Do you enjoy teaching children the truths in Scripture using simple everyday illustrations? Writing kid’s devotionals may be for you! But how do you begin?
Tips for Writing Kids and Teens Devotionals
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Pray Like a Cheetah by Guest Blogger, Lori Hatcher
Lori Hatcher tells us about her new devotional, Refresh Your Prayers
Writing Encouragement: A Prayer for My Fellow Writers
A prayer of encouragement for my fellow Christian writers.
Drawing to Discover the Extraordinary
Let drawing help you look more carefully and discover the extraordinary in the ordinary,
WHERE DO WRITING IDEAS COME FROM? by Guest Blogger, Annette Whipple
Award-winning nonfiction author, Annette Whipple, discusses writing inspirtaiton.
On Violence in Middle-Grade Books by Marianne Hering
I just turned in a middle-school book proposal in which a uniformed guard gets too close to a fire and his bronze helmet melts, burning his face. That happens just before his body incinerates. It’s gruesome. I describe smells and screams and the ferocious fire that is...
The Role of the Holy Spirit in Our Writing
We know Jesus promised His Spirit would live in His followers. But what role does the Holy Spirit have in our writing? Join me in examining some familiar Bible verses from a writer’s perspective: The Holy Spirit is always with us (Jn. 14:16) Ever feel as if your...
UNDER THE TANGERINE TREE: An Author Interview with Esther Bandy and a Giveaway
An interview with Esther Bandy.
The Heart Changer
“Can an Israelite captive, wrenched from all she loves, serve the very man who destroyed her village? Miriam is asked to do the impossible: serve the wife of Naaman, commander of the Syrian army. Clinging to treasured memories of home and faith, Miriam faces captivity with worry and bitterness. Little does she know the Heart Changer is wooing and preparing her for a greater mission—far beyond what she could imagine. This middle-grade historical novel reflects the heartache and angst of a young refugee in a foreign land where all hope seems lost.”
Interview with Editor Hope Bolinger, End Game Press
Hope Bolinger, Managing & Acquisitions Editor at End Game Press. MEET HOPE BOLINGER! More than 1200 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids to HOOKED to Crosswalk.com. She has worked for various...
5 Tips for Overcoming Writing Critique Group Jitters
Does the idea of attending a writing critique group make you nervous? You’re not alone! Check out a few tips for calming those critique jitters.
27 Books Teens Should Read
Recommended books for teens and tweens.
Good Question by Guest Blogger, Jonathan King
Build relationships with kids by letting them ask questions.
Look, Discover, Create
Here are 3 ways to fit “looking time” into your day.
The Prayer of Jabez for Writers
Do you remember reading about the prayer of Jabez? Have you considered how it might apply to writers?
Which Came First…the Chicken or the Egg?
Image by Pexels from Pixabay If you’re in the children’s book industry long enough, you’ll find out there are two schools of thought. Some editors, authors, and agents believe the chicken came first. Others argue it was the egg. Personally, after writing over 100...
5 Tips for Writing Memoir
Resources for writing your memoir.
The Sky So Heavy: A Book Review by Kathryn Dover
Book review of The Sky So Heavy by Kathryn Dover
Setting Your Reading Goals for 2022
“Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it.Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the...
Great Writing Isn’t Born—It’s Built Sentence by Sentence with Self-Editing
While I was self-editing my first children’s novel in 1989 (gasp, yes, I hung out with Methuselah et al.), I consulted a great little book called Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to edit yourself into print. The wise authors, David King and Renni Browne, helped...
Year-End Reflections: Quieting Our Souls for The New Year
The week between Christmas and New Year’s is the perfect time for reflections. Here are a few journaling prompts to help you reflect and quiet your spirit for the coming year.
Bedtime With Mommy: Book Review by Sally Matheny
Book review of Bedtime with Mommy.
The Right Amount to Write
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay All around the internet, at writer’s conferences, and in any gathering of literary minded folks, you’ll find writers of all genre and for all ages asking this question: “Is it important to write every day?” As this year comes to a...
How Save the Cat Saved My Novel by Marianne Hering
Save the Cat Saves Your Novel–in more than one way!
