Introducing... Back in the day, NHL player Jacques Plante wrote letters to a kid in Canada, giving him tips on the game. That kid grew up to be Sue Irwin’s husband. When she learned about this collection of letters, Sue decided to write a book about hockey safety....
Write2Ignite
Craft Secrets from Patricia Raybon
Are you looking for a few more craft secrets? Patricia Raybon has several to consider. Over ten years ago, I met Patricia Raybon at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. I’ve followed her ever since. Recently, I attended a webinar presented by Writing for Your...
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 13: Bob Smiley
Introducing... They say never meet your heroes. But I made an exception. Bob Smiley has been making me laugh since I was a kid reading the Clubhouse Magazine. I’ve seen almost every standup special he’s made. But when I read Average Boy’s Above Average Year, I became...
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 12: Daniel Blackaby
Introducing... As a fourth-generation author, Daniel Blackaby knows a thing or two about legacy. His grandfather wrote the impactful book “Experiencing God.” Every Christmas break, Daniel re-reads the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Legacy and cultural impact are always on...
Waiting Well
Waiting Well Years ago, I mentioned to a writer friend that I have trouble waiting well on God's timetable with my writing. It seems my plans and God’s plans are often out of sync. Even when I see evidence of God's favor on my writing, I wonder how I missed his...
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 11: Emily Golus
Introducing... Fantasy has the power to change someone. When C.S. Lewis read Phantastes by George MacDonald, he said it “baptized his imagination.” For Emily Golus, Vindor helped her with her anxiety. Now, the mother of two has three books set in the land of Vindor,...
Blog Strategies for Authors
As an author who writes for children, are you also a blogger with questions about what strategies you should incorporate into your blog? If so, in this post I gathered information from Celebration Web Design’s website to help answer some of those questions....
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 10: Donna Thornton
When her mother retired and started a raspberry farm, Donna Thornton found her hundred-acre wood. Starting with a baby donkey named Druplet, Donna wrote a picture book as a gift for her mother. This led to a publishing contract, another picture book, and another.
My Nine Writing Lessons From the Grand Prix Race
So, there you have it. My nine writing lessons from my Grand Prix adventure. What helps you stay on track in this race we call writing?
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 9: Anna Raats
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 9: Anna Raats Introducing... Since 2009, Anna Raats has worked for Ambassador International. From designing the interiors of books, to becoming the Chief Operating Officer of the publishing company, Anna knows a thing or two about...
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 8: Cindy Lynn Sawyer
Introducing... When Cindy Lynn Sawyer wrote The Wonder of Under, she stopped short of hiring an illustrator. After all, the cost of hiring someone to illustrate your picture book is the most expensive part of self-publishing a picture book. So you can imagine her...
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 7: Jarm Del Boccio
Introducing... Jarm Del Boccio firmly believes in telling children stories that deal with trials and hardship. But never brutality. In her Middle Grade novel “The Heart Changer” she tells a story based on the Biblical account in 2nd Kings 5 of Naaman the Leper....
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 6: Brenda B. Covert
Introducing... When Brenda Covert took one of our Master Classes taught by Laura Sassi, she immediately had the idea for Meanwhile, Back at the Manger . A few years later, she finally has a picture book to call her own. A fun re-telling of the birth of Jesus,...
The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 5: Lori Z. Scott
Introducing... When Lori Z. Scott won the Christy Award in the Young Adult category, she hadn’t prepared a speech. She never thought she would win, and she almost didn’t go to the ceremony. But this wasn’t unusual, because Lori Z. Scott never wanted to write Offsides...
Similarity Between PT and Writing
Several years ago, I went to physical therapy. While I exercised, I was struck by the similarity I discovered between physical and writing.
The Write2Ignite Podcast Ep. 4: Carolyn Bennett Frasier
For every general market book written by Carolyn Bennett Fraiser, there is a companion book in the educational market. Was this an accident, or God’s plan? In this episode, I sit down with Carolyn to discuss what the educational market is, and how to break into it....
