April 2026 Master Class
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When I worked as a Human Resources executive, one of my responsibilities was to offer outplacement training---a fancy term for helping people who lost their jobs find new employment. Outplacement training included creating a resume, polishing interview skills, and...
The creativity of God never ceases to amaze me. He created plants that grow underwater, He created diamonds and dandelion dust with equal ease, and He called a single woman with no children to write for the Christian homeschool market. I wasn’t homeschooled as a...
Copywork is a key component of the Charlotte Mason Method, but it is also enjoyed by many homeschoolers who do not use her method exclusively. You can create copywork that is connected to the themes you write about or you can create it based on Scripture, classical...
My name is Lisa Albinus. I get to live the dream of being an artist and author as I live my life with a Bible tucked under my arm and a paintbrush in my hand. My greatest desire is to breathe hope into the latent, creative dreams of your childhood and the crayons that...
Engaging young readers is important for children's authors, but in an effort to reach them, how do we understand our young readers? Maybe we are parents or grandparents. We might be teachers or caregivers. Maybe we just have a heart for littles. I think every...
“The universe is made of stories, not atoms.” —Muriel Rukeyser Once upon a time… … in a Galaxy Far, Far Away… … a young shepherd boy stood before the giant with only a sling. … a starship set out to boldly go where no man had gone before. … four reptiles stumbled upon...
If you’ve chosen writing for the purpose of making your fortune, you’ve picked the wrong career. Of course, this doesn’t mean that we can’t earn money from writing and writing-related activities. So now that we’ve dealt with this hard truth and you haven’t stopped...
I’m told I was a particularly difficult baby and a challenging child. The family blames the first on colic; I blame the second on a vivid imagination. Whatever the cause, a series of photos seems to substantiate the claims of my parentals, aunts and uncles, and...
Recently, Write2Ignite held a fall-themed short story contest for writers of young adult fiction. We're pleased to announce that our winner is "H2O-CO" by Gayle Veitenheimer! Please visit Gayle's Facebook page, and enjoy her story below: "H2O-CO" Squeals and giggles...
When you think about writing for children, you might picture stacks of picture books or a shelf full of novels. But did you know there's a large nonfiction market as well? In my workshop session "More Than Just the Facts, Ma'am," I'm going to introduce you to the...
Last month, we introduced Charlotte Mason and discussed her influence on homeschooling. Her method is popular among many homeschool families, and it’s important to understand it so you can create resources that support families who follow this method. So far, we’ve...
The week between Christmas and New Years is a special time of year. If you are an aspiring children's author, you may wonder how to best use this week. Christian authors focus on a variety of activities during Christmas week. The list is as varied as the individual...
I was twenty years old the first time I traveled by airplane. (Yes, I know, I had a deprived childhood. 🙂 ). Not only was it my first plane trip, it was also my honeymoon. I should mention my husband was a veteran traveler. You can imagine the scene. I had a window...
By Brenda Covert True story: One year while celebrating my young adult daughter’s birthday at her favorite restaurant, our group sang the birthday song. Suddenly, a fashionably-dressed woman appeared at our table to wish my daughter a happy birthday and to give her an...
Do you know who Charlotte Mason was? If you want to write for the homeschool community, you'll need to know some terminology regarding some popular homeschooling methods. You’ll see the Charlotte Mason method (or CM method) referred to often, especially among families...
December first and ready or not, the Christmas season is upon us. Reflect with us on this post, penned last year and shared by Ava Pennington. https://write2ignite.com/2015/12/16/hopes-and-fears/
December first and ready or not, the Christmas season is upon us. Reflect with us on this post, penned last year and shared by Ava Pennington. http://staging-2853-write2ignitecom.wpcomstaging.com/2015/12/16/hopes-and-fears/
If you follow our blog, you are interested in writing for children or teens. That, in and of itself, speaks volumes. You feel called to craft stories that will excite young readers, or you feel called to write Bible stories or devotionals that are just the right...
We're naturally drawn to the power of a good story. It starts at a young age, doesn’t it? Jack and Jill and other nursery rhymes. Aesop’s Fables and fairy tales. Frights around a campfire and happily-ever-after bedtime stories. Jesus understood the power of a story....
