creative writing about brave

32 Writing Prompts About Courage and Bravery

Stories about courage and trusting your gut are the best! You see them everywhere – in old- school myths , modern movies , you name it.

These stories remind us how to overcome tough stuff, be brave, and how awesome that feels!

So, if you’re into writing, I’ve got some cool prompts for you to play with.

Whether you want ideas for a whole novel, a short story , or just want to get your thoughts down, these questions will help you explore courage and bravery in your own way.

Dive in and let’s get creative !

Writing Prompts About Courage and Bravery

• Reflection on Personal Trials : Consider an event in your life that tested your courage like never before. It could be a crisis, a significant life change , or an unexpected challenge. How did you react to it? Did it alter your perception of bravery? Explore your thoughts and feelings about this moment in your life, focusing on how it forced you to confront and demonstrate your bravery. Write a narrative recounting this event, examining your emotions , reactions, and the aftermath.
• Bravery Through Others’ Eyes : We often perceive ourselves differently from how others perceive us. Think about an incident when someone told you that you were brave, but you didn’t feel brave at the time. Why did they think you were courageous, and why did you disagree? What did this incident teach you about the multiple dimensions of courage? Write a reflective piece exploring this incident and its impact on your understanding of bravery.
• Courage in Everyday Life : Bravery doesn’t always involve grand gestures or life-and- death situations; sometimes, it’s the little things that count. Think of a day-to-day situation where you had to show courage — it could be as simple as speaking up for yourself or someone else, confronting a fear , or taking on a new responsibility . Write a short story about this situation, exploring how it called on your courage and how it changed you.
• Inspiration of Bravery : Everyone has someone they admire for their bravery, whether it’s a real person or a fictional character . Reflect on why you admire this person’s courage and how it influences your own behavior. Are there any aspects of their courage you aspire to emulate? Write an essay analyzing the nature of their courage and how it has inspired you.
• Fear Versus Courage : Fear is a natural part of being human, and true courage often involves confronting and overcoming our fears. Reflect on a fear that you’ve had to face head-on. How did you muster the courage to do so? What were the outcomes, and how did this experience shape your perception of bravery? Write a personal essay on this fear, your process of overcoming it, and its impact on your concept of bravery.
• The Cost of Courage : Bravery can sometimes come at a price. There could be times when standing up for what you believe in led to loss or difficulty. Reflect on such a time and how you dealt with the consequences. Did it make you question your actions, or did it strengthen your resolve? Write a narrative detailing this experience and its effect on your understanding of courage.
• Unexpected Acts of Courage : There are moments when we surprise ourselves by acting bravely in unexpected circumstances. Recall such a moment when your actions surprised you. What led you to act courageously, and what was the outcome? How did this incident affect your understanding of your own courage? Write a reflective piece describing this event and its impact on your self-perception.
• Bravery in Leading : Being a leader often requires courage, as it involves making difficult decisions, facing criticism, and setting an example for others. Reflect on a time when you had to step up and lead, whether in a small group or a larger community . How did you show bravery in this role ? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? Write an account of your leadership experience, focusing on the role courage played in it.
• Silent Bravery : There are moments of quiet courage that often go unnoticed – standing up to a personal bias, reaching out to someone despite past misunderstandings, or persisting in the face of consistent failure . Reflect on a moment of such silent bravery in your life. How did it transform you, and what did it teach you about the nuances of courage? Write a personal narrative focusing on this silent act of bravery and its impact on your personal growth .
• Unconventional Acts of Courage : Society has defined sets of expectations and norms. Breaking away from these norms and being true to yourself often requires a lot of courage. Think about an instance when you displayed bravery by defying societal expectations to stay true to your convictions. Write a reflective piece on this incident, exploring your struggle, triumph, and lessons learned.
• Bravery in Vulnerability : Showing vulnerability, opening up about our feelings, and seeking help can be some of the bravest acts. Reflect on a time when you had to open up about something deeply personal and how it demanded courage from you. How did it affect your relationships and your perception of strength and courage? Write a memoir -style piece about this event and its lasting effects on you.
• Cultivating Courage : Bravery isn’t an inborn trait; it can be cultivated over time. Reflect on your journey of cultivating courage. How did you recognize the need for it? What actions did you take, and how did you overcome setbacks? What were some significant milestones along this journey? Write an essay detailing your journey of cultivating courage, emphasizing the growth process.
• Empathy and Courage : Empathy often requires courage as it involves understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which can sometimes be painful or uncomfortable. Reflect on a time when your empathy for someone else’s situation led you to act courageously. Write a narrative exploring how empathy propelled you into an act of courage and how this event influenced your perception of bravery.
• Bravery in Forgiveness : It requires immense courage to forgive, especially when the hurt is deep . Reflect on an experience where you demonstrated courage by choosing to forgive. How difficult was it to take this step? How did this act of bravery affect you and the other person involved? Write an introspective piece examining this act of forgiveness and its impact on your understanding of courage.
• Sacrificial Courage : There are moments when we display bravery by making sacrifices for the benefit of others. Recall an instance when you had to make a significant sacrifice that required courage. What were the consequences, and how did they affect your outlook on bravery? Write a narrative detailing this sacrificial act and its influence on your perception of bravery.
• Overcoming Physical Limitations : Often, we find courage within ourselves when dealing with physical limitations or illnesses. Reflect on a time when you or someone close to you showed courage in the face of physical adversity . How did this situation highlight the essence of bravery for you? Write a personal essay on this experience, focusing on how it shaped your view of courage.

Story Ideas About Courage and Bravery

• A small-town firefighter battling a citywide fire: Imagine a small town where everyone knows everyone else, and a dangerous fire breaks out, threatening to consume it all. Your main character is a local firefighter who is under-equipped but brimming with courage. The story should focus on their determination and the risks they take, exposing their bravery under intense circumstances. Write about how they rise to this daunting challenge, leveraging their deep connection with the community and their extraordinary courage.
• Stand against a corrupt regime: Picture a world where your protagonist lives under a tyrannical government. Despite the risks associated with dissent, they decide to take a stand against the regime. Their actions start small but gradually gain momentum, leading to unforeseen consequences. Delve into the story of their bravery, illustrating the courage it takes to stand against systemic corruption.
• An encounter with a wild animal : Your character is an average person who stumbles upon a potentially dangerous wild animal while hiking in a remote area. With no one else around to help, they must rely on their courage to manage the situation. Write a thrilling account of how their bravery plays a pivotal role in their survival .
• Facing terminal illness: Your protagonist is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Instead of letting the diagnosis rule their remaining days, they decide to face it with courage, living life to the fullest. Tell their heart-wrenching tale of bravery, depicting how they inspire others around them with their optimistic outlook and courageous spirit .
• The reluctant hero : Your main character is an everyday person who is unwillingly thrust into a crisis situation, such as a hostage situation, natural disaster , or act of terrorism. They must summon their courage and step out of their comfort zone to navigate this life-threatening situation. Craft a compelling narrative that explores their journey from reluctance to bravery.
• Revealing a personal truth: The protagonist holds a secret related to their identity , such as their sexual orientation or a hidden past, which, if revealed, could ostracize them from their conservative community. They decide to come out with the truth, despite the societal backlash. Write about their brave journey of self-acceptance and the courage to live authentically.
• An unexpected hero: Imagine a timid, introverted character who everyone overlooks. However, when a crisis arises, they surprise everyone by demonstrating unprecedented courage. Spin a tale that unfolds their transformation from an underdog to a hero, highlighting their journey of courage and self-discovery .
• Protecting a loved one at all costs: Your character is a pacifist who abhors violence . But when a loved one is in danger, they are forced to step into a violent confrontation to save them. Narrate this intense story of love-induced bravery, where the character must face their fears and take action they would never have imagined.
• Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking: Your protagonist suffers from a severe fear of public speaking, yet finds themselves having to deliver a speech at an important event. The story should focus on the mental and emotional preparation leading up to the event. Explore their journey of summoning courage to overcome their fear and bravely face the audience.
• Choosing a Difficult Career Path: Your character is passionate about a career path that is notoriously difficult and fraught with failure. Despite the odds, they choose to pursue it, navigating obstacles with relentless determination and courage. Write about their courageous choice and how their unwavering bravery propels them towards their dream .
• A Nurse During a Pandemic: Imagine your protagonist as a nurse working in a hospital during a global pandemic. Faced with uncertainty and danger, they show immense courage in tending to the sick. Narrate the stories of their brave acts in the face of life-threatening risk, painting a vivid picture of their everyday courage.
• Championing Environmental Conservation: The protagonist is an environmental activist in a region where ecological concerns are sidelined by economic interests. Despite threats and backlash, they dare to stand up for the environment. Tell their story, showcasing their courage to fight against powerful adversaries for the cause they believe in.
• The Unlikely Athlete: Your character has a physical disability , yet they have the courage to train and compete as an athlete. Craft an inspiring narrative highlighting their bravery and determination to overcome their physical limitations and societal stereotypes.
• Refugee ’s Journey to Safety: Your protagonist is a refugee forced to flee their home due to conflict or persecution. Their journey to safety is fraught with danger, but they bravely push forward, holding onto hope . Depict their harrowing journey, emphasizing their bravery in the face of unimaginable adversity.
• Teacher in a Struggling School District: Your main character is a teacher in an underfunded and underperforming school. Despite the challenges, they take innovative measures to ensure their students get quality education . Detail their story of courageous dedication to their students and their brave fight against the systemic challenges of their environment.
• Against Bullying : The protagonist is a high-school student witnessing daily bullying incidents in their school. Instead of staying silent, they decide to stand up against the bullies, despite the fear of becoming a target. Write about their acts of courage, demonstrating how their bravery helps to change the bullying culture in their school.

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I'm a writer, words are my superpower, and storytelling is my kryptonite.

15 Writing Prompts about being Brave

Staring at a blank page can be daunting. It doesn’t matter if it’s an old school notepad or a shiny computer screen.

The simple act of capturing that first word, sentence, and paragraph can take an amazing amount of fortitude and courage. 

Being brave doesn’t mean making a fist, it is about having the moral courage to stand up for what is right, what is just. Bravery means having the mental toughness to persevere, to go forward, to face the unknown.

How To Use Prompts To Jumpstart Your Writing

Below is a list of writing prompts to get your creative brain churning.

These prompts are meant to give you a kernel of an idea and start your first sentence. The first act of bravery is writing the first word of your story. 

Choose a starter and add your thoughts. Let the words flow, the flow will take you far in your writing journey. Forget about punctuation, spelling, and grammar — just write — get it down.

Then, when you have a jumble of thoughts written out, go back, edit, rewrite, and edit again. Your story will shine through, and you will take your reader on an exciting journey.

Start Writing About Being Brave

• What will happen if I don’t… We find ourselves in difficult situations where moral conviction meets at a crossroad with following the crowd. 
• Can I look myself in the mirror if I… If I take this action, how will I feel tomorrow when I look into my own eyes.
• The first time I said I’m sorry… Apologizing for your actions takes courage, it makes you vulnerable. We know it is the right thing to do, but it is still hard.
• A simple act of kindness led to… Sometimes something as simple as holding the door for someone can be an act of bravery.
• She took a stand against… So many options: bullying, racism, injustice, equality, the list is endless.
• I changed my mind… Stubbornness and stoicism can lock us into a box, breaking free takes courage. 
• He followed his heart… This one can take you to an adventure that defies logic.
• I followed my head… Sometimes it takes more courage to not follow your every whim.
• Courage is when… Defined as having moral and mental fortitude.
• He was afraid, but… Facing doubt and conquering fear requires amazing courage.
• I have a plan to… Bravery doesn’t need to be spontaneous, attacking a problem step-by-step gives you conviction and confidence.
• It takes bravery to… Fill in the blank here — speak your mind, stand up for someone, do the right thing, etc.
• My biggest fear is… Define your fear, facing it takes courage, the journey is the story.
• It is hard to imagine a life without… your family, home, friends, love, etc. 
• She took one, tiny step… imperfect action and a hero’s desire to reach their goal makes the perfect story.

Every great writer needs ideas; and prompts are the perfect way to get started. Sometimes all we need is a few structured words to get us off and running.

We are dedicated to sharing ideas and resources with fellow writers, teachers, and students.

Our website is chock-full of free resources for your use and to share with friends and colleagues. Sign up for our newsletter to keep up-to-date on what’s happening in the world of writing. 

Feel free to contact us and share your ideas for new resources we could provide that would make your creative life easier.

Happy Writing!

Thanks, Matt & Hayley

How to Live the Brave Story You Must Write

Cognitive tools give business artists creative courage..

Posted July 14, 2014

Image: Katerina Plotnikova

"What is your myth–the myth in which you live?”