Always Winter and Never Christmas
Those of us who celebrate the birth of Christ at this time of year are being distracted by the goodies of this world. Stuff. Celebration. Santa. Food. And more stuff.
But what about Christmas?
What Gift Can Writers Bring for the Newborn King?
What Gift Can Writers Bring for the Newborn King? Music is an important part of celebrating Christmas. Remember the Christmas song, “The Little Drummer Boy”? It’s about a little boy who wonders what gift he could give to the baby Jesus. Or how about “We Three Kings,”...
Did you Know? November is Picture Book Month!
Celebrate National Picture Book Month
WHO I am Thankful For
Of course, the Person I am thankful first for is our Lord Jesus Christ--our Prophet, Priest, and King! Second, I'm thankful for my family, friends, and the wonderful fellowship of believers I am a part of every Lord's Day. Third, I'm thankful for the team of...
An Unconventional Gratitude
This year, I’m going to be grateful for all the things I didn’t get or didn’t happen as I wished. And for the prayers God answered in the negative. I’m going to thank the Lord for the hard times — the low times — that knocked the wind out of me or caused me to slip and slide. I’ll be grateful for those times I would categorize as disappointments or dead ends, and for people God surrounds me with who keep me humble — those who withhold praise, give criticism or are uncomfortable to be around. As writers, we certainly experience many of the above.
The ABCs of Thankfulness in our Writing Life
It’s easy to be thankful for an agent’s representation or signing with a publishing house. But as we consider the ABCs of thankfulness in our writing life, let’s be more creative than that!
The First Page of Your Picture Book
Image by Amberrose Nelson from Pixabay A picture book is all about your Main Character (MC) and the problem he or she is trying to solve. As in all manuscripts, the first page of your picture book plays an important role. We're going to talk about the text that will...
“Seven Ways to Increase Tension in Your Scenes” by Marianne Hering
I’ve written more than thirty adventure books. And I still find that building tension in each scene is as difficult as losing weight. You think you have a “formula” and then BOOM! boringness creeps in, saturating your book in bloated prose. Credit: Photo by James...
Please welcome our new blogger, Marianne Hering
We’re excited to have Marianne Hering join our blogging staff.
The Best Yes: Make the Most of Your Holiday Season By Doing Less
Thanksgiving and Christmas are on their way. Are you ready to say no to obligations and slow down this holiday season?
Alternative Fall Activities for the Family
If you are uncomfortable with celebrating ghosts, skeltons and demons at Halloween, I have some alternative family-friendly fall festivities for you! Before I offer links to other ideas, I will list a few of my own (certainly not original with me) for you to try:
Seven Great Books for Young Readers by Guest Blogger, Esther Bandy
Guest blogger Esther Bandy recommends several books for middle grade readers and young adults.
Oaks From Acorns Grow
Are you feeling “buried” or “planted” when it comes to your writing journey?
What difference does it make?
Choosing Your Mentor Text
Image by Evgeni Tcherkasski from Pixaba As any brave explorer would do before embarking on a journey, it’s important for us as children’s writers to choose a reliable flashlight to help us find our way.For writers, our flashlight is a mentor text. What exactly is a...
Fact or Fiction? A Creative Nonfiction Essay by Kathryn Dover
Everyone struggles at some point to distinguish fact from fiction. When you’re a young book-and-movie lover, distinguishing between fact and fiction is a challenge. I didn’t fully understand that movies aren’t real until I was about ten. For years, my brother tried to...
Comic-Book Kids: Finding Chapter Books for Your Graphic Novel Fans
Graphic novels can help spark a love for reading in kids. But when the time comes, how do you find chapter books your graphic novel fans will enjoy?
God Breathed: Book Review by Kathryn Dover
“Isn’t it common for Christians to talk about Jesus with far less interest than we show for our favorite team, music, or food?” (22) If God doesn’t speak to you in any other quote from God Breathed by Rut Etheridge III, He will through this one. At least, Etheridge’s...
