called by God to write Archives - Dennis Conrad Author

Diamond Valley Writers’ Guild Presentation

“Writing for the Children’s Market” – Giving Back

I have spent a career helping others learn to speak and write well. From personal experience, I like to say, “There is nothing more exciting for a teacher than to watch students’ preverbal light bulbs go on.”

I remember being at writers’ conferences as speakers shared what they knew. I became a better writer as a result of listening to and learning from their lessons.

Have a story worth telling? Consider a children’s book. I will introduce the audience to the world of writing for children. Learn about appropriate language for different levels of children’s books. Open the poet’s treasure chest to discover found poetry and how to avoid rhyme crimes. Write more. Find out where to publish. Explore the resources available for continuing education.

Join me this Saturday! It is my turn to give back.

My hope is the bulbs will light up this coming weekend. Join me and the members of the Diamond Valley Writers’ Guild as I speak to the group.

When: This Saturday, June 26, 2021

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Where: On Zoom

What: “Writing for the Children’s Market

To participate in this motivating discussion NON-MEMBERS please request a Zoom invitation. Please contact [email protected]

Answered Prayer Atop the Tree Stump

My wife and I were in our Barstow, California, home the end of May 2017.

The house was in escrow, and most of the household goods had been given away, donated, or readied for loading onto a U-Haul truck.

Late one afternoon, after a day of packing, I left my wife inside reading on the couch. I went into the backyard and climbed onto the stump of what was once a massive pine tree. That is when I began praying with my palms up. I looked out over the house we had owned over a decade. “Lord, this has been your house. Thank you for letting Diane and me use it for a time.”

My mind filled with fond memories. Leaving friends and neighbors was going to be bittersweet…

I asked the Lord for direction. “I am open to what you have for me. What do you want me to do with the rest of my life?”

I heard the Lord’s voice. “Write for me.”

We had a casual conversation, and I agreed to write for him.

By January 2018, I had started writing and began participating in different read-and-critique groups. A few months later, I joined the Diamond Valley Writers’ Guild. Later, I was invited to serve on the board of directors. I read books on the craft of writing, subscribed to Writer’s Digest, and joined Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild. My poems and personal essays started to get published.

I see this website as the next phase in writing for the Lord. For example, every day I am challenging people to pray for Wisdom. Won’t you join me?

Please leave me your comments below.