April 2026 Master Class
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The first (and possibly the most important) step to writing for publication is to read the writers guidelines and a few of the organization’s publications to get an idea of what they publish. So, if you are looking to lose an editor immediately, simply skip this step....
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...
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...
Diane has always had a desire and a knack for impacting the lives of young children in the hopes of leading them to faith that embraces God and His son, Jesus. Whether that "calling" in life took the form of teaching preschoolers, being a church staff minister for...
If you’re like me, you probably have bookshelves crammed with books. Too many to keep and too precious to give away. As I look through my bookcases, I enjoy finding a long-forgotten treasure. Even better, on occasion I’ll make a new discovery—a book that made it onto...
Although he's an i llustrator at heart, Tony has always found himself helping creative people reach audiences and engage the public. For more than 20 years Tony has carried out this calling professionally for newspapers, TV and now Christian radio, helping each...
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...
Spring Break - Finally! Exhausted from the cold wet winter weather and teacher paperwork this week I'm doing what I love most - digging in the dirt. Fence posts need to be set. Wire must be stretched and the garden has to be tilled. Why would I love all this...
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 a writer, I often find myself bogged down in fear. Fear that my writing may not be good enough. Fear that I am too old. Fear that I don't know how to write. Attending conferences gives me the insight to overcome those fears through encouragement, instruction,...
Who are you? How do you identify yourself? We might identify ourselves by name, family, where we live, what we do, our physical attributes…and that’s just the beginning. Does this list describe who we really are? The world defines being special in terms of physical...
Authors are constantly striving to grow their platform. If you’re on social media, you’re working to increase followers. But if you have hundreds or even thousands of followers, what’s the point if they don’t stop to read your posts? The real goal is active...
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...
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....
A new year is upon us. Chatter of resolutions and goals echo in conversation, sermons, and on social media. Have you chimed in? Have you made your list? Posted your plans? Does the thought of 2019 and the clean slate before you cause you to feel pumped…or in a slump?...
I’m usually an optimistic person, but lately it’s become more and more difficult for me to muster optimism as I read the newspaper or watch the evening news. Even my Facebook and Twitter feeds are not immune to the avalanche of bad news. Headlines and links are posted...
People often ask me why I write. I keep hearing that this is the worst possible time to enter the world of publishing. Book sales are at an all-time low, despite the fact that by some estimates, more than two million books are published annually worldwide. I also keep...
How is a Christian writer different from other writers? How is a Christian plumber different from other plumbers? How is a Christian salesperson different from other salespeople? Are you a Christian writer, a writer who writes for the Christian market, a Christian who...
a service project of Write2Ignite Conference devotional book with covers In September 2017, the Write2Ignite Team was meeting to plan the 2018 Conference and explore other possible programs. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, shortly followed by Maria, were fresh on...
The calendar tells us that it's time for the seasons to change again. Still, beyond winter, spring, summer, and fall, we experience other seasons, too. We move through seasons of life as we parent babies and teenagers, experience empty nests, and become caregivers for...
Do you have a professional headshot? If so, how long has it been since it was taken? Good headshots can be extremely valuable at helping you promote your work. They can be used on business cards, in articles, on book jackets, on blogs, and elsewhere. At the 2018...
The 2018 Write2Ignite conference is coming up fast! Are you still on the fence about attending? Here are some testimonials about Write2Ignite from previous attendees. “I Love Write2Ignite”: Author Terri B. Kelly Author Terri B. Kelly thinks that "everyone" should...
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...
You've finished your picture book manuscript. You've read it over and over again, and you've revised it several times. The children in your life love it. You've even had a writing friend or two critique it for you. Finally, it's ready to submit . . . or is it? In my...
“5 Things I Learned in Corporate America That Can Jumpstart Your Writing Business in under 24 Hours”
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...
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...
This week's contest is open to everyone! To prepare for our 2018 Pilgrim's Progress theme, find a little-known John Bunyan-related link (not a link from Wikipedia), and share it with us in the comments. Submit your answer before July 28 by commenting on this post,...
Today is exactly two months until the 2018 Write2Ignite conference! To celebrate, we're having a Christmas in July event for our Teen Track participants! Teens, if you register between July 22 and 31, you'll receive a free journal, courtesy of Write2Ignite. (You can...
Writing can sometimes be discouraging work. It may become even more discouraging when we’ve poured ourselves into our calling but no one seems to notice our efforts. Or maybe we’ve worked and worked . . . but someone else gets the break we’ve been waiting for. As...
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...
U PDATE: Congratulations to Hailey Hudson, the winner of our Week 8 contest! This week’s contest is open to everyone! Check out our list of presenters for W2I 2018. Then list the names of the two presenters you'd most like to meet. Submit your answer before July 21 by...