The Write2Ignite Podcast Ep. 3: Laura Sassi
If anyone was qualified to write stories for children, it would be Laura Sassi. She has worn many hats through the years: a mother, a homeschooler, a teacher, and a children’s ministry director. She also wore a special hat for our podcast episode! With over ten books...
Writers and Humility
As Christian writers, how do we promote our work with humility in a God-honoring way, without being pushy and in-your-face about it?
Should Your Narrator be a Character?
It’s an honest question. Obviously, if you are writing first person POV, then this does not apply to you. Of course your narrator should be a character. Otherwise, it ain’t first person! But what about third person? Should your narrator have a distinct personality?...
Is Your Writing a Good Fit?
If we use the writing armor God gave us to write for God’s glory, whatever we write, will always be a good fit.
Two Kinds of Children’s Books
There are two kinds of children's books: the kind that grownups want children to read and the kind that children want to read. As adults, we may be tempted to write the first type of book. The kind that gets Newberry and Caldecott medals. The kind that ends up on...
We Take the Land of Writing Little by Little
We take the land of writing little by little. Just as the Israelites did when they entered the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt.
Writing for the Ear
In my multimedia journalism class, our professor talked about “writing for the ear.” If you’re unfamiliar with the term, writing for the ear is when you write something that is meant to be spoken or performed rather than read silently. My Shakespeare professor taught...
Is Your Writing Hidden From View?
Sometimes, we might feel as if our writing efforts, and God’s favor on them, are stuck behind a cloud, hidden from view.
Review of Guess Who Is in God’s Family
In Karen Ferguson’s newest picture book, Guess Who Is in God’s Family, Papa Joe once again opens God’s Word to satisfy Lucy’s curiosity about her family. Papa Joe explains God’s creation of the very first family, and that we all came from this first family in gentle,...
The Craft of Prewriting
There is nothing more painful as a writer, than staring at the blank page, with your mind even blanker. Some people call this writer’s block, some people say writer’s block doesn’t even exist. But neither of these offers a solution. Today, I’ll offer mine: prewriting....
Art Must be Communal
Last week started with the Super Bowl and ended with Valentine’s Day. This Super Bowl was the most watched one yet, and while Valentine’s Day is on a downward trajectory, it is still celebrated by more than half of Americans. This is good. As a country that can feel...
Why Can’t Everything be a Masterpiece?
Last year I watched 52 movies, and read 48 books. But I didn’t like them all. Some movies I hated. Some books I rolled my eyes at, or finished with the thought of “Finally. Now, I can read something good!” As I finished the year reading A Christmas Carol, I was struck...
Axe Throwing and Writers
Axe Throwing Have you ever participated in axe throwing? I have. Multiple times, and I love it. There's even a World Axe Throwing League. Who knew? Hurling axes at a wooden target and scoring multiple bull’s eyes, what's not to love? Of course, there are just as many,...
What the Wisemen Can Teach us About the Epilogue
It always bugged me that depictions of Christ’s birth show the wisemen there alongside the shepherds. It just isn’t very accurate. Matthew 2 says that “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea…Magi from the east came to Jerusalem” (emphasis added). While I...
I Have Been Writing for Half of my Life. Here’s What I Learned.
By the time you are reading this blog, I will officially be 30 years old. A lot has happened in the first three decades of my life. Some things haven’t happened as quickly as I wanted to. Others happened before I was ready. But’s that’s another blog for another time....
A Turkey for Thanksgiving Book Review
A Turkey for Thanksgiving, by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Diane de Groat, is the perfect picture book to read for Thanksgiving.
When Your Writing Becomes a Side Hustle
When did you know that your writing had become more than just a hobby? For me, it was when my mother said these words: “I think you should focus on making money with your writing.” It was after I had pitched her my idea of an AI-generated graphic novel about a recent...
Exploring the Art of Plotting Part Two
Today I’ll cover several writing nuggets DiAnn shares about the power of setting, story pacing, and developing a writer’s voice.
Listening to Music While Writing
I have a Spotify playlist called “In Case of Emergency, Hit Play.” These aren’t Christian songs for when my heart is in anguish. That’s a different playlist. No, this kind of emergency is strictly a writer’s problem. Whether it is writer’s block, or just a tight...
