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The Best Writing Advice Judy Blume Ever Got

It was from her daughter, and it’s delightfully simple

by
Stephanie Butnick
August 08, 2014
Judy Blume at the 15th Annual Glamour 'Women of the Year' Awards on November 8, 2004 in New York City. (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Judy Blume at the 15th Annual Glamour 'Women of the Year' Awards on November 8, 2004 in New York City. (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

Trailblazing author Judy Blume, who wrote young adult books before that was even a category, is known for classics like Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, Summer Sisters, Deenie, and Starring Sally J. Friedman as Herself. But the beloved writer is back with a new novel for adults, which will be published in the summer of 2015.

Blume is working on revisions this summer, and according to her endearingly honest tweets, it’s been a stressful process.

Asked recently by author Martha Brockenbrough what the best writing advice she ever received was, Blume replied:

From my daughter, this week. (I’m having a hard time with revisions due the end of summer).



“Mother, just get up every morning, sit at your desk and write down anything and everything and it will come.”



And that’s exactly what I’m doing. Sometimes, even when you know what to do, it helps to hear it again.

Stephanie Butnick is chief strategy officer of Tablet Magazine, co-founder of Tablet Studios, and a host of the Unorthodox podcast.