Hi, there. Vicki Moss—contributing editor of Southern Writers Magazine and author—here. Looks like we’re fast approaching September and the Write2Ignite conference, and as usual, I can’t wait to cross the South Carolina line. This year, I’ll be teaching two classes:...
UPDATE: Congratulations to K. G. Wyrick, the winner of our Week 7 contest! This week's contest is open to everyone! When it comes to writing, what genre do you most often write in? Who's your favorite author in that genre? Submit your answer before July 14 by...
Your proposal is rejected—again---and your head swirls with doubt, disappointment, and confusion. You pour your heart out in a blog post, take hours to format it just right, click Post, and wait. The only buzz you hear is from the ceiling fan above your head, and the...
U PDATE: Congratulations to Kristi Butler, the winner of our Week 6 contest! This week's contest is open to everyone! Did you know that a CGI animated film of Pilgrim's Progress is set for release in spring of 2019? How interested would you be in seeing this new...
National Flip-Flop Day is today, June 15, just a few days before summer begins on June 21. Make Someone Smile Day is also in June. We hope you have a reason to smile every day, but just in case you need something to smile about, here it is! Write2Ignite Summer...
“The Journey Begins: Step-by-Step Preparation for Beginning the Writer's Journey” People often say, “It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish that counts.” The problem is, you can’t finish what you don’t start! So many talented writers never achieved their dream of...
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...
Nobody likes to be rejected. And when we’ve poured ourselves into a writing project, only to see it rejected by agents and editors, it’s easy to take that rejection personally. "My manuscript isn’t good enough." "My writing skills aren’t good enough." "I’m not good...
Last week, we suggested three ways to celebrate Short Story Month. Maybe (we hope!) you've started writing your own short stories. Great! Now what? This week, we’d like to help you find places to submit short stories. Contests Whether you’re just starting to write...
“Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams. They are journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and still be back in time for dinner.” ―Neil Gaiman May is here, and that means it’s National Short Story Month! Short...
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...
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...
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...
We all want to be successful writers. But how do we define success? A recent search for the word “success” in the Amazon books category yielded 266,470 results. At the click of a button, more than a quarter of a million books available today on how to become...
In this post, author Kristi M. Butler shares how her new books about Groundhog Day and groundhogs emerged from attendance at Write2Ignite Conference, a vacation cabin, and meeting illustrator Samantha S. Bell. Write2Ignite is one of my “happy places”! Perusing the...
“The world will never starve for want of wonders, but only for want of wonder.”---G. K. Chesterton When you see a mushroom in your yard, do you dismiss it? Or do you tap it with a stick to see it bounce? Do you think of fairies and smile? And when you see the little...
Show; don’t tell. We hear it all the time. Don’t tell the reader, show the reader. Draw readers into your story. Make it easy for them to feel as if they're in the middle of whatever you’re writing. Prompted by a recent series of blog posts on the Hartline Literary...
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...
More writers are choosing self-publishing to deliver their books, whether print or digital, to readers. Write2Ignite is reaching out to several authors to ask about their decisions, experiences, and tips for those considering self-publishing for their projects....
by Deborah DeCiantis “In media res”---starting “in the middle of things”---is the classic plot opening used in literature from ancient times to today. Bunyan uses both this method plus the biblical model, “in the beginning,” to introduce his protagonist, Christian....
It’s been said writers include a bit of themselves in everything they write. If that’s true, how much of your personality appears on the pages of what you write? Teaching on temperament or personality differences has been around for more than 2,000 years. Hippocrates...
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 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...
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...
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...
Do you know the answer to this old riddle? Q: Which weighs more: a pound of bricks or a pound of feathers? A: Neither. They both weigh the same. Silly, I know. But I’ve been thinking a lot about weight lately. And no, this has nothing to do with the pants I no...
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....
I love a good story, don’t you? Skilled storytellers have beguiled audiences with mesmerizing tales since the dawn of time. I have vivid memories of waiting breathlessly for stories that began with the words, “Once upon a time.…” I’m still transported by the power of...
Have you heard the story of the little girl and her pearls? There once was a little girl who went shopping with her mother and saw a strand of costume jewelry pearls. Oh, how she wanted those pearls! But her mother wouldn’t provide the money to buy them, so she saved...
Is your creativity a mirror or a flashlight? Is it a thermometer or a thermostat? Does it reflect what’s in the heart already or change the surroundings? A mirror reflects what’s in front of it. The viewer sees what’s already there. A flashlight sheds light in...
There’s plenty of advice available about what to write and how to “speak” to children readers through story. But how do you get your stories out there to parents who buy a large percentage of children’s reading material after you publish those fantastic tales? You can...
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...