What is so Exciting About the Inciting Incident?
I’ve got about a dozen unfinished stories. When I look back to see why I gave up on the story (sometimes mid-sentence), I discovered most of them died out around chapter three. I was shocked. What was so hard about chapter three? Why would I give up so easily? As I...
Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling Part 4.
It’s the final installment! If you have ever researched rules in storytelling, you may have come across the famous Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling. This came from a 2011 tweet from a Pixar employee who realized there were 22 written (and unwritten) rules they...
Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling Part 3.
If you have ever researched rules in storytelling, you may have come across the famous Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling. This came from a 2011 tweet from a Pixar employee who realized there were 22 written (and unwritten) rules they implemented on every story....
I Dream a Dream for You Book Review
I Dream a Dream for You by Bob Hostetler is a sweet board book of bedtime rhymes to read to little ones. This love-filled picture book of dreams and hopes can be shared with the toddlers and young children in your life. REVIEW Full of bold illustrations, I Dream a...
Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling Part 2.
If you have ever researched rules in storytelling, you may have come across the famous Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling. This came from a 2011 tweet from a Pixar employee who realized there were 22 written (and unwritten) rules they implemented on every story. While...
The Value of Critique Groups
How can critique groups inspire us as writers? Last year, Kathy O’Neill’s blog post shared the importance of critique groups through highlighting Bandersnatch: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings. I absorbed her article, grabbed...
Don’t Give Children Nightmare Fuel
Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 1st Peter 5:8 CSB I walked into the kitchen, and there, tied up and in a pot, just waiting to be boiled, was my family. Yoda...
What Writers Can Learn from Dolly Parton
Okay, you may have been hesitant with my article What Writers Can Learn from Walt Disney. You may have seen the Peanuts comic strip in a new light with What Writers Can Learn from Charles Schulz. But Dolly Parton? Surely, Kyle, you’re taking this thing too far! But...
What Writers Can Learn from Charles Schulz
By now, you’ve probably seen Linus tell Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about, seen Snoopy reunite with his brother Spike, and felt empathy for poor Rerun who is probably still stuck on that bike. For many, it’s tradition to watch the Charlie Brown Christmas...
What Writers Can Learn from Walt Disney
Out of the 62 animated films from the Walt Disney Company, only 8 are original ideas, and 2 of those were propaganda films made during WWII to help strengthen our relationship with South America. Everything else was based on either a book, mythology, poems, folk...
The Best Novel Written by ChatGPT
The Two Lives of Ezekiel Van Cleef is the greatest novel ever written by AI. Why? Because I helped write it. While this sounds arrogant, I think any novel that has 10% of the writing done by a human is better than any novel written 100% by AI. In fact, productivity...
W2I Chapter Books Master Class Review
Last Saturday’s Write2Ignite Master Class on Writing Chapter Books was a big hit. We had the largest attendance we’ve had thus far, and our teacher Marianne Hering did a fabulous job! It is such a joy for me to gather with other Christian writers whether live or via...
Book Review: The First Unicorn by Kathleen J. Shields
“And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.” (Isaiah 34:7 KJV) If you ever come across this verse in the King James Bible, it might give you some pause....
How to Create an Audiobook by Amy Earls
Young woman broadcasting in a studio, close up When I was nine years old, my sister and I pulled out our dad's cassette player and recorded our first radio show. I wrote the script and songs and we practiced before performing. We had a blast (or at least, I did. Hard...
50 Tips to Becoming a Self-Published Author
When I first decided I wanted to become a published author, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. If someone had told me the amount of steps it'd take, I might've run back to my room and stuck to being a college professor only for the rest of my life. But I...
How to Use ChatGPT (the Write Way)
Writing a novel with ChatGPT is exhausting. I should know, for I just spent the last few months doing so. But that’s for another blog post. Today, I want to talk about how people are using ChatGPT the wrong way. If you ask ChatGPT to write you a novel, it will likely...
