Picture books are more difficult for me because it is telling a huge story in the least amount of words. — Renee Watson Amount Copy Share Image
In my writing I hope to have a balance between the good and bad, the hard and soft. — Renee Watson Balance Copy Share Image
I teach young people how the arts can be used to stand up against injustice. — Renee Watson Art Copy Share Image
“Makes me feel like no matter how dressed up we are, no matter how respectful we are, some people will only see… — Renée Watson Copy Share Image
I have always known that I wanted to work with youth through the arts and I believe the arts can help young… — Renee Watson Art Copy Share Image
“I wonder how he felt at night. When the star-filled sky blanketed him, did he ever think about what his life was… — Renée Watson Adventure Copy Share Image
“Those girls are not the opposite of me. We are perpendicular. We may be on different paths, yes. But there’s a place… — Renée Watson Different path Copy Share Image
One important thing I take away daily is that for all the talk about what youth are not doing - especially young… — Renee Watson Care Copy Share Image
“And this makes me wonder if a black girl’s life is only about being stitched together and coming undone, being stitched together… — Renée Watson Black girl Copy Share Image
Once I became an adult and started to pursue writing as a professional career, I realized my main characters were always young… — Renee Watson Adults Copy Share Image
“The aroma from Mom’s chopped herbs and sprinkled spices swims through the house. The pots are shaking to a boil; the oven… — Renée Watson Food Copy Share Image
I have learned patience, for sure. Pre-publication is a long waiting game, especially for authors of picture books. We write the manuscript,… — Renee Watson Art Copy Share Image
“But when I leave? It happens again. The shattering. And this makes me wonder if a black girl's life is only about… — Renee Watson Black girl Copy Share Image
Post-publication I have been surprised at the limited resources publishers have to promote books. I certainly knew that being a new author,… — Renee Watson Book Copy Share Image
“I wonder if any of these boys ever sit in a room for boys' talk night and discuss how to treat women.… — Renée Watson Body image Copy Share Image
“When I learned the Spanish word for succeed, I thought it was kind of ironic that the word exit is embedded in… — Renée Watson Exit Copy Share Image
“Sometimes it feels like I leave home a whole person, sent off with kisses from Mom, who is hanging her every hope… — Renée Watson Feel Copy Share Image
“I write my resolution in black Sharpie marker on top of a background made out of cut-up scriptures, words from newspaper headlines,… — Renée Watson African american Copy Share Image
For me, the lives of children and teens are interesting - they are always changing. There's just so much to sort through.… — Renee Watson Character Copy Share Image
I have known I wanted to be a writer since I was seven-years-old. Seriously. In the second grade I wrote a 21-page… — Renee Watson Grades Copy Share Image
There are many writers who have influenced me and who I enjoy reading, but Lucille Clifton and Gwendolyn Brooks are at the… — Renee Watson Brooks Copy Share Image
“when the man with the perfect smile asks, “And what have you learned?” I tell him I’ve learned I don’t have to… — Renée Watson Perfect Smile Copy Share Image
Students can't leave their lives at the door when they come to school. They bring with them whatever is going on at… — Renee Watson Community Copy Share Image
These days, most of my interactions with young people are centered on the poetry or theater classes I teach, so the students… — Renee Watson Anna Copy Share Image
“Sometimes I just want to be comfortable in this skin, this body. Want to cock my head back and laugh loud and… — Renée Watson Tongue Copy Share Image
I have a writing space in my apartment, but I prefer to write at coffee shops. When I'm stuck, I take a… — Renee Watson Apartment Copy Share Image
