April 2026 Master Class
Registration is Now Open
In which the author answers a few questions you may have about AI art. Question #1: Can AI art generators create good art for children's books? Maybe. This would take some doing and some skill, but I think it's possible now. And I'm sure in the future it will get to...
Join Karley Conklin for a discussion of 3 tips for growing strong and healthy writing habits, from James Clear’s book “Atomic Habits”.
Ways to Improve our Creative Space
The Enchanted Garden , by Erin Greneaux, with illustrations by Taisiia Kolisnyk is about two sisters who discover a magical garden in the woods behind their backyard. The fantastic garden is filled with mystical plants and a garden fairy. The garden is...
I have a pet elephant. It all started out with a dream. I’ve always wanted a pet elephant. I dreamed about the days I could take my grandkids for a ride! I looked forward to taking the neighborhood kids for a ramble down the street on its back. I imagined summer days...
I was able to meet Tim Shoemaker at a homeschool convention when I was about ten, and my mother purchased his novel Code of Silence for me. It was one of my favorite novels, and I was excited to review the first two novels in his High Water series, Escape from the Everglades and Every Hidden Thing.
One question I am often asked when I give talks on writing is, “Where do you get your ideas?” Ideas for writing come from a plethora of areas: through prayer (my number one resource), from situations I’ve experienced, from things I’ve read or heard about, through...
Just one month into Pre-K3, my daughter Maya amazed me with all the things she was learning. I could tell exactly what her teacher said in the classroom because Maya put it into practice immediately, although not by changing her behavior or applying it to herself....
In which one author briefly examens one AI platform named ChatGPT, which is a chatbox on steroids. If you haven't heard about it, read an overview here. (There's a link where you can sign up. When I signed up, I felt as if I were taking the mark of the beast. It seems...
Use these 5 writing activities to kickstart your creativity and help you stay motivated as you build your writing routines.
On April 22, Kim Peterson will teach Write2Ignite’s next Master Class called, “Hooks, Queries and Proposals: Angling to Land a Contract.” She will present three workshops “Choosing the Correct Hook,” “Reeling in an Editor: The Query,” and “Stocking Your Tackle Box:...
On Saturday, April 22, 2023, Write2Ignite is offering Hooks, Queries and Proposals: Angling to Land a Contract with Master Teacher Kim Peterson.
Stained glass windows have a story to tell of creation, the fall, and redemption and restoration, and so do we.
Think of the last time you made air travel arrangements. You probably researched airlines, flight schedules, and fares. You also carefully packed your luggage and toiletries with all the new security requirements in mind. Despite your preparations, however, the trip...
Whether you’ve been in the publishing industry for years or are just starting out as a newbie, you’ve probably already realized that titles are important. Choosing a great book title catches an editor’s eye. A book title with pizzazz grabs the attention of social...
On Monday Deborah DeCiantis reviewed Lori's third book in her Refresh series, Refresh Your Hope: 60 Devotions for Trusting God With All Your Heart. Today I have a treat for you--one of Lori's devotions! But first, here are some of her thoughts about the book: You Have...
THE IMPORTANCE OF HOPE Hope, second of the three great virtues named in 1 Corinthians 13, can be hard to come by, in life or writing. Refresh Your Hope , third in Lori Hatcher’s “Refresh” devotional series, reminds readers that the essence of hope is found,...
As we set new goals for 2023, it can be helpful to spend time reflecting and planning. Here are 3 journaling prompts to help you get started.
This astounding article appeared in one of my news feeds: " 100 Best Writer Blogs You Must Follow in 2023." (Click on the link to see that I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!) Did you read the word "MUST"? Do you know how many 100 is? What else am I supposed to do next year?...
If you’re a fan of the BRITFIELD adventure book series for ages 9 – 18, then you’ve been waiting for the third book in the series, BRITFIELD AND THE RETURN OF THE PRINCE, to release. It’s promoted as the “unparalleled finale of sacrifice, romance, revenge, and loss.”...
Each year 5th graders in the school where I teach become buddies with a kindergartner. They sit with them in chapel, listen to them read, and also write and illustrate a picture book for their kindergarten buddy. The 5th graders created characters and wrote their...
