This year, I’m going to be grateful for all the things I didn’t get or didn’t happen as I wished. And for the prayers God answered in the negative. I’m going to thank the Lord for the hard times — the low times — that knocked the wind out of me or caused me to slip and slide. I’ll be grateful for those times I would categorize as disappointments or dead ends, and for people God surrounds me with who keep me humble — those who withhold praise, give criticism or are uncomfortable to be around. As writers, we certainly experience many of the above.
Middle Grade
Alternative Fall Activities for the Family
If you are uncomfortable with celebrating ghosts, skeltons and demons at Halloween, I have some alternative family-friendly fall festivities for you! Before I offer links to other ideas, I will list a few of my own (certainly not original with me) for you to try:
Seven Great Books for Young Readers by Guest Blogger, Esther Bandy
Guest blogger Esther Bandy recommends several books for middle grade readers and young adults.
Choosing Your Mentor Text
Image by Evgeni Tcherkasski from Pixaba As any brave explorer would do before embarking on a journey, it’s important for us as children’s writers to choose a reliable flashlight to help us find our way.For writers, our flashlight is a mentor text. What exactly is a...
Comic-Book Kids: Finding Chapter Books for Your Graphic Novel Fans
Graphic novels can help spark a love for reading in kids. But when the time comes, how do you find chapter books your graphic novel fans will enjoy?
Should Writers Be Hopeful About the State of YA Christian Fiction? by Tessa Emily Hall, Master Class Instructor
Tessa Emily Hall, Write2Ignite’s YA Master Class instructor, provides hope for Christians writing in this genre.
Websites for YA Writers
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...
Creating Images for Your Author’s Platform
Join me below as I take you through the motions of creating both on Canva.
EQUAL by Joyce Moyer Hostetter: A BOOK REVIEW by Carol Baldwin
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...
Grand Reopening: Write2Ignite on Pinterest by Sally Matheny
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...
Mine Your Life to Write Authentic Fiction
Tips on mining your life.
The More I Learn, the More I Know I Need to Learn
A common phrase I have heard my writing mentors say is, “Learn the craft.” Often times when people give advice, they forget to tell you how it is done. My writing mentor, Carol Baldwin has poured time and energy into my writing life....
The More I Learn, the More I Know I Need to Learn
A common phrase I have heard my writing mentors say is, “Learn the craft.” Often times when people give advice, they forget to tell you how it is done. My writing mentor, Carol Baldwin has poured time and energy into my writing life....
Where Do Writing Ideas Come From?
Where Do Writing Ideas Come From? by Guest Blogger, Theresa P. Pierce About ten years ago, as a Curriculum Coach, I met children’s writer and curriculum instructor Lester Laminack. Over dinner, at the Wrenn House in Salisbury, NC, he taught a room...
Suffer Strong: A Book Review by Kathryn Dover
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...
Why I’m excited for the Writing Fiction Master Class (and why you should be too)! by Jean Hall
Write2Ignite’s Writing Fiction Master Class is coming up Sept. 19! In just two weeks, author Joyce Moyer Hostetter will be presenting three sessions to help attendees learn more about fiction writing. Plus, the Write2Ignite team will be leading three workshops to help...
Inspired by History by Jarm Del Boccio
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...
AIM: A Book Review by Kathryn Dover and a Giveaway!
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,...
12 Questions – Are You Ready for an Agent?
This information is for writers of fiction seeking an agent. If you hope to have your book published by a traditional publishing house (Christian or general market) you will very possibly need an agent. Have you been thinking about searching for one? The task is...
Mr. Rogers – Will You be Our Mentor? by Jarm Del Boccio
Our family had the opportunity in December to watch A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood starring Tom Hanks, who, by the way, did a fabulous job portraying Mr. Rogers. It would not surprise me if he won an Oscar. It helped me understand the heart behind the man...
It’s Time for Write2Ignite’s 2 for 1 Critiques
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 sure your writing is...
Himalayan Adventures: A Teen Review
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,...
CONTENTMENT: MY Writerly Word for 2020
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...
Navigating Your Writing Goals by Guest Blogger Penny Reeve
Have you ever stood at the edge of a road, holding the hand of a small child, getting ready to cross the road safely? You glance up the street. You look back down the other way. You take notice of the cars and the traffic lights and when all is clear and safe and your...
Always Winter and Never Christmas
A few years ago I was doing some shopping in our local mall (formerly the largest in the nation, at a time when malls were a new concept.) I, of course, expected to see the typical Santa scene, with lines of tots waiting to sit on the lap of this fatherly figure to...
Book Review of THE HEART CHANGER by Guest Blogger, Kathryn Dover
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...
Book Nook: By Way of Introduction
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...
Are You Thankful for Troubles? Building Character Through Trials by Jarm Del Boccio
Although my husband and I live in an almost-empty-nest, sometimes I catch myself reminiscing. Our homeschool history course many years ago includes a mini-unit on Shakespeare and his works. We'd listened to an excellent 3 part DVD series by Schlessinger Media called,...
The Minimalist Writer
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...
What Do You Do While You’re Waiting? — Part I
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...
Looking for an Afternoon Pick-Me-Up? **PLUS A GIVEAWAY**
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. To register, visit: https://write2ignite.com/registration-2019/ Kim...
Part III- What is Our Faculty Looking Forward To?
For the last two Thursdays, we've been hearing what our team and attendees are looking forward to at the 2019 Conference. Today we hear from some of our faculty. For more information about each one of these workshop leaders, please consult our Faculty page. Tessa...
Decisions, Decisions
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 -...
Let’s Get the Juices Flowing!
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/ ...
7 Ways to Write More Effectively for Ministry on the Web
Please welcome Deanna Kustas, our guest blogger today. How many times have heard the saying, “It’s not just what you say, but how you say it”? Words matter. Writing a great story matters. But how you share a story will change depending on where you are telling it...
Conference Schedule
Here's our jam-packed conference schedule! Start planning NOW for two days of encouragement and education. Spring Blessings discount has been extended through June 15! registration Friday, September 20, 2019 * Please check final schedule and room assignment...
How to Lose an Editor in Ten Ways
Anyone can sabotage their writing career. It takes less skill to fail as a freelance children’s writer than it does to succeed. I’ve interviewed four editors from popular Christian children’s magazines who reveal details on what to do to increase your chances of...
Christian Writer:
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...
Who Needs A Two-for-One Critique?
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...
Celebrate Black History Month
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...
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...
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...
Author Interviews III: Sandy Carlson’s First Self-Publishing Experience
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...
Author Interviews II: Laurie Gifford Adams Shares on Self-Publishing
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...
Dual-Curriculum in Learning to Write for Children
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...
What Spills Out of You?
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...
The Dreaded Elevator Pitch
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...
What Does It Mean to Write for the Homeschool Market?
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...
Writing for Schoolhouse Teachers
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....











































