Brave Writer
A literature-based, parent-led writing and language arts program created by Julie Bogart. Year-long PDF bundles combine a parent manual, monthly literature handbooks for grammar and spelling, and month-long writing projects for ages 5–18.
What is Brave Writer?
Brave Writer is a homeschool writing and language arts program created by Julie Bogart, author of The Brave Learner and Raising Critical Thinkers. Its core belief is that kids write well when writing feels safe and grows out of good books and real conversation. The parent is a writing partner, not a red-pen editor.
The program is sold as downloadable PDFs. Families can use them with more than one child and reuse them later.
How it works
Each age bundle combines three pieces:
- A parent manual, Growing Brave Writers, that explains how to coach writing from ages 5 to 18.
- Monthly literature handbooks tied to one book a month. Kids do copywork and dictation from the book and learn grammar, punctuation, spelling and literary elements in context.
- Writing projects, one a month, that teach formats like reports, letters and essays.
A typical week mixes short sessions: copywork two or three days, a dictation passage, a freewrite, and a step of the month's project. Many families add Poetry Teatime, reading poems aloud over snacks. With young children, the parent writes down what the child says, so ideas aren't held back by handwriting.
What it covers
| Bundle | Ages | Pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning Writers | 5–7 | Quill, Jot It Down, Growing Brave Writers |
| Emerging Writers | 8–10 | Dart, Partnership Writing, Growing Brave Writers |
| Middle School Writers | 11–12 | Arrow, Building Confidence, Growing Brave Writers |
| High School Writers | 13–14 | Boomerang, Help for High School |
| College Prep Writers | 15–18 | Slingshot, MLA Research Essay, Media Literacy |
Ages are flexible, and literature handbooks can be started any month.
Who it's best for
Brave Writer suits families who read aloud a lot, kids who hate writing or freeze at the page, and parents who enjoy talking about books. It's a natural fit for Charlotte Mason-leaning homes that already use copywork and narration.
Choose something else if you want a script or independent work. Essentials in Writing teaches through video, and IEW gives clear, structured steps.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, the 2026–2027 bundles cost $247 to $347, and the parent manual alone is $79. Plan on buying or borrowing about one book a month. Digital sales are final.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Writing curriculum is commonly an allowable expense in education savings accounts, as covered on our Arizona ESA page and Florida scholarship page. Some programs only pay approved vendors, and each decides what qualifies. Save Brave Writer to your wishlist and apply once through scholarships for families.
How it compares
WriteShop is gentler and more step-by-step, and Writing With Ease also uses narration and dictation for younger kids. For a playful screen-based supplement, try Night Zookeeper. Browse more writing programs or literature-based homeschool curriculum.
Who Brave Writer is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Reluctant writers who need a safe, low-pressure start
- Literature-loving families who read aloud often
- Parents willing to be an engaged writing partner
- Families with several kids who can share PDFs
Look elsewhere if
- Parents who want a scripted, open-and-go program
- Families who prefer workbook grammar and spelling drills
- Students who need to work fully independently
Brave Writer pros and cons
Pros
- Treats writing as a natural extension of speech, which helps hesitant kids
- Grammar, punctuation and spelling taught from real literature
- Teaches open-ended essays, not just the five-paragraph formula
- One family license covers multiple children
- Literature handbooks can be used in any order
Cons
- High parent time and prep
- Not scripted; you must read the manual first
- You buy or borrow about nine books a year
- Digital purchases aren't refundable
What’s included
- Five age-based bundles from Beginning Writers (5–7) to College Prep Writers (15–18)
- Growing Brave Writers parent manual for ages 5–18
- Monthly literature handbooks (Quill, Dart, Arrow, Boomerang, Slingshot) that teach grammar, punctuation and spelling from real books
- Month-long writing projects such as Jot It Down and Partnership Writing
- Brave Writer Lifestyle practices: copywork, dictation, freewriting, read-alouds and Poetry Teatime
- Non-consumable PDFs that siblings can share
Brave Writer levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning Writers (Quill + Jot It Down + Growing Brave Writers) | K–2 | Ages 5–7. Picture-book handbooks for reading, writing and early math concepts, plus oral and writing projects where the parent writes down the child's words. |
| Emerging Writers (Dart + Partnership Writing + Growing Brave Writers) | 3–5 | Ages 8–10. Monthly book-based handbooks for copywork, dictation and mechanics, plus Partnership Writing projects done together with a parent. |
| Middle School Writers (Arrow + Building Confidence + Growing Brave Writers) | 6–7 | Ages 11–12. Arrow novel handbooks for grammar, spelling and literary elements, plus Building Confidence writing projects. |
| High School Writers (Boomerang + Help for High School) | 8–9 | Ages 13–14. Boomerang literature handbooks, plus Help for High School, a self-paced online classroom covering narrative and informative essays. |
| College Prep Writers (Slingshot + MLA Research Essay and Media Literacy) | 10–12 | Ages 15–18. Advanced literature analysis, research writing in MLA style and media literacy. |
How much does Brave Writer cost?
As of October 2026, the Brave Writer store lists the 2026–2027 Beginning, Emerging and Middle School Writers bundles at $247 each, the High School Writers Bundle at $297 and the College Prep Writers Bundle at $347, each shown below its separate-item total. Pieces are also sold alone: Growing Brave Writers $79, Arrow or Boomerang year $149, Jot It Down $47, Building Confidence $67, Help for High School Year One $197, and single literature guides $19.95.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginning Writers Bundle, ages 5–7 | $247 | One-time | — |
| Emerging Writers Bundle, ages 8–10 | $247 | One-time | — |
| Middle School Writers Bundle, ages 11–12 | $247 | One-time | — |
| High School Writers Bundle, ages 13–14 | $297 | One-time | — |
| College Prep Writers Bundle, ages 15–18 | $347 | One-time | — |
| Growing Brave Writers parent manual | $79 | One-time | — |
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
Applications are not open on Edulist. Saving a product does not subscribe you or establish eligibility. Visit your wishlist to opt in for updates.
View wishlistBrave Writer family reviews
Be the first to review
Loading…
Brave Writer FAQs
Is Brave Writer Christian or secular?
Brave Writer is secular. Cathy Duffy Reviews calls it secular but Christian friendly, and families of many backgrounds use it.
How much does Brave Writer cost?
As of October 2026, the 2026–2027 bundles are $247 for Beginning, Emerging or Middle School Writers, $297 for High School Writers and $347 for College Prep Writers. You also need the books the literature handbooks use.
What is the Brave Writer Lifestyle?
It's a set of habits that build a writing-friendly home: copywork, dictation, freewriting, narration, reading aloud and Poetry Teatime. Many families start with these practices before buying a full bundle.
Is Brave Writer open-and-go?
No. It isn't scripted. Parents read the Growing Brave Writers manual, choose books and work alongside their kids, so plan on real prep time, especially at first.
Can I get a refund on Brave Writer?
Brave Writer's policy says digital product sales are final and not refundable. Read samples and the product pages carefully before buying.
Brave Writer or IEW?
Brave Writer is relaxed, literature-based and parent-led. IEW is structured, with checklists and a teacher-led video method. Families who want clear steps often choose IEW; families with anxious writers often prefer Brave Writer.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources:
- store.bravewriter.com
- store.bravewriter.com · beginning writers bundle 2026 2027
- store.bravewriter.com · college prep writers bundle 2026 2027
- store.bravewriter.com · growing brave writers
- store.bravewriter.com · help for high school 2026 2027
- store.bravewriter.com · refund policy
- homeschoolpicks.com · brave writer review
- homeschoolpicks.com · iew vs brave writer