That’s the question that rattled inside Carl Jung at age 37, months after breaking away from his mentor, Freud . He writes that when he examined the hero stories and myths he had amassed, he held them up like mirrors and wondered about his own life. He wasn’t, as far as he could see, the hero of his own story.

When that voice calls and says, “Look at how you’re living your life. How are you walking the talk?,” most of us reply with, “You’ve got the wrong number,” hang up, and turn up the volume on Downton Abby .

But when Jung got challenged on his own soul stuff, he didn’t hang up. He kept the line open. Listening to that profound doubt prompted Jung to muster the courage to create the Story he knew he must write into and live out.

That's the Story we're talking about.

So let's consider this: A consultant has a book to write. A father has a memoir to write. A journalist has her first young adult novel to write.

Behind every book is a Story. A Story burns inside a writer. And that Story is not the stories that buzz inside her head.

How does she listen to the true voice of doubt beyond the buzz, and how does she muster the courage to create because of that voice?

Those are questions worth living.

Creative courage happens with ordinary choices amidst extraordinary circumstances.

Consider this scenario. "I don't have time to write these days, not even for fifteen minutes," a writer says. Her daughter's ill. Her son has special needs. Her job demands most of her focus when she's not giving it to her ailing mother or children. Her family divides time between a winter home and a summer home, and transitioning to the summer home demands considerable time and toil and prep.

She's smart. She's self-aware.

But the stories that buzz inside our heads have distinct patterns. They often start with "I don't have time to…" or "I can't…" followed by a list of reasons bolstering the stories for why we cannot advance, even incrementally, on the Story we must tell. Those "reasons" seemingly fall into the category of immutable circumstances - what other people demand, the natural disaster that ensued, the ailments and illnesses and aging, our own disposition.

Buzzing stories obfuscate. Buzzing stories bury choice amidst the rationalizations, the seeming circumstances.

If we were to ask this same writer above how else she has chosen to spend fifteen, thirty, even forty-five minutes in a day - despite her many challenging circumstances - she might at first claim she doesn't have time to make a choice. But with gentle re-direction, she might realize she does. She daily makes choices as to which people she's responsible to. The responsibilities she chooses to uphold. The job she chooses to keep to care for her children. The summer home she chooses to transition to. The online articles she chooses to read. The conversations she chooses to have.

No judgment in making any of these choices, but buzzing stories tell you that you have no choice. The voice of your Brave Story reminds you that you have choices to be brave with your time every single day. If you can see the choices you daily make in responding to circumstances, maybe you can start to make more intentional choices to write the Brave Story you must tell.

Devote yourself to your Brave Story.

Here's another way of viewing the stories versus the Story you must tell:

What are you devoted to?

It's a scary question, the kind that woke up Jung. It's scary because it shows up in your choices.

Your choices show you're devoted to your kids. Your job. Your livelihood. And you make good choices accordingly. No judgment.

But devote yourself to your Brave Story, too. Let your daily choices for how you act, speak, and imagine show it. My pal Jen Louden elaborates on a practice I do every morning along these lines and that we do at the author's intensive Your Brave New Story as well. What are you devoted to? Reply in the comments below.

Create with integrity, not in battle.

Our life is a battle between "writing my book" and "the rest of life" if we make it that way. Buzzing stories will make it that way. No wonder buzzing stories breed resentment, self-defeat, and learned powerlessness.

I wrote The Compass of Wonder as a set of reminders to keep business artists, professionals, and artists "on-track" with what matters amidst inevitable challenge and distraction. One of those reminders is, "Create in integrity, not in battle. The rest of your life outside of your creative project is part of your creative quest, too."

"You mean," someone asked me recently, "that my creative quest includes all of that stuff?" All of it .

You're not supposed to know everything about writing or Story Architecture.

A corporate consultant wants to write a children's book. She's drafted parts of it. But she recognizes her limits in knowledge.

She also, by the way, has two ailing parents and with shifts in the economy has met with hard times. Still, she didn't succumb to the buzzing stories.

Buzzing stories tell us not only that we don't know what we're doing, but also that we're dumb and fooling ourselves. That we should've figured out this writing thing in college.

That our MFA or the fact that we're a professor or professional or published author already means that we should "get" Story Architecture–the art of shaping and sequencing a captivating story–by now.

What bunk that buzz is.

That buzz sends you into a soldier-like mentality of "Do It Yourself"-dom. Or "Figure-It-Out-Yourself"-dom. FIOY might also stand for Fatiguing, Isolating, and Overwhelming Yourself.

When you hear that buzzing story of self-doubt, replace it with curiosity about what you can learn. List the skills you want to learn. Then find the models and mentors to help you learn them.

For the corporate consultant, we laid out the skills and attributes of children's books she wanted to cultivate. We quickly identified seven traits of writing well-suited to her disposition, intention, and audience. Then we found mentor books for her to study for express purposes.

There is joy in cultivating an Apprentice's Mindset. You get to step into the wizard's lab of Story-making.

She attended Your Brave New Story last year and now has a bank of Story Architecture knowledge to draw from as well. She also recently landed a seed investor for her media project in part because she has learned how to speak with integrity about the Story of her business.

The voice of her Brave Story reminds her that she can learn , that the middle-aged brain loves to learn, and can learn deeply - more so than many of the younger, speedier processors.

Leave the Waiting Room.

Your time to write your Brave Story does not begin when the semester is over and summer starts. When the teenager leaves for college. When the aging parent stops aging. When you get healthy. When your business is stable.

One June, a late-night phone call called me away from my wife and daughter for a few weeks to tend to my father who had fallen, broken his hip, and was found straddled on his living room floor, out of reach of the phone, near- unconscious for 6 days. A weak immunity and a weakened memory coupled with the hospital's unhealthy environment worsened his condition. Each day I futilely tried to navigate the labyrinths of medical care and hospitals and assisted living units while my father vacillated between holding on and wanting to go.

At one point, even with his fading memory, his sad eyes caught mine, and he said, "Jeffrey, I don't want you to be here. You have the rest of your life to live." But I was living it then. Every day. Being with him was part and parcel of this quest.

And every morning I ran alongside the Trinity River and wept. And then I wrote. Because I had to. Because it burned in me. Because we just don't have much time. Because the Waiting Room is not a place to live. Because the Waiting Room is a place where something true and brave in us can die.

Stop listening to the voices buzzing inside your head.

Stand up for the Story that burns inside your body.

Be brave (Here's a poem-film I and my videographer collaborator created).

You'll give the rest of us courage to do so, too. And that's no small gift.

How does what I offer here resonate or land with you? Add to the conversation below.

Jeffrey Davis, M.A. is a business consultant and author of Tracking Wonder: Reclaiming a Life of Meaning and Possibility in a World Obsessed with Productivity.

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Fifth Grade Creative Writing: Brave Writer Review

September 7, 2015 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

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Creative writing is one of the most difficult subjects I’ve ever had to teach in our homeschool . I was an English major in college and I love the writing process, but letting go of what English “should” sound and look like has been a real issue for me personally, so it’s hard for me to teach my kids to write freely.

So I was thrilled to get a chance to post a Brave Writer review after trying the program’s Faltering Ownership for fifth grade creative writing! In fact, I loved Brave Writer so much that it’s going to be our creative writing program for this homeschool year!

Check out our review to see how we used Brave Writer to make creative writing accessible and fun!

*Disclosure: I received access to this resource in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.*

The Faltering Ownership Philosophy

For fifth grade, we used “Faltering Ownership” , the Brave Writer program that’s geared toward 11-12 year olds. I was a little puzzled by the title until I read the introduction to the program, but it turns out that the title fits the program perfectly!

As Julie explains in the intro, middle school is the time when children begin to “take the wheel” of the writing process. It’s kind of like giving your child the keys to the car for the first time and riding in the passenger seat as they drive.

They make turns you’re not expecting and the loss of control can be unnerving for parents, but the experience is essential for kids so that they can take ownership, even if it’s faltering, over their own direction. And Julie applies that analogy to writing.

In middle grades, kids need to develop more confidence in their writing ability. As parents, we shift from teachers to consultants, giving our children direction but also instilling them with confidence to write what they feel. And that means letting them learn to look at language differently.

Once I read the introduction to the program, I had a new outlook on what it means to teach creative writing, even though I’ve already finished a degree in English! So Brave Writer taught me quite a lot as well. 🙂

We jumped right in with the activities in month 1 – Word Collecting and Building.

One of the first monthly exercises in “Faltering Ownership” is to collect words and learn to use them as building blocks for writing prompts and expressions. Tigger started off by listening to television shows and conversations, as well as by reading signs, snippets of books that were lying nearby, and product labels in stores.

Once she filled several pages of paper with various words, she copied them onto trimmed pieces of index cards.

As you can see, we ended up with quite a lot. She  really liked collecting those words.

When we had all of our index cards completed, it was time to group the words into piles. In Faltering Ownership, the instructions are quite liberal, so Tigger could group the words however she wanted: alphabetically, adjective/noun pairs, similar topics, or any other way she could think of.

We aimed for about six or seven words per pile.

Then she started matching them up to create two-word phrases. Faltering Ownership suggested pasting the words on household objects, so we started with our homeschooling space: the dining room .

From the random word pairings, we got some great phrases, including “fuzzy television”,

“teetering library”,

…and “beautiful friendship”. Awww… 🙂

After creating another phrase “cheeky station”, Tigger wrote a short story:

A Land Where Objects Talk

“You should go to Weirdoland. Objects talk, flowers and trees dance, and MUCH MORE. For instance, one day the sun said, “I will shine.” The clouds said, “We will glide.” A grumpy train pulled in. “You’re the grumpiest object I’ve ever seen!”, laughed a cheeky station. “STOP!” snapped the grumpy train. (Psst…they’ve never gotten along.)”

Faltering Ownership recommended asking students how their perspective on language has changed after completing the word building activity. When I asked Tigger, she wrote down her answer:

“Before when I learned language, especially in school, I used to think that language was easy. Now I’m learning that sometimes you have to think about some things. And guess what? IT’S NOT BORING!”

She’s absolutely right. Creative writing is not boring, especially when you can learn to look at words differently and free your mind to use them in new ways.

How to Use Faltering Ownership

Faltering Ownership is designed to be used along with The Writer’s Jungle , the focal point of the Brave Writer curriculum. The Writer’s Jungle is a homeschooling creative writing course that is geared toward  parents. 

It’s a complete overview of language arts in general – from narration and freewriting to editing and publishing. If you’re unsure where to begin when you’re teaching creative writing, The Writer’s Jungle is basically a guided journey through teaching language arts to your kids.

Since Faltering Ownership is a year-long curriculum, there are exercises for an entire year of creative writing. Naturally, we began with Month 1: Wild Words, but the program continues for 9 months more, covering topics such as historical writing and composing reports. There are also two bonus activities, in case you teach year-round or just want to round out your program with more activities.

Faltering Ownership is based on three core segments: language arts, oral language, and writing projects. One of the things I’m truly enjoying about the program is its emphasis on appreciating language in  general before beginning to write. So children can learn to use copywork, narration, and dictation (core components of the Charlotte Mason approach) as keys to examining literature. These are great stepping stones to building their own creativity for what they’ll write later.

Plus, the ebook is beautifully laid out, complete with pictures, diagrams, and prompts. All of the instructions are included for each activity, so you don’t have to be an expert on teaching English before you begin. I can’t tell you how much of a help that was, especially when you’re teaching kids with ADHD and you need to get a lesson done before their attention span goes out the window. 🙂

We can’t wait to use Brave Writer for our fifth grade creative writing program to see how much further we can stretch our writing muscles! If you’re interested in trying Faltering Ownership or another one of the Brave Writer programs, you can save 10 percent on your purchase with the code  iHomeschoolDiscount .  This code is valid through September 21, 2015 only.

To learn more about Brave Writer, visit the program’s website or keep up with Brave Writer on Facebook , Twitter , Pinterest , or Instagram !

February 7, 2016 at 2:22 pm

Thank you so much for explaining this so clearly. I’m trying to get my head around Bravewriter (which I’m fast falling in love with!). I’m wondering what you did after Faltering Ownership?

Kind regards, Susan

February 18, 2016 at 9:18 pm

Hi! We’re still working with it for the rest of this grade. After this, I’m not quite sure. We may go on to the next level with Brave Writer. I’ll decide sometime over the summer. 🙂

Thanks for stopping by!

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Brave Writer Review

With its unique lifestyle-oriented activities, highly adaptable and engaging teaching and student-centric approach, Brave Writer occupies a fairly interesting space in the world of writing programs – a full language program that emphasizes creativity and freedom in the student writing process. 

If you’re a parent who finds writing formal frameworks and methodologies a little too stuffy and confining, and you’re willing to adjust your thinking about writing and teaching, Brave Writer might be the solution for you. 