Six artists with one hour (or less!) to paint a picture that’s three feet square in size. What else could it be but ArtSlam Live? For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of participating in ArtSlam Live, a timed art competition created by artist, writer, and...
by Sally Matheny Recently released, Operation Birthday Celebration—A Journey to the Manger, offers a fun Christian alternative to a popular book on a spying elf. An additional handbook, overflowing with ideas for activities and teaching moments, accompanies this...
I closed the lid to my laptop, putting it to sleep for the night. Sleep is what I needed, too, but I doubted I would get much. I pushed my chair away from the desk at the head of my bed, turned off the lamp, and crawled under the covers. I was tired of trying to...
An aspiring author is sometimes in a quandary about what to do next. Perhaps, the would-be author sits at her computer and wonders what to do with her writing time that day. Several months ago, I posted a list of jump start ideas, Be an Author - Do One Thing. Let's...
School has been in session in the United States for more than a month. This means that all across the country, children are facing the same question that has been asked for generations: "What did you learn today?" To my mother’s utter frustration, I’d often answer her...
October is rolling right along and as with all months, there are numerous things to celebrate or become aware of. (Thanks to Edie Melson at The Write Conversation for most of the following list) Daily...
One great way to get started writing for the homeschool market is by creating notebooking pages. They are fun and provide countless options and opportunities for creativity—both on the part of the writer and the student. Notebooking is a tool many homeschoolers...
Write2Ignite! is pleased to announce a Fall-themed Writing Contest! Target audience: Young Adult (YA) readers We are seeking submission of stories set in autumn! Have you written a story with students going back to school? Set at a high school football game? Enjoying...
We know that authors should read, read, read in the genre they write. So, for example, if you aspire to being a children's fiction author, you should read tons of children's fiction. If you want to write devotions for teens, you should read lots and lots of devotions...
Author and publisher Cheri Cowell presented the first webinar sponsored by Write2Ignite on Wednesday, September 21. Cowell, owner of EABooks Publishing, shared her own journey as a writer who started out and, after several years of submitting numerous manuscripts or...
Are you familiar with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) syndrome? It’s a genetic illness that strips people of their immune system. They're vulnerable to infectious diseases that aren't a problem for most of the general population. As a result, those who suffer...
What does herding cattle have to do with writing? Surprisingly, more than you might expect. Both jobs require skill, stamina, and a willingness to get dusty and weary pursuing your goal. It also shows the value of rounding related things up into one place. That’s the...
One of the things I hear a lot of writers talk about is the balance between family life and career. In the countless interviews I've given through the years, the question of how I juggle the needs of my family with the demands of my writing career often comes up....
What do you pray for your writing? You might think that’s a silly question. Of course we pray for our writing. But what, exactly, are we praying for? If we’re honest, our prayers are often centered on requests for favor with agents and publishers. Book contracts,...
by Jan Prahl At Write2Ignite, one of our goals is to encourage you to write quality material for children and teens. As you pursue that goal there will be many opportunities to brag. Got a brag? Lay it on me! Here are a few questions to get your brag on. We want to...
I was surprised at my reaction to the back-to-school sales. Last spring, I left teaching to write full time. I didn't expect to have strong feelings about back-to-school supplies this summer, but I did. It was obvious that the children and parents in the store had...
“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” ~ Stephen King I don’t like the horror genre (it gives me nightmares), so I’m not a fan of Stephen King. But when he’s right, he’s right. Romance writers read romance....
Do you have a special place where you like to write? What makes it work for you? Kathleen M. Muldoon wrote a chapter in her book Sowing Seeds: Writing for the Christian Children's Market about the importance of setting up a place to write. Here are the first few...
Note the date and mark your calendars. The date for W2I! 2017 is March 24-25 and the place is North Greenville University. The W2I! planning committee has met several times and gathered ideas and information to make our spring conference a success. We are also looking...
Do you have dreams of being an author? Specifically, you may feel a calling from God to write for children. I challenge you to do one thing this summer. Pick something from the list below. Do one thing. Attend a writers conference. Join a critique group. Subscribe to...
You’ve written a terrific blog post. Next step is to scour the Internet for the right photo to accompany your post. But just as our writing is copyright-protected, so are many of the photos we find on the Internet. So where can you find appropriate photos that are...
