WRITING FOR RELIGIOUS & INSPIRATIONAL MARKETS

As a writer, don't you dream of touching the lives of children, of offering them hope for a better future? As author Barbara Steiner once said, "Writing for children is the toughest of all writing because children's books change lives. . . . Kids take stories to heart, believe them, and reread them if they have touched their spirits." You, too, can touch a child's spirit through your writing. You can use your writing talent to inspire and help and encourage. One of the best things writers can give children through their writing is a sense of hope. This spring, the Highlights Foundation will repeat the successful workshop "Sharing Our Hope: Writing for Religious and Inspirational Markets." Workshop presenters Kristi Holl and Paula Morrow will help you determine where your own writing fits into the spectrum of religious, spiritual, Christian, inspirational, and crossover writing; learn how to write strong characters who are believable and multifaceted, yet flawed enough for kids to identify with; learn how to infuse tension into your characters, plot, settings, and dialogue; explore inspirational market guides, plus discuss books especially for inspirational writers; participate in discussions on surviving the writing life — and thriving — plus self-care for writers; and understand and learn to deal with "gatekeepers": parents, gift-givers, librarians, editors, and agents. The workshop is a perfect Christmas gift for a writer you know—or for yourself! We hope you will join Paula Morrow and Kristi Holl for "Sharing Our Hope: Writing for Christian and Inspirational Markets." This Highlights Foundation workshop will be held at The Barn, outside of Honesdale, PA, March 27-30, 2014. Paula, long-time editor of children's books and magazines at Cricket Magazine Group and Cricket Books, currently has an independent editing service. She has served as a book reviewer for the national Church and Synagogue Library Association, advisory board member for The Little Christian magazine, and a voting member on a number of awards committees, including the Newbery. Kristi is a Children's Choice Award-winning author, and has written 42 books for children, and much more. She taught writing for children and teens for the Institute of Children's Literature for twenty-five years. She is the author of two books for writers: Writer’s First Aid and More Writer’s First Aid. To register now or for more information, call Jo Lloyd at 570-253-1192 or e-mail her at jo.lloyd@highlightsfoundation.org.