ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
July 17, 2009
TFK Talks to Jacqueline Woodson
TFK Kid Reporter Jair Massie learns all about the life of a successful author
Jacqueline Woodson is a renowned author, a loving mother and an inspiration to budding writers worldwide. Many of her books have won major awards and she travels the country on book tours. Her works include Hush, If You Come Softly, and Last Summer with Maizon. This wonderful wordsmith uses her soft yet powerful voice and amiable attitude to change the world. TFK Kid Reporter Jair Massie caught up with Woodson at the International Book Fair in Detroit, Michigan.
 |  COURTESY MASSIE FAMILY TFK Kid Reporter Jair Massie talks to author Jacqueline Woodson. |
In many of your books, you address social issues such as teen pregnancy and racism. Do you feel an obligation to educate your readers on these issues?
Woodson:I don't write to teach. If I wanted to do that, I'd write textbooks. I write because I want to tell a good story. I write because I have so many questions and the questions make me think. When I sit down to write, I have characters in my head and I think, 'I need to tell these stories,' and then the rest comes.
TFK:What parts of your life have you incorporated into your books?
Woodson:There is a part of me in every book I write. Show Way is a story of my family from my great-great-great-grandma to my daughter. Sweet, Sweet Memory is kind of an autobiographical account of my grandfather, who died when I was seven. When I was growing up, my uncle was in prison, and so the experiences of the girl in Visiting Day were my experiences. When it's not physically autobiographical, the stories are emotionally autobiographical, meaning every emotion one of my characters feel is something I've felt in my lifetime.
TFK:What do you think makes people love your books?
Woodson:I think the thing that brings readers to the story is seeing a part of themselves in the story. I think there's something about the universality of the books that crosses the lines of race and economic class and gender so that readers coming from all different aspects can see themselves in the people in the story. Even if they haven't had those specific experiences, I think emotionally, there's a connection. As a result, readers begin to care deeply about what happens. I love that!
TFK:Describe the typical day of an author.
Woodson:Right now, because I'm on tour, it's mad hectic. I've been going to many places, staying in many hotels and eating a huge amount of hotel food. I've been home about four days this month. I don't like being on the road because I miss my family so much.
When I'm not on the road, I try to write in from the morning until early afternoon. Writing means everything from editing to thinking of new ideas to reading my old writings and really immersing myself in literature in some way. Some days I have to deal with fan mail, speaking engagements, organizing my schedule and my website. Then it's back to being a mom.
The reason I write is because I love writing and it calms me. The part of my day that's hectic is a gift. I could be a writer that nobody knows, whose autograph no one wants, who people don't want to come hear speak and whose publisher doesn't want to send on tour. But I'm not that kind of writer. But, I do really love it when I am just reading.
TFK:Which genre is your favorite? Do you think you will add new genres such as mystery, poems and movies to your body of work?
Woodson:I write picture books, I write middle grade and I write young adult. I love them all. I want to write more screenplays one day. I'd like to try to write a little bit of everything at some point.
TFK:What will be the topic of your next book?
Woodson:I have a book I'm working on called What We'll Remember in the Morning. I'm not sure what it's trying to say yet because it's in such early stages. I won't know until I get there.
TFK:What is the main message you want to send to your readers?
Woodson:I don't want to send a message. I never sit down and say 'This is what I want to show readers and this is what I want them to get from the book.' I write to tell good stories.
TFK:What do you think is the key to your success?
Woodson:I think mostly stubbornness and loving what I do. I had a teacher who said when you choose a career, do something you love because you are going to be doing it for the rest of your life. And since I was seven, writing was the thing I loved doing. I wanted to be a writer and I wasn't going to let anyone or anything stop me. I wasn't going to believe the people who said I couldn't be an author.
TFK:What advice would you give to young writers?
Woodson:I would say to write every day and read. Read what you love and read the same books again and again because that's how you learn how to write. Many people are afraid they are going to be judged by their writing, or that it's not good enough. I think it's important to write beyond that fear as well. Don't ever believe that you don't have a right to tell your story.
TFK:If you could do one thing to change the world, what would it be?
Woodson:I feel like I'm doing it. I feel like writing changes the world. I feel like reading changes the world. Every time I sit down to write, I feel like, 'Okay Jacqueline, you're doing what you need to be doing today. How could you be doing it a little better?' I would love for everyone to have the same chances in life regardless of race, gender, family make-up or economics.
