April 2026 Master Class
Registration is Now Open
by Carol Baldwin Last week there were two more horrific shootings. One in a California synagogue, the second in a university in Charlotte, NC. This is not a blog about gun control or even an attempt to answer the question that plagues many of us, "What is our world...
Diane has always had a desire and a knack for impacting the lives of young children in the hopes of leading them to faith that embraces God and His son, Jesus. Whether that "calling" in life took the form of teaching preschoolers, being a church staff minister for...
Scripture makes many references to the concept or term “witness” in both Old and New Testaments. Christians know Jesus’s “Great Commission” words in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,...
Last September, I made the drive to South Carolina full of anticipation. My first writers conference! Dreams swirled in my head. I would meet other writers…talk about books and characters...maybe catch the attention of a publisher…talk about writing and books some...
If you’re like me, you probably have bookshelves crammed with books. Too many to keep and too precious to give away. As I look through my bookcases, I enjoy finding a long-forgotten treasure. Even better, on occasion I’ll make a new discovery—a book that made it onto...
Although he's an i llustrator at heart, Tony has always found himself helping creative people reach audiences and engage the public. For more than 20 years Tony has carried out this calling professionally for newspapers, TV and now Christian radio, helping each...
Do you have an idea for a nonfiction book but you're not sure what goes into finding the right publisher and writing the proposal? In this post, Dennis Peterson, a W2I 2018 attendee, shares the backstory for his forthcoming book, COMBAT! Lessons on Spiritual Warfare...
Spring Break - Finally! Exhausted from the cold wet winter weather and teacher paperwork this week I'm doing what I love most - digging in the dirt. Fence posts need to be set. Wire must be stretched and the garden has to be tilled. Why would I love all this...
Disclaimer: Although we support this book because it is strongly pro-life and addresses several serious issues, the main character in Bound occasionally uses language that some Christians might find offensive. Within the first pages of Bound by Vijaya Bodach, the...
By Brenda Covert You may be wondering whether your manuscript is ready to be published. Maybe you have a nagging feeling that your story is missing something, but you don’t know what it is. Perhaps you’re going to attend a writer’s conference, and you want to make...
As a writer, I often find myself bogged down in fear. Fear that my writing may not be good enough. Fear that I am too old. Fear that I don't know how to write. Attending conferences gives me the insight to overcome those fears through encouragement, instruction,...
Who are you? How do you identify yourself? We might identify ourselves by name, family, where we live, what we do, our physical attributes…and that’s just the beginning. Does this list describe who we really are? The world defines being special in terms of physical...
Authors are constantly striving to grow their platform. If you’re on social media, you’re working to increase followers. But if you have hundreds or even thousands of followers, what’s the point if they don’t stop to read your posts? The real goal is active...
As part of my research for my YA novel Half-Truths , I read a lot of books. And I mean A LOT. Read my pitch and I think you'll understand why: In the heavily segregated South, fifteen-year-old Kate Dinsmore's world is shaken when she realizes she's related to her...
One of my favorite stories to listen to as a child was, The Little Engine That Could . The voice of the little blue engine who took on the insurmountable challenge of bringing toys, dolls, and “good things to eat to the good boys and girls on the other side of the...
Ever feel like Sisyphos? In Greek mythology, the gods punished Sisyphos for his greed and deceit by assigning an impossible task. He had to roll a huge boulder up a hill, only to have it roll back down when it reached near the top. And he had to do it for eternity....
A new year is upon us. Chatter of resolutions and goals echo in conversation, sermons, and on social media. Have you chimed in? Have you made your list? Posted your plans? Does the thought of 2019 and the clean slate before you cause you to feel pumped…or in a slump?...
I’m usually an optimistic person, but lately it’s become more and more difficult for me to muster optimism as I read the newspaper or watch the evening news. Even my Facebook and Twitter feeds are not immune to the avalanche of bad news. Headlines and links are posted...
