Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, novelist Judy Blume (1938–) captures what children feel and think, creating beloved characters and frank stories drawn from familiar experiences.

One young fan once confessed that she, too, talked to God like Margaret in the classic novel *Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret* (1970), a coming-of-age book about navigating the challenges of adolescence.

"The best books come from someplace inside," Blume explained. "You don’t write because you want to, but because you have to. Become emotionally involved. If you don’t care about your characters, your readers won’t either."

"I am a rewriter," she shared. "That’s the part I like best. I despise, and am terrified by, a first draft. But once I have a pile of paper to work with, it’s like having the pieces of a puzzle. Then I just put the pieces together to make the picture."

She encouraged writers to read their work aloud: "When you read aloud, you can hear what doesn’t work."

By remembering what growing up felt like, Blume writes from the child’s point of view. Among the first to write candidly about teenage sexuality, she became a strong voice against censorship. Her themes of self-esteem and acceptance continue to resonate.

In 2004, Blume received the National Book Award for her contributions to American letters. Her books have sold over 75 million copies and have been translated into more than 20 languages.

"The more you write, the more you learn, the better you get," she said. "And that helps you become a professional writer."

✨She was honored among the Top 100 Writers of the 20th Century. Click to explore the rest.