Brave Writer

Every time I go to a conference, people ask what writing curriculum I recommend. In an effort to do justice to this frequent question, I’ve purchased several books and programs for review. None of them was anything I felt enthusiastic about passing on to other families—until I encountered Julie Bogart’s Writer’s Jungle.

A friend tipped me off to Julie’s website, and I visited it in the same informational spirit in which I’d reviewed various other writing resources, to see if this was something I could wholeheartedly recommend to inquiring homeschoolers. Imagine my surprise when I found myself chomping at the bit to try out her ideas on my own kids—and heck, on myself! Julie’s energy and insight get me jazzed up to sit down and work. She’s a writer who loves writing about writing, and the dish she’s serving up is like mental energy bars—she makes you want to get moving, get those words down on paper! Life is rich; let’s articulate it!—that’s Julie’s message.

–Melissa Wiley Children’s Author

I cannot begin to tell you what a God-send your book has been for me in helping me teach my 10 yr old.

When I read your book, I catch myself laughing because I love how you think, and if I had to write a book on writing, I’d want to do it just like you have done. Sometimes it’s scary how you seem to have gotten in my head!

Thank you for teaching me how to narrow a subject, how to not give stupid advice, how to make the experience rewarding and not about spelling and grammar. I could go on and on. This was the first writing assignment I have done after reading your book, and to me, I couldn’t be happier.
–Joanne

I would like to take this opportunity of telling you that I think The Writer’s Jungle is one of the best items of curriculum that I have ever bought. I regularly read your blog also and find it very inspiring. You have revolutionised the teaching of writing in the homeschool community and given my own homeschool a new lease of life. I only wish “Brave Writer” had been around when my ds (18) was younger.
–Jane

I can truly attest to a huge change in our homeschool. I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to extol the virtues of Brave Writer - one of my favorite subjects.

The biggest change in our homeschool is in my expectations. It is still amazing to me how easy it was to zoom in and focus on all the mistakes and the bad points of their writing, thereby missing all the quirky, funny thoughts they have that are so full of life.

The change in my daughter was and continues to be tremendous. She has always had a hard time expressing herself – words just do not come easy for her. You can imagine the fear when it came time to express herself on paper. She froze and agonized and I, being the compassionate and tender mother that I am, said, “Oh, stop being so dramatic!”

After reading The Writer’s Jungle, we began freewriting once a week – no pressure, no criticizing. We wrote about silly things and laughed. I praised everything good I could find. What a difference it made! Suddenly I had a confident girl who does have something to say, loves to say it with a quirky sense of humor, and doesn’t fear a blank piece of paper. She chooses to write and I love to listen. We are on a journey and this is only the first year. I am wholeheartedly looking forward to the rest of the trip. Thanks Julie. I hope to be with you for many more years to come.
–Alana