Plan to Persevere
One of my favorite stories to listen to as a child was, The Little Engine That Could. The voice of the little blue engine who took on the insurmountable challenge of bringing toys, dolls, and “good things to eat to the good boys and girls on the other side of the mountain,” still echoes in […]
Kristi Butler’s 2019 Questions: Inspired or Just Tired?
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? Inspired…or just tired? Motivated…or debilitated? […]
Seasons of a Writer’s Life
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 our own parents. Writing adds another layer to already full lives. So […]
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 […]
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 […]
When No One Seems to Notice
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 Christian writers, we serve to glorify the Lord. […]
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 […]
Life After a Writers’ Conference
How can I capture in words what last year’s Write2Ignite conference meant to me? Attending my first-ever writers’ conference left me feeling (and probably looking) like a deer in headlights! I left with an overwhelming conviction of the need for Christian writers and with a vast amount of information gleaned from each workshop. God lit […]
Sneak Peek: Dot by Dot
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: “The Journey towards Finding Your Writing Voice” and “Connecting the Dots.” Believe it or not, […]
Sneak Peek: Lori Hatcher’s Workshop, “The Day I Wanted to Quit”
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 only comments you receive are from your mother […]