Janice Campbell -

Inspired by her actual philosophy that reading and storytelling should feel like "cookies" rather than forced chores, here is an original story about a young girl who discovers the magic of words.

"Good," Janice said softly. "Now open your eyes and tell me about it on the paper. Don't worry about spelling. Don't worry about being perfect. Just let the lion out of its cage and see where it runs."

Janice reached over and tapped Clara’s blank paper. "Close your eyes. Don't think about writing a masterpiece. Just think about a memory that feels like a cookie." janice campbell

"Yes," Janice said, her eyes twinkling. "You just need to give people a little bit of sugar, and they will keep coming back for more. You don't need fancy, fifty-cent words to tell a beautiful story. You just need to look at the world around you and write down the small, sweet things that matter."

Clara nodded gloomily. "I want to write something wonderful, Aunt Janice. Something like the books you have downstairs. But I'm just a kid. I don't know how to make words dance." Inspired by her actual philosophy that reading and

Just then, her aunt Janice stepped into the room. Janice was a teacher who loved books so much that her house was less a building and more a giant, sprawling library. She was carrying a small tray with two glasses of cold milk and a small plate of warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies.

"I did it," Clara said breathlessly. "I wrote a story about a girl who lives in a giant tree and talks to the birds." "And how does it feel?" Janice asked. Don't worry about spelling

Janice watched quietly, sipping her milk. She knew that the secret to writing wasn't found in a handbook of strict rules, but in the joy of discovery.