Jean,<br />Good to hear that you are having so much fun with Donna&#39;s challenge. Browsing at a book store for ideas--good way to brainstorm.<br /><br />Linda Andersen

Really fascinating research! I loved reading about what you found out there. It&#39;s so time consuming to do this sort of &quot;inventory&quot; and yet it is truly revealing.<br /><br />Thanks for putting forth that effort and for sharing.<br /><br />Totally baffling to me about the princess thing. My granddaughter had a non-fiction picture book for older readers about real life princesses.

I think your Princess Olivia story tops them all! But now I know what you were put to when you were scouring the B&amp;N shelves on Saturday. <br />Go for the alien-robot idea. It&#39;ll take you and your imagination to new heights!!

Thanks for sharing your market research. Really great information to have for my writing students. And moi! ;o)

Thanks for the comment, Linda. It&#39;s amazing how MANY children&#39;s books are nonfiction now. Every topic you can imagine. And on every &quot;reading&quot; level.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Joyce,<br /><br />Little girls will ALWAYS love princesses and their stories, I guess. But all that pink made my thoughts wander toward Pepto-Bismal!<br /><br />Jean

Carol - <br /><br />So, you like my alien-robots, huh? So does my 7 year old grandson. He told me Tuesday to finish the story. &quot;You can do it, Meme.I KNOW you can!&quot;<br /><br />My own little cheerleader!<br />Jean

Thanks, Clara for leaving a comment. I&#39;m glad the info is helpful.<br /><br />May I add your blog to my Writers&#39; Resources page?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Jean

Thanks for the post. I had been looking for something related and found your web site in the process.I will definitely be back for more.

heehee... I like your new idea! How are your pitches coming along?

Thanks, Donna.<br /><br />I guess I&#39;d better do a little more &quot;in the field&quot; research on robots and aliens with my resident expert (he&#39;s 7 years old.)<br /><br />Jean

Thank you, SS. I&#39;m glad you found me. Drop in anytime!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

All things are precious in his sight as are you.

Beautiful post, my friend... and soooo true!

And guess what is most amazing-- we are precious in His sight too!! Thanks of your encouragement.

Thank you, ladies - good friends!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Jean, that is one of the lovelier flag photos I&#39;ve seen this 4th!<br /><br />Praying for America and the rest of our earthly home.

Thanks, Joyce. My trusty little Nikon!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

I love your opinion and since I can&#39;t write it more eloquently than you have...may I just make it mine??? Very well said Jean. I&#39;m going to save this in case I&#39;m asked to speak on this topic at w2I and then quote you!!! Hugs.

oh, didn&#39;t my post get saved? I just FB&#39;d this for you. Loved this post. Will reference it at W2I. you said it all very well.

Thanks, Carol!<br /><br />Quote away!<br /><br />Jean

Hi Jean,<br />I&#39;ll do my best. I like that the cat&#39;s teasing you to watch her perform. I can tell you enjoy watching too. Why not make this less formal and more playful by taking out the complete sentences and using phrases instead. What if the cat gives a command/a challenge in the title that begins the poem with active voice? Drop the Ing verbs. Instead of Cat Watching, what about

Ah, I really do like! Love all the verbs here. So much action in a short space!<br /><br />By the second line I was expecting a companion to the first one, in terms of rhythm. But it felt as if there were missing syllables. I am not really certain that there&#39;s a problem. But it felt off to me because I anticipated something different.

Not too shabby! ;) <br /><br />I think the first sentence is fantastic. <br />&quot;She tippy-toe upon the tops of fence posts&quot;<br /><br />The &quot;straight and tall&quot; part threw me a bit. Is the cat straight and tall as she tip toes or are the fence posts? <br /><br />You could cut that last part out.<br /><br />She tippy toes upon the tops of fence posts.<br />She stretches,yawns and

Yipeee! Thanks, Linda, Donna and Joyce. Your ideas give me a lot to think about.<br /><br />Back to my word processor!<br /><br />Jean

can&#39;t tell if you got my comment or not. ANyway, the only line that bugged me was the last. I was expecting a rhyme and it wasn&#39;t there. GOod try. and now I&#39;ve probably posted this twice!

I&#39;m not a poet at all, so I can&#39;t really help. I love the description, though!

