How to Inspire Kids to Adventure Into Letter Writing

Karen Benke | The Children’s Book Review

With the Shelter-in-Place order in effect and after-school writing adventures at The Writers Nest on hold, I wondered how to continue to write in community with the children (girls ages 8-13) who love to write together. Then it hit me. The Snail Mail Museltter Adventure!

Back in 2014, I started a handwritten letter + envelope surprise subscription for kids, to get them interested in snail mail. Once a month for a year, I wrote the Museltter, addressed, stamped and sent it all over the United States, even to Canada, Brazil, and one to China. When my editor, Jennifer Brown, and I met for lunch in NYC (missing those days!) and she asked what I’d been up to, I told her about the Muselletter. Her reply was to send her a book proposal. I always listen to Jenn. In 2015, WRITE BACK SOON! Adventures in Letter Writing (Roost Books/Shambhala) came out with contributors Neil Gaiman, Wendy Mass, John J Muth, Natalie Goldberg, Jane Hirshfield, Gary Snyder, Albert Flynn DeSilver, and many other poets and writers, who generously share their love of writing by hand and what sent/received letters mean.

Now, in 2020, I’ve brought The Museletter back, since finding a letter in your mailbox feels (almost) like a hug from afar. With the help of assistants Cat Clive and Dog Raz, we’ve organized a Snail Mail Museltter Adventure that includes weekly letters from me, snail mail buddy partners, an inscribed copy of one of my books, email check-ins, envelope surprises, and even a Zoom Party to share our creations. If interested in joining, please visit www.karenbenke.com or email karen [at] karenbenke [dot] com.

Book Giveaway

Enter for a chance to win a signed set of Karen Benke’s books, guaranteed to get even the most reluctant writer to reach for a pen!

One (1) winner receives:

• A signed copy of Write Back Soon!: Adventures in Letter Writing
  
• A signed copy of Rip the Page!: Adventures in Creative Writing
• A signed copy of Leap Write In!: Adventures in Creative Writing to Stretch and Surprise Your One-of-a-Kind Mind
• A signed copy of Rip All the Pages!: 52 Tear-Out Adventures for Creative Writers

Giveaway begins May 1, 2020, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends May 31, 2020, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

How To Enter

• Complete the entry form below.
• Enter once daily (optional).
• See below for giveaway rules.

Giveaway Rules

• NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER TO WIN.
• Karen Benke signed book set giveaway sponsored by Karen Benke.
• Enter between 12:00 AM Mountain Time on May 1, 2020, and 11:59 PM on May 31, 2020.
• Go to https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/weblog/2020/05/how-to-inspire-kids-to-adventure-into-letter-writing.html on a computer or wireless device and complete and submit the entry form pursuant to the on-screen instructions
• One (1) winner receives:
  • A signed copy of Write Back Soon!: Adventures in Letter Writing
    
  • A signed copy of Rip the Page!: Adventures in Creative Writing
  • A signed copy of Leap Write In!: Adventures in Creative Writing to Stretch and Surprise Your One-of-a-Kind Mind
  • A signed copy of Rip All the Pages!: 52 Tear-Out Adventures for Creative Writers
• Odds of winning will depend upon the total number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
• Winners will be selected at random on or about June 2, 2020.
• Important Notice: You may be charged for visiting the mobile website in accordance with the terms of your service agreement with your carrier.
• Open to the legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are thirteen years of age or older in their state or territory of residence at the time of entry. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law.
• The Children’s Book Review is not responsible for prize fulfillment.
• Prizes courtesy of Karen Benke.

About the Author

Karen Benke’s the author of the bestselling RIP THE PAGE! (with Chinese, Korean and Russian editions), LEAP WRITE IN! (Chinese edition), WRITE BACK SOON! and Rip ALL the Pages! 52 Tear-Ou Adventures for Creative Writers (all available through Roostbooks.com and Penguin Random House). The founder of The Writers Nest, an after-school hub for young writers located in a converted lumber mill in Northern California, she directs Creative Writing Adventures, a nonprofit program of CalPoets. Visit her at karenbenke.com and on Instagram.

Karen Benke  wrote What Can You Write With? (How You Can Take the Pressure off Emerging and Reluctant Writers). Discover more articles on The Children’s Book Review tagged with Creative Writing, Karen Benke, and Writing Tips.