For Jacqueline Woodson, writing is a gift of joy not only to herself but also to her readers, who span all ages and backgrounds.

Why you should listen

Despite being raised by "old-school Southerners" who would've preferred she embarked on a sensible career, award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson tells us that "I've known I wanted to be a writer since I was around seven years old. I loved everything about stories -- how they made me feel and think, the joy good ones brought both the listener and the teller, the double and deeper meanings ... I knew writing made me happiest, and wrote as often as I could.

"Now, when I'm not writing, I'm out speaking about writing. I write for young people and old people. I write for magazines, newspapers. I write speeches and plays. I do this because it's never not joyful for me."

Jacqueline Woodson’s TED talk

More news and ideas from Jacqueline Woodson

Arts + Design

Helpful advice for aspiring writers of all ages

September 11, 2019

Being a writer is all about expressing your unique perspective with feeling and originality, not about having a huge vocabulary or getting published, says author Jacqueline Woodson. She shares a little of what she's learned in the process of writing a lot (30+ books!). 

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Live from TED2019

Imagination: Notes from Session 6 of TED2019

April 17, 2019

What can we envision, together, to create a world with more joy, love, humanity? At Session 6 of TED2019, we take a deep dive into the world of imagination with some of the authors, designers, architects and filmmakers who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. The event: Talks from TED2019, Session 6: Imagination, hosted […]

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