Judy Blume
I use a computer, but before I begin each new book I keep a notebook. I write down everything that comes to mind during that period before I actually begin. It might take months or weeks. That notebook is my security blanket so that I never have to face a blank screen (or blank page). But I print out often and my best ideas usually come with a pencil in my hand.Collection: Notebook
Censors never go after books unless kids already like them. I don’t even think they know to go after books until they know that children are interested in reading this book, therefore there must be something in it that’s wrong.Collection: Children
I can't let safety and security become the focus of my life.Collection: Safety
I like revising much, much better than getting down a first draft. The first draft is just getting the pieces to the puzzle. Then I get to put the puzzle together!Collection: Together
Its all about your determination, I think, as much as anything. There are a lot of people with talent, but its that determination.Collection: Determination
I stop and think before I start a new book and ask myself do I really want to spend the next year or two or three with these characters because if I don't, then I shouldn't be writing about them.Collection: Book
That's good when you don't know what you're doing. But you're doing it and it's spontaneous and you're not afraid.Collection: Spontaneous
My mother never talked about sex. I was on the Dr. Ruth [ Westheimer] show once - this is years and years and years ago - and it was her Mother's Day show. And I didn't know what we were going to talk about but what she decided we were going to talk about was female masturbation. My mother had invited all her girlfriends. And you know these were all women in their late seventy's maybe they were in their eighty's by then and then and they were horrified because Dr Ruth had a little she had a little chart up you know "female masturbation".Collection: Mother
"Summer Sisters" is probably my least autobiographical book. The whole idea started with rowing down the pond. And I heard an explosion. I don't like sudden loud noises. They scare me. And then all these people came running down the hill and jumped in the water in their finery and a bride and groom was with them, and that's where it all started.Collection: Summer
I wanted to write honest books for kids because I didn't have those when I was a kid.Collection: Book
Something awful happens to a person who grows up as a creative kid and suddenly finds no creative outlet as an adult.Collection: Growing Up
My characters live inside my head for a long time before I actually start a book. They become so real to me, I talk about them at the dinner table as if they are real. Some people consider this weird. But my family understands.Collection: Real
What's the point of thinking about how it's going to end when it's just the beginning?Collection: Thinking
It's not so much that I like him as a person God, but as a boy he's very handsome.Collection: Boys
Some characters become your friends for life. That's how it was for me with Betsy-Tacy.Collection: Character
When I was twelve. And I was going through my parents' bookshelves, I found the most wonderful books and plenty of. Within those wonderful books that were real turn-on's. At 12 or 13, books were such turn-ons.Collection: Real
I was shy, but I stood up in front of the class and I gave my report.I was reporting on books that I didn't want to read. I was inventing books that I didn't want to read.Collection: Book
You've never been in love," she said. "You don't understand." "If being in love means giving up your freedom, not to mention your opportunities," Caitlin said, "Then I haven't missed anything.Collection: Giving Up
I think about Lenaya and Hugh. Will they know how much I've changed this year? Will they have changed too? I'll wait until tomorrow to find out. And then it's possible I won't find out after all. Because some changes happen deep down inside of you. And the truth is, only you know about them. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be.Collection: Life
The best books come from someplace deep inside.... Become emotionally involved. If you don't care about your characters, your readers won't either.Collection: Book
I'm a rewriter. That's the part I like best . . . once I have a pile of paper to work with, it's like having the pieces of a puzzle. I just have to put the pieces together to make a picture.Collection: Writing
She wondered if all the firsts in her life would go by so quickly, and be forgotten just as quickly.Collection: Firsts
"Summer Sisters" was actually was a huge influence on "Girls" because it was the first thing I ever consumed that sort of looked at the way that female friendship can be glorious and can be complicated and can be so like a worse betrayal than something romantic and it just showed these archetypes of femininity than totally sort of individuated them and exploded them.Collection: Girl
I made promises to you that I'm not sure I can keep. None of it has anything to do with you. It's just that I don't know what to do now. You must be thinking what a rotten person I am. Well, believe me, I'm thinking the same thing. I don't know how this happened or why. Maybe I can get over it. Do you think you can wait - because I don't want you to stop loving me. I keep remembering us and how it was. I don't want to hurt you ... not ever.Collection: Hurt
I am not scared of you, I am scare of these feelings.Collection: Fear
I don't believe in writer's block. There are good days when you're writing and less good days. I've learned that if it's not happening to walk away and return later. I doodle a lot and often get my best ideas with a pencil in my hand while I'm doodling. The problem is, sometimes I lose my doodles and that's bad!Collection: Block
Another thing all writers have in common is we're all observers. We pay attention to detail.Collection: Details
Ideas come from everywhere - they come from what you see and hear and imagine.Collection: Ideas
I try to create new characters in each book I write. That's what makes writing fun and interesting for me.Collection: Fun
hi I hope u want to be my friendsCollection: Want
My parents gave me that gift of "reading is a good thing." I mean my mother was afraid of everything. But she was never afraid that Judy is reading.Collection: Mother
My insides still turn over when he looks at me that certain way.Collection: Crush
There's no book or play or series or anything that speaks to everyone, because then it wouldn't speak to anyone.Collection: Book
No place has delicatessen like New York.Collection: New York
Moms come up to me at book signings.Collection: Mom
The child from 9 to 12 interests me very much. And so, those were the years that I like to write about, when I'm writing.Collection: Children
Nothing teaches you as much about writing dialogue as listening to it.Collection: Writing
I fell in love with books at the Elizabeth Public Library when I was four.Collection: Book
I still get angry when older people assume that everyone in my generation, screws around. They're probably the same ones who think all kids use dope. It's true that we are more open than our parents but that just means we accept sex and talk about it. It doesn't mean we are all jumping into bed together.Collection: Sex
If no one speaks out for [young readers], if they don’t speak out for themselves, all they’ll get for required reading will be the most bland books available. Instead of finding the information they need at the library, instead of finding novels that illuminate life, they will find only those materials to which nobody could possibly object... In this age of censorship I mourn the loss of books that will never be written, I mourn the voices that will be silenced — writers’ voices, teachers’ voices, students’ voices — and all because of fear.Collection: Teacher
We must, we must, we must increase our bust.Collection: Increase
Why are we acting as if we're angry. Are we angry?Collection: Acting
[ Adult novels] was the world of grownups. There was nothing about teenagers.Collection: Teenager
I've heard that some authors do dream their books and I would love that if it happened to me, but so far it hasn't. Sometimes I'll get a good idea during the night and if I don't write it down, I won't remember it the next morning.Collection: Dream
I kept a diary as a teenager but I never would have shared it with anyone. Still, I think it's very good practice to write things down.Collection: Teenager
Like my mother said, you can't go back to holding handsCollection: Mother
I love movies, and theater, and kayaking, reading, biking, walking - oh, and dancing. I love to dance!Collection: Reading
Suddenly question number four popped into my mind. Have you thought about how this relationship will end?Collection: Numbers
I'm lucky that so many children visit my website. At least I get to talk with them that way.Collection: Children