When I lock myself up to write, I cannot allow myself to think about the censor or the reviewer or anyone but my characters and their story!
Judy BlumeRead
I know it's working when I'm writing a book if I'm laughing or crying.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the emotional connection and authenticity involved in the writing process.
Judy Blume expresses that true creativity in writing is reflected in the strong emotional responses it evokes, whether joy or sorrow. This suggests that if a writer experiences laughter or tears while crafting their narrative, they are likely connecting deeply with their story and engaging authentically with their audience.
Themes
WritingEmotionCreativityAuthenticityConnection
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, to highlight the importance of emotional engagement in storytelling.
More from Judy Blume
All quotes βWhat I remember when I started to write was how I couldn't wait to get up in the morning to get to my characters.
Judy BlumeRead
What can happen if a young reader picks up a book he/she isn't yet ready for? Questions, maybe. Usually, that child puts down the book and says, 'Boring.' Or, 'I'm not ready for this.' Kids are really good at knowing what they can handle.
Judy BlumeRead
Concentrate on how good if feels to be alive. No matter what. Just to see the color of the sky, just to smell the air, and feel the wind in your face
Judy BlumeRead
I wrote 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' right out of my own experiences and my own feelings when I was in sixth grade.
Judy BlumeRead
Nobody ever asks me why my characters don't text each other. Besides, as soon as you put something 'electronic' in a book, it's already out of date by the time it's published: everything will have changed. Human emotion, on the other hand, will never change.
Judy BlumeRead
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