Honest Officer, I Didn’t Know It Was a Law

By Keith Fisher

I have a confession to make. No, I haven’t committed any great sins recently, and there aren’t any warrants out for my arrest. I read grammar and style books. Well, that’s not quite, the right term. I skim them. But then, I would venture to say, so, do you.

You see I struggle with the English language. Not that I hate it or anything, it’s just hard for me. I used to think I missed it in the fourth grade, like math. Since I was at home with the mumps for awhile, I didn’t learn certain key elements. Consequently, I went through my life thinking I was stupid, when it came to fractions and decimals.

Later, in college, I had the opportunity to take an arithmetic course. It was basic stuff, and I was able to go through it at my own pace. When I reached the part about fractions and decimals, a light came on, and I understood everything from that point forward. I suddenly knew why I struggled with algebra. Combining numbers, or ciphering, (As Jethro on the Beverly Hillbillies, used to say), become joyful for me after that.

I’ve tried, since then, to learn the basics of English, (thinking I missed it in the same way I did math). It was tough. I began to wonder how I communicated at all. It was a miracle to me, that I could write it. As I struggled through the books, I began to realize I already understood this stuff, I just didn’t know the proper terms.

Now I know, it’s not me. I have a friend who calls herself a curmudgeon in matters of style and grammar. All my friends in my critique group seem to get it too, but I struggle, and I know others that do also. It’s not easy to remember the rules. While reading, Lapsing Into A Comma, by Bill Walsh, I realized styles are constantly changing. It’s no wonder I don’t get it sometimes. Then if you add the growing list of words and phrases I can’t use in the LDS market, I think I do pretty well.

When I got serious about writing, I admit, I was clueless about rules like subject/verb agreement, and the placement of commas, but we all have our own problems. Even my friend, the curmudgeon, had trouble with the whole lay/lie/lye thing. But when I look at my earlier manuscripts now, I’m amazed I did so well.

So, when I find a red mark from critique group or the spell and grammar check shows mistakes on my sentence, I relax. Most of the red marks are plot problems and a few comma discrepancies. When the self important spell checker says I made an error, I feel confident in knowing what I’m doing. Writing E-mail as one word, is not a crime when I say, “Sorry, I didn’t know it was wrong,” and I go back and fix it.

It’s hard to keep up with changing style regulations. There are hard and fast English and grammar laws that must be headed, but technicalities can bog you down. Most rules can be bent as long as I know the reason, I’ve learned to find out what’s wrong, and I change it. Basically, I’m still learning the language I write in, without knowing what I’ve been doing.

I’m grateful to have friends who know this stuff, and keep me in line. With their help, I’m getting better—I’m developing talents.

Don’t sweat the small things. Tell your story, and fix the grammar later. Good luck with your writing—see you next week.

Procrastination Grows

by G.Parker

Last month I told you how this month was going to be about finishing my NaNoWriMo and editing it. I was going to write every day and be so inspired and.... Well, it hasn't been happening.

Yesterday I came home from work with several items in mind to do. Start laundry, clean off my desk, write my blog, write on story. Well, things stalled out at the desk. I haven't really cleaned my desk in a LONG time. I've cleaned off the top, but not underneath. It was scary. I'm talking one big cob web in the bottom corner...ugh.

As a result? I didn't even get the blog written. I spent most of the afternoon and early evening cleaning and vacuming -- then we ended up going to a viewing and I had to Zumba.

Sigh.

This weekend we're traveling. I might get something done, but only if I take paper with me.

I tell ya, procrastination is real. What I need is an anecdote....

Inspiration From the Grave

(Originally posted April 4, 2006)

By Nichole Giles

This post was originally written in 2006, the day I started working on what is now "The Sharp Edge of a Knife." This book is complete, and is being typeset this week. Watch for a release announcement around the beginning of February.


Have you ever had a story idea that popped into your brain, and even though you didn’t have time to write the story, the idea stayed and stayed and stayed? Recently a story has been swimming around in my brain, its little head bobbing to the surface daily screaming, “Write me! Write me!”