People often ask me why I write. I keep hearing that this is the worst possible time to enter the world of publishing. Book sales are at an all-time low, despite the fact that by some estimates, more than two million books are published annually worldwide. I also keep...
How is a Christian writer different from other writers? How is a Christian plumber different from other plumbers? How is a Christian salesperson different from other salespeople? Are you a Christian writer, a writer who writes for the Christian market, a Christian who...
a service project of Write2Ignite Conference devotional book with covers In September 2017, the Write2Ignite Team was meeting to plan the 2018 Conference and explore other possible programs. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, shortly followed by Maria, were fresh on...
The calendar tells us that it's time for the seasons to change again. Still, beyond winter, spring, summer, and fall, we experience other seasons, too. We move through seasons of life as we parent babies and teenagers, experience empty nests, and become caregivers for...
Do you have a professional headshot? If so, how long has it been since it was taken? Good headshots can be extremely valuable at helping you promote your work. They can be used on business cards, in articles, on book jackets, on blogs, and elsewhere. At the 2018...
Time's running out! Deadline: September 10! 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....
The 2018 Write2Ignite conference is coming up fast! Are you still on the fence about attending? Here are some testimonials about Write2Ignite from previous attendees. “I Love Write2Ignite”: Author Terri B. Kelly Author Terri B. Kelly thinks that "everyone" should...
Ready for Write2Ignite 2018? I'll be leading three workshops at the conference: "Strangers in a Strange Land," "Fiction Writing" (Teen Track), and "Writing Historical Fiction." Let me describe them for you! "Strangers in a Strange Land" In Exodus 2:22, Moses names his...
You've finished your picture book manuscript. You've read it over and over again, and you've revised it several times. The children in your life love it. You've even had a writing friend or two critique it for you. Finally, it's ready to submit . . . or is it? In my...
I recently submitted thirty-one devotions for a national ministry's monthly devotional for its supporters. The batch I submitted last year was well received, and I hoped for a similar reaction. This time, the editor’s response was not quite what I expected. She...
“5 Things I Learned in Corporate America That Can Jumpstart Your Writing Business in under 24 Hours”
UPDATE: Congratulations to Aurura B. Steadham, the winner of our Week 10 contest! This week's contest is open to everyone and is our final giveaway! To enter, tell us the name of your favorite picture book from childhood. Submit your answer before August 4 by...
Hello, everyone! This year's Write2Ignite conference is coming up fast. As one of the presenters at the conference, I'll be leading two workshops: "Children's Book Categories" and "Writing from Childhood Memories." Let me tell you about them. "Children's Book...
This week's contest is open to everyone! To prepare for our 2018 Pilgrim's Progress theme, find a little-known John Bunyan-related link (not a link from Wikipedia), and share it with us in the comments. Submit your answer before July 28 by commenting on this post,...
Today is exactly two months until the 2018 Write2Ignite conference! To celebrate, we're having a Christmas in July event for our Teen Track participants! Teens, if you register between July 22 and 31, you'll receive a free journal, courtesy of Write2Ignite. (You can...
Writing can sometimes be discouraging work. It may become even more discouraging when we’ve poured ourselves into our calling but no one seems to notice our efforts. Or maybe we’ve worked and worked . . . but someone else gets the break we’ve been waiting for. As...
As a child, I penned a collection of Christmas poems. Little booklets of the poems became gifts tucked under Christmas trees. I loved creative writing and often wrote stories that I never finished, but I could always finish a poem. (Just don’t ask to see one of those...
U PDATE: Congratulations to Hailey Hudson, the winner of our Week 8 contest! This week’s contest is open to everyone! Check out our list of presenters for W2I 2018. Then list the names of the two presenters you'd most like to meet. Submit your answer before July 21 by...
How can I capture in words what last year’s Write2Ignite conference meant to me? Attending my first-ever writers' conference left me feeling (and probably looking) like a deer in headlights! I left with an overwhelming conviction of the need for Christian writers and...
