Carolyn Burhart
asked
Judy Blume:
Dear Judy Blume..... Which comes first? The characters or the story? How do you develop your characters? Do you have a firm knowledge of them before you write a story? Or do you have a story and then go with the flow? Thank you, Carrie Burhart
Judy Blume
Characters come first, usually with a situation. I keep a notebook (my security notebook) before I actually start to write the book, jotting down everything in no special order. Details and more details. This helps me know something about my characters but when it comes down to it, I go with the flow. The best moments come when I least expect them and surprise me. Those surprises are the best part of writing for me.
More Answered Questions
Carol Maskus
asked
Judy Blume:
When I was an adolescent, I feel like you spoke to who I was with truth. Now that I'm an adult teacher, I feel out of touch with kids, more than I'd like to admit. How can teachers better understand older kids and teenagers? What is it that you know that puts you so in touch with that age group?
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