It's so funny, because even when I talked about being a writer, like their big fear was,

like, don't go spread in our dirty laundry, and I always thought, you know, the characters

in my head are so much more interesting than what's happening in my real life.

In the TED Audio Collective, this is Design Matters with Debbie Millman.

For 17 years, Debbie Millman has been talking with designers and other creative people

about what they do, how they got to be who they are, and what they're thinking about

and working on.

On this episode, Jacqueline Woodson talks about writing for children and young adults.

It was Madeline Langle who said, when you write, write, remembering the child you were,

because the essence of childhood doesn't change.

Hey, listener, a quick favor.

We are conducting an audience survey, and we'd be really grateful if you could take just

a few minutes to respond.

Please visit survey.prx.org slash design matters to take the survey today.

That's survey.prx.org slash design matters.

Thanks.

As a child, Jacqueline Woodson loved to tell lies.

There was something about seeing her friend's eyes grow wide with wonder that she loved.

She got into trouble for lying, but didn't stop until 5th grade.

That same year, she wrote a story, and her 5th grade teacher said, this is really good.

That was when Jacqueline Woodson understood that a lie on the page was called fiction, and

that could when you accolades and awards.

...