Hi, there. Vicki Moss—contributing editor of Southern Writers Magazine and author—here. Looks like we’re fast approaching September and the Write2Ignite conference, and as usual, I can’t wait to cross the South Carolina line. This year, I’ll be teaching two classes:...
UPDATE: Congratulations to K. G. Wyrick, the winner of our Week 7 contest! This week's contest is open to everyone! When it comes to writing, what genre do you most often write in? Who's your favorite author in that genre? Submit your answer before July 14 by...
Your proposal is rejected—again---and your head swirls with doubt, disappointment, and confusion. You pour your heart out in a blog post, take hours to format it just right, click Post, and wait. The only buzz you hear is from the ceiling fan above your head, and the...
U PDATE: Congratulations to Kristi Butler, the winner of our Week 6 contest! This week's contest is open to everyone! Did you know that a CGI animated film of Pilgrim's Progress is set for release in spring of 2019? How interested would you be in seeing this new...
UPDATE: Congratulations to Nicole Hodges Wyrick, the winner of our Week 5 contest! This week's contest is open to everyone! All you have to do is look at the schedule for our upcoming conference. Then, in the comment section below, tell us the name of the workshop...
Today is exactly 3 months until the 2018 Write2Ignite conference. It's also the last day of our summer registration sale. Have you registered yet? Take advantage of this great sale price before it disappears! Today only---pay only $100 for Write2Ignite’s adult...
Today is exactly 3 months until the 2018 Write2Ignite conference. It’s also the last day of our summer registration sale. Have you registered yet? Take advantage of this great sale price before it disappears! Today only—pay only $100 for...
Ahhh, summertime. There’s something about taking a road trip in the summer, convertible top down, wind in our hair. It brings out the teenager in all of us. Of course, I don’t have a convertible, but I can dream, can’t I? The drives in my dreams almost always include...
U PDATE: Congratulations to Maria Faust Bostian, the winner of our Week 4 contest! This week's contest is open to everyone! All you have to do is answer this question: what has been your most memorable experience at a Write2Ignite conference? If you haven't attended a...
National Flip-Flop Day is today, June 15, just a few days before summer begins on June 21. Make Someone Smile Day is also in June. We hope you have a reason to smile every day, but just in case you need something to smile about, here it is! Write2Ignite Summer...
“The Journey Begins: Step-by-Step Preparation for Beginning the Writer's Journey” People often say, “It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish that counts.” The problem is, you can’t finish what you don’t start! So many talented writers never achieved their dream of...
UPDATE: Congratulations to David Friedli, the winner of our Week 3 contest! This week's contest is open to everyone! Did you know we offer critiques of up to 10 pages of your manuscript? What would you be most interested in learning from a critique? Submit your answer...
Workshop: "Common Mistakes Newbie Writers Make in Their Manuscripts" You’ve spent years working on your fiction manuscript. Finally, you reach “The End” and send it off to agents. When that first response arrives in your inbox, you anticipate seeing the message "This...
UPDATE: Congratulations to Amy Bradsher, the winner of our Week 2 contest! This week's contest is open to everyone! Tell us your favorite author and book for a chance to win a free book! Submit your answer before June 9 by commenting on this post, sending a comment...
"Am I rich?" "Am I famous?" "Am I on a bestseller list?" Often, we writers ask questions like these as we try to measure our success. The problem? Most of you, like me, have to say no to these questions. Unless we’ve been fortunate enough to author beloved children’s...
UPDATE: Congratulations to Jenna Turner, the winner of our teen contest! Keynote presenters, workshop choices, editor and agent appointments, professional critiques, and contests---these benefits are available to both students and adults who attend the Write2Ignite...
"I did not think To show to all the World my Pen and Ink In such a mode; I only thought to make I knew not what: nor did I undertake Thereby to please my Neighbour; no not I, I did it mine ownself to gratifie." ---From John Bunyan's "Apology" for Pilgrim’s Progress...
Nobody likes to be rejected. And when we’ve poured ourselves into a writing project, only to see it rejected by agents and editors, it’s easy to take that rejection personally. "My manuscript isn’t good enough." "My writing skills aren’t good enough." "I’m not good...
