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...
Tessa Emily Hall, Write2Ignite’s YA Master Class instructor, provides hope for Christians writing in this genre.
What does is mean for a writer to practice good literary citizenship and why is it important?
Writing Clean YA.
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.
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...
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...
Join me below as I take you through the motions of creating both on Canva.
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...
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:...
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...
Struggling with building your author platform? Here are a few simple steps to help you get started.
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...
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...
Examining 6 common mistakes authors make in trying to grow their email list. How many of these are you guilty of?
Laura Sassi, our Master Class instructor, gives us a peek into her publication journey.
As social media reach becomes more restricted, how can authors reach their readers? Develop an email list!
Helena George, a former conference attendee, has blogged for Write2Ignite several times. Her fantasy young adult novel, Ships, Secrets and Survivors was reviewed in September. In this post, she shares some thoughts on writing and music. ******** One thing I’ve noticed...
Social Media for Today’s Writer offers practical advice for building an author platform. Read a full review here.
Comp titles are an opportunity to highlight the best elements of our stories. But where do we find titles that will pack a punch?
Suffer Strong: A Book Review by Kathryn Dover I reviewed Katherine and Jay Wolf’s first book, Hope Heals, a few months ago and have been looking forward to reading the sequel, Suffer Strong (Zondervan, 2020). Suffer Strong is different from its predecessor but...
A Review by Jean Matthew Hall of STEERING THE CRAFT: A TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY GUIDE TO SAILING THE SEA OF STORY by Ursula K. LeGuin Dear Writers, If the beauty of language thrills you; If you love weaving words, sounds and silences as they move readers through a story;...
by Jean Matthew Hall Gus Makes a Fuss is a cute and funny introductory story to Puddle Dog Press’ Pet Sitters series for new readers (in grades one through three). Our own Penny Reeve co-authors this series. Lina and Cassie have been best friends forever. They...
"Too few [writers] are open to the possibility that the business side calls for as much imagination as the artistic process itself . . . An open attitude toward business can provide focus, discipline, and, sometimes most importantly, self-awareness about what you want...
I do not read many fantasy novels, but when I heard about LAUNCH by Jason C. Joyner (Little Lamb Books, 2020), it appealed to me. LAUNCH follows the story of four teenagers, Sarah Jane, Lily, Demarcus, and Harry, as they experience the Launch Conference hosted by...
"Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." Ps. 34:11 NKJV As a group of writers dedicated to sharing our faith with the next generation, do we effectively communicate thanksgiving and hope in difficult events as well as holidays? Why...
Looking for marketing ideas for your book(s)? Whether it’s a new release or a backlist title, here’s an idea to help market your book that fits perfectly in this month of thanksgiving. And no worries about learning a new skill. This is something we all learned in...
While you’re accumulating your list of blessings to share around the Thanksgiving table, don’t forget to include these features that make up your writing journey. You can find many reasons to be thankful for it this season. Be thankful for… A never-ending...
REVIEW Pebbles is a wonderful, reflective collection of devotionals with modern-day parables suitable for readers in their mid-teens written by one of our Write2Ignite bloggers, Leah Meahl. Girl readers in particular may be more inclined to draw similarities...
Create Free and Easy Videos for Social Media Using Lumen5 videos (Note: This is an update of a previous Write2Ignite post.) Ever feel like Sisyphus? In Greek mythology, the gods punished Sisyphus for his greed and deceit by assigning an impossible task. They required...
Writing takes up a lot of alone time. Sometimes, it’s hard to remember that many other writers are facing the same questions and struggles over the keyboard that you are. If you take the time to broaden your circle of writing peers, I guarantee that you and your...
When I received an email about Cracks in the Ice by Deanna K. Klingel , I could not wait to read it. While I enjoyed the novel, it was not what I expected. The synopsis on the back cover described the protagonist, Gina Mangalli, as a mafia princess, but the...
Ships, Secrets, and Survivors , the debut novel by Sarah Rodecker and Helena George, caught my eye when it was announced. It promised assassins on the run, swashbuckling pirates, and mysterious murders. As I had never read a pirate fantasy novel before, I didn’t know...