Get to Know Our New Team Member: Nancy I. Sanders
Meet our new planning team member, Nancy I. Sanders
Handy Resources for the Serious Writer
A writer can never have enough craft books—true or false? True, of course! In that case, I have two for you. The first, Blueprint for a Book is written by Jennie Nash, and the second is The Conflict Thesaurus. Both stellar in helping you flesh out plot and characters.
Young Adult Blog Posts You May Have Missed
Leading up to our YA Master Class on September 18, we published several blogs to help you write young adult books. In case you missed some of them, here they are. Dealing with hard topics in Christian YA fiction by Ellice Wong "As Christian writers who aim to...
Dandelion Wishes vs. Prayer
Dandelion Wishes vs. Prayer Dandelions—the bane of many homeowners who strive for manicured lawns. Adults see them as an irritation. A nuisance. But children see dandelions as a source of unlimited potential. Wishes, hopes, and dreams wrapped up in the seeds of a wild...
Beautiful–Truth’s Found When Beauty’s Lost: A Review by Hadassah and Kelila Murdock
Two young adult readers review BEAUTIFUL by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma and share why they recommend it.
Dealing with hard topics in Christian YA fiction
Three common questions a writer should ask
Perceive the Trends in the YA Market: Part III by Guest Blogger, Kim Peterson
Kim Peterson provides three more trends in writing for young adults.
WRITE 2 IGNITE RECOMMENDED YA BOOKS and SERIES
by Jean Matthew Hall August 2021 The following list contains our recommendations for young adult readers. Tessa Emily Hall and Write2Ignite Team members contributed to this list. PLEASE, if you have other suggestions for Christian or Clean YA books, Please leave the...
Perceive the Trends in the Young Adult Market: Part II by Guest Blogger, Kim Peterson
In Part I of this series, we’ve explored two trends in writing YA: fantasy and retellings. This time, let’s examine trends that speak to important social and cultural topics. TREND 3: EMPHASIZE MULTICULTURALISM AND DIVERSITY Stories with characters from different...
Rumors, Reunions, and Revenge: A New YA Fantasy & Authors Interview
Announcing the third book in the Pirate Hunter Chronicles, YA fantasy novel by co-authors Helena George and Sarah Rodecker.
Perceive the Trends in the Young Adult Market: Part 1 by Guest Blogger, Kim Peterson
Kim Peterson shares two trends in writing for young adults.
The Button Girl Part I: A Review
Book review of a young adult fantasy, The Button Girl.
Purple Moon: Book Review by Kathryn Dover
What do you think of when you hear the title Purple Moon ? I didn’t know what to expect when I purchased this novel by Tessa Emily Hall at the Write2Ignite conference in 2018. Purple Moon is full of plot twists and keeps you in suspense. The reader is constantly...
Should Writers Be Hopeful About the State of YA Christian Fiction? by Tessa Emily Hall, Master Class Instructor
Tessa Emily Hall, Write2Ignite’s YA Master Class instructor, provides hope for Christians writing in this genre.
5 Ways to Practice Good Literary Citizenship
What does is mean for a writer to practice good literary citizenship and why is it important?
What do you mean by, “if I can”?
A lesson about faith
Writing Christian Themes in Young Adult Literature by Guest Blogger Vijaya Bodach
Christian Themes in YA books.
Writing Clean YA Fantasy- by Guest Blogger Helena George
Writing Clean YA.
Introducing Candice Yamnitz, YA Fantasy Author
Candice Yamitz has a YA fantasy novel “Unbetrothed” debuting with Illuminate YA an imprint of Iron Stream Media, in February 2022.
6 Easy Steps to Vacationing As a Writer
Master vacationing as a writer with these 6 easy steps.
Practice a Pause
Practice a Pause Summer. A time to reconnect with family and friends. Staycations. Vacations. Day trips. Breaks are not a luxury. We need them to recharge physically and emotionally. Even athletes understand the value of training breaks to cultivate prolonged...
Your Author Brand, Part 2: Nailing Your Style Guide
You should be purposeful about creating your author brand. Consistency in your brand — the way you appear to others — brings a level of professionalism, quality and even trustworthiness to book buyers.
