Brave Writer is a writing program designed to help kids express their ideas naturally. Founded in 2000 by Julie Bogart, it focuses on developing voice before mechanics, making writing enjoyable for families.
Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population.
What is Brave Writer?
Brave Writer changes how we teach writing. Julie Bogart started it in 2000. She's a professional editor, a writing coach, and a mom who homeschooled five kids. Since then, over 100,000 families in 191 countries have used it. Instead of focusing on strict formats, Brave Writer helps kids find their voice and express their ideas. The main technique is freewriting, which lets kids write naturally before getting into grammar rules. They learn grammar and punctuation through great children's books, not boring worksheets. The curriculum covers ages 5 to 18, from early literacy to college prep.
The core programs
The Writer's Jungle is the main guide for parents. It’s packed with over 260 pages of tips on voice, revision, and feedback. For kids aged 8-10, The Dart is super popular. It teaches grammar and reading with monthly book guides. Middle schoolers enjoy The Arrow, which dives deep into literature. High schoolers tackle The Boomerang, which covers nine powerful novels each year. For those heading to college, The Slingshot focuses on essay writing and critical thinking. Each program includes monthly PDFs that you can reuse for more than one child.
What makes it different
Most writing programs start with structure. They make kids memorize formats like the five-paragraph essay. But Brave Writer flips this approach. Kids first find their voice through freewriting. They learn they have valuable ideas to share. Only after that do they focus on mechanics, learning through literature instead of memorizing rules. Parents often say this makes kids 'happy, willing writers' instead of seeing writing as a chore. Julie Bogart's background means the instruction mirrors college and professional writing standards.
The Brave Writer lifestyle
Brave Writer isn’t just about lessons; it’s a whole lifestyle. Poetry Teatime is a fun way to read poetry and enjoy snacks together. Big conversations about life help build vocabulary and reasoning. Discussing movies enhances understanding of characters and stories. Nature journaling sharpens observation skills, which helps with descriptive writing. This philosophy aligns with Charlotte Mason's ideas—homes filled with words and creativity encourage kids to write. It works for any educational setting, not just homeschooling.
The bottom line
Brave Writer encourages parents to rethink how they teach writing. The results speak for themselves after 25 years and over 100,000 families. It requires more involvement from parents than scripted programs—you can't just assign workbook pages. But if your kids dislike writing or turn in dull work, Brave Writer can help them express themselves authentically. Year-long program bundles cost between $129 and $249, with online classes available from professional writers for extra help.
