books
B
Bird by Bird Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott Paperback NEW (Paperback, 1995)

Bird by Bird Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott Paperback NEW (Paperback, 1995)

Best price now

$9.99at TargetChecked Nov 8

Compared across 3 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when. Store links may earn us a commission. Price via Klarna.

Visit Target

Ask our agent about this product

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.

Enter to send, Shift+Enter for a new line

Price facts

  • Last seen at $9.99 at Target on Nov 8.
  • Checked at 3 stores.

Our take on the Bird by Bird Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott Paperback NEW (Paperback, 1995)

Anne Lamott's 1995 book is part memoir and part writing manual, built around short chapters on getting words down, surviving bad drafts and quieting the inner critic. It is known for its humor and honesty about envy, perfectionism and the messy middle of a project. It suits new writers and blocked ones more than readers looking for grammar or publishing-market advice. Compared with craft manuals like Strunk and White or Stephen King's On Writing, it offers less technique and more encouragement and personal story.

Best forNew writers starting a first draftWriters stuck or self-criticalJournalists and memoiristsReaders of personal essays
Pros
  • Short chapters that are easy to pick up
  • Honest about envy, doubt and bad first drafts
  • Memorable advice such as the one-inch picture frame
  • Warm, funny voice that keeps it readable
  • Applies to life beyond writing
Cons
  • Little concrete instruction on grammar or structure
  • Anecdotes outweigh practical exercises
  • Some references feel dated to the 1990s
  • Not aimed at academic or business writing

Bird by Bird Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott Paperback NEW (Paperback, 1995) prices at every store

  • TargetNew

    In stock

    $9.99+ $5.99 shippingChecked Nov 8
    Visit Target
  • WalmartNew

    In stock

    $9.99+ $6.99 shippingChecked Nov 8
    Visit Walmart
  • BooksamillionNew

    In stock

    $20.00+ $7.98 shippingChecked Nov 8
    Visit Booksamillion

Store links may earn us a commission. Some prices via Klarna.

Bird by Bird Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott Paperback NEW (Paperback, 1995) price history

Lowest price we've seen: $9.99 on Nov 9 at Target. Tracked across 3 stores since Nov 9.

What reviewers say

Readers and reviewers treat it as a classic comfort book for writers, praised for its humor and candor about the writing life. Many say it helped them start or continue writing. Critics note it is light on actual craft instruction.

What people mention
  • EncouragementPraisedReaders say it gives them permission to write badly and keep going.
  • HumorPraisedOwners describe the book as funny and warm rather than preachy.
  • Craft instructionCriticisedSome readers wanted more concrete lessons on structure and technique.
  • AnecdotesMixedMany enjoy the personal stories; others find them to outweigh practical advice.
  • PacingPraisedShort chapters make it easy to read in small sessions.

Specifications

Format
PaperbackSource
Language
EnglishSource
Release Year
1995Source
Publisher
Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing GroupSource

Questions and answers

Is this a craft book or a memoir?
It is a blend. Lamott teaches through personal stories, so expect memoir-style chapters with writing lessons woven in rather than a step-by-step manual.
Is it useful for beginners?
Yes. It focuses on starting, drafting and handling self-doubt, which suits people writing a first book or essay collection.
Does it cover grammar and structure?
Barely. For sentence-level rules or plot structure, pair it with a dedicated craft or style guide.
Is it the same as On Writing by Stephen King?
No. King's book mixes memoir with more direct advice on tools and drafting; Lamott's is warmer and more about the psychology of writing.
Is this the original 1995 edition?
The listing describes the 1995 paperback from Bantam Doubleday Dell. Later anniversary editions exist, so check the edition if you want added introductions.
Who is it not for?
Writers seeking academic citation rules, business writing or publishing-market guidance will find little of that here.
Where is the Bird by Bird Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott Paperback NEW (Paperback, 1995) cheapest?
At Target, for $9.99, as of our latest check.
Where can I buy the Bird by Bird Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott Paperback NEW (Paperback, 1995)?
3 stores we checked sell it, including Walmart, Target, Booksamillion.

More writing books

  • N
    Nine Ways to Masterful Writing A Guide to Fiction and Memoir (Paperback)
    Nine Ways to Masterful Writing A Guide to Fiction and Memoir (Paperback)
  • C
    Crafting Stories: A Guide to Creative Writing
    Crafting Stories: A Guide to Creative Writing
  • T
    The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life
    The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life
  • W
    Why I Write: Thoughts on the Craft of Fiction
    Why I Write: Thoughts on the Craft of Fiction
  • G
    Great Writing 5 with Online Access Code
    Great Writing 5 with Online Access Code
  • T
    The Craft of Writing
    The Craft of Writing
  • A
    A Long Game - McCracken
    A Long Game - McCracken
  • O
    Once Upon a Time Writers Handbook
    Once Upon a Time Writers Handbook
Genre
Dictionaries & LanguagesSource
Release Date
1995-10Source