Your child just announced they want to write a book. Maybe they’re seven and want to write about unicorns, or maybe they’re fourteen with dreams of crafting the next dystopian masterpiece. Either way, you’re probably thinking: How do I help without completely messing this up?

Supporting a young writer isn’t about becoming their editor-in-chief or their biggest critic. It’s about creating space for their creativity to flourish while giving them the tools and confidence they need to keep going. A...