A while ago, Brain Pickings posted on Anne LaMott’s Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, for our money one of all time BEST books about the creative process. Although we’ve written about the book ourselves — including our crazy-favorite quote about being “flanged” — Brain Pickings offers a trove of excerpts that make a fine introduction if you’re not familiar with the book. Here’s just one:

Here’s how to break through the perfectionism: make a LOT of mistakes.

Check it out here. You’ll see why Bird by Bird makes a welcome gift book.