When I first heard about the Baker Mountain series by Joyce Moyer Hostetter, Drive, the fourth book in the series, sounded the most interesting. Drive occurs several years after the previous novel, Comfort, and follows the story of Ida and Ellie Honeycutt, Ann Fay’s...
"Remember that 'author' is always a temporary job description . . . Your permanent job description is 'writer' and that's what you are even when no one else is looking." --Author Kristoper Jansma (quoted in Before and After the Book Deal, pp. 333) Today's publishing...
Comfort, the third book in Joyce Moyer Hostetter’s Bakers Mountain series, picks up almost exactly where the previous novel, Blue, left off. Ann Fay Honeycutt narrates this novel as well. The polio epidemic and World War II have left her family shattered, and Ann Fay...
One of the most boring books I ever read was about Jesus. Okay – to be honest, I mostly said that to get your attention – please don’t get mad and click over to Facebook! But, the truth is, I never actually finished reading Joshua by Joseph Girzone because...
"The secret to editing your work is simple: you need to become its reader instead of its writer."--Zadie Smith Write2Ignite's 2020 Master class with Joyce Moyer Hostetter is only a month away. The Write2Ignite team has suggested checking out several chapters of...
In my book, Drive, Ida and Ellie Honeycutt are forced by difficult circumstances to step out of their natural roles. As identical twins, they see and experience the world differently but are so emotionally connected that they easily understand the other’s viewpoint....
I was excited to follow Junior Bledsoe’s journey in the second novel in the Baker Mountain series, Blue. Junior does not have as large a role in this novel as he does in the series’ previous novel, Aim, but his character is crucial because he helps his friend and...
Paris is one of my favorite cities. Its history and ambiance intrigue me. There is something about strolling down the streets of Paris, crossing the bridges, or walking along the Seine, even in the rain, that can't be experienced anywhere else in the world. It...
I have been interested in reading the Bakers Mountain series by Joyce Moyer Hostetter since I first heard about it at Write2Ignite 2018. When I was offered this opportunity to review all four books in the series, I gladly accepted. I am beginning my reviews with Aim,...
"'So why does our writing matter again?' they ask. Because of the spirit, I say. Because of the heart. Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul." --Anne Lamott, pp. 237 Bird by Bird by...
Think back to the resolutions or goals you set in January. Less than 5 months ago, yet it feels like years have passed! Did you write them down? Do you remember what they were…or would you rather forget? How well have you done with your goals? Perhaps you haven’t...
While a touch ponderous at times, Dennis Peterson’s Combat! Lessons on Spiritual Warfare from Military History gives a good overview of military history with a strong spiritual explanation of how God’s hand has shaped history. The book takes a deep look at historic...
The Land Beneath Us is the third and final novel in Sarah Sundin’s Sunrise at Normandy series. I have read numerous Sarah Sundin novels and enjoyed them all; her stories are the perfect balance of romance and mystery in a well-researched historical environment....
The English language has many interesting components to work with, and one of my favorite ways to add personality to my writing is through punctuation! In grade school, you learned about the different end marks: periods, exclamation marks, and question marks. You...
My mother and I were surprised to see Katherine Wolf at a Going Beyond Live conference we attended last summer; we had never heard of her. We had gone to see Priscilla Shirer and had not expected any other speakers. At this conference, Mrs. Wolf told a short version...
Last week our teen reviewer, Kathryn Cover, reviewed Penny Reeve's book, CAMP MAX. This week, we welcome Penny back to our blog for an inside look at being a Christian children's writer in Australia. I am a Christian children’s and YA author living and writing in...
I enjoyed reading the delightful children’s story, Camp Max by Penny Reeve. The illustrations drew me into the book. The first page is an illustration of the main character, Tania Abbey, and several more exist throughout the book. Camp Max goes beyond being a simple...
"It is necessary to be hopeful to write successfully for children, yes, because children themselves are generically hopeful, but the quality of hopefulness is not an immature quality." -Natalie Babbitt ( pp 42) Natalie Babbitt's book Barking with the Big Dogs is...
This week has been a turning point for the COVID-19 crisis in the United States. Many governors have enacted stay-at-home-orders, New York is erecting temporary field hospitals, and American manufacturers have pledged to build ventilators and protective...