Writing conference season is in full swing. Conferences are such exciting times-filled with renewed relationships, new friendships, and countless dreams. Mixed in with the dreams, however, are less appealing realities. Changing markets, a depressed economy, and the...
10,000 hours. That’s the amount of intentional practice Dr. K. Anders Ericsson determined is needed to master a skill. He published his findings in the Harvard Business Review in 2007. Author Malcolm Gladwell popularized those findings in his book, Outliers , in...
If you follow our blog, you undoubtedly have a sense of calling to write for children and teens in the Christian market. Today, I want to encourage you to check out what's new in children's books. Keeping on top of that may include some things that surprise you, but...
As I write this, it’s raining. At least my lawn and flowerbeds are happy. Is it raining where you are? I don’t mean the weather. Is it raining on your writing? Are you familiar with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “The Rainy Day”? The day is cold, and dark, and...
A unit study is a great way for kids to learn about a topic that sparks their interest. It is also a great way for writers to share their work and use all that “extra” information your research uncovered that just wouldn’t fit into your final piece. Unit studies take...
Our Write2Ignite! 2016 conference has been cancelled after many prayers and tears and our many attempts to keep it together for this year. Please read the letter that has been sent out to the people who registered for a more complete explanation: March 22, 2016 Dear...
Have you ever considered attending a Christian writer's conference? Whether you're a first-time attendee, a published author, a presenter, or even the conference director, you'll leave blooming with these benefits. Fellowship: There's nothing like sitting in a room...
In my previous career as a human resources executive, one of my areas of responsibility was the management of our quality control programs. Phrases such as “Quality First,” “Do it right the first time,” and “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking” (Henry...
by Janice D. Green Are you polishing up all of your manuscripts? Do you have published works you can show? Both may be useful to you at the Write2Ignite! Conference 2016 (or any other writing conference you attend.) This post is to help you get them organized in a way...
By Amy Parker At a book signing not too long ago, a woman approached and asked the seemingly innocent question I’m asked at almost every event. “So, how did you get published?” Over the years, so many people have so generously provided guidance for my career,...
Do you have a picture book in the works? If so, you know picture books are a lot harder to write than most people think. Whether you’re just starting to write your manuscript or are in the final stages of revision, here are some things not to do: Don't write down to...
Write2Ignite! 2016 is less than four weeks away! Do you feel the excitement building as I do? Are you ready? What do you need to do so you can get the greatest benefit from attending Write2Ignite! 2016? What should you put on your timeline for getting ready? Much...
When I was in the 3rd grade, Mrs. Wheatley, my teacher, gave my mother a warning. She said, “Mrs. Snipes, we just can’t let his imagination run off with him." My mom didn't heed that warning . . . and it's the reason why I still daydream today! One of my favorite...
By this point in the process, you have lots of content and a good idea of where you’d like to take it. Today, let’s look at putting the pieces together. Now that you have a sense of how much content you can write about your topic, what size lessons fit it the best? Do...
A beginning writer's wish list before attending a writer's conference: An editor will fall in love with my manuscript and give me a contract on the spot. Lots of other writers will read my manuscripts and polish them so they shine. Many editors will recognize my...
I have a serious confession to make. Ready for it? Promise you won’t tell anyone? Okay, here it is . . . I’m a fake author. You see, I get asked all the time: “What does it take to be a writer?” People think that because I’ve published several books I’m a somehow a...
Conference season is here. Perhaps you are registered for a writers conference, an especially good investment in your career. Before you head off for that event, you should consider the purpose of your writing. Here are three main categories of writing for children. 1...
I’ve heard pastors begin a sermon saying they followed this formula: “Tell them what you’re going to tell them; then, tell them; then, tell them what you told them.” Knowing human tendencies to forget, this can be good advice, especially when doctrinal truth is the...
Conventional wisdom tells us that to be successful we should become adept at planning. Good planning helps us manage resources and minimize unexpected challenges. But life doesn’t always work out as we planned. We pour ourselves into a manuscript, but agents and...
by Janet Roller “Worship is simply giving God back His breath.” - Louis Giglio I’m thrilled to be a part of the Write 2 Ignite Conference where we’ll breathe out God's breath together. Music has always been a part of my life. I grew up on the second row of a small...
