Reading slowly -- with her finger running beneath the words, even when she was taught not to -- has led Jacqueline Woodson to a life of writing books to be savored. In a lyrical talk, she invites us to slow down and appreciate stories that take us places we never thought we'd go and introduce us to people we never thought we'd meet. "Isn't that what this is all about -- finding a way, at the end of the day, to not feel alone in this world, and a way to feel like we've changed it before we leave?" she asks.

Jacqueline Woodson: What reading slowly taught me about writing

What reading slowly taught me about writing

Embracing the slow reading of stories uncovers new worlds and characters, enriching the reader's imagination and empathy.

Stories, spanning from ancient narratives to digital tales, serve as a connective technology, weaving the fabric of human experience.

In a rapidly advancing technological world, the act of reading slowly honors the depth of narratives and the legacy of storytelling.