I actually don't think of whiteness and heterosexuality as 'the norm'. Maybe there are people who still do but none of them are close friends of mine. Jacqueline Woodson More Quotes by Jacqueline Woodson More Quotes From Jacqueline Woodson There is something so deeply visceral about libraries for me-rooms and rooms full of people dreaming and remembering. Jacqueline Woodson reading dream people Diversity is about all of us, and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together. Jacqueline Woodson diversity together world But on paper, things can live forever. Jacqueline Woodson butterfly paper forever Yes, writing is not easy. But can any writer imagine NOT writing? Jacqueline Woodson imagine easy writing From a really young age, I was reading like a writer. I was reading for the deep understanding of the literature; not simply to hear the story but to understand how the author got the story on the page. Jacqueline Woodson deep-understanding reading age I do believe that books can change lives and give people this kind of language they wouldn't have had otherwise. Jacqueline Woodson life-changing believe book When I was a kid, I got in trouble for lying a lot, and I had a teacher say, instead of lying, write it down, because if you write it down, it's not a lie anymore; it's fiction. Jacqueline Woodson writing teacher lying There is so much work left to be done in the world and for me, I am hoping to make the change I can and do the work I need to do through this gift I've been given. Jacqueline Woodson done world needs Even the silence Jacqueline Woodson just-listen silence stories People are going to judge you all the time no matter what you do...Don't worry about other people. Worry about you. Jacqueline Woodson judging worry people I feel like the world stopped. And I got off...and then it started spinning again, but too fast for me to hop back on. I feel like I'm still trying to get a...to get some kind of foothold on living Jacqueline Woodson spinning trying world Keep on doing what you're doing. Jacqueline Woodson In all your getting, get understanding. Jacqueline Woodson understanding I believe in one day and someday and this perfect moment called Now. Jacqueline Woodson perfect life believe I think in terms of being a New Yorker, as my friends would say, I don't take a lot of mess. I have no tolerance for people who are not thinking deeply about things. I have no tolerance for the kind of small talk that people need to fill silence. And I have no tolerance for people not - just not being a part of the world and being in it and trying to change it. Jacqueline Woodson silence people thinking My favorite reader is one that revisits books and gets something new out of them each time. Jacqueline Woodson my-favorite something-new book For me as a writer, it was understanding that we're so far behind in our way of dealing with death. We put someone in the ground, we bury them or we burn them, and then we're supposed to just move on and kind of get over it. Jacqueline Woodson understanding way moving Sometimes you do have to laugh to keep from crying. And sometimes the world feels all right and good and kind of like it's becoming nice again around you. And you realize it, and realize how happy you are in it, and you just gotta laugh. Jacqueline Woodson nice laughing world Racism doesn't know color, death doesn't know age, and pain doesn't know might. Jacqueline Woodson pain color racism I think it's important to remember that writing is a gift and our stories are gifts to ourselves and to the world and sometimes giving isn't always the easiest thing to do but it comes back. Jacqueline Woodson writing giving thinking