Last week, we suggested three ways to celebrate Short Story Month. Maybe (we hope!) you've started writing your own short stories. Great! Now what? This week, we’d like to help you find places to submit short stories. Contests Whether you’re just starting to write...
“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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
I love it when activities in my life work together for good . That is the way I feel about my running and w riting. 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...
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...
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...
We all want to be successful writers. But how do we define success? A recent search for the word “success” in the Amazon books category yielded 266,470 results. At the click of a button, more than a quarter of a million books available today on how to become...
Kenneth G. Winters, author of the YA novel The Lost Crown of Colonnade, served as a Navy chaplain; a few years ago, he retired from full-time ministry. After investigating several Christian self-publishing companies, he published this first novel in 2011. He shares...
Have you made personal new year’s resolutions for this year? If you did, now that we’re two weeks into 2018, how many resolutions have you kept? Have you set any new year’s resolutions for your writing? It’s not too late. Here are a few resolutions for you to...
In this post, author Kristi M. Butler shares how her new books about Groundhog Day and groundhogs emerged from attendance at Write2Ignite Conference, a vacation cabin, and meeting illustrator Samantha S. Bell. Write2Ignite is one of my “happy places”! Perusing the...
“The world will never starve for want of wonders, but only for want of wonder.”---G. K. Chesterton When you see a mushroom in your yard, do you dismiss it? Or do you tap it with a stick to see it bounce? Do you think of fairies and smile? And when you see the little...
Show; don’t tell. We hear it all the time. Don’t tell the reader, show the reader. Draw readers into your story. Make it easy for them to feel as if they're in the middle of whatever you’re writing. Prompted by a recent series of blog posts on the Hartline Literary...
Write2Ignite Conference held its first-ever Black Friday deep discount pre-registration, for the 2018 Conference September 21-22 at North Greenville University in Tigerville, SC. Focusing on Christian worldview literature, non-profit W2I provides instruction and...
Hi, friends! It’s Cathy Biggerstaff, financial director for the 2018 Write2Ignite Conference. Numbers and dollar signs dance in my head. In today’s economy, I'm always looking for ways to generate funds. This month, I'm concentrating on your side of the equation! Here...
The writing life can be unpredictable. Times of joy interspersed with times of discouragement. Mountains and valleys. Successes and failures. Problem is, all too often, the discouragement and failures seem to outnumber the joys and mountaintop experiences. So what do...
Author and former Write2Ignite Team member Janice D. Green has a wealth of experience with self-publishing projects. Below, she shares information about the steep learning curve she experienced as she navigated different options, programs, and methods for publishing...
BLACK FRIDAY 2017: originally 72 hours only - now 96 hours! We're excited to launch our Deep Discount Early Registration for Write2Ignite Conference September 21 – 22, 2018!!! Adult conference registration: $150 $95.00 Middle school, High school,...
Last month, we talked about the importance of identifying and removing clichés from our writing. This month, let’s tackle Christianese. What is Christianese? Christianese phrases are Christian clichés. They form an insider language that is often overused, misused, and...
Author Sandy Carlson was born in Michigan, lived in six other states, and now resides in Michigan again. A former elementary teacher, Carlson is a blogger and a long-time member of SCBWI. She's published in magazines, e-zines, newspapers, and anthologies, in addition...
We hear them so frequently that we’re often oblivious to their presence. But if we want our writing to make an impact in this day and age, in the final analysis, we must think outside the box and avoid clichés like the plague or our writing will be behind the eight...
Write2Ignite Conference 2018 theme series---by Deborah S. DeCiantis After his escape from the Slough of Despond, Christian meets Mr. Worldly-Wiseman, who convinces him that an easier way to get rid of his burden is to turn aside from the path to the Wicket Gate and...
Laurie Gifford Adams began writing young adult novels during her career as an educator. Adams is the author of Finding Atticus, www.RUinDanger, Over the Edge, and Before I Knew. A former Prattsburg (NY) High School schoolmate of W2I Team member Darcy Hendrick, Adams...
