IEW vs Brave Writer: Which Writing Program Is Right for You?

Choosing between IEW and Brave Writer? You’re comparing two completely different philosophies of teaching writing. I’ve used both programs extensively—IEW with my structured learner and Brave Writer with my creative one—and I’ll share exactly what worked and what didn’t.

These programs represent opposite ends of the writing curriculum spectrum. Understanding the differences helps you pick the right fit before spending hundreds of dollars on the wrong approach.

Quick Comparison: IEW vs Brave Writer

Feature	IEW	Brave Writer
Teaching Style	Highly structured	Natural/lifestyle
Best For	Reluctant/struggling writers	Creative writers
Parent Role	Teacher (with support)	Partner/facilitator
Price Range	$$$	$-$$$
Grades	3-12	K-12
Format	DVDs + workbooks	PDF manuals + online

Understanding IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)

IEW teaches writing through systematic, step-by-step methods. Students learn specific structures for different types of writing, then practice those structures until they become automatic. Andrew Pudewa developed this approach based on his experience teaching students who struggled with traditional writing instruction.

How IEW Works

IEW uses a technique called “key word outlining.” Students read a source text, pull out key words, and use those words to rewrite the passage in their own words. This teaches organization and paraphrasing without requiring students to generate ideas from scratch.

The program introduces specific “dress-ups” and “sentence openers” to improve writing quality. Students must include a certain number of these elements in each assignment. While this sounds mechanical, it actually gives struggling writers concrete tools they can use.

What’s Included in IEW

• Teaching DVDs: Andrew Pudewa teaches each lesson on video
• Student materials: Workbooks with assignments and checklists
• Teacher materials: Guides explaining how to evaluate writing
• Theme-based options: History, science, Bible, and literature-based versions

IEW Pros

• Extremely clear, step-by-step instruction
• Video teaching reduces parent prep time
• Works exceptionally well for reluctant writers
• Produces noticeable improvement quickly
• Structured approach reduces writing anxiety

IEW Cons

• Can feel formulaic to creative writers
• Expensive initial investment
• Some assignments feel repetitive
• Heavy emphasis on structure over voice

For a deeper look, read our complete IEW review.

Understanding Brave Writer

Brave Writer, created by Julie Bogart, takes the opposite approach. Instead of teaching structure first, Brave Writer focuses on nurturing the writer’s voice and confidence. Writing instruction integrates naturally with family life through conversations, freewriting, and literature appreciation.

How Brave Writer Works

The program centers on building a “writing lifestyle.” Kids freewrite regularly without correction. They participate in copywork and dictation. Family discussions about books and ideas feed into written work. Formal instruction comes later, after kids feel comfortable putting thoughts on paper.

Brave Writer uses terms like “Partnership Writing” (parent scribes while child dictates) and “Brave Writer Lifestyle” practices (tea time with poetry, movie discussions). The philosophy is that writers are made, not born—and forcing structure too early kills creativity.

What’s Included in Brave Writer

• Core manuals: The Writer’s Jungle (philosophy/parent training), Jot It Down (grades K-2), Partnership Writing (grades 3-4)
• Writing guides: Specific project-based guides like Kidswrite Intermediate and Expository Essay
• Online classes: Live courses taught by Brave Writer instructors
• Arrow and Boomerang: Monthly literature-based language arts programs

Brave Writer Pros

• Nurtures creativity and personal voice
• Gentle, non-threatening approach
• Integrates with family life naturally
• Flexible implementation
• Strong online community support

Brave Writer Cons

• Less structure can feel directionless
• Requires more parent interpretation
• Results take longer to see
• Struggling writers may flounder without structure

See our full Brave Writer review for more details.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Teaching Philosophy

IEW believes that structure provides freedom. When students know the formula for a good paragraph, they can focus on content rather than organization. Structure comes first; voice develops later.

Brave Writer believes the opposite: voice and confidence must come first. Structure imposed too early squelches the natural writer inside every child. Let kids love writing first; teach structure when they’re ready.

Neither philosophy is wrong—they serve different types of learners. According to writing research from the National Writing Project, both approaches can produce proficient writers when matched to appropriate students.

Daily/Weekly Time Requirements

IEW: 30-60 minutes, 2-4 times weekly (depending on level). Watch video lessons together, complete assignments, review using checklists.