The Best Writing Tip for Beginners
There was a man who worked at a factory who made some stuff. Let’s be honest. If this was an opening line, you’d close the book, put it back on the shelf and ask, “How did THAT ever get published?” But what if I told you this line could be fixed by using one simple...
Interview with Author Jenelle L. Schmidt
The Orb and the Airship, by Realm award-winning author Jenelle Leanne Schmidt, is an adventurous tale about a rogue airship captain, an ambitious youth, and a clash of powers beyond their imagination. The first in a series, The Orb and the Airship was released on June...
Use Project Gutenberg for Research
What do carpet beetles, Plato, and the diary of a politician from the 1600s all have in common? You can find all of them on the website Project Gutenberg for free. If you are unfamiliar with the website, buckle up—we are diving into the public domain! Read more: Use...
Do I Need a Degree to Be an Author? Plus, Top Ten Virtual Writing Programs
An English program can provide a structured environment for learning from experienced professors and receiving feedback on your work. However, an English program can be expensive, and the financial investment might not lead to financial gain. There are other paths to...
Don’t be Original.
“What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9 HCSB).” As a writer, I find this passage extremely depressing. Not only does it rhyme like a pessimist's Dr. Seuss, but it also means no...
Relinquished Dreams: Sometimes the Secret to Success is Letting Go by Amy Earls
"Mommy, there's a biwd in awe house!" "A real bird?" "Mommy, come quick. Daddy lef the doow open. It's in awe liveen woom." I leapt out of bed and followed my five-year-old into the living room where a blue Western Scrub-Jay ruffled the window blinds and house...
When a Story Becomes an Idol by Kyle Morgan
Story ideas are a lot like babies: no one knows where they come from. If you’re a writer, you know a story idea can hit you when you least expect it. Just as you drift off to sleep, or reach for the shampoo in the shower, or even while someone is talking to you at a...
Find Some Ivory Tower Time to Create
An ivory tower is often defined as a place where a person is cut off from the responsibilities of the world so they can pursue their own interests without interruption. Creative people may sometimes long for a perfect ivory tower where they can spend endless,...
Improving the Spaces Where We Create
Ways to Improve our Creative Space
New Master Class in April 2023
On Saturday, April 22, 2023, Write2Ignite is offering Hooks, Queries and Proposals: Angling to Land a Contract with Master Teacher Kim Peterson.
Finding the Higher Purpose for Our Creative Work
Michelangelo was a super star in his own day, but as a Christian, he knew his work had a higher purpose.
First Graders Show How To Weave It All Together
The skill of sighting helps weave all drawing skills together to make a unified whole.
Exploring Spaces to Gain New Perspectives for Your Writing
Noticing spaces gives us new perspectives for our writing
Slow Down and Discover Rich Details
Contour drawing slows us down and frees us up to explore details that breathe life into our story’s characters and settings.
Writing Devotions: It’s More Than Just a Message
Along with the devotions, there are Family Beatitudes: biblical blessings for happy families, Chat Prompts: conversations starters, Wrap Up: discussion ideas…and more! Writing devotions for children has an exciting caveat: we get to write lots of fun stuff to go along...
The Right Amount to Write
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay All around the internet, at writer’s conferences, and in any gathering of literary minded folks, you’ll find writers of all genre and for all ages asking this question: “Is it important to write every day?” As this year comes to a...
Young Adult Blog Posts You May Have Missed
Leading up to our YA Master Class on September 18, we published several blogs to help you write young adult books. In case you missed some of them, here they are. Dealing with hard topics in Christian YA fiction by Ellice Wong "As Christian writers who aim to...
Websites for YA Writers
Compiled by Jean Matthew Hall If you would like to read up on writing for young adults before our September 18, 2021 Master Class with Tessa Emily Hall here are a few helpful website. Some contain quick tips. Some go into much more depth. They are handy resources for...
Bullet Journaling: Organizing Your Writing Life in the New Year
Are you looking forward to a New Year with no mistake (to paraphrase Anne of Green Gables)? Have you been searching for another way to keep track of all your writerly progress? Enter THE BULLET JOURNAL!! It's a unique method for organizing your life - no matter what...
