IRVINE, CA – Barry Siegel, a former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and current director of the journalism program at UC Irvine moderated this conversation at Irvine Barclay Theatre, with author Anne Lamott so the night’s primary focus was on writing. However, Lamott is quite an educated raconteur, so the evening’s discussion encompassed a wide range of fascinating topics. We learned much about Lamott’s insight on writing well (of course), her family life, and about anything and everything in between. Best of all, Lamott speaks just like she writes, so her answers to Siegel’s curious questions (as well as a few queries from the audience) were laced with plenty of self-deprecating humor, literary quotations, and pragmatic advice. This led to only one conclusion: if you already love Lamott’s writing, you might love her even more after hearing her speak in person.

 

Lamott is an outspokenly empathetic advocate for writers. She’s the daughter of a writer and the mother of one, so writing seems to run in her blood. She encouraged writers to stay dedicated, even when feeling uninspired and/or unconfident. “You need to stay in the chair,” as she put it, to highlight the necessity of pushing past the mental and emotional roadblocks writers often face. It was also heartening to hear her say how first drafts (even her own) are nearly always bad – or at the very least incomplete – and that it’s foolhardy to expect fantastic editorial content to be instantaneous. Furthermore, she was only half-joking when she said writing is hard. Many times, Siegel and Lamott commiserated together about the trials and tribulations of being writers. The ‘struggle is real’ may be a cliché, but it’s also so true for those who choose to be writers.

 

Before discovering her writing life, Lamott was a talented young tennis player. It obviously pains greatly — now approaching 70 — that her body doesn’t work quite so well anymore. After being asked to give a brief biography, she explained that her parents were atheists who raised a perfectionist daughter (a girl after their own hearts, most likely). It wasn’t until later in life, for instance, that she discovered that a B+ is actually a good grade. She implied this perfectionist streak partially led to her eventual adult struggles with substance abuse. Sadly, perfectionists are never quite good enough: for others, especially for themselves.

 

Then there is the Sunday school teacher side of Lamott’s complicated life calling. (Oh to be a fly on the wall in one of her church classes!) When with these students, however, she is as much a counselor as a Bible teacher. She spoke about the horrible life circumstances of some of her students, which so often touched her heart. She aims to be a mentor/friend, always there for them as a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on.

 

Her husband, Neal Allen, also a fellow writer, came up often during the conversation. He and Lamott were married in 2019, and she’s so thankful to have found such a loving partner this late in life. In her role of being an advocate for writers, she is probably the biggest advocate for Allen. They are huge supporters of each other’s work. They share both joy and tears. One sweet story she shared about their relationship was how one of those times these two wept together happened when their cat became sick and passed away.

 

The audience walked away appreciating and respecting Lamott’s deep spirituality, as well. Toward the evening’s end, the topic of Donald Trump came up. Lamott hates Trump and is not afraid to say it. However, her pastor reminded her that Jesus loves Trump, just as much as He loves her. One got the impression this Trump hatred issue is still a work in progress for Lamott. And yet, it was so refreshing to learn of her sincerity in addressing these unkind feelings. In our culturally divided times, it’s sadly all too common for many to view hatred for this politician (or that of any other public figure) as justified. Lamott, though, knows hatred – even for someone she finds so odious – is not acceptable to Jesus, and thus she continues to work out her own salvation, so to speak, with fear and trembling.

 

The best way to sum up this Anne Lamott appearance is that she is what she writes. She’s an honest soul who doesn’t have all the answers to life’s big issues, but she sure makes for one sweet, intelligent, and humble fellow traveler. We all left the theater loving Lamott even more.

 

-Dan MacIntosh