My name is Lisa Albinus, I get to live the dream of being an artist as I live my life with a Bible tucked under my arm and a paintbrush in my hand. My greatest desire is to breathe hope into the latent, creative dreams of your childhood and the crayons that have been...
If you’ve been working on the assignment I gave you last month, you’ve thought of one or more good ideas that you want to write about. Now let’s get in to the meat of how to make this a course that kids can enjoy. You’re going to need three main pieces to your course:...
I am an author/publisher. I began writing in 2000 with magazine articles and seven years later published my first book. Recently, I had my fourth traditionally published book release with Zondervan, but I find the most satisfaction in helping my fellow authors extend...
Some of you know that I'm a teacher as well as an author. I learn from my students and fellow teachers every single day, even---and sometimes especially---from those who are brand new to the profession. What does teaching have in common with writing? So. Many. Things....
New year, new calendar. I love the potential of a brand new calendar, don’t you? All those pristine pages with their empty little boxes…well, they started out pristine when I unwrapped the cellophane. But they’re filling up quickly! As I look back on the past year, I...
by Kim Peterson Every January, I return to the basics. Not resolutions exactly, but I return to what anchors me. Ideally, I maintain good writer-ly habits all year: I write in my journal daily. (Um, only did that one year.) I nurture my creativity regularly....
There was a day, when to connect with someone, you sent them a letter. Or if you had the resources, you picked up the phone and gave them a call. And if they were really special you went to their street address, their house, to see them in person. One thing shared by...
Hi, my name is Bonnie Rose Hudson. I work as the Executive Editor of SchoolhouseTeachers.com, and I’m possibly the most unlikely candidate to be writing for the homeschool market that you’ll ever meet. You see, I wasn’t homeschooled (I attended a small Christian...
Today, I’d like to start a series of posts related to the topic of how to query SchoolhouseTeachers.com, the curriculum site of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. I’ll be representing SchoolhouseTeachers.com at the 2016 Write2Ignite conference, as well as presenting...
For me, this has been one of my best Christmases ever, though you probably wouldn’t have guessed it: My daughter’s family lives in North Carolina, and they spent Christmas with her husband’s family again, where there are plenty of children of all ages for the...
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It is just a few more days until 2016. The New Year always brings a list of resolutions and goals. If you are reading this, writing for children or teens is likely on your list. How do children's writers know that they are successfully penning words that will resonate...
Thanksgiving is tomorrow! It is a traditionally a time to gather with family and friends, a time to thank God for His provision. But at Thanksgiving, we sometimes get a little too focused on preparing and enjoying the feast. How does God's provision look? For many...
They say the life of a writer is lonely. That’s true in some ways, but the advent of the Internet has connected us in ways we could never have imagined. It has also made research easier than ever. However, easier is not always better. We’ve all heard warnings about...
We've talked a lot this year about creating materials with the homeschool market in mind, so it's important that we know whom that market represents. If we're going to visualize our ideal reader, there are some things we need to understand. One of the common...
Driving along the great Mississippi River to see the fall leaves has always been a tradition in our family. Visiting the zoo and being amazed at the animals, often tickled by their behaviors . . . another tradition. Of course, walking along sandy beaches collecting...
When was the last time you played on a seesaw? Maybe you called it a teeter-totter. The fun lasted only as long as the person on the other end weighed about the same as you. Enough of an imbalance and you either spent most of the time camped on the ground or hanging...
The homeschooling market is growing rapidly, and there are many ways childrens' authors can be involved. I'm the executive editor at SchoolhouseTeachers.com, and I'd like to share with you about our company and how you can become part of our writing team....
Write2Ignite! is sending two reps (Jean and Cathy) to ART SLAM LIVE at the Mauldin Center in Greenville, SC, this Saturday, October 3, 2015. Our purpose?? To give attendees a 20 minute one-on-one Speed Coaching Session on writing and publishing for emerging writers at...
As a teacher, I spend much of my day listening to young readers. They read from textbooks and leisure reading choices. They read their own written works to me. I love to hear them read. As an author, I listen to young readers in a different way. I listen to what...