Our neighbors built a fire in their firepit and invited the children on our street over to toast s’mores. The wonderful fragrance of woodsmoke made everyone feel so festive! It’s Christmas time! This year as we’re getting to celebrate the birth of baby...
Are you hurrying and scurrying to get your last-minute shopping done? Is your writing set aside in the hustle and bustle of the season? Are you still looking for presents for your spouse…kids…grandkids…parents…friends…and writer friends, too? This year, don’t forget...
Biblical Hope If there’s one thing in short supply these days, it’s hope. Politicians promise, but fail to deliver on their promises. Family members make commitments, but disappoint us. Jobs are scarce, money is tight, and the more we wish for positive change, the...
I first heard about The Reason by Lacey Sturm when I read and reviewed God Breathed by Rut Etheridge III last summer. In God Breathed, Etheridge references The Reason and includes many quotations that greatly intrigued me. The more quotations that I read, the more that I wanted to read this book.
Tis the Season Tis the season to savor excellent Christmas books! This week you’re in for a treat with a review of MOUSE’S CHIRSTMAS GIFT. To top it off, we have an autographed giveaway copy. Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la-la! Review When Parson gets sick, the...
In January of 2022 God gave me the assignment to create an online Christian magazine for children ages 5 to 10 years. I am attempting to create StarLight Magazine: Shining God’s Truth through Children’s Literature.
Join Karley as she shares five steps to critique poetry, giving helpful and encouraging feedback to your fellow poets.
Using color to grab the attention of readers
Penny Reeve, our "Next-Steps" Facebook Group Coordinator I’m thankful for opportunities to think about my faith in God, for the miracle of salvation and the wonder of grace – and then to be able to write for children and young people in a way that might honour these...
More and more traditional publishers as well as agents request a market analysis as part of your proposal to write a book or when you’re submitting a manuscript that’s already written. So with Thanksgiving coming around this time of year, put on your chef’s hat and...
Is it possible to miss God’s answers to prayer? I often fail to recognize the relationship between God’s providence and answers to prayer. As a result, I miss opportunities to give God glory for His work. I also miss opportunities to encourage others by sharing...
Melanie Dickerson’s novels are usually adaptions of fairy tales such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid,” and Veil of Winter is no exception. It is part of a new series, Dericott Tales, which Dickerson began after completing her intriguing Hagenheim series.
REVIEW OF JACK VS. THE TORNADO Jack vs. the Tornado by Amanda Cleary Eastep is the first book in the series, The Tree Street Kids, and tells the story about ten-year-old Jack Finch. He has to leave his home on a farm and move to the suburbs so his dad can find a...
This month I got to see my aunt and my dad. My role was as caregiver. She’s eighty-seven. He’s ninety five. I learned one thing: I can’t write around seniors who blare the TV at level 42. Plus, every time one of them walked into a room, I stared at the throw rugs and...
When you begin planning your novel, there are a million details you could consider. At the start of every idea lies an endless labyrinth of possibilities, of different directions your could take your plot. Some writers prefer to figure out as much of their labyrinth...
I’ve been writing for over fifty years now, if I count my grade school tour de force, which includes a poem about raccoons and a Nancy Drew style mystery. Of course, I’m still a Work-In-Process, and I cannot give enough credit to all the various workshops and critique...
My first five books for children were all released as picture books. Three of those were later released as board books. That got me interested in exploring the differences between the two formats and a few summers ago I decided to try my hand at writing for the board...
Lowly dandelions give us moments of beauty that point to God
There’s no way around it. Writing a children’s novel takes time. I know writer friends and writing challenges that boast they can whip out a picture book in one day. Not so with a children’s novel. The setting of the story. The plot. The characters. The shortest time...
Stories grow from key elements: Setting, character, inciting incident, rising action, climax, surprise, conclusion.
One writer’s journey to writing and publishing her first educational book.
How can poetry writing tips improve your children’s books? Join Karley Conklin for 5 ways poetry can strengthen your fiction writing.
I'm getting ready for NaNoWriMo. I'm starting in October to make sure I hit my goals because I'm a notoriously slow author. My son is going to write a novel also. That will add more accountability to the process for me. But he will have writer's block. He always does....
A few weeks ago, I completed an interview for an online magazine. One significant question referred to the essential skills needed as a writer. I concluded that the list of important abilities that exist could be endless. So, I decided to emphasize...
