Writing 'because you have to'

 

 

“The best books come from someplace inside. You don't write because you want to, but because you have to.” – Judy Blume

 

Blume turned 85 on Sunday but her writing remain forever young.  Her novels for teens and tweens have tackled sensitive topics and been a source of controversy, but there’s little doubt that they resonate with young people.  To date they have had sales of some 100 million copies and been translated into 32 languages.

 

She said she hopes that her stories have opened the doors to teens for a better understanding of themselves, the world around them, and issues that young people struggle with “growing up.”  Racism, divorce, bullying, sexuality, all have all been “on the table” for Blume’s characters. “Generating discussion,” she said, is her primary goal.

 

Blume said she dreamed of being lots of things as a girl, but never a writer.  She loved to read but didn’t picture herself as the person who would sit down and write the words that others would enjoy.   Now recognized as one of the world’s great “storytellers,” she said.  “Any book that gets kids to read are books that we should cherish, we should be thankful for them.”