Reflections from a Fiction Master Class by Jarmila Del Boccio
Our logo truly became a reality to me last Saturday as I attended the online Fiction Master Class taught by the gifted Joyce Moyer Hostetter. Not only has she written a popular MG Historical fiction series, but she is able to impart her knowledge of writing to her...
5 Tips for Using and Understanding Literal and Metaphorical Language, Part III by Deborah DeCiantis
TIP #3 Don’t avoid tough literal situations by referring to them only as metaphors. Taking literal language metaphorically is equally problematic. Kids can be masters of metaphor. Ask “Didn’t I tell you not to play in the mud?” and they...
How to Survive the Sinking of the S.S. CHRISTIAN MARKET
The high seas of the writing industry are tumultuous at best with raging competition and a strong current of marketing demands. Within the last few years, one of these waves has taken the Christian fiction market to a low. As a result, publishing houses are...
Book Nook: By Way of Introduction
If you read good books, when you write, good books will come out of you. Maybe it's not quite that easy, but if you want to learn something, go to the source. -- Natalie Goldberg Hello everyone, My name is Karley Conklin, and I’m a new blogger for Write2Ignite. I've...
The Finishing Touch
Here's a sneak peek at conference presenters with descriptions in their own words. We'll be posting a teaser page each Monday. To register, visit: https://peachpuff-wasp-119435.hostingersite.com/registration-2019/ Vijaya Bodach - Writing a Book that’s...
Looking for an Afternoon Pick-Me-Up? **PLUS A GIVEAWAY**
Here's a sneak peek at conference presenters with descriptions in their own words. We'll be posting a teaser page each Monday. You still have time to take advantage of the Early Bird Discount. To register, visit: https://write2ignite.com/registration-2019/ Kim...
Let’s Get the Juices Flowing!
Here's a sneak peek at the Conference sessions, described by the presenters themselves. Watch for new "teaser" posts each Monday. You still have time to take advantage of the Early Bird Discount....
Finding Inspiration
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...
Overcoming a Writer’s Fears by Attending Conferences
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,...
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...
Giveaway Contest: Week 4!
U PDATE: Congratulations to Maria Faust Bostian, the winner of our Week 4 contest! This week's contest is open to everyone! All you have to do is answer this question: what has been your most memorable experience at a Write2Ignite conference? If you haven't attended a...
Contest: Teen Track Comments Wanted!
UPDATE: Congratulations to Jenna Turner, the winner of our teen contest! Keynote presenters, workshop choices, editor and agent appointments, professional critiques, and contests---these benefits are available to both students and adults who attend the Write2Ignite...
Run into Writing
I love it when activities in my life work together for good . That is the way I feel about my running and w riting. One seems to feed the other. When I am out running, my mind clears and I relax . It is the time when I am most ready to listen. I’m not sure...
Dusty Old Writing
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...
Preparing for a Writers’ Conference
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....
The Child’s Voice in Writing
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...
Seven Things for Children’s Writers to Do
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...
‘Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant’
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...
Interview with Angelika Martin
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...
Online Connections for Christian Children’s Authors
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...
Become a Better Writer
We know that authors should read, read, read in the genre they write. So, for example, if you aspire to being a children's fiction author, you should read tons of children's fiction. If you want to write devotions for teens, you should read lots and lots of devotions...
Finding the Elusive Balance
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....
Do you have a brag?
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...
Where is your writing place/space?
Do you have a special place where you like to write? What makes it work for you? Kathleen M. Muldoon wrote a chapter in her book Sowing Seeds: Writing for the Christian Children's Market about the importance of setting up a place to write. Here are the first few...
What Can I Expect to Gain at Write2Ignite?
A beginning writer's wish list before attending a writer's conference: An editor will fall in love with my manuscript and give me a contract on the spot. Lots of other writers will read my manuscripts and polish them so they shine. Many editors will recognize my...



















































































