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If your homeschooler recoils at the sight of a blank page, this conversation with Julie Bogart—author of Help! My Kid Hates Writing and founder of Brave Writer—is exactly what you need. Together, we explore how to shift from making writing a chore to crafting it as a joyful path of self-expression. You’ll discover practical strategies on how to help reluctant writers, plus powerful insight into reclaiming your own voice in the process.
How to Help Reluctant Writers? Writing Begins with Self‑Expression
Julie reminds us that writing is for the writer first, not the grader. It’s a tool for self‑discovery—not a performance. When kids (and moms) write from the inside out, they find a deeper meaning and voice.
Writing itself was a life preserver, a healer, a cheerleader, a clarifier, a challenger. It was the way for me to get clear on who I really was to help me find my voice, and now I see with other women that it doesn’t matter if you like to write, it’s more about you being able to express yourself fully.
Teresa Wiedrick, author of Homeschool Mama Self-Care: Nurturing the Nurturer
How to Help for Reluctant Writers
The key to encouraging writing isn’t more structure—it’s freedom. When children are allowed to explore ideas in their own style—without policing grammar—their unique voice emerges.
Encourage them to:
- Write about personal experiences
- Play with language, even if spelling isn’t perfect
- Use writing as a space for creativity—not evaluation
What I know is that if you give your children the right to write, if they feel it’s within their jurisdiction to write, they will use it. If they never get comfortable with it, they will avoid it. And that will be a limiting factor in what they can do.
Julie Bogart, author of Help! My Kid Hate to Write
Julie’s thoughts on the Power of Surprise in Writing
Good writing surprises—even the writer. Julie illustrates this with examples from sports writing. And kids are remarkable at writing from surprise.
We’ve been taught to think that accurate writing in school is more important than memorable writing. But it’s memorable writing that we’re after.
Julie Bogart, author of Help! My Kid Hates Writing!
Surprising writing. Writing that is authentic.
Be a Writing Coach, Not a Referee
Moms, embrace your role as coach—not as wielder of the red-pen marks. Coaches empower, guide, and encourage. Wielder of red-pen marks simply enforce conventional rules.
That’s what writing is. It should have the unmistakable marks of who you are.
Julie Bogart, author of Help! My Kid Hates Writing
Reclaiming Your Voice Too
Your voice matters just as much as your child’s. Why do you want your child to learn to write anyway?
Pause for a moment and consider why learning to write has value. I know that I wanted my children to put voice to their thoughts, to express interesting perspectives, to explore the world, to learn to communicate, to tap into their inner creatives, and so much more.
Writing isn’t just a school subject—it’s a clarifier, a therapist, a healer, a magnaphone. Homeschool moms benefit from writing as you:
- Model courage by writing your own thoughts
- Share your soul stories
- Let your homeschool child see you as a writer
If your homeschooler—and maybe you—resists writing, it’s a sign you might want to pivot toward voice, not structure. This is the heart of homeschool writing help for reluctant writers: write to explore, not just to evaluate.
You can access so much more training and learning about writing and teaching your kids to write when you explore Julie Bogart’s resources.
Julie Bogart’s Resources
- Help! My Kid Hates Writing by Julie Bogart — The book at the heart of this conversation—packed with practical tools, creative prompts, and encouragement for homeschool moms navigating writing resistance.
- Explore Julie’s full suite of resources for nurturing voice and writing joy at every age:
www.bravewriter.com
If our conversation stirred something in you—especially about reclaiming your voice—this is your invitation to go deeper.
Start with the You Be You Checklist
You’re not just a homeschool mom, teaching writing, math, and reading. You’re here to live a full, honest, aligned life—and let your kids see what that looks like in action.
This simple but powerful checklist walks you through the foundational steps to:
- Reconnect with your core values
- Spot where you’re living out of alignment
- Begin reclaiming your voice, one small choice at a time
➡️ Download the You Be You Checklist here to begin writing—and living—more true to you.
Come write with us in the Writer’s Room
If today’s episode got you thinking about your own voice—beyond grammar, structure, or punctuation—come explore it inside the Writer’s Room in the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective.
Whether you’re journaling to process, writing your story, or just want a quiet space to reconnect with your voice, the Writer’s Room offers weekly space, prompts, and encouragement for homeschool moms like you.
You don’t need to be a “writer.” You just need a willingness to show up—with your full, real, honest self.
Learn more & join us inside the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective.
Rediscovering Yourself: A Journaling Workbook for Homeschool Moms
If our conversation stirred something in you—especially about reclaiming your voice—this writing resource helps you do just that.
✨ Gently explore your identity beyond the roles and routines of homeschool life.
➡️ Download the Rediscover Yourself Beyond Homeschool Mom Guidebook
Rediscover Yourself Beyond Homeschool Mom Guidebook
NURTURING YOU: A Digital Workbook for Homeschool Moms | Instant Download
Rediscover yourself beyond homeschooling with this 14-page guide. Packed with exercises for creativity, self-awareness, and personal growth — perfect for busy moms looking for balance and “me time.”
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Teresa Wiedrick
I help homeschool mamas shed what’s not working in their homeschool & life, so they can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently in their homeschool & life.
