Author Interview with Kate Rietema by Sue Irwin
I’m excited to introduce you to Kate Rietema today. Kate is a busy mom, registered nurse, community educator, amateur potter, speaker, and author of over 50 articles and poems for various magazines. Welcome, Kate, and thank you for taking the time out of your packed schedule to discuss your newly-launched debut picture book, When God […]
Classic Fantasy and Today’s MG and YA Fantasy Stories by Deborah S. DeCiantis
In our recent Master Class on fantasy, author Amy Earls provided important tools for writing YA and MG fantasy. Today, team member Deborah S. DeCiantis gives her perspective (from many years of being an English college professor) to understanding classic fantasy. Fantasy fiction seems to attract definite responses: readers either love it or hate it. Fantasy’s defenders point […]
When History Gets Old, Make It New by Guest Blogger, Jenny L. Cote
Ask The Right Question Marketing 101 for an author: know thy audience. In my writing workshops, I love to ask kids to raise their hands high if they love researching history. There are always a few budding history geeks with eager hands in the air, aglow with the idea of learning about the past (sniff, […]
Universal Topics That Honor God by Marci Whitehurst
As the blog coordinator for Write2Ignite, I am thankful for every writer who gives his or her time and energy to share godly inspiration, writing tips, and encouragement. I am sad to see bloggers leave us, but I understand that blogging is a big commitment. I am ALWAYS amazed at how the Lord fills up […]
Critique Partners- Honey for Your Soul by Mindy Baker
If you’ve been in the writing business for any length of time, you know how valuable a critique partner is. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:24, “Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” I have found that my critique partners are the honey my writer’s soul needs. They keep […]
Handling Tough Topics in Middle Grade Lit by Guest Blogger Lillian Keith
I agree. Not all hard topics can (or really should) be written for kids. Some things are best to wait until they get older and are more mature to handle it. But does this mean that all difficult problems need to be taken out of middle grade books? Personally, I don’t think so. I believe […]
W2I Master Class Review: Writing Christian Fantasy
Did you miss our master class on Writing Christian Fantasy with Amy Earls? Check out our recap of the master class highlights.
The Impossible Girl: A Teen’s Take by Guest Blogger, Georgie Bartlett
In preparation for our April Master Class on Writing Fantasy, we are featuring several novels. Jean Hall previously reviewed The Impossible Girl, but I thought it would be interesting to a teen’s thoughts about this book also. REVIEW The Impossible Girl (Monarch Books, 2022) by Ashley White is a beautifully written middle-grade novel. Fans of Harry […]
How Not to Write the Opening Scene of Your Fantasy Book
“The Village of Gorgenon, near Alphigaz, floated above the Hoovah as the Pinkletons swam by. As long ago as eleventy Kikes, had the Moopahs overtaken the Quillerton valley. And now, seventeen-five Kikes later, Cocoyaks were bubbling under the surface.” Before you google who wrote that awful opening line, I’ll confess: it was me. I made […]
Creating Books and Learning with Children by Melissa Henderson
As a “Mimi” with two grandchildren, I am always on the lookout for fun and creative projects for us to enjoy together. When Rowan and Eden come for a visit, one of the first questions they ask is, “What project can we do today?” Recently, we worked on creating books and the outcome was wonderful. […]