Soundbites from #LASCBWI15
We’re sharing all the greatest writing quotes that fit into 140 characters, on behalf of our fabulous Children’s Book Writers of Los Angeles Critique Coordinator, Cassie Gustafson.
CBW–LA President Nutschell Windsor is too busy volunteering at the conference as the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Los Angeles Assistant Regional Advisor to tweet. (Now that’s a mouthful!) However, if you see her, stop by and say hello! She always loves to connect with a fellow storyteller.
Here’s what Cassie (follow her @cassiegusty) had to report via Twitter on her first day of the conference:
Attributions to original speakers are included via twitter handle at the end of each quote.
On Meaning + The Power of the Written Word
“I am a breaker of hearts and a mender of hearts that are broken…” @MemFox1
“I can kindle the love of reading in children, or I can kill it. The responsibility is overwhelming.” @MemFox1
“You need to be honest about what absorbs and excites you.” @MegWolitzer
“Great art communicates before it is understood.” –T.S. Eliot via @MemFox1
“Do what you love and the work will find you.” @dsantat
“Form follows function. Everything has a purpose. Understand why you do things.” @dsantat
On Writing
“The idea of us finding the time is preposterous. We make the time.” @varianjohnson
“The hardest part of finding your voice and style is trusting your instinct.” @dsantat
“Writing books doesn’t seem like a real job because so much of the work is interior.” @MegWolitzer
“It’s hard. It’s supposed to be hard. But it’s not impossible. If it were easy, everyone would do it.” @varianjohnson
“Tell all the truth but tell it slant.” –Emily Dickinson via @MegWolitzer
“Write what preoccupies or obsesses you, then develop the characters to carry it out on the page … Be who you are but much more so in the page. Write what you are afraid of.” @MegWolitzer (combined two tweets here)
“Prioritize. You shouldn’t be making sandwiches when you should be writing stories.” @mbrockenbrough
“Family’s important. But remember that you’re an important family member too, and your dreams are important and worthwhile.” @mbrockenbrough
“Writing is like getting struck by lightning — just because it happened over there doesn’t mean it’s a good place to stand again.” @MrAdamRex
On Inspiration
“Good writers steal. Bad writers borrow.” –T.S. Eliot via @MemFox1
“Immerse yourself in life and culture. Ideas originate from a reference. Use them to have something to say.” @dsantat
On Revising
“Be careful about fixes. Let it remain true to life.” @AnnaShinoda
On Submitting
“If your manuscript is in a drawer it doesn’t have a chance.” @staceyleeauthor
On Success
“You need to break things down into small steps on the path to big successes.” @MikeCurato
“Don’t give up … because if I would have taken that job, then I wouldn’t be here. And I wouldn’t have a Caldecott Medal.” @dsantat
“Own who you want to be.” @nutschell
On Magic
“Good grief. How boring would it be to be able to understand everything about a book?” @MemFox1
Do any of these resonate with you? Let us know!
At the conference? Please add your favorite soundbites in the comments section below!