Brave Writer: Varies widely. Freewriting takes 10 minutes. “Lifestyle” elements integrate into normal activities. Formal writing projects might take several hours spread across weeks.

Parent Involvement

IEW: Parent watches videos with student, oversees assignments, checks against rubrics. The teaching load is manageable because videos do the instruction. You need to understand the system but not create lessons.

Brave Writer: Parent reads the manual, interprets the philosophy, creates a custom approach for their family. More creative freedom but also more responsibility. You’re the writing coach.

Cost Comparison

IEW: $169-$300+ for a full level, depending on theme and format. Significant upfront investment, but materials last for years and work for multiple children.

Brave Writer: $25-$50 per PDF manual, $200-$400 for online classes. You can start small, but costs add up if you buy multiple guides and classes. Arrow/Boomerang subscriptions run $12/month.

Assessment Approach

IEW: Clear checklists and rubrics. Students must include specific elements. Easy to evaluate objectively. “Did they use three dress-ups? Check.”

Brave Writer: Emphasizes growth over grades. Look for increased fluency, risk-taking, voice development. Subjective but focused on the writer’s journey rather than product perfection.

Which Program Fits Your Child?

Choose IEW If Your Child:

• Struggles to get started writing
• Feels overwhelmed by blank pages
• Thrives with clear expectations and structure
• Needs concrete, measurable goals
• Has learning differences that benefit from explicit instruction (research from the What Works Clearinghouse supports explicit instruction for struggling writers)
• Responds well to video instruction

Choose Brave Writer If Your Child:

• Already enjoys writing but needs encouragement
• Has a strong creative voice that might be stifled by formulas
• Resists rigid academic structures
• Learns best through relationship and conversation
• Is young (K-2) and not ready for formal instruction
• Has been wounded by previous writing experiences

Can You Use Both Programs?

Yes! Many families combine elements of both approaches successfully. Some use Brave Writer’s lifestyle practices (freewriting, poetry tea time) alongside IEW’s structural teaching. Others start with Brave Writer for younger children and transition to IEW for middle school.

My family did exactly this. My creative daughter used Brave Writer through sixth grade, then moved to IEW when she needed to write more formal academic papers. My structured son started with IEW in third grade and never looked back.

What About Other Writing Programs?

If neither IEW nor Brave Writer seems right, consider these alternatives from our language arts curriculum guide:

• Writing With Ease: Charlotte Mason approach, gentler structure
• WriteShop: Incremental, parent-taught with clear lessons
• Fix It! Grammar: IEW’s grammar-through-editing approach

For struggling writers specifically, see our guide to writing programs for reluctant writers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start IEW in elementary school?

IEW recommends starting their structured approach around third grade. Younger students can use Primary Arts of Language (a pre-IEW program). Starting too early can frustrate kids who aren’t developmentally ready for the cognitive demands.

Is Brave Writer too unstructured to prepare kids for college?

Brave Writer does teach structure—just later in the sequence. Their upper-level materials include formal essay instruction, research writing, and academic genres. According to HSLDA’s college preparation resources, writing skills developed through any systematic approach can prepare students for higher education. Many Brave Writer students succeed in college writing courses.

Which program is better for twice-exceptional kids?

It depends on the child. Many 2e kids thrive with IEW’s explicit structure—knowing exactly what’s expected reduces anxiety. The U.S. Department of Education provides resources for parents of children with special learning needs. Others find Brave Writer’s acceptance of unconventional approaches freeing. Try samples before committing.

Can I switch programs mid-year?

Yes, though switching from structure to freedom (IEW to Brave Writer) is usually easier than the reverse. Kids trained in Brave Writer sometimes resist IEW’s requirements initially.

Our Recommendation

After years of using both programs, here’s my honest advice:

Start with IEW if your child struggles with writing, needs clear structure, or has learning differences. The explicit teaching and video instruction remove barriers that prevent struggling writers from succeeding.

Start with Brave Writer if your child is young (K-3), already loves writing, or has been harmed by rigid instruction. Build confidence and voice first; add structure later.

Neither program is universally “better.” The best writing curriculum is the one that helps your specific child become a confident, capable writer. Sometimes that means trying both to see which clicks.

Ready to decide? Check out sample lessons from both programs before buying a full curriculum. Your wallet (and your child) will thank you.

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