What We Like

But watch out for …

What is Brave Writer

Started in 2000 by former editor and writing coach and homeschool of five Julie Bogart, Brave Writer is a method of teaching parents how to teach their kids to write in a way that encourages their creativity and fluency. 

The program’s approach is detailed in its core book, The Writer’s Jungle, and has a variety of workbooks and guides that can be purchased to round out the program. 

Covering writing, literary analysis and grammar, Brave Writer can be used as a full language arts curriculum as well as a writing program. 

As with some other homeschool programs, where the focus of learning is on the individual and their ability, Brave Writer doesn’t really focus on age or grade level. 

Instead, it divides its programs into a variety of stages that correspond to various developmental stages of writing and writing independence. 

These go from a child being fluid in their speech but unable to write and needing transcription (Jot it Down) to emerging writers with stronger ideas and critical thinking skills (Eavesdropping on the Great Conversation).

Overall, we do think it makes sense for a program that places the student and their thinking at the forefront to use developmental stages in order to structure its program.

That said, as with other programs that steer away from traditional leveling methods, it can be a little trickier to know where students stand. 

However, Brave Writer does offer a good deal of information for parents on their website and in podcasts to figure it out.

They also offer a rough sketch of how their corresponds to age, although obviously this isn’t a hard and fast rule, as kids tend to develop differently.  

Brave Writer’s Philosophy of Teaching Writing

How brave writer views writing and teaching writing.

Brave Writer sees itself as something of a paradigm shift in teaching writing. 

How precisely true that is is really beyond this article to establish, but it is true that Brave Writer does take a rather unique approach that is quite different from other homeschool writing programs out there. 

Writing as a method of communicating thoughts, feelings and ideas is really at the forefront of what Brave Writer is all about. 

Particularly, it focuses mostly on helping the student to more easily and fluidly use writing as a method of expressing themselves, finding and developing their own voice and intuition and using their creativity to its maximum. 

Consequently, in Brave Writer, the mechanics of how to write are of secondary importance. 

Finally, unlike many other programs, Brave Writer believes in more natural writing development. As such, while it does cover a variety of writing styles, both creative and academic, it does not provide students a strict framework or directive approach to writing. 

Focus on the Student: Valuing the Student’s Thoughts and Encouraging their Voice

Like many other homeschooling programs, the child or student takes a central role in Brave Writer.

Unlike other programs, however, Brave Writer places the child and their thoughts at the forefront of the approach. 

Rather than take a standards-based or technical approach to writing, teaching students how to write a certain way to fit schooling needs, Brave Writer encourages parents to help their kids learn to express themselves as naturally and easily as possible, working with the way that their child naturally writes rather than restructuring it to fit a norm. 

Broadly speaking, the overall idea is to treat writing skill development like speech development.

By putting aside constraints and leaning into a child’s passions, experiences and interests, kids will feel more free to write creatively and eventually more fluidly, and parents can help guide them into more technical accuracy with gentle encouragement and modeling. 

The Role Of The Parent: Coach Not Teacher 

In Brave Writer the role of the parent, too, is a little different than many program’s we’ve seen. 

Instead of instructing techniques, style and mechanics in a top-down fashion, parents instead are given techniques and tools to play the role of guide or coach. 

Instead of correction, their role is to encourage the student to write and embrace their unique voice and style. 

That’s not to say that this is a laissez-faire, anything goes, approach. 

Brave Writer gives parents a variety of techniques and suggested methods to help them encourage, offer effective feedback, help revise, practice and even model writing to students to help them improve gradually. 

The Parent-Child Relationship As Core of Learning

The parent-child relationship is central to the learning process in Brave Writer. 

With the child’s mind at the center of the process and the parent acting as partner-facilitator, both work together to explore language and writing through discussions, exploration, activities, bonding exercises, writing activities, gentle revision and projects.

This relationship acts as a sort of safety net, helping create a supportive environment to allow students to feel comfortable and begin writing out their thoughts and express themselves without fear of judgement.  

Discovery Learning, Not Directive Learning

As we mentioned, the child and their own way of thinking places a central role in Brave Writer. 

A key component of the program is therefore in teaching kids that what they have to say is important enough to be written down. Linked to this concept, kids will also have to develop enough experience to generate ideas that they write about with some kind of passion. 

Consequently, Brave Writer emphasizes meaningful discovery learning. 

Rather than provide long texts of literature for kids to read and then write about, it encourages parents and kids to go out and discover new topics that kids will want to write about. 

The program is really quite open but offers suggestions such as encouraging homeschool families to explore their surrounding world, explore the great works of literature together, have conversations about meaningful topics (big juicy conversations), discuss poetry in a comfortable and enjoyable manner (poetry teatime) and more. 

High Program Flexibility and Openness

Unlike other homeschool writing programs, with Brave Writer parents won’t receive binders full of worksheets, structured lesson plans prompts, checklists and editing guides. 

It is not what they refer to as “open and go” – a scripted, step by step lesson plan. 

While there are a lot of tips, techniques and suggested exercises, as well as books with copy work and dictation exercises, Brave Writer is more of a conceptual way of thinking about writing and teaching writing to kids that can be used either with brave writer books or with other homeschool writing materials. .

This makes it quite modular and flexible. 

That said, it’s approach relies heavily on parents to customize the program around their child and their homeschool requirements, which can take a good deal of time.

This requires parents to be able to derive accurate insights about their child and their thinking, and therefore can be a little tricky at times for new homeschooling parents. 

The Brave Writer Lifestyle

Brave Writer likes to say that is a lifestyle, not a program. 

The idea, much like Charlotte Mason’s atmosphere approach, is to create a language rich lifestyle that will let parents integrate language arts and the Brave Writer philosophy into their homeschool and even into their daily lives. 

To help do so, Brave Writer offers a variety of suggestions and activities that parents can look at and integrate into their schedule to create a learning rich environment in their daily life. 

And there are a lot of suggested activities here to choose from. 

Many of these activities are designed to provide kids with sufficient experience and inspiration to write with, filling their proverbial well with literature ideas and experiences that will get them inspired to write. A few that we liked include:  

Other lifestyle activities are actually designed to more directly work with specific writing goals. They explore concepts in literature, work on improving mechanical skills (vocabulary, spelling, grammar, etc), or just get kids practicing their writing in general. These include: 

All these activities are discussed in detail in the core book of the program, The Writer’s Jungle, with suggestions on how to implement them. 

Obviously, in weaving them into a homeschool life there is no hard and fast rule of which to include, how often to do them and even how exactly they will be done. 

It is ultimately left up to the parent to decide all this, and parents have a lot of freedom in deciding if they want to include all or some of these activities. 

Overall these have become extremely popular with many parents finding them to be a boon for their teaching, and finding them to be a great way of gently guiding kids towards better and more enjoyable writing. 

That said there are a lot of them, which can be a little intimidating and even confusing for new homeschoolers, requiring them to do a lot of thinking and sometimes configuring them to suit student interests and needs.

After all, modifying your homeschool daily life isn’t always all that easy for even the most experienced of us.

How it Works

Brave writer: proficiency as a process.

Many popular writing programs, such as IEW or the classically-inspired Writing & Rhetoric , are designed to help students view writing as a structured process. 

Such programs usually immediately provide a very particular, sequential framework that parents teach kids to use (brainstorming, outlining, drafting, editing, final draft) and fall back on when approaching any type of writing. 

While these frameworks can be highly effective for many homeschoolers, others find the approach fairly mechanical and argue that their rigid methodology, while organized, forces kids into writing a certain way and can extinguish the spark of creativity, so to speak. 

In contrast, Brave Writer is not a program that will allow parents to immediately get kids started working through a process or framework to develop more sophisticated writing. 

Instead, Brave Writer views developing writing proficiency as a longer term process. 

The first step in this process is to get the child opening up and writing fluidly and comfortably, a process it calls Original Writing. 

The program provides many tips, techniques and ideas to help this along and develop material for them to write about, but in general the most important thing for Brave Writer homeschoolers is simply to get kids comfortable and experienced at using writing as means of communicating and expressing themselves naturally.

At the same time, although distinctly given secondary importance in this program, works of literature and various techniques (e.g. copywork, dictation, discussion, literary study) are used to improve the child’s understanding and ability to develop their understanding of structure, grammar, spelling, style and vocabulary. 

This the program refers to as Mechanics . 

The final part of this process, Writing Projects , is where kids put it all together. Working with the parent, they work to select a topic, and go through the process of writing, revising and editing and publishing/producing a final copy. 

Throughout this process, the parent works as a facilitator or coach, guiding the student gently, giving them lots of opportunity to write freely, the tools to do so effectively and the help to understand and implement the mechanics of writing in their works over time.

Over time, and with practice (especially in the form of writing projects), Brave Writer students should begin to improve their writing skills while  learning to enjoy writing as a means of expressing themselves or their ideas. 

Overall, it is an interesting approach to writing and stands in particular contrast to more formal and structure-oriented writing programs.

It works very naturally, working with the way a child intuitively writes and gently guiding them into developing proper spelling, structure and grammar over time. 

In this way it is often a highly comfortable approach for kids, working with them as opposed to imposing something on them.

On the other hand, parents need to consider that it is a slower process. This is not a program that gives them a framework they can immediately apply and see results.

Similarly, while it might be natural and comfortable for students, it can take time for parents to get used to their role as coach or facilitator, especially as they will need to fight the urge to edit or direct or critique their child’s writing and style. 

What Can the Writing Process Look Like With Brave Writer?

As we’ve mentioned, Brave Writer is a very individualized program that is really tailored around the student. As such, there are many different ways that parents can go about helping guide their kids through creating written work.

The core guide of the program, The Writer’s Jungle , goes deeply into this, outlining various concepts, methodologies, suggestions, and exercises to help teach writing and guide students’ writing. 

But there are four major steps that popped out at us and that we feel can help provide a good understanding of what a more guided writing project might look like with Brave Writer. 

Topic Selection, Research and Narrowing

First, students and parents work together to find a topic of interest to write about.

Brave Writer and The Writer’s Jungle offers a good deal of tips and suggestions for how to do so naturally, from exploring the child’s interests, to having discussions about ideas and literature to observing the world around them.

Students and parents then begin to research the topic, finding and generating ideas to talk about and generally brainstorming. 

Generally speaking, at this stage students will discover that they have a lot of ideas to write about and, more often than not, not a lot to say about most of them. The parent then helps guide the student through a process of narrowing their focus and helping them come up with fewer but more interesting key ideas and topics.

Freewriting

Topic and ideas in hand, students begin to write their rough draft, and they are encouraged to do so as freely as possible. 

Brave Writer encourages the use of independent writing or freewriting as its main writing tool. 

Freewriting is a technique that allows kids to put pen to paper and simply write as it comes to them. 

It is meant to help get kids writing as automatically as possible, without worrying about details and minutiae, and is intended to eventually help them be able to simply write without thinking, much like speaking or reading. 

Freewriting plays an important role in Brave Writer. 

In many ways its use sets the program apart from other programs that focus on more controlled writing, where kids follow a model, particular structure or strict prompts.

Once the student has finished freewriting, the process of revision can begin.

Brave Writer takes a rather different approach to revision and editing than most other writing programs. 

It views revision and editing as distinct processes. Revision here involves the many different ways in which a parent can help the child improve the overall writing, such as the clarity of writing, the impact of language, how detailed it is, how vivid and even how strong the arguments are. 

It is also a gentler approach than other programs. 

Where most programs would have the student hand in their rough draft and waiting to receive comments, here the parent helps guide the student, getting them involved in the process of improving their own writing  and thinking about what they’ve written in a new way.

Overall, the process is very conservational, rather than instructive. 

Again, there are a wide variety of techniques and tips offered to do so, but generally the process involves a careful use of encouraging words and praise, asking leading questions, giving kids tips, exploring and discussion sections together and so on.

Following revision, students may begin freewriting again, incorporating and expanding upon their revision.  

Editing 

Editing is far more limited in scope than in many other programs. 

Whereas oftentimes editing includes things like assessing structure, style, voice and theme, sometimes even assessing how the student got there, with Brave Writer it is more of a final step before a final draft can be created.

The program deliberately keeps editing very technically-oriented, working on things like typos and punctuation, formatting, any grammar errors and so on.

Publishing a Final Draft

With editing and revision complete, students can then work on creating a neat, orderly and nice final draft. 

Brave Writer Books and Supplements

As we mentioned, Brave Writer is more of a philosophy and way of teaching writing and language arts than a specific, by-the-numbers program.

Originally the program began with its core book, The Writer’s Jungle, which provided parents with detailed suggestions, tips and ideas of how to apply its approach to actually teaching writing and acting as a resource for parents. 

