Anne Lamott and Neal Allen Launch New Writing Guide 'Good Writing' Anne Lamott, the acclaimed author of the writing manual Bird by Bird, has released a new book titled Good Writing in collaboration with her husband, Neal Allen, on March 17, 2026. The book, published by Avery/Penguin Random House, offers 36 practical rules for refining sentences and is positioned as a companion to Lamott’s 1994 classic. Priced at $27 for the hardcover edition, the book also includes an audiobook narrated by both authors. Lamott, 71, and Allen, 69, have worked together on this project, blending Allen’s decades of collected writing rules with Lamott’s signature warmth and encouragement. Their collaboration began in 2016 when they met on a dating site for people over 50. After nine months, they purchased a home in Marin County and formed a partnership that has spanned a decade. Lamott humorously noted that she threatened to undermine their marriage if Allen didn’t allow her to contribute to the project. Good Writing does not aim to replace Bird by Bird but instead focuses on the second draft, offering guidance for refining completed work. The book’s structure features a call-and-response format, with Allen presenting a rule and Lamott providing a humanizing perspective. For example, Allen’s rule “Use Strong Verbs” is paired with Lamott’s reassurance that even seasoned writers struggle with this. The book’s chapters include titles like “Sound Natural,” “Keep It Active,” and “Write the Hard Stuff,” all targeting the polishing phase of writing. Allen, a former journalist and spiritual coach, compiled his rules over years of professional experience, noting that many writers had developed their own sets of guidelines.#penguin_random_house #anne_lamott #neal_allen #marin_county #bird_by_bird
