When you write Christian literature for children ignition is the goal. Writing literature that will ignite a child’s imagination, a zeal for learning, a love of reading, and a reverence for God is the mission. More than that, it’s a ministry. And engaging, well written literature that reveals the presence and purpose of God is a powerful tool toward that end.
And that ignition is the reason for Write2Ignite. We are a non-profit organization that seeks to enable that mission through a website that offers resources, blogs that supply the writer with tips and encouragement, contests, and a two day conference with a full schedule of keynote speakers, workshops, the opportunity to meet with editors or agents, and to surround yourself with a community of like minded writers. Writers who share a passion for God and children, and good literature that draws the two together.
Write2Ignite specializes in Christian literature for children because that is our passion. Children who develop a love for reading at a young age are life long readers. De That is a high calling for those called by God to write for children.
And if ignition is the goal, what sparks the flame?
The simple truth is, it’s not that simple.
I have four sons. My oldest took to reading without coaxing. He simply loved to learn so a book in the hand was opened and devoured.
My second son showed no interest in reading but he loved his action figures. Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles in particular. So when I saw a TMNT early reader book I scooped it up in the hopes that the subject matter would entice him to open the book. It did! As a matter of fact those TMNT early readers made him realize not only that he could read, but he liked to.
My third son seemed to prefer a narrative told rather than read. That became obvious when, in his teens, he gravitated to youth theater where, to my surprise, he memorized scripts and eventually developed an interest in Shakespeare.
My youngest son devoured the Beanie Baby resource guide and could recite it with encyclopedic precision.
The path to an appreciation of the written word was as unique as my sons.
So what’s a writer to do?
Just as my sons read what they were passionate about, the writer should write their passion. Your interest in the subject matter, whether it’s science or sci-fi, mystery, comedy, or a Beanie Baby resource guide, will come through. And children who share that passion won’t have to be coaxed into reading, they’ll volunteer.
We write to an audience of one – our reader.
But as Christian writers we write for an audience of one – God. Our first passion should be our love for God and if we write what we’re passionate about, and we are passionate about our relationship with God, we will write literature that reveals the presence and purpose of God.
And we can trust God to put each unique piece of literature in the hands of the child who can be uniquely drawn to Him through it.
Thank you for sharing about your sons and how they developed into readers! I thought my son would never be a reader, but I started giving him joke books and books of cartoons, something where a little bit of reading came with the reward of a good laugh, and in 5th grade he suddenly began reading real books.