The idea then was for parents to work with their child to cultivate interesting topics to write about for Original Writing, to find literature and texts to use for copywriting, dictation and grammar development for Mechanics, and to work together to find interesting writing projects to put it all together. 

With time, in addition to the Writer’s Jungle, Brave Writer began to offer pre-packaged books that would offer things like selected texts, writing prompts, structured projects and even online classes and seminars.

In doing so, Brave Writer is now more of a complete language arts solution, covering literary exploration and analysis, various writing and grammar and spelling.

We’ll look at some of these offered solutions below. 

Original Thought

The writer’s jungle.

The core of Brave Writer and sort of its philosophical guide, the Writer’s Jungle outlines and explains Julie Bogart’s general philosophy and reasoning for creating Brave Writer and outlines how it believes parents should approach teaching writing. 

In particular, the book details in practical terms how parents can shift from a traditional top-down homeschool teaching approach to Brave Writer’s coaching and encouragement method of teaching writing. 

It also covers a variety of ways in which parents can create a learning environment that is more conducive to allowing students to express themselves fully, such as creating a language-rich environment, learning how to encourage and guide writing without criticising, techniques for facilitating dialogue and more. 

The book itself is aimed at parents 8-18 (although its principles can be applied to any reasonable age group) and is available only in PDF form, meaning you’ll have to print it all out if you’re not someone who enjoys reading on a tablet. 

At well over 200 pages and 17 chapters, plus appendices, the Writer’s Jungle is somewhat long and isn’t really a book you can skim since there is a lot of information contained in each chapter. 

To get the most out of it parents will probably have to read it a couple times and even take notes. 

Despite its length, the book is fairly approachable.

It’s written in a casual, almost conversational, tone and provides a great deal of reassurance (and inspirational quotes in the margins) that parents can, in fact, do this. 

Its writing style includes lots of stories and colorful flourishes to its main points, which we think can help reduce some of the anxiety parents may feel when approaching teaching their kids to write. 

While we enjoyed reading it, we can see how some homeschooling parents may get frustrated by its circuitous nature, preferring a more to-the-point writing style. 

That said, the Writer’s Jungle’s casual tone belies the amount of information that is contained within the book. 

The book is filled with practical suggestions, exercises, ideas, and even evaluation exercises for parents to help them actually apply Brave Writer principles to their language arts studies. For example, it provides parents with a wide variety of helpful teaching tools such as freewriting exercises, topic narrowing and focusing techniques, communications exercises and games, techniques for refining observation skills and more. 

Finally, the Writer’s Jungle also offers very practical help for parents in applying Brave Writer principles for “real world” writing, such as creating reports, journals, structuring essays and other, more formal, writing that students often have to do, especially at the middle and high school levels. 

As it serves as the center of the Brave Writer approach, some prospective parents might be surprised by what the Writer’s Jungle does not include. 

As per its philosophy it acts as a general and flexible guideline for parents and does not, for example, include a definitive scope and sequence for learning or detailed lesson plans. 

There are sample schedules located in the appendices, but these aren’t all that detailed as some others we’ve seen and seem more designed to give parents a general idea on how they could apply the program.

Overall, the idea of the Writer’s Jungle is to change how parents view teaching writing, providing them with a guiding philosophy and some tools and tips that they can apply either to Brave Writer’s courseware or other homeschool writing products.

Although not a quick read by any means, we think it does accomplish this goal pretty well. 

After reading this book, and perhaps doing a little introspection, parents interested in the Brave Writer approach should have a strong sense of how they should go about doing so, as well as a variety of tools, tips and techniques to practically apply what they’ve learned in a way that suits them best. 

Help For High School

Help for High School is a guide created by Brave Writer for teens approaching (or in) high school. 

Unlike the Writer’s Jungle, which is aimed squarely at parents, Help For High School is written to teens and is designed to allow them to work independently through the material. 

Like the Writer’s Jungle, Help for High School is available as a PDF and is decently weighty at 166 pages.

The language is also accessible and conversational and aims to take a lot of the anxiety out of writing formal compositions by using humor, pop culture references and generally trying to write in a way that will appeal to teens. 

The book largely concerns essay writing and it is split into two parts – Preparation for Essay Writing and Essay Writing. 

The first part of the book, Preparation for Essay Writing, largely gets kids in the mindset of essay writing. This section contains exercises and tips for getting started writing, as well as more foundational essay-related topics such as clearness and precision, using powerful words and associations, creating associations between topics and their own beliefs, creating word lists. arguments and more. 

The second part of the book deals more directly with essay writing itself. It includes help on essay structure, how to write a thesis statement, different types of essays (expository, explanatory, compare and contrast, etc), open vs closed essays, making essays compelling with strong intros, conclusions and by using tension, and more. 

Overall, Help for High School does a good job at drilling down into the essay format without being too by-the-numbers. The book does a good job at explaining sometimes confusing concepts for kids (topic vs thesis, paraphrasing vs quotation, formality vs writing for interest). 

As the approach taken by Writer’s Jungle would have you expect, Help for High School does spend a good deal of time connecting essays to the students’ own experiences and interests, with lots of creative exercises and freewriting, ultimately guiding students gently enough from associations to thought to essay.  

Ultimately, if you have a student in or approaching high school, Help for High School can act as an excellent supplement and extension of the Writer’s Jungle, and an effective way of helping guide them from creative and personal writing to the more academically appropriate, formal writing they’ll need in the future. 

Writing Mechanics: Dart, Arrow, Boomerang and Slingshot

It’s true that Brave Writer de-emphasizes the importance of spelling, grammar and general writing mechanics when compared to the act of writing.

In fact Bogart tends to recommend offering an intensive grammar and spelling year just three times, once in elementary, once in middle school and once in high school.

That said, Brave Writer does recognize the importance to a child’s overall education and teaches and provides parents with practice for them in their workbook, which are oddly all named after various projectiles – Dart, Arrow, Boomerang and Slingshot.

In general these books are meant to provide a ready source of practice for the mechanics teaching outlined in The Writer’s Jungle. They are intended to help cover things like grammar, punctuation, spelling, as well as examining literary devices and even analysis at the older levels. 

Each book is aimed at a different age or developmental stage and generally works to increase student independence over time, as well as adding complexity in terms of reading, topics and discussion.

How they work

Despite the age and stages differences of the books, they do take a similar approach in how they teach and are meant to be used, which gives those progressing through it a sense of continuity that is helpful for kids and something we always appreciate. 

Like The Writer’s Jungle and Help for High School, the mechanics workbooks are all digital and available for download as PDFs from a cloud based storage system after purchase. 

Essentially, users log into a cloud server and are given access to a special folder where monthly files are added each month. 

There are 10 guides produced each year, roughly one for each month from August to May, making these year-long programs.

This is basically a subscription program, albeit a rather modern, high tech take on the system. 

The general idea behind this being that doing so adds an element of surprise, like a monthly gift, and that dividing up the program work into smaller segments is ultimately less overwhelming to kids.

Some of these books can also be purchased individually as part of a back catalogue. 

Literary-Based Learning Method

Somewhat similar to Charlotte Mason, with Brave Writer the mechanics of writing is taught through a literature-based learning approach.

Each month’s theme and its learning activities and discussions revolve around a specific piece of literature that is provided to parents and students to work with. 

For each text, the books provide a pretty thorough explanation, as well as pointing out different things parents can teach from it.  

Each book works on specific grammar, spelling, punctuation and literacy concepts through a variety of exercises, as well as an assortment of tips and information for parents to help them use these passages as teaching tools.

They also may explore various literary themes, styles or ideas, and incorporate them into writing activities, free writing or in-depth  discussions. 

Unfortunately, while each month’s guide is based upon a certain book and draws texts therefrom, these aren’t included in the price. 

Adding to the cost, parents will have to purchase these books themselves separately. With 5-10 books per year per child, it can add up.  

Copywork and Dictation 

Similarly, based on selections from these texts, students begin to do copywork. 

Copywork is a model that we particularly appreciate as his tends to have two effects for kids.

Most obviously, copywork helps with penmanship, allowing kids to practice their letters and neatness. 

In addition, with carefully selecting passages (as provided by these books) kids have a ready model that not only gives them the look and feel of a properly constructed and grammatically sentence or paragraph to integrate into their memories, but that can also serve as a more professional model for writing, demonstrating clever nuance, sophistication, clever turns of phrase and so on. 

Brave Writer also uses these passages for dictation. 

This not only helps students connect the written words to sound and practice things like homophone distinctions, but also helps with spelling and writing, particularly from verbal cues. 

The program supports several kinds of dictation exercises, notably French dictation (where some words are omitted and the student has to write them in) and reverse dictation (where passages are retyped with errors that students have to correct, practicing their grammar editing skills). 

At the end of each book, each guide includes suggested activities and discussions. 

Usually there is some kind of writing activity that allows students to put into practice what they’ve learned, particularly using various literary devices or ideas from the passage. 

They also integrate some Brave Writer activities, offering ideas for Big Juicy Questions or Think Pieces (at the older levels), which are designed to get kids thinking more deeply, investigating and even freewriting about some of the ideas of the text and, later, doing more literary analysis of things like themes, styles, plots and characters. 

Brave Writer Dart

Age range: 8-10

The first program in the guide book series, Dart is aimed at the youngest age range for literary arts, those who are still developing as readers (as well as writers). 

As such, the literary pieces that Dart sends out are developmentally appropriate and the parents are expected to read them aloud, rather than have the students read them independently. 

Dart includes four passages to be used for dictation and copywork, designed to be worked on over the course of a month. 

The guide also includes a lot of detailed help and tips for parents, clearly outlining what can be taught and derived from the text, highlighting essential literary devices to be used for exploration (assonances, powerful writing, alliteration, etc). 

The activities included are Big Juicy Questions, various freewriting exercises and even Book Club Party ideas, in case you want to throw one. 

Brave Writer Arrow

Ages: 11-12

Arrow is aimed at the next group up from Dart.

Despite the older age range it is also designed to be read aloud (although we would probably argue that books like The Front Desk can be read by 11 and 12 year olds on their own as well).

Arrow provides four passages for dictation and copywork and, like Dart, provides excellent detail and tips for parents on how to use the text to teach and each book highlights focuses learning on a literary device.

Like Dart, the activities include Big Juicy Questions, various freewriting exercises and Book Club Party ideas.

Brave Writer Boomerang 

Ages: 13-14

Moving up to the teens, Boomerang takes things up a notch in terms of complexity and student independence. 

Unlike Dart and Arrow, the books provided by Boomerang are designed to be read independently by teens. Similarly, students at this stage begin to receive their own notes for working through grammar and analysis.

While they continue to work on their mechanics with copywork and dictation, students begin to dive deeper into literary analysis through Think Pieces, where they examine things like plot, character development, themes, styles and more through discussion and writing exercises. 

They are also encouraged to begin selecting and keeping particularly interesting excerpts from the text to keep as a model, as material for writing or for later quotation. 

Interestingly there is also a variation of Boomerang that includes more classic pieces from English literature, rather than the more modern titles typically available in the Brave Writer guides.  

Including titles that span from the Middle Ages to the Victorian era, these can include Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, Robinson Crusoe and more, and can be a particularly interesting option for those pursuing a classic homeschool curriculum. 

Brave Writer Slingshot

Ages: 15-18

Taking Brave Writer to high school (and preparing for the beyond), Slingshot is a little different than the previous guides. 

For one thing, there are fewer books (5 rather than 10) owing to the greater complexity and length of the titles (i.e. a Tale of Two Cities, Lord of the Rings, etc). 

Like Boomerang, as well as continuing with mechanics (although more independently at this point) Slingshot dives deeply into the analysis of these books, examining their themes, devices, characters and plots in a deeper and more analytical method. 

Writing Projects: Putting it all to use

In the Brave Writer approach, Writing Projects serve to develop student proficiency at writing by putting what they’ve learned together in a more practical way while still maintaining student creativity.

Each Writing Project is aimed and designed around the appropriate developmental stage that is preferred by Brave Writer.

As such, they are designed to slowly promote more writing independence and responsibility, with students gradually taking the reins on these projects and requiring increasingly less handholding. 

Similarly, the projects take on increasing complexity, offering more advanced and academically appropriate writing forms. 

These projects, while related to writing, aren’t always simply writing. 

In addition to including freewriting, they may also involve a great deal of other Brave Writer skills, such as researching, discussion, storytelling and narrowing. 

Interestingly, especially at the younger levels there are a lot of multisensory, hands-on activities for parents and students to work on, which we enjoy and appreciate.

For example, students might create a lapbook, keep a record or journal, create a powerpoint presentation and more. 

