M. Molly Backes has some advice for parents who want to encourage their children to be writers: First of all, let her be bored. Let her have long afternoons with absolutely nothing to do. Limit her TV-watching time and her internet-playing time and take away her cell phone. Give her a whole summer of lazy mornings and dreamy afternoons. Make sure she has a library card and a comfy corner where she can curl up with a book. Give her a notebook and five bucks so she can pick out a great pen. Insist she spend time with the family … Give her some tedious chores to do … Make her go on long walks with you and tell her you just want to listen to the sounds of the neighborhood. Also: Let her be lonely, let her fail, let her have secrets, and let her find her own voice. Even if it means writing horrible fan fiction to start.