Thanks, Vonda!<br /><br />I so NOT a poet, but trying to learn how to do a decent job of it.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

I got you covered, Carol. Posted only once.<br /><br />I need to work on that &quot;almost rhyme&quot; don&#39;t I?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Jean

Jean,<br />This was an interesting post and video and it got me to thinking about being a Christian writer. I also saw that Nathan offers other free videos about writing. I plan to check them out too. Thanks for sharing his views and yours. Most of the writing I&#39;ve had published has been Christian. The way I see it, I remain a Christian even when I am not writing/marketing to Christian

I never thought of that definition - the whole idea of questioning faith. But I think it&#39;s a great way to put it.<br /><br />I usually think of Christian fiction as being a marketing designation. In order to be published by a Christian publisher, sold in a Christian bookstore or put into a church library it is expected to express a Christian world view and not to offend the potential audience

I don&#39;t know that I can add to what you already said Jean. Well put! I think this would be a great workshop for W2I!

Jean:<br /> I am at a standstill on a &quot;Christian&quot; story. You have given me somethings to think about. Thank you.

Linda, <br /><br />Your differentiation is interesting. A Christian who writes doesn&#39;t necessarily write for the Christian market. A Christian writer does.<br /><br />Hmmm. Now I&#39;m thinking.<br /><br />Jean

Linda, <br /><br />Your differentiation is interesting. A Christian who writes doesn&#39;t necessarily write for the Christian market. A Christian writer does.<br /><br />Hmmm. Now I&#39;m thinking.<br /><br />Jean

Joyce, <br /><br />I agree, I usually think of &quot;Christian fiction&quot; as a marketing device, also. The same with genre titles for the most part. They help booksellers and librarians classify the titles in some logical fashion.<br /><br />I know 7 year-olds and 16 year-olds who enjoy MGs. The labels we use are often just &quot;handles&quot; to simplify the logistics.<br /><br />Thanks for

Carol - <br /><br />A workshop? Maybe something for /A Day Apart/?<br /><br />Thanks!<br />Jean

Dear QS,<br /><br />Put that mss away for a week or so and just think about it. Ask yourself a few &quot;what-if&quot; questions. I&#39;m betting your brain will find the right way through that block.<br /><br />Thanks for dropping in.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

Good post, Jean. I&#39;m pondering that question every time I write. I think that being a Christian writer means that I don&#39;t write anything that would eventually cause someone to stumble in their walk or push them away from God. That doesn&#39;t mean I have to write something explicity Christian, but I can choose to NOT write something that is explicity unChristian. <br /><br />That was as

Wise advice, Donna. Thanks for adding to the discussion.<br /><br />Jean<br /><br />It was clear -- nothing to do with mud. :-)

This is quite a thought provoking post. I too consider myself a Christian who writes and had always thought a Christian writer as one who writes primarily for the Christian market. However after reading your blog perhaps I have a different take. I suppose all we writers really want are well fleshed out characters with gripping conflicts. That said, is it really possible to separate our

hanks, Lisa, for leavin a comment and a question.<br /><br />I once told a Christian teacher I was couseling that, &quot;As Chrsitians we cannot separate who we are from what we do.&quot;<br /><br />I believe that applies to every vocation and avocation. <br /><br />How else will the world see Jesus if we do not live so that His power and love are on public display in our lives?<br /><br />

My Shield. wow. That is powerful imagery...and a true statement. I am thankful for His protection!

Thanks, Jean. Great way to start my morning!

I am so thankful, Jean, that the Lord is the lifter of our heads. Don&#39;t know what I&#39;d do without him. Your question about our deepest want is indeed thought provoking -- one that would be good to ask ourselves time and again to help keep us on track. Many blessings to you!

Jean:<br /> I love it when God speaks to me as a writer. Thank you for sharing these thoughts.

Jean,<br /><br />Great to have you back! Nothing is too hard for God. Nothing.

AMEN and welcome back!

Thanks, Linda and Carol. It&#39;s good to be back.<br /><br />Jean

Yay, Jean!! We need your words of encouragement!! Thanks for re-entering the blogosphere!<br />Love you!

YAYAYAY! When I got an email from your blog the other day, I was happily surprised...then sad when I realized it was an old post. But now, I&#39;m happy again! NEW Posts! YAYAYAYAY!!!! Can&#39;t wait. :)

Nice to see you back, Jean! Will look forward to all you have to share!

Thanks, Donna. Such a warm welcome!<br /><br />Thank you, too, Cheryl. I&#39;m enjoying your newsletter, too.<br /><br />I hope to get back to visiting other blogs on a regular basis.<br /><br />We need each other.<br /><br />Jean

I had the same reaction when I saw your email to me. Then to see it was an old entry. I knew you had an answer about it. Glad to know you are coming back to blogging.