The overall effect is that while students may be working on their writing skills and grammar, they may not realize they are doing so, which can make these projects particularly helpful for reluctant writers and those who claim to hate writing. 

Helpful Project Tools Included

As with Mechanics, Brave Writer put together Writing Project packages to help make planning, organizing and going through these projects a little easier for homeschoolers. 

Each project pack helpfully includes weekly planners, which help parents integrate project components and steps into their schedule and keeps things more organized, as well as a skills tracker (yes, a checklist), which helps parents and students keep track of the writing skills they’re developing. 

Online Classes

In addition to their written books and supplements, Brave Writer also offers a lot of online classes. 

These are multi week affairs, taught by specifically trained instructors and cover a variety of topics in writing. There are core classes that teach the BraveWriter methodology, the mechanics of writing, and effective revision, as well as special interest writing classes such as in:

• Fan Fiction
• Creative Writing
• Scriptwriting
• College Admission Essay Writing
• Song Writing

These classes aren’t live but are asynchronous and accessed through a digital classroom, so students can access them anywhere and at their own convenience. This is a good thing since they can be open to kids of different age groups and in different time zones, which can be disruptive to learning. Instead kids watch the recordings, receive assignments and over a period of several weeks post their writing to the classroom and to the instructor. 

Some classes are aimed more at parents (although students can sometimes be involved as well), helping them dive deeper into the concepts of Brave Writer and get help implementing specific teaching techniques, such as guided writing, implementing more positive and effective revision and so on. 

Other classes are aimed at students, providing more detailed and formal instruction in things like essay writing, literary analysis techniques, scriptwriting and other specific forms of writing, and even grammar workshops and college application essay help.

These classes can act as an in-depth and specific supplement to a parent’s teaching, offering topics that perhaps aren’t as accessible, familiar to parents or easily taught at home. They also are a good way to give kids the opportunity to use Brave Writing concepts in a social (digital) setting. 

In general, these are medium sized online classrooms of about 25 students. The instruction is very professional and the instructors are both trained in Brave Writer methods and are pretty charismatic. 

Unlike other online writing classes, the learning in Brave Writer is fairly collaborative. Student work and associated comments are posted for the class, with the idea that student can and will learn from each other, and from the comments provided by teachers, if provided the opportunity.

Although some more shy students may hesitate at first, by being exposed to other student’s work (and constructive critiques thereof) students have the opportunity to look at and become inspired by other perspectives and writing styles, as well as broaden their overall learning through the instructor’s comments.

On the downside they can be kind of expensive, about $1-300 per course, and do require parents to keep kids on track. 

Do I Really Need To Buy All These Components?

The answer is, surprisingly, no.

When taken together, Original Thought, Mechanics and Writing Projects make up a pretty complete language arts course for kids. 

However, that means there are a lot of components to deal with. 

That said, because Brave Writer is an approach and philosophy more than a specific method and framework,its principles can be used whether you use all their books, some of their books or combine the program with another. 

In fact, because the Mechanics guides tend to spend much of the first half of the book going over the Brave Writer approach and techniques, some parents have even claimed to get by without The Writer’s Jungle. 

We wouldn’t necessarily recommend this approach, as the book provides excellent detail, insight and applicable methods to implementing Brave Writer in a homeschool. 

This stands in particular contrast to more rigid programs that teach incrementally and require a specific adherence to lesson order, curricula and activities. 

The supplements that Brave Writer offers  (Writing Projects and the Mechanical guides like Arrow) are primarily designed for convenience. 

Sometimes parents simply don’t have the time or ability to find and evaluate texts or prompts, create their own teaching material or even come up with ideas for writing projects.

As such, Brave Writer’s supplements offer pre-selected texts, guides, organizational tools, instructions and teaching tips that can make implementing and integrating Brave Writer simply a lot easier and more efficient. 

How Easy Is It To Get Started Teaching/Teach With Brave Writer

Brave Writer is a fairly flexible and open program that easily integrates with other homeschool material. 

Once you are used to it it is quite easy to follow and seems fairly natural to implement as part of a curriculum or even into your daily life. 

It does, in our opinion, take a little getting used to.

Brave Writer is not an open and go program that will carry parents through the process of getting their kids to write. 

While it does offer suggested schedules and plans, it is a lot less scripted than other programs and requires parents to deeply consider their child’s needs and mindset, their own schedules and how these will relate to the various activities and tools that the program provides. 

The real trick, however, is really getting into the mindset of Brave Writer. 

It is a very different program and requires a change in the way parents view teaching, let alone writing. It also forces parents to reconsider their relationship in their homeschool and sometimes even how they homeschool altogether. 

Interestingly, for some more experienced homeschoolers this can actually be more challenging than for newbies due to their reliance on pre-existing ideas and methods. 

Is Brave Writer a Secular or Religious Curriculum?

Brave Writer is a religiously neutral curriculum. While it can be used as part of a faith-based curriculum, it does not promote any particular religion or religious point of view. 

Pros and Cons of Brave Writer

Unique Approach That Maintains Student Creativity And Passion In Writing

Unlike other programs that impose a framework on kids, Brave Writer is designed with the child and their thoughts at the forefront of writing. 

In this way it lets them express themselves more naturally and helps develop their unique voice. 

Its use of freewriting exercises can take a lot of the pressure to conform off, which may  help even more reluctant writers to put words on paper, often the most difficult task of all. 

Can Help Develop And Nurture A Strong Relationship Between Parent And Child

Critical to Brave Writer is the interaction and relationship between parent and child. 

Over the course of the program kids and parents will spend a great deal of time discussing and interacting in a positive and enriching way, working and exploring together rather than acting as teacher and student. 

As a result, the program can encourage bonding and help parents really get to know their child’s thinking. 

Extremely Flexible And Adaptable

Because Brave Writer is more of an approach to teaching, its methods can be applied to and in conjunction with a variety of other homeschool language programs.

Similarly, while it does provide suggestions, practical exercises and tips for teaching, Brave Writer gives parents enough room to implement it according to their own needs and beliefs, as well as adapt it to their student, making it highly usable with many different homeschooling philosophies and approaches. 

Can Be  A Complete Language Arts Program

Brave Writer does offer enough material in terms of information, practical exercises and detail to be used to help teach writing, grammar and literary analysis. 

With its ready supply of open-and-use books and guides, as a whole it can be considered more of a complete language arts program than just a writing program. 

This makes it fairly unique among writing programs, that generally just focus on writing technique. 

Interesting And Unique Activities And Techniques To Draw Out Writing

To help give students material to write with and develop a literature rich life and environment, Brave Writer offers parents a number of activities that they can integrate into their schedules. 

While they do have the usual writing exercises, copywriting and dictation, Brave Writer also offers a wide variety of unique and creative activities that have found fair acclaim by parents and students online. 

Can Be A Little Too Unscripted Some Homeschooling Parents

Being highly open, flexible and configurable can sometimes be a double edged sword. 

Some parents (and students) may prefer an “open and go” scripted approach that they can easily slide into their schedule and use to start teaching.

Some new homeschoolers may feel overwhelmed trying to figure out their student needs and fit Brave Writer and its activities into their lives, while  those with very busy homeschool lives, may find it easier to work with preprinted worksheets, more detailed lesson plans, and more A-Z direction in how to teach, 

It’s Approach To Writing Is Not For Everyone

While many parents have found that the Brave Writer approach to writing works well for them, letting their kids find their voice and discover their passion for writing, some students (and their parents) can find they do better and may even prefer a more structured approach to writing. 

In some students a more systematic approach can help reign in their thinking and write more concisely.

In others, a stronger framework for approaching writing can give them something to rely on when confronted with a blank page, a step by step and ordered approach getting them started writing something and get them past the freeze of panic.

Who is Brave Writer Best For?

Those who value freedom in homeschooling.

A big problem that some parents have with many other writing programs is that they often are very rigid and require parents to follow them in a certain way or things get very confusing very quickly.

Many parents get into homeschooling because they want to have a good deal of input and control over how and what their student is learning. 

While Brave Writer does have a definite idea of the parent’s role in the learning process, it really leaves the execution to the parent. 

With The Writer’s Jungle as a general guide, parents can pick and choose various activities, devise their own activities and projects, pick source material on their own, and even integrate Brave Writer’s approach with other programs and books. 

Eclectic, Unschooling and Student-centric Homeschool Approaches

Brave Writer’s most central tenet is the centrality of the student and integrating their thoughts and ideas into writing.

Brave Writer is a student-led program and the activities tend to revolve around their thoughts, experiences and feelings and how these can be used to get them comfortable writing and expressing themselves. 

While perhaps not the best for traditional top-down homeschooling philosophies, it does fit nicely in other individualized, student-first educational methods.

Those Who Want To Encourage Creativity And Passion In Writing

Brave Writer places a strong importance on getting kids to write and giving them the freedom to use their own voice and creativity in doing so. 

Parents are taught to act as a coach of sorts, encouraging kids and keeping writing as positive, natural and enjoyable as possible. 

Fans Of Literature-based Learning

Brave Writer takes a literature-based approach to learning, incorporating a lot of books and texts and poetry into most aspects of the program, and as such makes a natural fit for homeschools that strongly believe in teaching from literature. 

Books and works of literature are used as the basis of conversation, modeling writing, in-depth discussion, projects, idea gathering, grammar studies and more. 

Who is Brave Writer Not Best For?

Those who believe in systematic, structured writing frameworks.

Some parents believe strongly in a more structured, organized approach to writing. 

They believe that it is important that their students should learn an easy to use and repeatable framework for writing that they can use more or less for any piece of writing that they may come across in school.

With its use of freewriting and a natural, guided but gentle long term approach to writing improvement, Brave Writer is probably not the right program for them and they should probably look for a more structured writing program, such as IEW or WriteShop .

Those Looking for a Self-Study Program

Brave Writer requires parents and students to work together as a team to develop writing. Parent-student interaction can actually be quite intense (in a good way), and it is definitely not a program that students can use on their own to teach themselves to write more effectively. Parents who are more interested in self-study writing might be more interested in Night Zookeeper or similar programs.

Those Looking for a Step by Step Program

Some writing programs are extremely simple to follow and implement. They offer explicit frameworks for writing and direct instructions for each lesson, with exact exercises, details and even scripted dialogue to use in order to convey information to the student. 

These programs hold a parent’s hand from first to last step, requiring very little thought beyond making sure the work gets done. 

While it offers lots of support, practical teaching advice and even some suggested weekly lesson plans in its books, Brave Writer is not an open and go program that will micromanage and direct parents through teaching their kids to write. 

In fact, Brave Writer requires a good deal of thought and work on the part of a parent to fit it into their schedules and tailor it around their student’s interests and needs. 

Note: all prices in USD and are current as of writing.

Core Original Thought Books

Mechanics and literature.

Note: Novels not included 

Dart – $129

Arrow – $129

Boomerang -$129

Early English Boomerang – $59

Slingshot – $79

Literature Singles – $9.95-$14.95

Writing Projects

Jot it Down! – $49.95

Partnership Writing – $59.95  

Faltering Ownership – $89.95

Price varies, but in general they range from $100 – $249

Is Brave Writer Worth the Price?

As can be seen from the prices above, Brave Writer isn’t exactly a cheap program- bundled packages will run parents well over $200. 

However, we do think that Brave Writer is worth the cost. 

The Writer’s Jungle is packed full of useful and applicable teaching help for parents, including tips, tricks and useful exercises. 

The information is detailed and carefully explained, making it very easy to use and most importantly contains very helpful information on how to apply the programs principles to reluctant writers. 

Similarly, the guides and projects are well put together. They make implementing Brave Writer’s approach very easy, with texts and excerpts that are interesting and high quality and projects that are well-thought out and fun. 

And while $80+ is a fair amount of money to pay for digital PDFs in an absolute sense, it is important to keep in mind that (in addition to their detailed content)  these can be reprinted and reused, and with The Writer’s Jungle and Help for High School, can be used for several years or even the entirety of the child’s schooling. 

Most of all, while it’s not for everyone, Brave Writer is a program that stands apart from most other writing programs out there in that it is highly student centric and designed to improve their writing while maintaining maximum creativity and freedom. 

For many parents, the by-the-numbers frameworks offered by many writing other programs can feel stifling both to them and their students. 

To these parents a program that both works on writing proficiency and encourages their child’s creativity and love of writing can be well worth the price. 

Bottom Line: 

With its unique lifestyle-oriented activities, highly adaptable and engaging teaching and student-centric approach, Brave Writer occupies a fairly interesting space in the world of writing programs – a full language program that emphasizes creativity and freedom in the student writing process. 

Brave Writer is a complete language arts program that ultimately covers writing, literature analysis, grammar and spelling. Using its suite of books or combined with other programs, it should be enough to help most parents to teach their kids effectively.