I haven’t taken the time. I’ve been in the middle of several other projects and haven’t wanted to start a new one until I finished some of the others. So I’ve let it sit, and simmer, and stay, until I just can’t leave it alone anymore.

I haven’t finished my other projects, but I get the distinct feeling that my grandfather’s spirit is urging me, insisting that I write his story. Not his life story, although he led a truly interesting life. It will be the story of just one of the amazing things that happened to him, that he survived, and (can you believe it?) was able to tell his grandchildren. I’m thinking I’ll write it as nonfiction, although the additional freedom fiction would allow is tempting. The bottom line is, my grandfather wants me to write this story, and so I am going to start working on it today.

The minute I made the decision to go ahead with this project, I could feel my grandfather’s approval. It was as if his spirit was saying, “You write this story and I’ll make sure someone wants to read it.”

I got that eerie, “If you build it, they will come,” feeling. Should that have freaked me out a little? Maybe. I’ve given a lot of thought to death lately. Last week marked the anniversary of the death of my mother-in-law, who was very dear to me. My grandfather also died in April not many years ago. Now a fellow writer, one I didn’t know well personally except through his amazing work, will share this anniversary of death with those I love.

April is looked upon as a month of life. Spring, the season of blooming flowers and baby animals, and birth. But for me it is also becoming a poignant month of reflection. I have been reflecting on what my grandchildren will know about me. The things I choose to write can give them a glimpse into my life, my heart, and my soul. No wonder we’re taught to keep journals.

In the month of the anniversary of his death, my grandfather asked me to write his story. I think it’s about time someone did.

My Second Goal

by C. LaRene Hall

My second goal for the year is usually fairly easy for me at the beginning of the year, but after a while I get side tracked and preserving my physical health by doing all the things that I should such as exercise goes by the way side.

At first, this year I was having a difficult time because my treadmill was in the kitchen and because of Jack’s health, I couldn’t leave it down for easy access. It was in the way. That never works – if I have to get it ready for use, I never do it. At least I had a reason why I was ignoring its beckoning call. It was just too darn heavy to lift down and back up before and after each exercise session.

Last week I had my son move the treadmill into the family room where I can leave it down all the time. Now I have no excuse. The entire room has all my exercise stuff, and now I have no reason to resist the thing that my body needs. That was the plan.

Sorry, I must be human because I’m still resisting. I hardly ever go into the family room because we had to move the television and Jack’s chair into the living room. Now, I’m using the excuse that now there isn’t a television to watch. Guess what? When it was in the kitchen, there wasn’t a television. During exercising time, I usually read a children’s book. Since I write children’s books, I should be reading them. So what is my problem?

Beats me. I guess I’m not committed enough yet. This is something I have to do because later this year I have to walk on the treadmill for the doctor so I had better just get with it. I really have no idea why I’m not doing this because I know that I need to do it if I want to preserve my health. I’m eating healthy, just not doing the exercise part of this New Year’s Resolution.

Writing should also be a daily exercise. It’s something that is good for every writer. We might not want to do it, but it’s good for us.

Happiness is Believing

I am a student of happiness. It’s the one human emotion that fascinates me the most and I devour all material I can find on the subject.

Recently I read an excerpt from the book Curious? written by Todd Kashdan, Ph.D, that offers several suggestions on how to increase your happiness. This excerpt taught a concept I thought to be particularly pertinent for writers.

Very often we make wildly general statements about our abilities, or chance for success. We say things like “I’ll never make it as a writer until I can quit my job/my kids are grown/my spouse supports my dreams.” Our lists of excuses, or “never” statements, are as diverse as we are, and those lists can go on and on.

However, Dr. Kashdan suggests we can begin to make a change in such negative thinking by occasionally sprinkling in less immovable words, like “sometimes” or “maybe.” So we should say, “Maybe I can make it as a writer even while I’m working full time.”

