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, […]
Dusty Old Writing
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 was like many authors I know. […]
Putting the Right Face on Facebook
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 community and connections. By following these six tips, […]
Preparing for a Writers’ Conference
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. After many conferences, my heart races a bit at […]
Childlike Wonder
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 seat and […]
‘Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant’
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 reading level to engage kids in exploring God’s Word […]
Let the Little Children Come
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. He spoke truth, then illustrated it with parables—earthly stories with […]
Eight Lessons I’ve Learned About Writing
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 question with a blank stare and a mumbled, […]
Do You Write in a Bubble?
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 from SCID must live in a bubble—a sterile environment with filtered air. They can’t […]
What Do You Pray for Your Writing?
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, large advances, and strong sales top our lists. Although […]