Bird by Bird

Currently I'm trying to read the Anne Lamott's book Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. It's hard to find the time to read extra things for fun but it's the kind of book that grabs you instantly. The way she uses her words are captivating and easy to read. It's almost like you are having a conversation with her. I've only started and read a few chapters but I would love to have the time to just sit down and read the whole thing.
She intergrates stories about her family, childhood, experiences, with the lessons she's trying to teach her students. One point that I like is that you can't write for the reward of getting published. You write for the reward of writing. You cannot just think about the monatery rewards when it comes to art or you will get no where. You do what you do because you love it.
Lamott said that a major problem her students have is that they think they can't write. When Lamott says not to worry about it and to just write anything down. Dedicate a certain amount of time each day and write about anything, a memory, what happened that day, a person, etc but they important thing is that you do it. You must be dedicated and worry about the technical things later.
I think this is the same when it comes to the visual arts. Sketching is one of the best ways for me to brainstorm. I try to sketch my very first ideas down for a project even if in my mind it doesn't seem to be a good one. I just sketch to get it on paper and out of my head not thinking ahead about my final grade. I hear others saying they can't draw and so they don't in their sketchbooks. Even if you don't feel like you have the skills, i still think it really helps to get your idea down from your own hand and not just relying on computer images that sort of look like what you wanted.
I'll keep posting more about the book once I read a little further.