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    The Children's Book Review

    How to Inspire Kids to Adventure Into Letter Writing

    Guest PostsBy Guest Posts3 Mins Read Activity Books Ages 4-8 Ages 9-12 Best Kids Stories Interactive Quest for Literacy Reluctant Readers Teens: Young Adults Writing Resources
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    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!

    Book Write Back Soon

    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

    About the Author

    Author Karen Benke Photo
    Karen Benke

    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.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Karen Benke, Author of Rip ALL the Pages! | My Writing and Reading Life
    2. A Chat with Karen Benke : Author, Poet, & Creative Writing Instructor
    3. Activity Books: Drawing Tips and Techniques
    4. 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up, by Bianca Schulze | Book Spotlight

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Art Of Writing Creative Writing Karen Benke
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    Guest Posts
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    The Children’s Book Review, named one of the ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) Great Web Sites for Kids, is a resource devoted to children’s literacy. We publish reviews and book lists of the best books for kids of all ages. We also produce author and illustrator interviews and share literacy based articles that help parents, grandparents, teachers and librarians to grow readers. This article was written and provided by a guest author.

    4 Comments

    1. sharon A Hamilton on May 2, 2020 9:08 am

      Love the idea of old fashioned letter writing

      Reply
    2. Pingback: Adventure into Creative Writing with Karen Benke · Madame Success

    3. Carol Luciano on May 6, 2020 1:42 am

      This is wonderful. Something out kids & grandkids don’t exercise.

      Reply
    4. Bianca Schulze on June 1, 2020 11:23 am

      Congratulations to the licky winner of this giveaway: Linda G. (PA)! Your prize will be on the way soon. Enjoy!

      Reply
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