Ships, Secrets, and Survivors: A Book Review by Teen Reviewer, Elle Dennison
Write 2Ignite rarely posts two reviews of the same book. But, in a few weeks Helena George will be posting a great article on how to write a clean YA book and I thought I'd bring her book to your attention again. - Carol Baldwin, blog administrator. ***** Sarah...
Young person, what do you see?
Why I write for young adults
Websites for YA Writers
Compiled by Jean Matthew Hall If you would like to read up on writing for young adults before our September 18, 2021 Master Class with Tessa Emily Hall here are a few helpful website. Some contain quick tips. Some go into much more depth. They are handy resources for...
Five Reasons That A Not-Yet Published Author Should Use Social Media- By Guest Blogger, Mindy Baker
5 reasons to use social media BEFORE you publish your book.
Creating Images for Your Author’s Platform
Join me below as I take you through the motions of creating both on Canva.
Does The Women of the Bible Speak with Relevance for Children’s and YA Writers? A Book Review and Thoughts for Writers by Debbie DeCinatis
Wanting to support a Christian journalist who openly owns her faith, I pre-ordered a copy of Shannon Bream’s new book, The Women of the Bible Speak: The Wisdom of 16 Women and Their Lessons for Today (HarperCollins, 2021), but I confess my expectations were...
5 Reasons to Join a Writing Community
5 Reasons to Join a Writing Community Are you a member of a writing community? I’m not talking about attending a writers’ conference. Are you part of a writing critique group or other professional organization that meets at least once a month? If you are, then you...
A Take on Making Short Videos- Part III by Guest Blogger, Hadassah Murdock
In the post before this, I discussed my method for writing a script for a short video. In this post, I aim to shine some light on the next step in my short movie making process: filming! WHY A VIDEO? A picture may be worth a thousand words… but a...
Your Author Brand, Part 1: Nailing Your Focus
I overthink everything. But I knew that Cindy Lynn Sawyer, Wannabe Author of Several Genres, just would not be an appropriate branding title or tagline. As a journalist-turned-marketer-turned-aspiring author, I am diverse in my writing skills. But how do I harness...
Christian Writer’s toolbox 101: Overcoming chronic writer’s block
Unconventional ways to overcome chronic writer’s block
The World is on Fire: Book Review by Kathryn Dover
In my last post, I talked about one of the assigned essay collections for my creative nonfiction course: The World is on Fire by Joni Tevis. Although the book did not appeal to me at first, within the first pages, I was captivated by Tevis’ unique writing style:...
Grants Can Open Gates by Guest Blogger Liz Steffenson
Have you ever dreamed of attending a writer’s retreat? Mingling with other creatives and soaking in all kinds of writerly wisdom from seasoned professionals? image from: https://thewritelife.com/writing-retreats/ Or, can you imagine having a...
Designing a Canva Image
Have you been intrigued with Canva but found it intimidating? Well, now is your chance to explore it. All you need is a free Canva account and a bit of patience and time. You will find it fun and inspiring - I guarantee it! Take a listen to my tutorial below and see...
Creative Nonfiction by Kathryn Dover
“She said you could graduate!” My mother’s news shocked me. I could graduate high school a year early? I don’t even remember saying “yes.” God was directing my path in a different direction than I anticipated, and I could not get in His way. I never envisioned myself...
Marketing Doesn’t Have to be a Hard Sell
Marketing Doesn’t Have to be a Hard Sell I’m sure I’m not the only person to see subject lines like these in my email inbox: Check this out! Sale! New discounts! New Prices! Get it now! Order now! I didn’t ask for them. I don’t want them. Still, they show up,...
EQUAL by Joyce Moyer Hostetter: A BOOK REVIEW by Carol Baldwin
Last September, Joyce Hostetter was our first Master Class Teacher on writing Middle Grade books. It is my privilege to share her next book (unfortunately, the last in the Bakers Mountain Stories series), EQUAL with you. PROLOGUE When I went to the river that day in...
PB Master Class Takeaway: From Frustration to First Draft
The video clip is adorable. A racoon dips a chunk of cotton candy into water, anticipating the scrumptious morsal. but it disappears! He frantically looks for his dissolved treat, unable to comprehend the science between water and the fluffy confection. This is the...