The publishing industry is moving faster than Doc Brown’s DeLorean, but not always in a good way. Stagnant sales, corporate restructurings, e-publishing, people reading less…the news can be discouraging. So what’s an author to do? One thing we should not do is...
This post originally appeared on Jan Prahl's personal blog, Writing Under the Maple Leaves on April 18, 2015. She graciously shared it with us today. This was me, today. When I think of writing, This is the kind of idyllic spot that comes to mind. closer...
Have you ever seen an unattractive baby? Even if you think the baby is ugly, his parents would never agree. That baby is part of them. He carries their DNA. More than that, he carries their hopes and dreams for the future. It’s often been said that for a writer,...
I admit it…I'm color-challenged. As in, every house we’ve lived in for the past 30+ years has had nothing but white walls. And white ceilings. And white wood trim. Oh, except for one house that already had wallpaper in the dining room. We left that up because it was...
It’s July 1st. I’m having trouble getting my head wrapped around that. It means half the year has passed. It means all those things I committed to doing in July (when it was still months away) are suddenly due now. And it means the Christmas holiday will be here...
I’ve been thinking about routes. One of the most helpful tools I have is a GPS. Helpful, because if there’s a way to get lost, I’ll find it. So I’m dependent on that quiet but firm voice that says, “In fifty yards, turn right.” When I program my GPS for a long trip,...
I know the cliché well: “You only fail if you refuse to try.” While I don’t doubt the truth of those words, it’s of little comfort when I am staring at another submission I was sure I had “just right” only to see it returned—again. Red ink loudly announces, “You...
You’ve had your drivers’ license for longer than you’d care to admit. By now, you’ve learned a thing or two about the rules of the road. Did you know that Twitter rules of the road are similar? 1. Don’t drive without a license. No matter how much you may hate your...
Posted by Janice D. Green I feel honored and blessed to have been granted the opportunity to republish the book Sowing Seeds: Writing for the Christian Children's Market by Kathleen M. Muldoon. I'm thrilled to announce that it now appears again on Amazon. Crystal...
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I was nev er much of a numbers person. Words are more my thing. Lots and lots of words, if you ask my husband! Numbers . . . not so much. It’s one of the reasons I love to write. To be able to communicate using myriad combinations of a mere twenty-six letters is...
One of my favorite things to create is puzzles! If you enjoy creating history and language arts resources like I do, the types of puzzles you have at your disposal to make learning enjoyable are virtually endless. Here are just a few types I've enjoyed making over the...
I was given a copy of Allia Zobel Nolan's book When God Turned on the Light to review, and the more I read it, the more I like it. Not only do I see it as a wonderful book for children, but it inspires me as a glowing example of how to write about the Bible in a...
Even though conferences can be physically exhausting, I still feel revived after participating in this year’s Write2ignite Conference. Not only through the reinforcing of my writing skills, but also through the refreshing of my spirit. If you didn’t attend the 2015...
Once upon a time I was the Vice President of Human Resources for an international insurance company. The corporate rat race consumed all my energies. Writing for publication was a vague dream that belonged to another life – a life far removed from my reality. Twenty...
by Sally Matheny Vonda Skelton shines the light of Christ through various art forms. The author of four books, a blog, and numerous magazine articles, Vonda also serves as a playwright. Her contagious enthusiasm flows into her audiences as she speaks at churches and...
Tony Snipes illustrates and writes with passion. He shares that passion and his love for God as he helps others discover their purpose. Tony will share his talent as he returns to Write2Ignite this year to present two workshops. In the adult workshop “A Mirror or a...
Angry men bent on death. She broke the law, and she must die. The scene has been repeated in Pakistan, Indonesia, and the eighth chapter of John. What Jesus wrote and said in John 8 saved a woman’s life. Could he use our writing to do the same? In countries around the...
by Sally Matheny Award-winning author, Jenny Cote developed an early passion for God, history, and young people, and beautifully blends these passions together in her two fantasy fiction series, The Amazing Tales of Max and Liz and Epic Order of the Seven. What’s...
This wintery week, we’re catching some rays of joy with Cheri Cowell, owner and publisher of EABooks Publishing. Also a published author and speaker, Cheri will present two workshops at the 2015 Write2Ignite Conference: "How to Evaluate Your Options: Traditional...