Children love to tell stories, reenact their exciting adventures, and literally give you a play by play of their entire day. Typically, this storytelling can help the transition into writing. However, some kids, whether they enjoy telling stories or not, are reluctant or simply disinterested in the whole writing process. They may struggle to think…

Commentary In a recently published article, Andrew Thornebrooke reports on the “massive disruptions” that artificial intelligence (AI) technology will likely cause. A meeting of the American Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law heard that the “explosion of popularly availably AI tools like ChatGPT will profoundly affect society as early as next year.” Similarly, in…

Communicating in written form is like painting with words. But while being an artist requires skills few people possess, these tips can make anyone a better communicator. Set a Good Tone The best communicators are professional yet approachable in all their written communications. This means they talk to their audience rather than at them, avoiding…

Parents may be challenged by their child’s homework frustration—“Why do I have to do these writing assignments? I don’t like to write! I’ll never be a writer, so why do I need to learn this?” How can we answer that? Talking about examples of how writing has always helped us, both long ago and today,…

Julie Lafrance-Balian loves inspiring others to start a writing practice and journaling. The 46-year-old novelist and French translator, whose own journals are beautifully handwritten and illustrated, says journaling for her is more like meditation, helping her sort “uncomfortable emotions” at times. “It’s so good for one’s mental health, and to manage the confusion and anxiety…

With remote learning having become the “new norm” for the past two years, many parents have been unwittingly thrust into the role of de facto writing coach for their kids. Or in other cases, with shifting workplaces or even careers, new demands such as frequent writing may have become part of the daily workflow. Writing…

A dad-of-two has lovingly transformed his run-down garden shed into a beautiful writing room for his wife’s 40th birthday. Richard Binmore, from Chandler’s Ford in Hampshire, South East England, spent just 750 pounds (approx. US$1,015) and five days on the stunning room and lovingly restored the shed alongside his dad and his eldest son, Casey….

As I often do in tough times, I turned to journaling. I decided I’d keep a record of my quarantine life through the month of April, a way to remember this crazy historical moment and process my feelings. Now it’s August, and my daily journal continues. I’ve left my building about two dozen times since…

Commentary C.S. Lewis once said, “You can make anything by writing.” He was correct, of course. Using only the power of words, Lewis created the imaginary world of Narnia. For over 50 years, “The Chronicles of Narnia” have been a bestselling seven-volume set of books that tell the story of Narnia and the magnificent lion,…

Commentary The late Kurt Vonnegut had a simple yet profound approach to writing. “When I write,” he said, “I simply become what I seemingly must become.” Stephen Hunter, another great American writer, has a similar approach to his craft today. His process isn’t so much about writing prose or creating plot or conducting research. What…