The 2021 Author Platform: Back to Basics by Cindy Lynn Sawyer
Struggling with building your author platform? Here are a few simple steps to help you get started.
Storytime: 3 Reasons Reading Aloud is Good for Adults, too
We all know that reading aloud is good for kids, but what about adults? Can reading aloud be good for them, too?
Understanding the times: Don’t miss the season!
Don’t be ignorant of the times, understand how to wait actively for God!
A Take on Making Short Videos- Part II by Guest Blogger, Hadassah Murdock
In my previous post, I wrote about the creative process of brainstorming a short story. Today, I’m moving on to show you my next step in making a video short: writing the script. REASONS FOR A SCRIPT “Do I really need a script?” I remember grumbling to...
Takeaways from The Master Class on Picture Books: Here’s What You Learned by Carol Baldwin
The Write2Ignite team was thrilled to have so many new W2I attendees at our Master Class on April 24 with Laura Sassi. I asked our participants to share some takeaways from the class. Here are some of their enthusiastic responses. Because of the power of Zoom, we had...
Making Images for Book Marketing
It's my 2nd book birthday! I can't believe The Heart Changer debuted with Ambassador International on April 26th, 2019. Looking back, my book launch was a busy but rewarding time. Knowing I needed to continue marketing (not always easy for me), I am repurposing my...
Grand Reopening: Write2Ignite on Pinterest by Sally Matheny
Yay! Pop open a new pack of pens and pour color ink into the printer. That’s how writers are celebrating the “grand reopening” of the Write2Ignite Pinterest account. Fresh layout designs and up-to-date pins are ready to encourage and assist writers, as well as...
16 Reasons to Attend Laura Sassi’s Picture Book Master Class by Carol Baldwin
I asked our participants what they are looking forward to learning at Laura Sassi's picture book class. Each of these is a reason to attend! This is what they said: A list of traditional publishers currently accepting submissions would be great. Joyce M. How to get...
6 Common Mistakes in Building Your Email List
Examining 6 common mistakes authors make in trying to grow their email list. How many of these are you guilty of?
DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE: A Review, Author Interview, and GIVEAWAYS GALORE! by Carol Baldwin
Laura Sassi, our Master Class instructor, gives us a peek into her publication journey.
Mine Your Life to Write Authentic Fiction
Tips on mining your life.
Lessons in Prayer for Christian Writers – Part 3
Scripture references: Psalm 3:3-4, Psalm 56:9-11, Psalm 57:7-9 In my previous post on a Christian writer's perspective about prayer, I mentioned the importance of waiting on God with expectant faith. Today, I'll elaborate on what the circumstances were when David...
5 Poetry Prompts For National Poetry Month
Ready to celebrate National Poetry Month? Here are a few prompts to get you excited about writing poetry in April.
Fulfill Your Ministry
Our nation (America) and the whole world really is in a mess right now. But is this giant mess unique to our generation of Christians? What should be our response to a world gone mad? In 2 Timothy 4: 2 Paul instructs (or commands) us to preach the Word, to always be...
Using Instagram as an Author’s Platform, Part 2
How do you develop your Instagram presence and draw followers? Today I will share more tips about using your bio, images and hashtags to their best advantage.
Let’s Explore Picture Books by Laura Sassi
Here’s a glimpse into Laura Sassi’s Picture Book Master Class is next month.
Spread the News in a Newsletter
As social media reach becomes more restricted, how can authors reach their readers? Develop an email list!
Pumped Up About Picture Books by Carol Baldwin
We’re pumped up about our Picture Book Master class!
The More I Learn, the More I Know I Need to Learn
A common phrase I have heard my writing mentors say is, “Learn the craft.” Often times when people give advice, they forget to tell you how it is done. My writing mentor, Carol Baldwin has poured time and energy into my writing life....
The More I Learn, the More I Know I Need to Learn
A common phrase I have heard my writing mentors say is, “Learn the craft.” Often times when people give advice, they forget to tell you how it is done. My writing mentor, Carol Baldwin has poured time and energy into my writing life....