Brave Writer and its various books (The Writer’s Jungle, its grammar and mechanics series and various projects) are all very well made and filled with help for parents to teach language arts. Properly implemented, the program itself is an effective way to enact a student-centric philosophy of writing that can help kids gradually and gently improve their writing while still maintaining their creativity.

Yes, Brave Writer covers grammar as part of its Mechanics and Literature component. Unlike other programs, it simply places more of an importance on getting kids writing.

Brave Writer is non-denominational/religiously neutral. It does not take a particular view towards any religion and can be used by faith-based and secular homeschools alike.

About the Author

Anne Miller is the editor of The Smarter Learning Guide and is a passionate advocate for education and educational technology. A mom of two, she majored in English Language and Literature and worked as a substitute teacher and tutor for several years. When not writing she continues to root for the Yankees and the Giants.

Jennifer Keenes is a writer and a new mom living in Florida. She studied education and, prior to becoming a freelance writer, worked as a substitute teacher at the elementary and middle school level. She is a big fan of the beach, working out and homeschooling her two daughters.

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A Thorough Review of the Brave Writer Curriculum for Literature

Before I found the Brave Writer Curriculum, I felt like Tarzan.  Or Jane.  Swinging all day from various trees in the language arts forest, never knowing if it was going to be enough.

I was leaping from workbook to workbook to cover these skills, but what was I achieving? Spelling.  Vocabulary.  Comprehension questions.  Grammar.  Writing.  Would my kids ever connect all of these branches?

All of the Language arts skills felt so jumpy and disconnected in our homeschool.   And I was tired.  I didn’t want to swing like Tarzan from topic to topic anymore, but I wasn’t sure what else to do.

So I did what any homeschool mom does.  I googled.  And I googled.  And I googled.  I knew I could find a program that would help me teach Language Arts as a  cohesive set of skills for communication .  I knew I could find a guide to take us into the world of language and communication.

And I stumbled upon the Brave Writer Curriculum for homeschooling families and I decided to give it a try.

{This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure .}

Understanding Language Arts and the Brave Writer Curriculum

Language Arts is a broad term used to describe the variety of skills included in the subject areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Language Arts includes many of the following skills:

reading/phonics literature comprehension/analysis grammar punctuation handwriting formal and informal writing spelling vocabulary speaking listening …and more

As a homeschooling parent, teaching all of these skills to several different children each day felt quite overwhelming. I was desperate to find an easier way, and the Brave Writer curriculum became the solution.

But first, let’s take a look at the problem I was experiencing.

My Homeschool Experience Teaching Language Arts

Picture the subject of language arts skills as a lush forest of trees.  Using various workbooks with my kids made me feel like I was leaping around the Language Arts forest all day, swinging from tree to tree to tree.

To make teaching language arts even more complicated, I have four children. That means that all four of my children were working in different workbooks so they could work on material at their grade level. That was a lot of jumping around without much family cohesiveness. There was no joy in a day that felt so jumpy and checklist-y.

Things needed to change, so in a moment of inspiration and a little bit of desperation, I decided to purchase the literature guides from the Brave Writer curriculum. The guides promised to walk us through the forest of language arts together, using ONE literature title for the whole family.

Using the Brave Writer Curriculum

Once our family decided to take the plunge and begin using the Brave Writer curriculum, we started with the literature guides . These guides made it easy to teach a variety of language arts skills to all of my kids.

The Arrow and Boomerang guides include spelling, grammar, and vocabulary instruction through copywork in addition to discussion questions to help develop comprehension and analysis skills.

Getting Started as a Family

When we began our first Arrow guide as a family, a path through the language arts forest began to appear. Suddenly, I was walking through our daily language arts instruction with all four of my children. Together. Hand in hand. I was no longer swinging from tree to tree with each individual child.

–> Grab Your Crossover Book Club Guide <–

Everyone was working, learning, and discussing literature together and I suddenly felt sane.

Each month, we read one title together as a family and that title became our path through the language arts forest. The Brave Writer Curriculum became our trail guide, directing us to the various “trees of Language Arts” along the way.

Brave Writer Curriculum Guide Overview

Our family began our literature studies using the Brave Writer Arrow Guides. We used one guide a month and followed the four-week plan for each book. The Brave Writer Arrow and Boomerang Guides are each divided into four weeks of instruction. Each week contains:

1.  Weekly Copywork

The copywork passages serve as the basis for grammar, vocabulary, and spelling instruction. Sometimes there is more information provided to talk about literary elements being used in the passage as well, such as similies, hyperbole, and more.

Each passage is accompanied by teacher notes to guide your instruction. These notes contain tips and details for parents so they can effectively use the passage as a teaching tool for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and literary style.

2.  A Literary Element

Each literature guide in the Brave Writer curriculum focuses on a single literary element based on the content of the book. An explanation of the element as well as suggestions for discussion, writing, and teaching activities are included in the guide. Occasionally other literary elements and writing techniques are mentioned as part of the copywork instruction.

3.  A Writing Activity

The writing activities each month are included as a way to expand your child’s understanding of the literary element. Some are short and simple while others are a bit more involved. The best part is that you can elaborate and dive deeper into any of the projects if your kids are really enjoying them.

4. Big, Juicy Questions

Nine Big, Juicy, Questions are included to help facilitate a discussion with your children about the book. These questions are excellent for a family discussion or as part of a kid’s book club , which is how I used them for many years.

5. Book Club Ideas

The final section of the guide contains food, game, and activity ideas for a themed book club. If you read this blog, you know that I love a themed book club. You can find several of my themed book club ideas on this blog as examples of how you can implement these ideas.

These guides assist homeschooling parents each month so you can use one book title to teach language arts skills to all of your children. Over time, you will continue to build a wonderful foundation of knowledge for future literary analysis while developing the mechanics of writing.

Implementing the Brave Writer Curriculum

It takes little trial and error but every family will find their own groove with the Brave Writer literature guides. For many parents, they can be very confusing at first because they don’t have a daily schedule included. Instead, there is information included for each week and it is up to a parent to determine the best way to use the copywork and content.

I have previously shared our weekly schedule but will provide a general overview here. If you need more detail then you can check out how we implement the guide day to day:

–> How We Implement the Brave Writer Arrow Guides <–

Our family uses one literature guide each month. We read the book together as a family and implement the copywork and language arts during the week.

I introduce the copywork on Monday and we discuss the passage. My kids begin copying the passage on Monday, but if the passage is long, my kids might take another day or two to finish the lesson. Sometimes they practice writing a particular word or two a few times if it was difficult.

We continue the lessons and conversations during the week though the bulk of my instruction is completed on Wednesday. If I want to use the passage for dictation, then I will typically dictate all or part of the passage on Thursday or Friday.

A Detailed Look at Week One with the Brave Writer Arrow

I also shared a very detailed walk-thru of the Brave Writer curriculum guide to “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” on my YouTube channel . Here is a look at week one:

Does the Brave Writer Curriculum work to Teach Language Arts?

Short answer…yes.

Longer answer…I have seen enormous growth in my kids’ understanding of literature and their ability to discuss it in a thoughtful manner.  They continue to make progress in spelling and grammar. This is all happening through a planned exposure to a variety of literary genres.

Best of all, our family has created bonds through reading about memorable characters, hysterical situations, and heart-breaking stories because we were all walking on the same path and using the same trail guide!

Comprehension and Literary Analysis

After several years of using the Arrow and Boomerang Guides, I can affirm that this curriculum has done an excellent job of laying the foundation for high school literary analysis . My children gained skills and knowledge in a “brick by brick” fashion each year and are able to recognize literary elements and concepts.

Brave Writer literature guides offered a wonderful variety of titles over the years so my children were exposed to a variety of voices and genres in their literature. This was very important to me and I was happy with the variety of titles to choose from.

Spelling, vocabulary, and grammar

Honestly, the curriculum laid a wonderful foundation for these areas of language arts, but I found that I felt more comfortable doing a little bit more for both spelling and grammar. That means that sometimes, I returned to a few workbooks to support what we were doing with our Brave Writer curriculum.

Grammar workbooks were one of the tools I turned to occasionally, but I used them differently. If we are studying adjectives in the Arrow Guide, then I might pull a few adjective worksheets from a workbook or website to support our discussion. This allowed everyone to review the same grammar concept so I could continue to focus my energy and lessons. In addition, my kids spent at least one year in middle school learning with a full grammar program to drive home all of the skills in a more systematic fashion.

I also used a spelling curriculum with two of my kids who struggled more with spelling. The other two kids were natural spellers so copywork was enough for them.

We didn’t use any additional workbooks for vocabulary, but many families use Wordly Wise 3000 to help their children develop higher-level vocabulary words. Instead, we used Marie’s Words for vocabulary development . We have such a good time with these vocabulary words that using them and reviewing them doesn’t feel like school work. Best of all, we are all learning and using the same plethora of SAT words.

If you love the Brave Writer curriculum then you will also love:

Live, online book clubs for kids book club discussion questions for any book celebrate a book: themed book club guides how to plan a fun book club for kids.

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Great post! Glad these are working for your family

THanks Jamie!

Hi, I have enjoyed reading your review. I have been eyeballing Brave Writer for over a year now and am getting ready to just make a purchase. I have a 9 year old and 7 year old and am wondering if you could recommend an Arrow guide that would be a good one to begin with. Do you also use the Partnership Writing as well?

I have really loved all of the Arrow Guides. The new site now includes more information about literary content, so you might peek around. I own all of the writing programs and we dabble in and out of them. We have also taken some online classes.

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A brave writer's life in brief, thoughts from my home to yours, 2024-2025 book reveal.

Are you getting excited ?!

Each year, I announce the line ups for our wildly popular  literature programs !

For the  Quill  (ages 5-7), I reveal themes you’ll explore while building foundational pre-literacy skills in reading, writing, and math.

For the  Dart (ages 8-10), Arrow (ages 11-12), Boomerang (ages 13-14), and  Slingshot (ages 15-18), I give updates and announce the  book titles  for the coming academic year!

Book Reveal Dates!

Click the links to register for the Zoom webinars (space limited).

Come live! The chat will be FLYING!! And you’ll be in to win one of our amazing GIVEAWAYS!

For kids ages 5-10: Thursday, May 30 (12:00 pm EDT) For kids ages 11-18: Friday, May 31 (12:00 pm EDT)

Or watch on  Facebook .

The Programs

Our Mechanics & Literature programs teach:

• punctuation,
• literary devices,
• and more through  living literature !

The big reveal is also exciting for you because these are:

• books your family will  read aloud  together and treasure all year 
• books that  naturally teach all the stuff you worry about!  (See above!)

Selecting the Books

Here at Brave Writer, we take the selection of these book titles  Very Seriously!

All year, we read, discuss, and delight in the year’s latest fiction as well as relishing the classics.

• We aim for  diversity  of authorship and protagonists
• We incorporate a  variety  of genres: fantasy, poetry, nonfiction, historical fiction and the classics
• We carefully orchestrate the  sequence  of the books
• We  balance book length  against the  holiday demands  of a given month
• We  alternate  moving, poignant books with silly, lighthearted books
• We  launch the year  with a sure-fire winner and end with a warmhearted one

By the time we’ve settled on a book list, we’re chomping at the bit to share it with you!

You can expect a lively, inspired reading journey.

Our  2023–2024 year-long programs  are still in the store!  After May 27 , they will only be available as  Literature Singles ! 

Posted in Arrow , Boomerang , BW products , Language Arts | Comments Off on 2024-2025 Book Reveal!

Friday Freewrite: A Day in the Life of a Yo-Yo

Describe the daily life of a yo-yo…from the perspective of the yo-yo.

New to freewriting? Check out our  online guide .

Tags: Writing prompts Posted in Friday Freewrite | Comments Off on Friday Freewrite: A Day in the Life of a Yo-Yo

[Podcast #237] 2024-2025 Book Reveal Talk! with Dawn Smith

Thrilled to add Melissa Wiley to the podcast icon! Having Melissa co-host the show has been such a gift to me and all of you. Plus that cheery smile!

It’s almost time for our annual Book Reveal ! Every year we curate a new list of books to be part of our Mechanics & Literature programs.

Dawn Smith spearheads this undertaking and she joins us today on the Brave Writer podcast to describe how she picks which books to be on the list.

The reason the book release is so highly anticipated is because Dawn chooses books that she knows are going to:

• elicit kids’ buy-in,
• lead to big, juicy family conversations,
• and give kids tools to tell their own stories.

Dawn explains the journey she goes on to put together the Dart, Arrow, and Boomerang programs and how she is intentional about centering what is activating, engaging, and flexible. 

Plus, stay tuned until the end to learn how to sign up for the book list announcement webinars and the giveaways you may win!

