3 Ways to Celebrate Short Story Month
“Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams. They are journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and still be back in time for dinner.” ―Neil Gaiman May is here, and that means it’s National Short Story Month! Short stories may be—well—short, but if done […]
One Brave Step Leads to Another: Sally Matheny’s Writing Journey
As promised, here’s the full story of Sally Matheny’s writing progress, featured in our “Success Stories” announcement on April 9. I attended my first Write2Ignite conference in March 2012. I remember that my enthusiasm for the adventure barely overrode my terror. At the time, I didn’t have writer friends who wrote for children. Feeling quite […]
Writing Contest and Anthology Publication
WRITING CONTEST! According to author and founder Cheri Cowell, EA Books Publishing will offer a writing contest and publication opportunity open only to those who register for and attend the September 21–22, 2018, Write2Ignite Conference. Participants who attend the conference both Friday and Saturday may submit one entry on the theme of “Faith and Freedom”—fiction, nonfiction, […]
How to Host a Virtual Book Launch Party
Last month I talked about how to plan a physical book launch party. This month, let’s discuss how to host a virtual (online) book launch party using social media. You can plan a virtual party in place of a physical party, especially if finances are tight. Or your virtual launch can be in addition to a […]
Who Needs a Write2Ignite Critique?
If you’re fairly new to the writing business or trying out a different genre, you may wonder whether you’re doing it right. Or maybe you have a story that you feel is almost—but not quite—working, and you’re not sure why. What’s a writer needing a professional opinion and guidance to do? Get a professional critique, […]
A New Take on Avoiding Writer’s Block
Today’s guest blogger, author Max Elliot Anderson, writes fictional adventure stories for middle-grade readers. When you read his techniques for keeping writer’s block at bay, you’ll get an inkling of the zaniness, action, and humor essential for keeping his young audience, especially boys, engaged! I have to say that writer’s block, or blank-screen-itis, has never […]
“Christian Overtakes Faithful”: The Allure of Vanity Fair in Children’s Writing (in the Era of the Selfie)
Shortly before they enter Vanity Fair, Evangelist meets the pilgrims to give them a prophetic message about the dangers they will face there. Bunyan’s narrator follows this warning with the reminder that Christian and Faithful cannot avoid this test of faith, for “their way to the [Celestial] city lay through this town”; leaving “the […]
Run into Writing
I love it when activities in my life work together for good. That is the way I feel about my running and writing. One seems to feed the other. When I am out running, my mind clears and I relax. It is the time when I am most ready to listen. I’m not sure whether it is the endorphins kicking in, the fresh air, clearing my mind, […]
Write2Ignite Conference Celebrates Success Stories!
Maria Bostian: author of What Should Daisy Do? and Firefighters’ Busy Day As Write2Ignite Conference 2018 approaches, we want to highlight what we’re calling “Success Stories”: stories of past participants whose attendance at W2I led to specific contacts, published work, and even jobs! We often emphasize the benefits of attending a writing conference—benefits that include […]
Host a Book Launch Party!
You’ve done it. You’ve published a book. Now comes the hard part. Marketing. You’ll be posting, tweeting, blogging, and talking about your book to anyone who’ll listen. But have you considered planning a party? A book launch party will create buzz for your book, give your friends a chance to celebrate with you, and may […]