🐴 Breaking Writing Rules with Purpose (#127)

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💡 THOUGHT

From Struggling Reader to Published Author

Jennifer Jenkins loved stories long before she could read them easily. After discovering she had dyslexia in college, everything changed: she fell in love with reading, became an author, and now leads StoryCon, one of the largest young writer events in the country.

In the latest OpenEd podcast, Jennifer shares 4 rules for breaking the rules:

1. Start with "what if?" (but don't stop there)

2. Build your world with endless "whys"

3. Create curiosity through what you DON'T show

4. Know when to plot and when to "pants"

She reminds us that great authors master the rules before breaking them. Want to learn how? Join us at StoryCon – February 21-22 – in Salt Lake City, featuring over 90 authors, including Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Neil Schusterman (Scythe), and Christopher Paolini (Eragon). OpenEd families get 15% off full conference passes with code OPENED15.

Visit OpenEd at our reading lounge in the free public expo hall (register here), where you can also meet authors and get books signed.

📊 TRENDS

Private Education Gets a Price Cut (Forbes) - A new wave of affordable private schools is emerging, as parent interest in microschools and hybrid learning options has increased from 5% to 16% since 2022.

2025 Reading Challenge Takes Off (Homegrown Learners) - A "no stress" family reading challenge is bringing parents and kids together over books. February is dedicated to the “classics” (think Narnia, not Homer).

Parents Want Safety First (@NielsHoven) - Safety is now named as the #1 priority for private school parents (50%) and #2 for public school parents (32%), topping even academic quality, suggesting that the post-pandemic education landscape has parents thinking beyond just test scores.

🛠️ TOOL

Reading Resources at StoryCon's Free Expo

Whether you've got a struggling reader or a budding novelist, StoryCon (Feb 21-22 at Salt Lake's Salt Palace) isn't just about writing. The free public expo features reading specialists and programs like:

• SEEL - Free, engaging literacy lessons and printables aligned with Common Core standards from BYU.

• Vision Reading Academy - Specialized help for students struggling with visual processing disorders

• Sure Foundation Reading - Advanced phonics program that takes students from basics through classic literature

• Operation Read USA - Free books and tutoring services for families in need

Register for your free expo pass here.

📝 WORD OF THE DAY

chi·as·mus (kī-ăz′məs)

From the Greek letter "chi" (X), chiasmus is a writing technique where words, grammar, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, creating a satisfying X-shaped pattern.

Examples:

• "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." - JFK

• "I meant what I said and I said what I meant." - Dr. Seuss

• "Whether you think you can or think you cannot, you are right." - Henry Ford

That’s all for today!

– Charlie (the OpenEd newsletter guy)

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