Provoke Kids’ Buy-in

The key to learning is buy-in. Dawn chooses books that kids will genuinely enjoy and be interested in. She doesn’t start with a list of concepts that must be covered. Instead, she picks books that she thinks will interest students, then she makes sure that all the necessary concepts are covered across the entire book collection.

Lead to Big, Juicy Conversations

Dawn chooses books that lead to big, juicy family conversations. The conversations might:

• be about what was in the author’s mind when they were writing the book,
• cover what adverbs the kids like and don’t like,
• or just generate more questions, sparking more wonder and curiosity. 

Provide Tools

Tools are more fun and engaging than rules. Teaching the mechanics of reading and writing from a place of rules creates stress and disconnection. Teaching them from a place of tools of expression creates wonder and empowerment. Dawn puts together the Dart, Arrow, and Boomerang programs so literature is a space for creation and experimentation.

The book lists will be announced on May 30 and May 31. Sign-up to join the announcement webinars and you just might win one of the giveaways! 

• Sign up to attend the free Brave Writer Book Reveal webinars !
• Check out the Brave Writer Bookshop 
• Take a look at the Skunk & Badger Dart
• Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention!
• Check out the new Becoming a Critical Thinker workbook  
• Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
• Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684

Connect with Julie

• Instagram: @juliebravewriter
• Threads: @juliebravewriter
• Twitter: @bravewriter
• Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa

• Website: melissawiley.com
• Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
• Instagram: @melissawileybooks
• Twitter: @melissawiley

Produced by NOVA Media

Posted in Podcasts | Comments Off on [Podcast #237] 2024-2025 Book Reveal Talk! with Dawn Smith

BIG Choices

When the way things are is too costly to your well-being than the way things could be if you blew up your life to expand your choices, you’ll change course.

Big choices feel big because they are . They alter how you see yourself.

• Putting your kids in school or pulling them out.
• Staying married or getting a divorce.
• Going to grad school or putting it off.
• Doing chemo or stopping it.
• Moving away from your family or moving back to be near them.
• Staying in your religious faith or leaving it.
• Exploring a new perspective or doubling down on the one you have.
• Having another baby or stopping.
• Working outside the home or being a SAHM.
• Giving up an addiction…

You’ll know when you know.

You deserve to lead a life that gives you hope.

You deserve as good a life as the one you want for your children.

One question that helped me was : “If I were to counsel one of my kids about this issue once they’re an adult, how would I lean?”

One idea that helped me : “You get to keep making choices. This isn’t the last one you’ll ever make.”

Keep going. Rooting for you.

No one changes course until the tipping point. It’s okay if the tipping point hasn’t yet tipped. Be patient. You’ll know when you know. You’ll move in the direction of your hope and release at the right time for you.

This post is originally from Instagram and  @juliebravewriter  is my account so come follow along for more conversations like this one!

Posted in Homeschool Advice | Comments Off on BIG Choices

A Mother’s Day Gift for You!

It’s Mother’s Day!

We see you and all the work you do !  So…

👕 Put the laundry on the couch.  📺 Turn on the TV for your little ones.  ☕ Pour a cup of tea.  🎁 And open your special gift from us to you! 

OFFER HAS EXPIRED

A Gracious Space: Spring Edition  gives you brand new readings for the next leg of your year’s homeschool journey. Daily readings are provided to give you support and encouragement in your homeschool adventure.

The 50 non-sectarian essays offer:

• new ways to think about homeschooling,
• comfort for when you run up against your limitations,
• and energy for tackling your highest aspirations!

Each day’s reading  includes a quote from a parent or notable individual, as well as a sustaining thought to take with you through the day.

Happy Mother’s Day ! 

P.S . Share with a mama friend who needs a little gracious space! 

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Friday Freewrite: Too Much to Do or Not Enough?

If you had to pick, would you rather have too much to do or not enough to do? Explain your answer.

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Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing The Write Stuff for Writers

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Grow Your Writing Passion into a Career with Liberty’s Online MFA in Creative Writing

Many people write creatively, but few hone their skills to develop their writing craft to its highest form. Even fewer learn the other skills it takes to become a successful writer, such as the steps needed to get a book published and into the hands of readers. Liberty’s 100% online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing can help you develop your writing passion into a career so you can set your works free to impact culture and the world.

Employers in every industry need professionals who have strong writing skills, so you can be confident that your ability to write effectively can also help set you apart in your current career. With in-demand writing expertise and the ability to customize your degree with electives in literature or writing practice, Liberty’s online MFA in Creative Writing can help you achieve your professional writing goals.

Our online MFA in Creative Writing is designed to help you build on your writing skills with specific workshops dedicated to the craft of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or screenwriting. With a work-in-progress approach to writing practice and mentorship from our faculty of experienced writers and scholars, you can learn the specific skills you need to make your writing stand out.

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Our online MFA in Creative Writing is mainly offered in an 8-week course format, and our tuition rate for graduate programs hasn’t increased in 9 years. Through our program, you can study the writing process and develop your creative skills through workshops with experienced writing professionals. With our flexible format, you can grow in your creative writing while continuing to do what is important to you.

As a terminal degree, the online MFA in Creative Writing can also help you pursue opportunities to teach writing at the K-12 or college level. You will gain comprehensive and in-depth exposure to writing, literature, publishing, and many other professional writing skills that you can pass on to students. Partner with the Liberty family and learn under faculty who have spent years in the field you love. Your career in professional writing starts here.

What Will You Study in Our MFA in Creative Writing?

The MFA in Creative Writing program is designed to help you become an excellent creative writer across the genres of creative fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and poetry. You can learn how to produce aesthetically and culturally engaged creative works while gaining professional knowledge and practice. You will also study foundational contemporary literature so that you have a background in studying important works to draw on for your writing.

To help you in your professional writing, you will also study many essential skills in editing, layout, and the business of publishing so that you can best position yourself for success in the market. Through your creative writing courses and workshops, you can develop your craft so that you will be ready for your thesis project.

Here are a few examples of the skills Liberty’s MFA in Creative Writing can help you master:

• Marketing your projects and pursuing new writing opportunities
• Organizing writing and adapting it to different types of writing
• Tailoring writing to specific audiences and markets
• Understanding what makes art effective, compelling, and impactful
• Writing compelling stories that engage readers

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an mfa in creative writing.

A Master of Fine Arts degree, or MFA, is a terminal degree in an artistic craft that demonstrates that you have achieved the highest level of training and skill in your discipline. Like a doctorate, an MFA often allows you to teach courses at the graduate level while also providing many opportunities for scholarship and leadership in education. If you want to grow your creative writing skills to become the best writer you can be, then the Master of Fine Arts can help you get there.

How will students work towards developing their writing skills?

With creative writing workshops and a thesis project, you will receive support and guidance to help you become the best writer you can be.

How long will it take to complete the MFA in Creative Writing?

You can complete the MFA in Creative Writing in just 48 credit hours!

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• Israel-Hamas War

My Writing Students Were Arrested at Columbia. Their Voices Have Never Been More Essential

O n April 30, 56 years after Columbia sent the police in to arrest student protesters who had taken over Hamilton Hall in protest of the Vietnam War—protests the school loves to promote—I was walking my 12-year-old daughter home after her choir performance. We had gone an extra stop on the subway because the stop at 116th, Columbia’s stop, was closed. Instead, we had to walk back to our apartment from the 125th stop. When we got within sight of Columbia, a line of dozens of police blocked our path. I asked them to let us through; I pointed to our apartment building and said we lived there. As a Columbia professor, I live in Columbia housing.

“I have my orders,” the cop in charge said.

“I live right there,” I said. “It’s my daughter’s bedtime.”

“I have my orders,” he said again.

“I’m just trying to get home,” I said.

We were forced to walk back the way we came from and circle around from another block. Luckily, our building has an entrance through the bodega in the basement. This is how I took my daughter up to her room and sent her to bed.

Read More: Columbia's Relationship With Student Protesters Has Long Been Fraught

A week earlier, I had brought some food for the students camping out on Columbia’s West Lawn and had met with similar resistance. Security guards asked whether I was really faculty; I had already swiped my faculty badge that should have confirmed my identity. They asked to take my badge, then they said I hadn’t swiped it, which I had, two seconds earlier, as they watched. They said their professors had never brought food to them before. I didn’t know what to say to this—“I’m sorry that your professors never brought you food?” They called someone and told them the number on my badge. Finally, they were forced to let me through. They said again that their professors had never brought them food. “OK,” I said, and walked into campus. I reported their behavior and never received a reply.

On April 30, after I had got my daughter to bed, my partner and I took the dog down to pee. We watched the protesters call, “Shame!” as the police went in and out of the blockade that stretched 10 blocks around campus. Earlier that day, we had seen police collecting barricades—it seemed like there would be a bit of peace. As soon as it got dark, they must have used those barricades and more to block off the 10 blocks. There were reports on campus that journalists were not allowed out of Pulitzer Hall, including Columbia’s own student journalists and the dean of the School of Journalism, under threat of arrest. Faculty and students who did not live on campus had been forbidden access to campus in the morning. There was no one around to witness. My partner and I had to use social media to see the hundreds of police in full riot gear, guns out, infiltrate Columbia’s Hamilton Hall, where protesters had holed up , mirroring the 1968 protests that had occupied the same building.

In the next few days, I was in meeting after meeting. Internally, we were told that the arrests had been peaceful and careful, with no student injuries. The same thing was repeated by Mayor Adams and CNN . Meanwhile, president Minouche Shafik had violated faculty governance and the university bylaws that she consult the executive committee before calling police onto campus. (The committee voted unanimously against police intervention .)

Read More: Columbia Cancels Main Commencement Following Weeks of Pro-Palestinian Protests

Then, Saturday morning, I got an email from a couple of writing students that they had been released from jail. I hadn’t heard that any of our students had been involved. They told me they hadn’t gotten food or water, or even their meds, for 24 hours. They had watched their friends bleed, kicked in the face by police. They said they had been careful not to damage university property. At least one cop busted into a locked office and fired a gun , threatened by what my students called “unarmed students in pajamas.”

In the mainstream media, the story was very different. The vandalism was blamed on students. Police showed off one of Oxford Press’s Terrorism: A Very Short Introduction . (This series of books offers scholarly introductions that help students prepare for classes, not how-to pamphlets teaching them to do terrorism.)

“I feel like I’m being gaslit,” one of my students said.

I teach creative writing, and I am the author of a book about teaching creative writing and the origins of creative-writing programs in the early 20th century. The oldest MFA program in the country, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, was funded by special-interest groups like the Rockefeller Foundation and, famously, the CIA, and was explicitly described by director Paul Engle as a tool to spread American values.

Read More: 'Why Are Police in Riot Gear?' Inside Columbia and City College's Darkest Night

The way we teach creative writing is essential because it shapes what kinds of narratives will be seen as valuable, pleasurable, and convincing. Today’s writing students will record how our current events become history. One of the strategies Columbia took with its police invasion was to block access of faculty, students, and press to the truth. It didn’t want any witnesses. It wanted to control the story.

For weeks, Columbia administration and the mainstream media has painted student protesters as violent and disruptive—and though there have been incidents of antisemitism, racism, and anti-Muslim hatred, including a chemical attack on pro-Palestine protesters , I visited the encampment multiple times and saw a place of joy, love, and community that included explicit teach-ins on antisemitism and explicit rules against any hateful language and action. Students of different faiths protected each other’s right to prayer. Meanwhile, wary of surveillance and the potential use of facial recognition to identify them, they covered their faces. Faculty have become afraid to use university email addresses to discuss ways to protect their students. At one point, the administration circulated documents they wanted students to sign, agreeing to self-identify their involvement and leave the encampment by a 2 p.m. deadline or face suspension or worse. In the end, student radio WKCR reported that even students who did leave the encampment were suspended.

In a recent statement in the Guardian and an oral history in New York Magazine , and through the remarkable coverage of WKCR, Columbia students have sought to take back the narrative. They have detailed the widespread support on campus for student protesters; the peaceful nature of the demonstrations; widespread student wishes to divest financially from Israel, cancel the Tel Aviv Global Center, and end Columbia’s dual-degree program with Tel Aviv University; and the administration’s lack of good faith in negotiations. As part of the Guardian statement, the student body says that multiple news outlets refused to print it. They emphasize their desire to tell their own story.

In a time of mass misinformation, writers who tell the truth and who are there to witness the truth firsthand are essential and must be protected. My students in Columbia’s writing program who have been arrested and face expulsion for wanting the university to disclose and divest, and the many other student protesters, represent the remarkable energy and skepticism of the younger generation who are committed not only to witnessing but participating in the making of a better world. Truth has power, but only if there are people around to tell the truth. We must protect their right to do so, whether or not the truth serves our beliefs. It is the next generation of writers who understand this best and are fighting for both their right and ours to be heard.