I try, QS. So glad you left a comment.<br /><br />Blessings on your writing!<br /><br />Jean

Can&#39;t wait to be there and meet all the great teen writers!

Jean,<br />Thank you for your precious spirit.<br />Am going to an art festival this Saturday and sharing my booklet, &quot;Carol&#39;s Colorful Cats.&quot;<br />So little time for everything. Will try to do what God wants me to do. Have 2 editors interested in my writing so have to try to please them also.<br />Blessings!

Sounds like a powerfully forthright book. Thanks for sharing it.

very interesting Jean. Must have been a starting read. WHen I started reading your blog I thought this was going to be about our enemy, Satan. Something else to think about.

Carol,<br />When I saw the book and decided to review it I did so because no one else had reviewed it. So, I thought I would give it a shot. I must admit it was a difficult book to read. Not that the reading level or vocabulary was difficult--the subject matter was.<br /><br />Not my usual fare at my reading times.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Jean

you have a great blog, I have bookmarked it into my favorites as it has helped me alot in writing my <a href="http://www.dissertation-help.co.uk/literature_review.htm" rel="nofollow">literature review</a>. I wil also recommend it to my friends.Thank you

Thanks, Martha. I&#39;m glad this blog is helpful to you.<br /><br />Drop in often, please.<br /><br />Jean

Interesting post, Jean. Glad to see you back in the blogosphere again! Missed you.

Jean:<br /> I am always looking for information like this. Our church lost two members four days apart this past week. One was sudden. The other came too quickly for a friend who had Cancer.

Jean:<br /> I will still pray for you as you journey toward what God has for you. You have encouraged me when I was doubting my gift. Thank you for all the things you have done for us.

God bless you as well as your writing journey, Jean. I wish you all the best!

Jean,<br /><br />All the best to you. I&#39;ve enjoyed this blog and I&#39;ll miss it. But I know you&#39;ll continue to produce quality works with God&#39;s directives. So enjoy the new journeys.<br /><br />Linda A.

Jean, it is great that you have the Write 2 Ignite blog for when you do feel called to post again.<br /><br />I haven&#39;t been blogging much this summer either. There is so much to focus on every day. We just have to choose our priorities and clearly you are doing that. <br /><br />Bless you as you continue to pursue the things God is calling you to.

WE WILL all miss you, Jean. But your voice will still be heard on the W2I blog. I&#39;m glad you were able to figure out your priorities. That&#39;s a difficult decision for all of us to make. Lord&#39;s blessings on you.

We will miss this blog, but are so thankful for Write2Ignite! and your fabulous work there! Sometimes we have to narrow our focus and trim some things away. You are following God&#39;s leading, and that&#39;s always the best way!!<br />Love you!

Jean,<br />Thanks for your encouragement and sharing. You are so precious.<br />Blessings,<br />Jan

We&#39;ll miss you, but I know exactly what you mean about changes. We just can&#39;t do it all! Blessings on all your projects!

Blessings to you Jean. I wish you well as you begin a new journey. Peace be with you, Buffy

Go for it Jean. It&#39;s wonderful to hear that you&#39;re feeling so inspired. <br /><br />I love to check picture books out by the stack. It&#39;s like a visit with an old friend

SOunds like you got double-use out of your volunteer time! I have found that working at school book fairs does the same. Glad it was such a good use of your time! And yes, educating ourselves is just one part of the looooong journey.

What a heavenly dare!!! I love it!!<br /><br />Thanks, Jean!

It&#39;s going to be so great!!! I&#39;m so proud of your entrepreneur-ness!!!<br /><br />Love and hugs!

Just prayed for God&#39;s bountiful blessing on your special day! I know writers will be encouraged by it!

Lovely! I especially like the moss under the pine. Thanks for sharing.

Jean, Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Blessings,<br />Jan

So glad you joined us, Jean - our group of poetry goddesses wouldn&#39;t have been the same without you! Thanks for such a wonderful write-up, and looking forward to seeing what creative wonders you come up with... :0)

It was great getting to know you and all the other writers over the weekend. I&#39;ve already got rough drafts of several new poems - so obviously I came home inspired!

Jean, I'm so glad we both got a chance to attend. What a privilege to learn from Rebecca. Did you get pictures of the cows in the pasture?

Glad to hear it was what "the doctor ordered"! Sounds like it was profitable on many levels. I'm glad for you.

Wow! Jean, you are so blessed. There are so many great events and I have so little money for them all. I pray and try to follow God's will. He is so awesome!