The key here is believing. Happiness and believing in oneself are synonymous. We are not happy when we think our dreams are unachievable. However, if we can begin to sprinkle in these tiny suggestions of possibility—that perhaps we can be successful even in less-than-ideal circumstances—we will welcome more happiness into our lives.

Picture courtesy of Stockphoto, Pro

Like the flower that grows between the paving stones, happiness can be found wherever we believe it to be possible.

Six Thousand Four Hundred and Twenty

By Keith Fisher

My friend issued a writing challenge for the month of January. Like other writing challenges I resisted signing up. However, I started writing the sequel to my WIP and after seven days I have 6420 words.

To be fair, I plotted the book in December, before I started. I made research notes and I know where the story is going, but I started writing a week ago. On top of that, I am editing and re-writing my WIP. I was able to spend about seven hours yesterday on re-writes, and I feel wonderful today. I'm still not in the challenge, but I could be.

Writing is an interesting occupation. I got a phone call the other day from one of my writing friends. I'd just returned from the public library, and I’d checked out a few books. My friend asked me what I was doing. I replied that I was reading a list of baby names.

After a brief period of laughter, we noticed how interesting it was, that a writer would immediately conclude I was looking for names for my characters, not expecting a bundle of joy in my life.

Yes, we writers are an interesting bunch, and there are more of us each day. I picked up a bad habit recently. I eves drop on computer screens as I walk past them in the library. Many of those screens show a page full of manuscript, and I walk away, hoping I’ll finish mine first. Yes there is competition, but isn’t it fascinating that even with that competition, writers are more than happy to lend support to other writers?

I’ve attended a few book launch parties lately, and I watch my friends get publishing contracts. Some of them are so talented, they’ve found success in a fraction of the time I’ve spent, but I’m thrilled for them.

You might say. “Sure you are, but how do you really feel?”
My answer is of course I’m jealous, but my friends have stuck by me during some very low moments. They gained my love and loyalty the hard way. Therefore, I am thrilled.

There is advantage, however, to being the last unpublished writer in your critique group. I get to attend book launch parties and learn how to do them. I get to learn about publishing contracts and what to do after you sign one. More importantly I get to associate with the best writers in the field.

When I first got the urge to write, I pulled out a manual typewriter, and started banging away. I told a story that was in my heart, but having done poorly in school, my manuscript was terrible, and I never showed it to anyone.

Later, while working a stressful job, I came back to it. This time it was to relieve the pressure, but after I finished, I wanted my manuscript to be good. I wanted it to touch lives, but it sucked. Don’t get me wrong, the story was great. It was just written poorly.

Since then, I’ve spent thousands of hours in the pursuit of an acceptable manuscript. But when I’m in the zone, when I get caught up in the urgency of telling a story, then I remember why I started writing.

The other day, while writing the sequel, I imagined a character arguing with me. I’ve been writing about the protagonist and her developing feelings for a mother figure in her life. The other character comes to me and says. “It’s not fair. Why don’t you write about me? After all, I’m the real daughter, and I should get more of the story.”

Yes, we writers are an interesting bunch. Good luck with your writing—see you next week.

Oh by the way, I wrote about building a porch swing for my mother for Christmas. I thought you'd like to see the finsihed product. Minus the paint of course. I hurried to finish it. Now, she wants me to store it until spring.

Who is Your Inspiration?

by G.Parker

I finally got to watch the movie Julie and Julia this week with my family. Having grown up watching Julia Child and her cooking show, I have been anxious to watch the movie and see how it compared.

I was really impressed (except for the ending)—I loved the movie and now want to read the book.

My children all turned to me and said, "Mom! You could write a cooking blog." Sigh. I've already tried that. I'm sure there are people out there who will still make money from the blogging world, but I think the initial fascination with it has waned. I think in order to have a large following you have to be able to write with more humor than I'm capable of, and have an interesting life. Both of which I suffer a distinct lack of.

