Month: March 2024

The Impossible Girl: A Teen’s Take by Guest Blogger, Georgie Bartlett

March 28, 2024

In preparation for our April Master Class on Writing Fantasy, we are featuring several novels. Jean Hall previously reviewed The Impossible Girl, but I thought it would be interesting to a teen’s thoughts about this book also. REVIEW The Impossible Girl  (Monarch Books, 2022) by  Ashley White is a beautifully written middle-grade novel. Fans of Harry … More The Impossible Girl: A Teen’s Take by Guest Blogger, Georgie Bartlett

Opening of a Fantasy Book

How Not to Write the Opening Scene of Your Fantasy Book

March 25, 2024

“The Village of Gorgenon, near Alphigaz, floated above the Hoovah as the Pinkletons swam by. As long ago as eleventy Kikes, had the Moopahs overtaken the Quillerton valley. And now, seventeen-five Kikes later, Cocoyaks were bubbling under the surface.” Before you google who wrote that awful opening line, I’ll confess: it was me. I made … More How Not to Write the Opening Scene of Your Fantasy Book

Journey With Jesus

March 21, 2024

Journey With Jesus, is a new picture book (Paraclete Press, 2024) for the entire family, written by Ann Ingalls, and illustrated by Steliyana Doneva. Ingalls tells the story of Jesus during the week of his crucifixion. The book begins with Palm Sunday. Jesus enters Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of a donkey. The story … More Journey With Jesus

A Community for You by Amy Earls: Author and Master Class Instructor

March 18, 2024

A WORD FROM AMY Writer, you are not alone. I have been where you are now–the passion to write but not knowing where to begin, or how to continue, or if the pages you labored countless hours over are valuable to anyone besides your mother and dog.  My name is Amy. I have been a … More A Community for You by Amy Earls: Author and Master Class Instructor

Creating Books and Learning with Children by Melissa Henderson

March 14, 2024

As a “Mimi” with two grandchildren, I am always on the lookout for fun and creative projects for us to enjoy together. When Rowan and Eden come for a visit, one of the first questions they ask is, “What project can we do today?” Recently, we worked on creating books and the outcome was wonderful. … More Creating Books and Learning with Children by Melissa Henderson

It’s Not Just a Blank Piece of Paper

March 11, 2024

I’m sure you have seen one or two old movies or TV shows where someone takes a blank piece of paper, feeds it into the roller of an old fashioned manual typewriter, and begins to peck out a story with gusto (His Girl Friday and Murder, She Wrote immediately come to mind). Even though most … More It’s Not Just a Blank Piece of Paper

Bible open to the Psalms --Memorizing Scripture cover image

Hidden in My Heart: 3 Tips for Memorizing Scripture

March 7, 2024

Join Karley Conklin for a discussion of three tips for memorizing scripture, as well as three reasons why memorizing scripture matters. … More Hidden in My Heart: 3 Tips for Memorizing Scripture

Image of a woman writing alongside a computer. Book cover of "Bandersnatch" is in the top right corner. Text says, "The Value of Critique Groups."

The Value of Critique Groups

March 5, 2024

How can critique groups inspire us as writers? Last year, Kathy O’Neill’s blog post shared the importance of critique groups through highlighting Bandersnatch: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings. I absorbed her article, grabbed the book, and shortly thereafter, found myself in a second critique group. (My Write2Ignite critique group … More The Value of Critique Groups