The Longreads Questionnaire: Neal Allen and Anne Lamott Neal Allen began his writing career in the late ’70s as a reporter in New York’s Hudson Valley. Over the years, he has worked as a journalist, corporate executive, and spiritual coach, writing books, magazine stories, speeches, scripts, memoirs, and business copy. However, his approach to writing has remained consistent. In his new book, Good Writing, he shares 36 rules he has compiled over his career—tips to improve the building blocks of our writing. “These rules don’t restrict me so much as they encourage me to stretch into more and more possibilities, leaps of imagination, and lovely explorations,” he writes in the book’s introduction. Allen’s wife, author Anne Lamott, has also found value in these rules for her own work. “Stronger verbs, layered sentences, twist those clichés if you are going to insist on the right to use them,” she writes, running through her husband’s tips like a checklist. Lamott, who is well known for her book Bird by Bird, a favorite among many writers, helped the author discover a creative muse that has stayed with him throughout his life. The book Good Writing consists of 36 chapters, each dedicated to one rule. Every chapter includes “Anne’s take,” adding insights to each section and occasionally challenging Allen’s perspectives. The book is a collaboration between two writers and two partners, and ultimately a practical guide for strengthening one’s writing craft. The authors were invited to respond to a questionnaire together, and their answers are structured like the book itself—one rule at a time, with both voices in conversation. Where did you grow up? At the bottom of our hill in Arlington, Virginia, a creek ran about a mile through woods to the Potomac River.#neal_allen #anne_lamott #good_writing #tiburon_california #st_johns_college_santa_fe
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
