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Christopher Paul Curtis Biography

Christopher Paul Curtis

Christopher Paul Curtis (born May 10, 1953) is an American writer of children's books. He is known for the Newbery Medal-winning Bud, Not Buddy and The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963. The latter was adapted for a TV movie of the same name, which aired on the Hallmark Channel in 2013.

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Christopher Paul Curtis Quotes

There's a thin, blurry line between humor and tragedy.

Blurry, Lines, Thin, Tragedy

Writing has always been a sanctuary or a refuge for me, any time I'm stressed or anxious or worried I find that a couple of hours expressing myself by writing always seems to have a calming effect on me.

Calming, Calming Effect, Couple, Refuge, Worried, Writing

As soon as I got into the library I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I got a whiff of the leather on all the old books, a smell that got real strong if you picked one of them up and stuck your nose real close to it when you turned the pages. Then there was the the smell of the cloth that covered the brand-new books, books that made a splitting sound when you opened them. Then I could sniff the the paper, that soft, powdery, drowsy smell that comes off the page in little puffs when you're reading something or looking at some pictures, kind of hypnotizing smell.

Book, Closed, Hypnotizing, Real, Smell, Strong

As the writer you are the puppet-master and can control everything. Believe me, that is a whole lot of fun because it ain't something that's going to be happening very often in real life!

Believe, Everything, Fun, Life, Real, Writer

There comes a time when you're losing a fight that it just doesn't make sense to keep on fighting. It's not that you're being a quitter, it's just that you've got the sense to know when enough is enough.

Enough, Fighting, Keep, Losing

. . . that was Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things to Have a Funner LIfe and Make a Better Liar Out of Yourself Number 83. . . If a Adult Tells You Not to Worry, and You Weren't Worried Before, You Better Hurry Up and Start 'Cause You're Already Running Late.

Adult, Liars, Life, Make, Running

Wow. Who would want a fish for a pet when they could have a turtle?!

Fish, Pet, Turtle, Turtles, Want

. . . people use tricks to get you to think the way they do or take away something you have that they want. One way they do that is to interrupt your normal way of thinking and take you by the hand and guide you down the path they want you to take. Father says they make you take a teeny-weeny step in their direction, and then they start to nudge you a little further down the path and before you know it, you're running full speed with them in a direction that you probably wouldn't have gone alone.

Father, Normal, Running, Step, Thinking, Tricks

I'm the same age as my tongue and a little bit older than my teeth.

Age, Littles, Same, Teeth

Work at your craft, write daily, and follow your dreams because dreams do come true.

Crafts, Daily, Dream, Dreams, Write, Writing

I write because I love to. I'm very, very fortunate to have found something that I love doing that also earns my living. But to be honest, I'd write even if I weren't being paid to.

Found, Honest, Paid, Write, Writing

Rules and Things Number 63: Never, Ever Say Something Bad About Someone You Don't Know--Especially When You're Around a Bunch of Strangers. You Never Can Tell Who Might Be Kin to That Person or Who Might Be a Lip-Flapping, Big-Mouth Spy.

Kin, Mouths, Numbers, Person, Spy, Tell

I do think it is important to look at the writing as a job though and to commit to it like you'd have to commit to a regular nine-to-five.

Jobs, Look, Think, Thinking, Writing

Probably the only thing that isn't great is the time when I know I'm very close to finishing the actual writing of the story and I'm overcome by this sense of loss. I think it's because I know I won't be "talking" to the main character anymore, it's sort of like what you feel when you know a friend is moving away and you probably won't be seeing her again.

Character, Moving, Time, Writing

It's great to create a story and then to submit it to your editor and see what her reaction is to it. It's great to have your editor tell what her suggestions and ideas for the story are. It's great to explain to your editor why her ideas and suggestions are bizarre and to ask her why is she trying to ruin my story.

Bizarre, Create, Editors, Ideas, Trying

Things aren't ever what they seem to be when you first look at them. What's important is that you keep your mind wide open and try to understand what's going on from a lot of different angles.

Angles, Important, Keep, Mind, Trying, Wide

The big steel wheels creaked a couple times, then started moving.

Big, Couple, Creaked, Moving, Steel

Every encounter with a woman must be viewed as a negotiation,. . . the difference being instead of coaxing them off rooftops, you're coaxing them into romance. And remember, the negotiator is always in control.

Control, Differences, Encounters, Instead, Romance, Viewed

I often tell young people that as a writer you are very powerful, that you can make absolutely anything happen.

Happen, People, Powerful, Young

No sir, I don't know why, but my eyes don't cry no more.

Cry, Eye, Eyes, Know, Knows, Sir

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