A Brave Writer's Life in Brief

I’m hearing from some of you that your kids don’t like stories read aloud to them.

Try reading aloud:

• billboards on your drive to Target
• the recipe instructions while you’re baking muffins
• a field guide for birds while you look for them at a bird feeder

You might also invite MOVIES to do the reading aloud! Turning on subtitles (even for an English-language film) has a heap of benefits!

And how about this: Read your child’s WRITING aloud back to your child with real pleasure and delight! Catch your child in the act of self expression, jot it down, and later that evening read it aloud to the family. See how that goes!

Reading aloud can grow as a happy habit even if your kids aren’t quite ready for novels.

Two Tips for Sharing Stories

If you want to share novels with kids who say they don’t like them read aloud, here are two suggestions. You might:

1. read the book during breakfast (captive audience with full, non-complaining mouths)
2. play audiobooks in the car (captive audience belted in)

Do not require kids to like the book or to tell you how they feel. Be matter of fact and simply offer reading aloud rather than insisting on it.

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

We write first to know ourselves—our own thoughts, feelings, concerns, ideas. Writing can be its own reward.

I’ve noticed that the least read posts I share are about writing. Ironic, no? Everyone wants to be read. But we all forget that the power of writing is making our OWN thinking visible to ourselves. Writing is first and foremost for YOU! It’s a gift only you can give yourself.

Writing…

• is the way you discover what you really think
• can heal your pain and trauma (research says it heals as well as therapy, and it’s free!)
• is the place to put your risky ideas before you risk expressing them to those who would judge you
• is how you sort out whether or not a lover is the right one for you
• gives you a moment of pause in the day to slow the racing thoughts that run your brain

My best writing has not been read by other people, and my worst writing has never been read by anyone—and I am entirely grateful for that! Also, my journals are private. Secret writing—what a rich gift!

Never underestimate the power of writing in your child’s life.

It’s not about essays or grades or getting into college.

Writing IS the best gift you can give your children for self-knowledge and relief. If nothing else, give them the gift of knowing that writing is there for them when no one else is—no commenter, reader, parent, or friend.

Writing is a witness to our insides, and we all need that loving witness.