This Is Your Captain Speaking is not a typical actor’s memoir, so I was pleasantly surprised when I purchased this autobiography for a quarter at a used bookstore. The title is derived from Gavin MacLeod’s popular role as the captain on the 1970s television show The...
"In the Christian life, one fact is crystal clear: we are at war. It involves every Christian—and collectively the entire Church—and it is a holy war. It does not involve physical combat; it is against spiritual enemies. It is a hard-fought war, demanding everything a...
I first noticed the inscription in front of DRIVEN by Betty Pfeiffer that all profits go to Hmong charities. This is a great tribute to the subjects of this book, Payeng Yaj and Shongfue Khang. I also noticed that on the back cover of the book, the pictures of the...
I was instantly drawn to this book by the beautiful illustrations of animals on the cover and the interior pages. Since I am an animal lover, the stories of exotic animals kept my attention. Himalayan Adventures by Penny Reeve is a unique book. As the name implies,...
This past year was a difficult one for me. Due to our financial situation, we have not been able to travel, which has always been my go-to for inspiration. A new destination has the ability to shake up my brain cells and send them in a new direction, but this...
Joy Rancatore's debut novel dramatically opens with 15-year-old Jack Calhoun's life permanently altered: a teenage drag race ends in death and disaster. From that point onward, Jack shoulders the guilt of four deaths--compounded later by two other deaths for which he...
In an effort to grow my copywriting skills, I took Ian Lurie’s LinkedIn Learning course “ Learning to Write Marketing Copy .” He broke copywriting down into four easy steps: create a plan, free write, write your first draft, and polish your writing. While the course...
I enjoyed reading The Heart Changer by Jarm Del Boccio. Before I even started reading the story, I noticed on the copyright page the use of King James Version text as the basis for the story. This is rare and instantly caught my attention. This biblical basis is...
In an effort to grow my copywriting skills, I took Ian Lurie’s LinkedIn Learning course “ Learning to Write Marketing Copy .” He broke copywriting down into four easy steps: create a plan, free write, write your first draft, and polish your writing. While the course...
If you read good books, when you write, good books will come out of you. Maybe it's not quite that easy, but if you want to learn something, go to the source. -- Natalie Goldberg Hello everyone, My name is Karley Conklin, and I’m a new blogger for Write2Ignite. I've...
I graduated in May of 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and immediately transitioned into a career in marketing. I’m still learning the ropes of copywriting, but many of the principles I learned in journalism school apply to both copywriting and creative...
Have you considered obtaining a literary agent? It can be time consuming and frustrating. The Christian Writers Institute is bundling several of their courses into one and offering a significant discount to help you on your way. NOTE : the discount ends October 31, so...
As a writer, I can get caught up in FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out. Each time a new blog post or newsletter alerts me of a webinar I must attend, a book I should be reading, or a social media task I need to engage in, I get panicky. Which is the most important? What if I...
Fast is fashionable. The all-consuming lust for speed, however, caters to instant gratification and undermines weighty pursuits. It carries a hidden cost, a price tag that few would be willing to pay in many situations. And we know it. We understand that gaining...
Like other writers, I’ve had a lot of rejection (and silence). I recently experienced another obstacle: waiting. I drafted a sample manuscript and proposal for a book in 2014. I began submitting it the following year. Finally, in April of 2016 an editor made an offer...
Here's a sneak peek at conference presenters with descriptions in their own words. We'll be posting a teaser page each Monday. You still have time to take advantage of the Early Bird Discount. Visit: https://write2ignite.com/registration-2019/ Kim Peterson -...
Here's a sneak peek at the Conference sessions, described by the presenters themselves. Watch for new "teaser" posts each Monday. You still have time to take advantage of the Early Bird Discount. See: https://write2ignite.com/registration-2019/ ...
After our five judges reviewed the entries, votes were tallied up and "The Costume Closet" by Carolyn Bennett Fraiser is the winner for our Picture Book Manuscript Contest. For her imaginative story, Carolyn wins free registration to our writers conference, an...
Today's guest blogger, Celeste Hawkins, shares her first experience attending a Write2Ignite Conference. As I opened the doors to check into my first writers' conference, I held a print-out of my book draft in one arm and the parking-line-yellow purse that makes me...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
"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...
"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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...