April 2026 Master Class
Registration is Now Open
This past Saturday, April 18, 2026, we had our spring Master Class. As you see from the title, it was all about adding humor to a story. Our teacher, award-winning, middle grade author, JJ Johnson, broke down three different kinds of humor and told us how we can add...
This spring, our Master Class will be focused on adding humor to our stories. We’re super excited as this is the first time we’ve focused on humor. Here’s what you can expect! Laughing on the Light Side: Writing Clean, Clever Humor for Kids and Teens Our teacher is JJ...
Summary This lower middle grade fantasy set in an ancient Mesoamerican world builds hope and courage rising from destruction. Soledad is a victim of the Phoenix’s evil plagues, just like the rest of her former village. But she’s also different. She’s hiding with her...
I have this on the author page of my website: “Children are a tough audience. You can fool an adult with persiflage or purple prose, but a kid can tell if you’re faking immediately.” Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) As a children’s author, I work to write stories that...
It’s August, and I have another Christmas book for you! This time it’s because the release date is September 2nd. That’s 2 weeks away! Summary In a tiny barn in Bethlehem, Old Hannah the cow lives alone until the cold wind drives other animals to seek shelter. One by...
It's summer, and that means it’s writers’ conference season! A time for education, encouragement, making connections, and building friendships. Recently, four of us Write2Igniters attended the Write to Publish Conference near Chicago. We came from all over—Missouri,...
I know it’s not the Christmas season, but let’s have a little Christmas in July fun! Summary Bacon’s Very Important Christmas Job, written and illustrated by Tina Neely, is the story about Bacon, a potbelly pig who wants to help his forever family with Christmas...
If you’re just joining this blog thread, check out my first two posts on writing engaging picture books: Part One and Part Two. How Do I Become A Kid Again? Here’s the thing. Some adults have forgotten what it was like to be a kid. They’ve grown up and gone all stiff...
Last month, I gave some general tips on writing picture books. Today, I want to look deeper into the craft. What You Need to Know First Our competition is fierce. Most beginning writers think starting with picture books is good because they’re short. In a way, they’re...
In all the years I’ve been a freelance children’s book editor, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard how people want to write picture books because they’re short … and easy. “HA!” I’d say. (And I had to keep myself from slapping them and saying, “Snap out of...
I am delighted to bring you my review for The Other Side of Sunshine by Kay DiBianca. This story is a middle grade mystery (ages 9-12), but with a protagonist who is only 10-years-old, kids on the younger side of middle grade will enjoy it. I think older kids will...
Today on our blog, I interview Joyce Moyer Hostetter, who will be leading our Master Class in April. Joyce Hostetter, our next Master Class speaker Interview PAM: Hi, Joyce! Thanks for being here with us on the Write2Ignite blog. JOYCE: It’s great to be here! PAM: I...
It’s 2025. A new year to get ideas, write, submit, and get rejected. I mean, let’s be positive. Write, submit and get picked up by your dream publishing house! Woot! But it often feels like we’re playing a kids’ game, doesn’t it? I thought this after I read Julie...
Happy New Year’s Eve Eve! In two days, it will be 2025. A new year with no mistakes in it. Tomorrow has no mistakes in it. The next 5 minutes have no mistakes in them. The next 3 seconds have no mistakes in them. Your new manuscript, which you have not started yet,...
Christmas is NEXT WEEK. It comes every December 25th and yet, it always sneaks up on me. As much as I try to focus on the meaning, I often get caught up in the commercial prep. I look for the perfect gift. I look for the perfect decorations. I look for the perfect...
For me, it’s time to look at 2025 conferences and decide which one or ones I’d like to attend. I’ve been attending at least one conference a year since 1997. Yeah, I’m that old. But conferences are super important, either in person (which I prefer) or online...
Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds (Author) and Peter Brown (Illustrator) Summary Jasper Rabbit is NOT a little bunny anymore. He’s not afraid of the dark, and he’s definitely not afraid of something as silly as underwear. But when the lights go out, suddenly...
With school in full swing, now is the perfect time to check out another picture book: We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins. Summary It’s Penelope Rex’s first day of school, and she can’t wait to meet her classmates. But making friends is hard when they’re so...
If you’ve never attended the Montrose writers’ conference, you’re missing out on something delightful. Montrose is a small conference in northeast PA. This year, the 35th annual Montrose Christian Writers Conference was held from July 15th to July 19th. It has a...
On Your Mark, Get Set, GO! Writing sprints. Ever take part in them? There are some different ways to do them. They can be fun AND productive! I’ve broken them down into three types: Active Sprints, Inactive Sprints, and Marathon Sprints. Active Sprints Active Sprints...
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 NIV “… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17 NIV Conferences Matter A favorite saying of my husband’s uncle was, “Consider the day wasted if you...
As I mentioned last week, we have recently added three new bloggers to our team. Today, Pam Halter provides insight on how to maintain healthy writing habits. Take it away, Pam! -- Carol Baldwin A Reminder from Scripture Then he (Elijah) lay down under the tree and...