Sharing Christmas books such as Happy Birthday, Christmas Child with little ones is a wonderful way to provide time to treasure the true story of Christmas.
Tune in for the wrap-up of Write2Ignite’s Master Class, Writing Nonfiction for Kids and Teens, as well as a sneak peek at our latest news.
It’s to your advantage to become a contributing writer to a high-profile children’s magazine. Why get a magazine job? It provides steady work and a fairly reliable stream of income. Your resume will sparkle with numerous big-time credits. Plus, magazines reach tens of...
Ava Pennington equips Christian writers with four important principles for handling God’s Word accurately.
Interview with Author Nancy Sanders Jean: Hi, Nancy. Thanks for chatting with me about your newest book. It is TOO cute. Because you're such a successful author I have a few questions for you—things our Write2Ignite readers might want to know. Ready? Nancy: Sure. Fire...
A young reader reviews three Imagination Station books.
In her book, Mud and Water, Cherie Haines creates an engaging world with compassionate characters you won’t want to miss.
Why do we think it is strange for young children to want to praise the Lord? Author Vanessa Fortenberry turns this idea on its head in her book Grandma, Granddad, We Want to Praise God.
Behind the Story of Inside the Ten-Foot Line Inside the Ten-Foot Line by Lori Scott broaches issues such as life goals, God’s leading, and relationships, but also deeper relevant subjects like eating disorders, grief, and physical abuse. All these themes grow...
Annette Whipple’s “Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs” is perfect for kids who love to learn about the wonders of this world and its creatures.
Do you communicate a biblical worldview when you write? This is not hte same as being preachy!
Can anyone be a published author? The short answer: YES!!!! I’m a published author and I started out knowing nothing about this career. Zip. Nada. I’ve got oodles of friends who are successful published authors and most of them started out the same as me. My...
The Lost Bard of Taliyaven by Helena S. George is a Christian fantasy novel that follows the story of Masha, a villager who is forced to flee her hometown when a neighboring country invades.
Sarah Sundin is one of my favorite authors, and her latest novel, Until Leaves Fall in Paris, does not disappoint. Until Leaves Fall in Paris is a stand-alone novel that loosely connects to Sundin’s previous novel, When Twilight Breaks.
Explore the world of early chapter books and enjoy a review of The Fabled Stables, one of my favorites.
5 Steps to researching nonfiction texts.
Michelangelo was a super star in his own day, but as a Christian, he knew his work had a higher purpose.
Are You Independent? Fireworks begin in my neighborhood way before July 4th. But I wonder if some revelers are more interested in making noise than in celebrating the anniversary of our nation’s independence. Independence. It’s in our country’s DNA. As American...
Image by Dariusz Sankowski from Pixabay. Good news! A couple years ago I was offered a new book contract. More news—I was required to find and acquire the photographs. Bad news? I used to think so. But with over 100 published books under my belt for publishers big and...
In my last post, I gave a brief overview of Jaime Jo Wright’s novels and a review of her most recent one, The Souls of Lost Lake. I also mentioned two of her other novels, Echoes Among the Stones and The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus, which I have read recently.
I have read nearly all of Jaime Jo Wright’s novels and enjoyed them, especially her most recent one, The Souls of Lost Lake.
Mermaids, monsters, and mysteries oh my. Find them all in the Singing Serpent, the perfect summertime read.
Jean Fritz. If you know her work, you'll be smiling at the mere mention of her name. Her humor has wooed and wowed millions of kids into learning American history. I want to be her when (if) I grow up. See that book below? You can get it for $1.49—what are you waiting...
Hadassah explains how to edit a video and gives some helpful links.
Basic faith questions can help us stay grounded when we discuss our creative gifts and how to use them in the world
My friend recently introduced me to the picture book A Prayer for Our Country (Zondervan, 2022) written by our senate Chaplin Rear Admiral Barry Black (Ret.) I immediately fell in love. I kept thinking this is exactly how we need to teach our children...
As children’s writers, we all know the importance of choosing the right word to use. Shakespeare has a famous quote “What’s in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” That philosophy might work in Romeo and Juliet’s situation but not...