This doesn't keep me from writing, however. In fact, I have four blogs. There's this blog about writing, and my personal one called Musings From an LDS Writing Mom, where I talk about my personal life, writing and art. I have one for cooking, which is Frugal Mom, Gourmet Wannabe, where I put recipes that I like, and then a political one called Stupid is as Stupid does where I gripe when things get too frustrating with regard to our government.

This blog is a weekly commitment. I'm fine with that, I've had experience with trying to come up with two blogs a week and it was too much. My other blogs are when I feel like it. Those who are followers know that I'm sporadic at best. I used to not worry about it too much, because there weren't that many followers, and only a few commented. If you have seen the movie, there's a part where she says she wonders if anyone even reads her blog, besides her mother. I know that feeling. My family doesn't read mine, so I don't worry too much about what I say. I am also very careful not to mention names or ages or where we live. Have I mentioned that my husband is a computer tech and hates the internet? ’Nuff said.

Anyway -- once you see the movie, though, you get the itch. Anyone who has blogged knows what I mean -- the itch to write on a blog and share your thoughts with the void. Her inspiration was Julie Child. My inspiration has been the written word.

So, I'm going to start again. Part of the reason I wanted to see the movie was for the food. I love to cook. Much like Julia Child, one of my favorite things is eating. Food is an addiction, unfortunately one that I cannot fully be rid of.

My family suggested I catalog my weight loss efforts and the recipes I use and alter. (I rarely use a recipe.) That's something I can deal with, and perhaps it will help cement the changes I'm making for the future.

Who is your inspiration? Was there someone in particular that brought out the writer in you? Perhaps this is the month of new beginnings after all.

Bon Appetit!

Nightmares: Our Gift to Readers

By Nichole Giles


Finally, after months of having it on my list of things to read, I got around to finishing The Hunger Games and its sequel, Catching Fire. All I can say is, WOW! It’s disturbing, and intriguing, and…even romantic in places. But the bottom line is this is the kind of series that really, truly makes a person think.

In fact, since I started reading it, I’ve been thinking so hard about the whole concept that it’s kept me awake at night. Yeah, I know, pathetic, right? Or not.

Setting aside that this series is done in first person present tense—which was unusual until the last few years and is extremely difficult to pull off no matter how good of a writer you are—the way Suzanne Collins portrayed these characters, this world, and the whole situation, is so well written that it feels real enough to give me nightmares.

Yeah, nightmares. Because the entire story feels so freakishly real. And if it were real, what a frightening place and time to live. It’s enough to start a rebellion…

Right about now, I’m very tempted to discuss some things about the plot and characters, but I don’t want to spoil it for those of you who haven’t read it. All I will say is that I’d like to start a campaign to save *&^%# (not telling who, or I’ll give it away). Because I believe something about this person is very crucial to the ending of the entire series. Please! I know it can be done. (And if any one of my author friends is lucky enough to get their hands on an ARC of the next in the series, I’d like to be first in line to borrow it—unless I find some way to get my own. Suzanne? Let’s be friends!)

Enough about that. I actually do have a point besides praising the books. Reading this series has once again brought to mind several questions about my writing. Will what I’ve written get under the reader’s skin until they’re itching to read it over again just to make sure they understand it right? (Which I did with Catching Fire.) Will it affect their sleeping habits and keep them awake at night by the very reality of the fictional concept? (Probably part of the reason I haven’t slept well all week.) Will my characters stay in the readers’ heads for weeks after they’ve put the book down? (As I’m sure these characters will stay in mine.)

Or maybe I should combine all the questions into one, big, all-important point. Will what I’ve written change the way my readers think or feel or act? Will it affect their lives for the better?

I’m not saying everything we write needs to be this way. We can’t always write about dark, heavy, spiritual, or life-changing themes. But everything we write can potentially affect someone. Or many people. The question is will it be for the better? We, as writers, have the ability to inspire deep thought in our readers. What will we do with that gift?

It doesn’t matter if our audience is a little child with a picture book, or an adult reading complicated fiction, or nonfiction, or anything in between. The whole point of writing, and reading for that matter, is to voice what's in our hearts and heads and bring about an understanding of those thoughts.

