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 their own range of emotions, too. Nervousness Excitement Dread […]

“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. Science fiction writers read […]

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 paragraphs from Chapter 3, “In the Beginning”: The book […]

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 for programs and services we can offer throughout the […]

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 a journal for writers. Spend 30 minutes […]

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 legal to us and also free? Here […]

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 2008. Just how long is 10,000 hours? If you practiced full-time, 40 hours per […]

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 is new in children’s books. Keeping on top of that may include some things that surprise you, but they will be relatively simple […]

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 dreary; It rains, and the wind […]

A unit study is a great way for kids to learn about a topic that sparks their interest. It is also a great way for writers to share their work and use all that “extra” information your research uncovered that just wouldn’t fit into your final piece. Unit studies take one topic—anything from quicksand to […]

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 Write2Ignite! Conference Registrant,   The Team has been […]

Have you ever considered attending a writer’s conference? Whether you are a first-time attendee, a published author, a presenter, or even the conference director, you will leave blooming with these benefits. Fellowship – There is nothing like sitting in a room full of like-minded writers. The first time you do so, it may be difficult […]

Still on the fence about Write2Ignite? Here are a few reasons why you might want to register ASAP: Hear editors, agents, and successful authors and illustrators share tips in workshops and keynote speeches. Make appointments with editors and agents so you can discuss your manuscripts and ideas. Meet other writers and illustrators who can encourage you and possibly become critique partners […]

In my previous career as a human resources executive, one of my areas of responsibility was the management of our quality control programs. Phrases such as “Quality First,” “Do it right the first time,” and “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking” (Henry Ford), pervaded our corporate culture. But corporate America did […]

by Janice D. Green Are you polishing up all of your manuscripts? Do you have published works you can show? Both may be useful to you at the Write2Ignite! Conference 2016 (or any other writing conference you attend.) This post is to help you get them organized in a way for you to share them easily. […]

By Amy Parker At a book signing not too long ago, a woman approached and asked the seemingly innocent question I’m asked at almost every event. “So, how did you get published?”   Over the years, so many people have so generously provided guidance for my career, and I’m always happy to pay that forward […]

By Samantha Bell Do you have a picture book in the works? If so, you know they are a lot harder to write than most people think. Whether you’re just starting to write your manuscript or you’re in the final stages of revision, here are some things NOT to do: Do not write down to […]

Write2Ignite! 2016 is less than four weeks away! Do you feel the excitement building as I do? Are you ready? What do you need to do so you can get the greatest benefit from attending Write2Ignite! 2016? What should you put on your timeline for getting ready? Much depends on what you hope to get out of the conference, but the […]

by Tony Snipes When I was in the 3rd grade, Mrs. Wheatley, my teacher, gave my mother a warning: She said “Mrs. Snipes, we just can’t let his imagination run off with him.” My mom didn’t heed that warning…and it’s the reason why I still daydream today! One of my favorite daydream scenarios might actually […]

By this point in the process, you have lots of content and a good idea of where you’d like to take it. Today, let’s look at putting the pieces together. Now that you have a sense of how much content you can write about your topic, what size lessons fit it the best? Do you […]

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 writers will read my manuscripts and polish them so they will shine. Many editors will recognize my genius as a writer and beg me for more stories. I suppose […]

by Daniel Blackaby I have a serious confession to make… Ready for it? Promise you won’t tell anyone? Okay, here it is…I’m a fake author. You see, I get asked all the time: “What does it take to be a writer?” People that because I’ve published several books I’m a somehow a guru in all […]

Conference season is here. Perhaps you are registered for a writers conference, an especially good investment in your career. Before you had off for that event, you should consider the purpose of your writing. Here are three main categories of writing for children. 1 – Write to Entertain A good story is a wonderful kind […]

  I’ve heard pastors begin a sermon saying they followed this formula: “Tell them what you’re going to tell them; then, tell them; then, tell them what you told them.” Knowing human tendencies to forget, this can be good advice, especially when doctrinal truth is the subject. However, I frequently find myself marking off for […]

Conventional wisdom tells us that to be successful we should become adept at planning. Good planning helps us manage resources and minimize unexpected challenges. But life doesn’t always work out as we planned. We pour ourselves into a manuscript, but agents and editors are not interested. We finally receive that coveted contract, but sales are […]