what helped jacqueline woodson most as she learned to write

Jacqueline Woodson was most helped as she learned to write by reading slowly and deeply engaging with texts, copying the way other writers write, and repeatedly reading works to fully understand them. She learned how to write by reading carefully and absorbing the craft of other authors, which she discovered more fully as an adult. Additionally, influential books such as "If Beale Street Could Talk" by James Baldwin and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith played a critical role in her growth as a writer. These books showed her the importance of placing people of color front and center in narratives and the relevance of writing about her own community. Early encouragement from a teacher who praised her writing also bolstered her confidence in her skills. Woodson's process included copying poetry and borrowing inspiration from other writers, as well as a sustained love for storytelling since childhood.