The creativity of God never ceases to amaze me. He created plants that grow underwater, He created diamonds and dandelion dust with equal ease, and He called a single woman with no children to write for the Christian homeschool market. I wasn’t homeschooled as a...
My name is Lisa Albinus. I get to live the dream of being an artist and author as I live my life with a Bible tucked under my arm and a paintbrush in my hand. My greatest desire is to breathe hope into the latent, creative dreams of your childhood and the crayons that...
Engaging young readers is important for children's authors, but in an effort to reach them, how do we understand our young readers? Maybe we are parents or grandparents. We might be teachers or caregivers. Maybe we just have a heart for littles. I think every...
“The universe is made of stories, not atoms.” —Muriel Rukeyser Once upon a time… … in a Galaxy Far, Far Away… … a young shepherd boy stood before the giant with only a sling. … a starship set out to boldly go where no man had gone before. … four reptiles stumbled upon...
If you’ve chosen writing for the purpose of making your fortune, you’ve picked the wrong career. Of course, this doesn’t mean that we can’t earn money from writing and writing-related activities. So now that we’ve dealt with this hard truth and you haven’t stopped...
I’m told I was a particularly difficult baby and a challenging child. The family blames the first on colic; I blame the second on a vivid imagination. Whatever the cause, a series of photos seems to substantiate the claims of my parentals, aunts and uncles, and...
When you think about writing for children, you might picture stacks of picture books or a shelf full of novels. But did you know there's a large nonfiction market as well? In my workshop session "More Than Just the Facts, Ma'am," I'm going to introduce you to the...
The week between Christmas and New Years is a special time of year. If you are an aspiring children's author, you may wonder how to best use this week. Christian authors focus on a variety of activities during Christmas week. The list is as varied as the individual...
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...
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...
December first and ready or not, the Christmas season is upon us. Reflect with us on this post, penned last year and shared by Ava Pennington. https://write2ignite.com/2015/12/16/hopes-and-fears/
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...
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....
Six artists with one hour (or less!) to paint a picture that’s three feet square in size. What else could it be but ArtSlam Live? For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of participating in ArtSlam Live, a timed art competition created by artist, writer, and...
by Sally Matheny Recently released, Operation Birthday Celebration—A Journey to the Manger, offers a fun Christian alternative to a popular book on a spying elf. An additional handbook, overflowing with ideas for activities and teaching moments, accompanies this...
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...
October is rolling right along and as with all months, there are numerous things to celebrate or become aware of. (Thanks to Edie Melson at The Write Conversation for most of the following list) Daily...
Author and publisher Cheri Cowell presented the first webinar sponsored by Write2Ignite on Wednesday, September 21. Cowell, owner of EABooks Publishing, shared her own journey as a writer who started out and, after several years of submitting numerous manuscripts or...
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...
One of the things I hear a lot of writers talk about is the balance between family life and career. In the countless interviews I've given through the years, the question of how I juggle the needs of my family with the demands of my writing career often comes up....
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,...
by Jan Prahl At Write2Ignite, one of our goals is to encourage you to write quality material for children and teens. As you pursue that goal there will be many opportunities to brag. Got a brag? Lay it on me! Here are a few questions to get your brag on. We want to...
I was surprised at my reaction to the back-to-school sales. Last spring, I left teaching to write full time. I didn't expect to have strong feelings about back-to-school supplies this summer, but I did. It was obvious that the children and parents in the store had...
“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” ~ Stephen King I don’t like the horror genre (it gives me nightmares), so I’m not a fan of Stephen King. But when he’s right, he’s right. Romance writers read romance....
Note the date and mark your calendars. The date for W2I! 2017 is March 24-25 and the place is North Greenville University. The W2I! planning committee has met several times and gathered ideas and information to make our spring conference a success. We are also looking...
Do you have dreams of being an author? Specifically, you may feel a calling from God to write for children. I challenge you to do one thing this summer. Pick something from the list below. Do one thing. Attend a writers conference. Join a critique group. Subscribe to...
You’ve written a terrific blog post. Next step is to scour the Internet for the right photo to accompany your post. But just as our writing is copyright-protected, so are many of the photos we find on the Internet. So where can you find appropriate photos that are...
Writing conference season is in full swing. Conferences are such exciting times-filled with renewed relationships, new friendships, and countless dreams. Mixed in with the dreams, however, are less appealing realities. Changing markets, a depressed economy, and the...
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...
Our Write2Ignite! 2016 conference has been cancelled after many prayers and tears and our many attempts to keep it together for this year. Please read the letter that has been sent out to the people who registered for a more complete explanation: March 22, 2016 Dear...
Have you ever considered attending a Christian writer's conference? Whether you're a first-time attendee, a published author, a presenter, or even the conference director, you'll leave blooming with these benefits. Fellowship: There's nothing like sitting in a room...