In Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, Anne Lamott tells the story of how the title came to be: "Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that ... was due the next day. ... he was at the kitchen table close to tears ... immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my  brother's shoulder, and said, 'Bird by bird, buddy.  Just take it bird by bird.'" That's how we approach our writing - and the life of an author as well. Tick them off the tasks one by one, bird by bird. I love it. An oldie now, but definitely worth including in your writer's resource shelf.