Brave Writer is an award-winning homeschool writing and language arts program that prioritizes developing a child's unique writing voice before focusing on mechanics, offering curriculum and online classes for ages 5-18.
What is Brave Writer?
Brave Writer represents a paradigm shift in writing instruction. Founded in 2000 by Julie Bogart—a professional editor, writing coach, and mother who homeschooled five children—the program has served over 100,000 families across 191 countries. Rather than starting with formats and formulas, Brave Writer develops the writer as a person with ideas worth expressing. The cornerstone technique, freewriting, unlocks natural expression before mechanics come into play. Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are taught through passages from quality children's literature rather than isolated worksheets. The curriculum spans ages 5-18, from pre-literacy through college prep.
Key Takeaways
- Prioritizes developing writing voice before mechanics like grammar and spelling
- Uses freewriting to help reluctant writers express ideas without fear of mistakes
- Literature-based approach teaches mechanics through copywork and dictation from quality books
- Programs available for ages 5-18 with online classes taught by published authors
- The Brave Writer "lifestyle" integrates poetry teatime, nature study, and language-rich experiences
The Core Programs
The Writer's Jungle serves as the foundational manual, teaching parents how to teach writing across 260+ pages covering voice, revision, feedback, and overcoming writer's block. For emerging writers ages 8-10, The Dart is Brave Writer's most popular program, teaching grammar and reading comprehension through monthly literature guides. The Arrow serves middle schoolers with deep literary analysis, while The Boomerang tackles high school with nine powerful novels annually. College-bound students use The Slingshot for essay writing and critical thinking. Each program delivers monthly PDF handbooks that can be reused with multiple children.
What Makes It Different
Traditional writing programs teach from structure outward—memorize the five-paragraph essay format, then fill it with content. Brave Writer reverses this entirely. Students first develop their voice through freewriting, discovering they have ideas worth sharing. Only after voice is established do mechanics receive attention, taught through literature rather than rule memorization. This approach produces what parents describe as "happy, willing writers" rather than children who view writing as punishment. Julie Bogart's background as a professional writer and editor means the instruction mirrors how writing is taught in collegiate and professional settings.
The Brave Writer Lifestyle
Beyond curriculum, Brave Writer promotes a lifestyle of language richness. Poetry Teatime—reading poetry together over snacks—creates joyful associations with language. Big, juicy conversations about life build vocabulary and reasoning skills. Movie discussions explore characterization and story structure. Nature journaling develops observation skills that transfer to descriptive writing. This philosophy extends Charlotte Mason's ideas about education as atmosphere, arguing that homes filled with words, ideas, and creative expression naturally produce children who write. The approach works regardless of educational setting, not just homeschooling.
The Bottom Line
Brave Writer asks parents to rethink everything they believe about teaching writing—and the results speak for themselves after 25 years and 100,000+ families. The approach requires more parent engagement than scripted programs; you can't simply open a workbook and assign pages. But for families frustrated by children who hate writing or produce flat, lifeless prose, Brave Writer offers a proven path to authentic expression. Year-long program bundles range from $129-$249, with online classes providing additional instruction from professional writers when desired.