More writers are choosing self-publishing to deliver their books, whether print or digital, to readers. Write2Ignite is reaching out to several authors to ask about their decisions, experiences, and tips for those considering self-publishing for their projects....
by Deborah DeCiantis “In media res”---starting “in the middle of things”---is the classic plot opening used in literature from ancient times to today. Bunyan uses both this method plus the biblical model, “in the beginning,” to introduce his protagonist, Christian....
Announcing the Write2Ignite keynote speakers for September 21--22, 2018! Jenny L. Cote Jenny L. Cote, author of two award-winning series, The Amazing Tales of Max & Liz and Epic Order of the Seven, will be the featured keynote speaker at Write2Ignite...
It’s been said writers include a bit of themselves in everything they write. If that’s true, how much of your personality appears on the pages of what you write? Teaching on temperament or personality differences has been around for more than 2,000 years. Hippocrates...
I am the mother of four grown sons. But they weren't always grown. There were quite a few hectic years that could best be described as managed chaos. I would get a little one off my hip and onto his feet just in time to have another firmly attach himself. And...
When you jostle a full glass of orange juice, what spills out? And what spills out of a full glass of milk? Silly questions? Maybe. Of course, orange juice will spill out of the first glass and milk will spill out of the second one. But perhaps not so silly when we...
I remember words of advice from seasoned professionals in the writing industry. Don't be in a hurry to hit 'send' as soon as you finish your manuscript. Put it away for some time. Then, revisit it and send the revised, polished work on to your agent or publisher. I...
These days, Facebook is the social media platform everyone loves to hate. It seems as if this Internet giant changes its rules as often as we change our clothes. But Facebook is still a social media powerhouse for a reason: millions of people use it to establish...
"For what event would you pack an ax, a vial of serum, and dog booties? Racing in the Iditarod! Find out what else mushers pack. #PBPitch #NF" "Jersey wishes she had spots like the other cows, so she knits herself a spotted sweater, and all the other cows want one...
Do you know the answer to this old riddle? Q: Which weighs more: a pound of bricks or a pound of feathers? A: Neither. They both weigh the same. Silly, I know. But I’ve been thinking a lot about weight lately. And no, this has nothing to do with the pants I no...
It's writers' conference season! The idea of attending a writing conference might be new and scary to you. It might be an annual event on your calendar, or you may be one of the seasoned professionals who presents at multiple conferences around the country each year....
I love a good story, don’t you? Skilled storytellers have beguiled audiences with mesmerizing tales since the dawn of time. I have vivid memories of waiting breathlessly for stories that began with the words, “Once upon a time.…” I’m still transported by the power of...
Marketing a book can be overwhelming! Planning social media posts, website updates, blog posts, mail campaigns, book signings, and speaking engagements can cause an author's head to spin. And then there's that next book to write. And all these tasks occur at the same...
Have you heard the story of the little girl and her pearls? There once was a little girl who went shopping with her mother and saw a strand of costume jewelry pearls. Oh, how she wanted those pearls! But her mother wouldn’t provide the money to buy them, so she saved...
Is your creativity a mirror or a flashlight? Is it a thermometer or a thermostat? Does it reflect what’s in the heart already or change the surroundings? A mirror reflects what’s in front of it. The viewer sees what’s already there. A flashlight sheds light in...
There’s plenty of advice available about what to write and how to “speak” to children readers through story. But how do you get your stories out there to parents who buy a large percentage of children’s reading material after you publish those fantastic tales? You can...
There’s plenty of advice available about what to write and how to “speak” to children readers through story. But how do you get your stories out there to parents who buy a large percentage of children’s reading material after you publish those fantastic tales? You can...
In Part One and Part Two of our series about writing for the homeschool community, we talked about some of the main components of the Charlotte Mason Method of education. In Part Three, we explored how to create copywork. This month, we’re going to take a look at what...