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Jared Dees

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Mo Willems Only Offers 49% of the Story

By Jared Dees

Mo Willems only offers 49% of the story. He relies on the audience to create the other 51%.

I heard him say this in two separate interviews (The Yarn, CBS This Morning)

This is an unnatural inclination for a writer. I have a habit of wanting to bring the full 100% and hit my readers over the head with what I want to share.

I feel like I need to make sure they have everything and understand everything.

That’s not the way to create great art.

A great work of art invites the audience to make it their own.

Your story becomes their story.

Your book becomes their book.

It is a gift.

 

July 27, 2018 Filed Under: Author Tips, On Writing

About Jared Dees

Jared Dees is passionate about sharing practical resources to teach faith. He is best known for his website The Religion Teacher and is the author of many books including 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach, Praying the Angelus, Christ in the Classroom, and Beatitales: 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children.

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Jared Dees

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Jared Dees is passionate about sharing practical resources to teach faith. He is best known for his website The Religion Teacher and is the author of many books including 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach, Praying the Angelus, Christ in the Classroom, and Beatitales: 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children. See all of Jared's Books →

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