Teachable Spirit

I recently submitted thirty-one devotions for a national ministry’s monthly devotional for its supporters. The batch I submitted last year was well received, and I hoped for a similar reaction. This time, the editor’s response was not quite what I expected. She complimented the writing style and general content. But most of my submissions were […]
Giveaway Contest: Week 10!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Aurura B. Steadham, the winner of our Week 10 contest! This week’s contest is open to everyone and is our final giveaway! To enter, tell us the name of your favorite picture book from childhood. Submit your answer before August 4 by commenting on this post, sending a comment to W2I’s contact email […]
Sneak Peek: Jean Matthew Hall’s Presentations for W2I 2018

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 Categories” Foundational to writing successfully for children is a clear knowledge of children’s literature, including knowledge […]
Sneak Peek: Brenda Covert’s Presentation for W2I 2018
As a child, I penned a collection of Christmas poems. Little booklets of the poems became gifts tucked under Christmas trees. I loved creative writing and often wrote stories that I never finished, but I could always finish a poem. (Just don’t ask to see one of those early Christmas pieces!) Puzzles have always intrigued […]
Follow the Signs

Ahhh, summertime. There’s something about taking a road trip in the summer, convertible top down, wind in our hair. It brings out the teenager in all of us. Of course, I don’t have a convertible, but I can dream, can’t I? The drives in my dreams almost always include an open road, maybe a long, […]
Teaser Post: Trust and Obey

“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 books or a series of YA […]
One Brave Step Leads to Another: Sally Matheny’s Writing Journey

As promised, here’s the full story of Sally Matheny’s writing progress, featured in our “Success Stories” announcement on April 9. I attended my first Write2Ignite conference in March 2012. I remember that my enthusiasm for the adventure barely overrode my terror. At the time, I didn’t have writer friends who wrote for children. Feeling quite […]
How to Host a Virtual Book Launch Party

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 virtual launch can be in addition to a […]
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, […]
Host a Book Launch Party!

You’ve done it. You’ve published a book. Now comes the hard part. Marketing. You’ll be posting, tweeting, blogging, and talking about your book to anyone who’ll listen. But have you considered planning a party? A book launch party will create buzz for your book, give your friends a chance to celebrate with you, and may […]