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Entity sits down with Meredith Lynn Scott CEO of Write Brain Books.

When actress Meredith Scott Lynn (“Days of Our Lives,” “Legally Blonde,” “The Night at the Roxbury”) agreed to read her niece a bedtime story, she reached for the nearest picture book and opened it only to discover that it was completely wordless. Rather than rousing her niece to retrieve a new book, she quickly invented a story to go along with the illustrations. Along with the story, she dreamed up what would go on to spark the imaginations of countless children. The concept? Richly illustrated, wordless books that encourage readers to write their own stories.

As the Founder and CEO of WRiTE BRAiN BOOKS, Meredith Scott Lynn advocates for self-expression through creative writing. With a series of Author’s Kits and a creative writing curricula for K-12 educators, Scott Lynn aims to preserve right brain programs that teach empathy, curiosity and communication in classrooms that have shifted dramatically to STEM education in recent years. Learn more about the remarkable vision behind WRiTE BRAiN BOOKS and how right brain activities build self-esteem in students.

ENTITY: After high school, you chose to travel and volunteer rather than pursue a higher education degree. What brought you back to the world of education and inspired you to start WRiTE BRAiN BOOKS?

MEREDITH SCOTT LYNN: I didn’t get into the one college I really wanted to attend: Sarah Lawrence. I wanted to go there specifically because they didn’t use a test-based scoring model to evaluate students, but my SAT score wasn’t high enough to get me in.

Cut to 30 years later: I have this children’s educational company with a standards-aligned, narrative, creative writing curriculum that measures and elevates all the young people who thrive outside of test scores. We have to shift the conversation to raising the self-esteem of a student, not just his or her standardized test scores. We all learn differently, but yet we’re taught the same. There’s a movement to recognize the whole student, which I love, and I want to be a part of that.

We have to shift the conversation to raising the self-esteem of a student, not just his or her standardized test scores.

ENTITY: Why do you think storytelling is so powerful when it comes to creating confidence and self-esteem?

Msl: I believe the biggest problem that we have as a country is low self-esteem. I don’t mean inflated self-worth or narcissism. Kids today are born into so much anxiety, and there’s so much to be distracted by. Their parents are having a hard time, too. Everyone wants better for their kids than they had.

Storytelling is about finding your voice and having it heard. It’s an amazing feeling when what you have to say lands in a place where it can positively affect somebody else. It gives you a sense of purpose. And when you live purposefully, self-esteem is the natural result.

I believe we are on this planet to be in relationships with other people. If we don’t connect, communicate and create together – or for each other – then it’s a lonely life.

ENTITY: How does the mission of WRiTE BRAiN BOOKS continue to inspire you daily?

Msl: My company is a great equalizer. We have kids of all ages getting these wordless, illustrated children’s books. They interpret the story and become the authors of a tale that could be told in any number of ways based on who’s writing it.

Kids have become so accustomed to typing, thumbing or voice texting ideas. They generally don’t think they will enjoy writing. Your brain goes so fast, it’s hard for your hand to keep up – especially when your brain is distracted and jacked up on anything from sugar to the barrage of digital information.

This happens at the expense of slow processing and the development of empathy. All of this fast processing leads to the immediate release and dismissal of feelings. Kids don’t process life or build memories in the same way anymore. They quickly release all of their experiences to social media. They’re not lining their bookshelves with handwritten journals. They feel a little less safe and anxious. Then they’re diagnosed with some three or four letter disorder and given pills and told they have a learning disability or that they’re difficult. They start to identify with these assessments that professionals have made about them, and I think it’s sad in many cases (not all).

Kids don’t process life or build memories in the same way anymore. They quick release all of their experiences to social media. They’re not lining their bookshelves with handwritten journals.

Let me just say, if they were medicating kids the way they are now when I was a child, I would have been on every prescription available – absolutely comatose. They would label me hyperactive or attention deficit, when really I was eating sugar all day in any number of foods like any east coast kid in the ‘70s. Back then, a kid with my kind of energy was not perceived as out of control. I was perceived as kind of brilliant and popular and fun. But today, good lord, I think I would be pinned as disruptive, distracted and dyslexic.

ENTITY: What is your leadership style as a CEO?

Msl: I am a super connecter. I thrive when making creative connections and forming relationships. I do that within my startup. They call me “Mama Mere” at the office. I am a very maternal caretaker slash co-dependent nurturer by nature. If you seem cold, I want to give you a blanket. That often cuts typical office boundaries off at the pass.

ENTITY: As someone who’s had a very creative career in the entertainment world, do you find that you have to switch to another mode of thinking as a CEO?

Msl: Actors, by nature, are entrepreneurs. I have that going for me. But the creative approach isn’t always ideal in this more structured professional world.

When I was in charge on a set, it was a different vibe than being in charge of a company. With production work, unless you’re on a long running series, the team you’re working with is temporary. If there are issues or people aren’t perfectly simpatico, it’s okay; it’s almost over. Whereas when you’re building a company and trying to bring in the right people, chemistry within the team is so vital to long term success.

I want to work with people who have the capacity to understand our vision. That’s often a challenge. I am at a point in my life where I want to be around magicians, not muggles. I want to leave the people who don’t get it behind.

I am at a point in my life where I want to be around magicians, not muggles. I want to leave the people who don’t get it behind.

Read more about WRiTE BRAiN BOOKS and publish your own children’s story at WriteBrainBooks.com.

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