Have you ever followed instructions – doing exactly what you were told to do – and failed miserably or had the whole thing blow up in your face? Or maybe you went out of your way to help someone else, having the purest motives, only for them to end up in a worse...
10 ways to use mentor texts when you’re writing devotionals.
Sally Matheny recommends 3 books for Christian teens.
Take a careful look at the painting below. Would you hang that in your home? Neither would I—and I painted it. That's my artwork I created at a Painting with a Twist party. Can you tell I copied a "masterpiece." To get better at painting, I'd need an instructor....
Check out these 5 Summer Picture Books to help you kick off the summertime season.
A Memorial Day devotional that points to Christ.
The skill of sighting helps weave all drawing skills together to make a unified whole.
Everyone likes a good party, especially one that gives you a personalized invitation in the shape of a puzzle piece. This is how Tim Tebow's debut picture book, "Bronco and Friends: A Party to Remember," begins. The animals in the story each receive their own unique...
Six years of upstairs and downstairs entanglements and drama. Six years of pomp and circumstance. Six years of loyalties and betrayals. Six years of secrets and celebrations. All ending in 2016 at the end of season six. But it didn’t end there. Downton Abbey, the...
I love using my computer for my research. With a click of a mouse, ancient tomes and primary sources open before my eyes. And a working outline is a breeze. Copy. Paste. Search. Find. For one of my nonfiction projects my outline is over 200 pages long and still...
Our Devotional Master Class has come and gone, but you can still access these posts about writing Devotionals for adults and children. Jarm Del Boccio started us out by writing Tips for Writing Kids and Teens Devotionals. Ava Pennington wrote about her devotional, The...
I have written a devotional blog for several years but that doesn’t mean I can’t learn a thing or two or maybe three about writing devotionals. Karen Whiting’s class had three sessions and each one was packed with information that we put into practice during the...
Strengthen your writing voice with 10 Journal Prompts for Writers.
The short answer is NOW! The long answer is NOW! A writing coach may seem expensive, but the experience will be less expensive than hiring an editor to fix it (and who won't coach you along the way). You also may pay the price of not seeing your book get picked up by...
2022 Theme: Exalt the Lord who has Established UsCOLOSSIANS 2:6-7 I can remember the first time I became aware of the National Day of Prayer. I was driving to work and as I passed by a church, I noticed their reader board message. It stated: 2...
Noticing spaces gives us new perspectives for our writing
Small Writings Do you despise small beginnings? When we fix our sights on a book contract, it’s easy to dismiss anything smaller as unworthy of our efforts. But doing so could be a huge mistake. I'm a big believer in the benefit of "small writings." The first payment...
Image by Annie Spratt from Pixabay When you sit down to write, what metaphor do you visualize? In my earliest years as a writer, I attended a writing conference. One of the speakers shared a metaphor that hit me hard. “There is nothing to writing,” he said. “All you...
The gorgeous cover of her new devotional, Reflections on the Names of God, beckons us to open and discover the depth and breadth of God’s character revealed in His manifold names.
Deborah DeCiantis reviews Lori Hatcher’s new devotional, Refresh Your Prayers: Uncommon devotions to restore power and praise
Terri B. Kelly encourages Christian writers on how to write devotionals that children will understand.
I'm currently doing research for three historical fiction projects. And all three will utilize different types of sources. I apologize that this post will mostly be lists and is a little dry. And it won't even been an exhaustive list. But it will show how a zealous...
Tex Brooks provides 5 tips on getting your devotion published.
Contour drawing slows us down and frees us up to explore details that breathe life into our story’s characters and settings.
Ever feel as if your writing is a waste of time? That the entire universe is laughing at your paltry literary efforts? That’s one of my biggest fears, and it’s founded on reality. I wrote three unsuccessful children’s book series for David C. Cook in the 1990s. And by...
Along with the devotions, there are Family Beatitudes: biblical blessings for happy families, Chat Prompts: conversations starters, Wrap Up: discussion ideas…and more! Writing devotions for children has an exciting caveat: we get to write lots of fun stuff to go along...
Ten years ago, I wrote a devotional on the names of God—my first published book, released in hardcover by Revell of Baker Publishing Group. It was also just the beginning. Shortly after that, Revell published a special print run with a proprietary cover for a large...
Karen Whiting provides a preview of her MC on writing devotions.