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‘What’s Next?’ for Anton Dela Cruz: From Creative Writing to Ethical Leadership at UVA Darden

By David Buie-Moltz

As the University of Virginia Darden School of Business prepares to graduate its Class of 2024, Anton Dela Cruz is set to move from a multifaceted career in operations to a strategic role in healthcare consulting. His time at Darden has fueled significant personal growth and a shift toward ethical leadership and community involvement.

Raised in Westchester, New York, Dela Cruz’s academic and professional journey is a testament to his resilience and adaptability. Initially enrolled in an engineering program at Cooper Union, he discovered a stronger pull toward the sciences and nature, leading him to study creative writing at SUNY Purchase. “I realized I was more interested in pure science and studying nature than the design process of engineering,” Dela Cruz explains.

He began an MFA in creative nonfiction at the University of South Carolina, where he shares he was the program’s only person of color and navigated coming out as queer. Although he left the program unfinished, it marked a significant chapter in his development. He then joined The Free Times , an alternative weekly in Columbia, South Carolina, where he managed ad production during a tumultuous change in ownership. “This experience tested our team but also brought us closer together. It made me think deeply about what it means to lead and make ethical business decisions,” he notes.

A turning point in Dela Cruz’s journey was when he listened to a Darden admissions podcast featuring Professor Ed Freeman , the renowned father of stakeholder theory. This encounter solidified Darden as the ideal platform for him to merge his ethical values with his career aspirations.

At Darden, Dela Cruz has excelled academically and as president of Pride at Darden , enhancing visibility and support for the LGBTQ+ community. Supported by the need-based AccessDarden and a merit scholarship, his Darden education has been integral to his professional formation.

His roles, ranging from IT-managed services to consulting in project management and executive coaching, have further shaped his leadership philosophy. “I was supercharged by a good boss and manager who made me feel like I could do the work,” he says.

Looking forward, Dela Cruz is eager to join Guidehouse’s Healthcare Segment. “The decisions made in healthcare consulting have high stakes as they directly impact patient care and access,” he observes, underscoring his commitment to ethical leadership and social impact in a critical sector.

This is part of a four-part series, “What’s Next?” Discover how Darden shapes the future of its graduates and read about other remarkable stories from the Class of 2024, including those about Kate Grusky , Yonah Greenstein and Sharon Okeke .

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business prepares responsible global leaders through unparalleled transformational learning experiences. Darden’s graduate degree programs (MBA, MSBA and Ph.D.) and Executive Education & Lifelong Learning programs offered by the Darden School Foundation set the stage for a lifetime of career advancement and impact. Darden’s top-ranked faculty, renowned for teaching excellence, inspires and shapes modern business leadership worldwide through research, thought leadership and business publishing. Darden has Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the Washington, D.C., area and a global community that includes 18,000 alumni in 90 countries. Darden was established in 1955 at the University of Virginia, a top public university founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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Molly Mitchell Associate Director of Content Marketing and Social Media Darden School of Business University of Virginia [email protected]

Stakeholder: How Ed Freeman’s Vision for Responsible Business Moved From Theory to Reality

‘What’s Next?’ for Yonah Greenstein: From the Basketball Court to the Boardroom at UVA Darden

3 UVA Darden Students Receive ‘Best and Brightest’ Honors

‘What’s Next?’ for Kate Grusky: A Journey of Purpose and Philanthropy at UVA Darden

‘What’s Next?’ for Sharon Okeke: A New Chapter in Investment Banking and a Journey of Growth at UVA Darden

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Creative Writing Program Marks Three Decades of Growth, Diversity

By Luisa A. Igloria

2024: a milestone year which marks the 30 th  anniversary of Old Dominion University’s MFA Creative Writing Program. Its origins can be said to go back to April 1978, when the English Department’s (now Professor Emeritus, retired) Phil Raisor organized the first “Poetry Jam,” in collaboration with Pulitzer prize-winning poet W.D. Snodgrass (then a visiting poet at ODU). Raisor describes this period as “ a heady time .” Not many realize that from 1978 to 1994, ODU was also the home of AWP (the Association of Writers and Writing Programs) until it moved to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

The two-day celebration that was “Poetry Jam” has evolved into the annual ODU Literary Festival, a week-long affair at the beginning of October bringing writers of local, national, and international reputation to campus. The ODU Literary Festival is among the longest continuously running literary festivals nationwide. It has featured Rita Dove, Maxine Hong Kingston, Susan Sontag, Edward Albee, John McPhee, Tim O’Brien, Joy Harjo, Dorothy Allison, Billy Collins, Naomi Shihab Nye, Sabina Murray, Jane Hirshfield, Brian Turner, S.A. Cosby, Nicole Sealey, Franny Choi, Ross Gay, Adrian Matejka, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Ilya Kaminsky, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, Jose Olivarez, and Ocean Vuong, among a roster of other luminaries. MFA alumni who have gone on to publish books have also regularly been invited to read.

From an initial cohort of 12 students and three creative writing professors, ODU’s MFA Creative Writing Program has grown to anywhere between 25 to 33 talented students per year. Currently they work with a five-member core faculty (Kent Wascom, John McManus, and Jane Alberdeston in fiction; and Luisa A. Igloria and Marianne L. Chan in poetry). Award-winning writers who made up part of original teaching faculty along with Raisor (but are now also either retired or relocated) are legends in their own right—Toi Derricotte, Tony Ardizzone, Janet Peery, Scott Cairns, Sheri Reynolds, Tim Seibles, and Michael Pearson. Other faculty that ODU’s MFA Creative Writing Program was privileged to briefly have in its ranks include Molly McCully Brown and Benjamín Naka-Hasebe Kingsley.

"What we’ve also found to be consistently true is how collegial this program is — with a lively and supportive cohort, and friendships that last beyond time spent here." — Luisa A. Igloria, Louis I. Jaffe Endowed Professor & University Professor of English and Creative Writing at Old Dominion University

Our student body is diverse — from all over the country as well as from closer by. Over the last ten years, we’ve also seen an increase in the number of international students who are drawn to what our program has to offer: an exciting three-year curriculum of workshops, literature, literary publishing, and critical studies; as well as opportunities to teach in the classroom, tutor in the University’s Writing Center, coordinate the student reading series and the Writers in Community outreach program, and produce the student-led literary journal  Barely South Review . The third year gives our students more time to immerse themselves in the completion of a book-ready creative thesis. And our students’ successes have been nothing but amazing. They’ve published with some of the best (many while still in the program), won important prizes, moved into tenured academic positions, and been published in global languages. What we’ve also found to be consistently true is how collegial this program is — with a lively and supportive cohort, and friendships that last beyond time spent here.

Our themed studio workshops are now offered as hybrid/cross genre experiences. My colleagues teach workshops in horror, speculative and experimental fiction, poetry of place, poetry and the archive — these give our students so many more options for honing their skills. And we continue to explore ways to collaborate with other programs and units of the university. One of my cornerstone projects during my term as 20 th  Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth was the creation of a Virginia Poets Database, which is not only supported by the University through the Perry Library’s Digital Commons, but also by the MFA Program in the form of an assistantship for one of our students. With the awareness of ODU’s new integration with Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) and its impact on other programs, I was inspired to design and pilot a new 700-level seminar on “Writing the Body Fantastic: Exploring Metaphors of Human Corporeality.” In the fall of 2024, I look forward to a themed graduate workshop on “Writing (in) the Anthropocene,” where my students and I will explore the subject of climate precarity and how we can respond in our own work.

Even as the University and wider community go through shifts and change through time, the MFA program has grown with resilience and grace. Once, during the six years (2009-15) that I directed the MFA Program, a State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) university-wide review amended the guidelines for what kind of graduate student would be allowed to teach classes (only those who had  already  earned 18 or more graduate credits). Thus, two of our first-year MFA students at that time had to be given another assignment for their Teaching Assistantships. I thought of  AWP’s hallmarks of an effective MFA program , which lists the provision of editorial and publishing experience to its students through an affiliated magazine or press — and immediately sought department and upper administration support for creating a literary journal. This is what led to the creation of our biannual  Barely South Review  in 2009.

In 2010,  HuffPost  and  Poets & Writers  listed us among “ The Top 25 Underrated Creative Writing MFA Programs ” (better underrated than overrated, right?) — and while our MFA Creative Writing Program might be smaller than others, we do grow good writers here. When I joined the faculty in 1998, I was excited by the high caliber of both faculty and students. Twenty-five years later, I remain just as if not more excited, and look forward to all the that awaits us in our continued growth.

This essay was originally published in the Spring 2024 edition of Barely South Review , ODU’s student-led literary journal. The University’s growing MFA in Creative Writing program connects students with a seven-member creative writing faculty in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.

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Webster University Celebrates Student Writing Excellence

May 16, 2024

• undergraduate
• academic resource center

On April 25, Webster University honored freshman student writers at its Julian Schuster Writing Awards Ceremony. The event recognized outstanding academic and creative writing pieces nominated by faculty across Webster’s campuses around the world.  

The Julian Schuster Writing Awards, formerly the Freshman Writing Awards, is an annual event open to students from all Webster University campuses which began in 2006. The awards underwent a name change in 2024, as Webster University President Julian Z. Schuster increased his sponsorship to fund the initiative. All courses, disciplines, assignments, genres and styles are eligible for submission. 

In total, 61 nominated pieces were submitted this year from students across Webster's global campuses. Winners of the Julian Schuster Writing Award received an educational grant of $200 for first place, $150 for second place and $100 for third place in both academic and creative categories. 

This year's winners displayed both skill and creativity in their nominated works. Jayne Herter took home the first-place award in the academic category for her insightful analysis titled "Juul Kraijer's Woman and I: A Mirror." Her piece was written as part of a global cornerstone seminar with instructor Mary Baken.  

“Kraijer’s woman isn’t helpless, nor stagnant, but a metamorphosis,” Herter shared when asked about the piece. “In her I can see that, and in myself.” 

Nelly Hashemi earned second place in the academic category for her probing essay "Unravelling Austria's Environmental Façade," written in an environmental ethics course with Ryan Crawford. Hashemi's work provided a critical look at Austria's sustainability practices and contradictions. 

“In my investigation of the environmental, ecological and Anthropocene debates in Austria, I attempted to uncover the complexities of the country's professed environmental consciousness,” shared Hashemi. “While Austria may portray an image of environmental stewardship, my study goes into the finer details, revealing the disparity between reality and what is perceived. By examining the naturalized mindset surrounding excessive consumption and the rise of consumer society, I hope to shed light on the critical need to reveal Austria's genuine environmental landscape. My writing seeks to be an impetus for a more multifaceted understanding, transcending conventional tales and contributing to a more robust conversation around sustainability.” 

The third-place academic winner was Olly Persoon for the piece "Untitled (Analysis on Portrait of Ross in L.A.),” which was also written as part of Baken's global cornerstone seminar. Persoon’s work was cited as being insightful and wise by the writing award judges. 

On the creative writing side, Andy Castello took first place for the evocative poem "Eye to Eye," which drew inspiration from perspectives explored in Kim Kleinman's global cornerstone seminar. Castello’s sonnet calls attention to the beauty and interconnectedness of the world – encouraging the reader to make eye contact with a potato, observing life inside one of its many eyes.  

Second place for creative writing went to Kaitlyn El-Sheikh for her piece "Decaying,” which was written as part of Mary Baken's introduction to creative writing course.  

“This piece is about the experience of losing my grandpa to pancreatic cancer,” explained El-Sheikh. “I’m honored to be able to share his story with everyone! He was a very talented and hardworking man with all the knowledge in the world. I know he would be proud that I took this moment in our lives and turned it into something good.” 

Rounding out the creative writing winners was Megan Meade with her personal narrative, "My Dynamic Journey to a Relationship with Nature." Meade wrote the piece as part of Corin Pursell's Introduction to Sustainability course and took third place in the creative writing category.  

Semi-finalists who were also recognized at the ceremony included Octave Brun, Shelby Ilko, Muslima Murodjonova and group, Parker Murrow, Styx Nappier and Veronika Tomchani. 

Special thanks to this year’s judges:   Carolyn I. Brown - Assistant Director, Reeg ARC, Webster Groves   Shokhsanam Djalilova - ESL and GCP Program Lead, Tashkent  Kim Kleinman – Special Assistant to the Director, Gleich Honors College, Webster Groves   Ralph Olliges - Chair, Graduate Department of Education, Webster Groves   Carolyn Trachtova - ESL Program Director, Webster Groves   Kwan Willhoft - Head Writing Coach, Reeg ARC, Webster Groves 

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