What are your feelings? If you can potentially make one point that changes the world, or the people in it, what will that one point be?

Give it some thought, and have a great week.

Until next time, write on.

**Warning. I will not be around this week to answer questions or comment on comments, but I will be reading them, and I really want to know. Maybe your comment will spark a new blog topic in a couple weeks.

Expand My Horizons

By C. LaRene Hall

The first thing on my agenda for this year’s resolutions is to expand my horizons. I’m not sure if this means that I’m to increase my horizons or to work on developing them.

I have always loved quotes by Mark Twain and think this somehow fits here.

Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

This year I’m planning to travel with one of my daughters. We haven’t completed the plans yet, but they are underway. While I’m gone, I’ll explore and do lots of investigating for stories already started. There will be plenty of time to dream as well as discover new things.

I’m going to try other types of writing and see where that takes me. I love doing different things – I always want to go somewhere I’ve never been before. I hate doing the same things over and over. Different to me is good.

Tu Publishing

By Darvell Hunt

I recently pledged my support to help a local Utah editor start a new fantasy/sci-fi publisher. Starting January 1st, this new publisher is now seeking submissions for "multicultural fantasy and science fiction for children and young adults."

Check them out HERE.

The Road to Success

By Ali Cross

Recently I had two experiences that in tandem opened my eyes to where I am now as a writer and from whence I have come.

My husband, David, who started this writing journey with me—we both finished our first books on New Years Eve a few years ago—is reconsidering his decision to give up writing. He quit two years ago when I invited him to join my first critique group. We were hard on him, and he wasn’t ready yet, his writing too tender and fresh to face the harsh storm of critiquing.

Next, a friend of mine, who wants to be a writer, read one of my manuscripts. She came away feeling sad because she “could never write like [me].”

I remember the first critiques I got—how they made me feel sick to my stomach, made me cry, and made me doubt. You often hear how writers need to have thick skin, but what you don’t always hear is that writers aren’t usually born with that thick skin. We get it like an athlete builds calluses—from constantly exposing ourselves to judgment and growing tougher because of it. But you definitely have to be in the right frame of mind, to be mentally prepared for such lashings.

I also remember—particularly because it wasn’t too long ago—that I read a friend’s soon-to-be-published manuscript and finished it both incredibly pleased for my friend for writing such a fantastic book, and utterly depressed because I couldn’t imagine writing anything that good. However, now it seems the tables have turned, and my own writing is evoking such responses in would-be authors.

I realized, in consoling my friend and encouraging my husband, that the manuscript my friend read is one that’s been through at least ten major revisions. It stank to the high heavens in versions one-through-nine. Perhaps, now, at version ten, it’s finally starting to look its age, finally starting to make heads turn. But it certainly wasn’t born that way.


All of these experiences have brought me to a point where I can honestly say, with pride of ownership, that I am a writer, nay, I am an author. And I can also say with true sincerity, that anyone can do it as long as they’re willing to do the work and never, ever, give up.

You just need to try. You need to not give up. You need to get to a place where you are ready and able to hear and withstand the criticism of experienced writers. Then, you need to be willing and able to take what will help you move your story forward, and incorporate it. That means rewriting. Revising. And then you do it again.

So far, I’ve yet to write a novel that has reached completion. Until a manuscript is published, I imagine it can always be improved. I think this is the mark of a successful writer—because I do intend on being successful—to never stop seeking to improve our work.

No matter where you are in your writing journey, rest assured someone else has been there before you and gone on to great success. I’m happy that David has decided to step back into the game—I’m proud of him for not giving up on his dream. Hang in there and you’ll be successful too.

My Publishing Contract

By Keith Fisher

After hearing it quoted from, I asked for the book, Outliers for Christmas. According to the author, studies indicate 10,000 hours is the magic amount of practice required to master a skill to the point of excellence.

Of course the amount of talent possessed is a factor. Desire is certainly necessary, but ten thousand hours is the number. If we write 4 hours a day, and 6 days a week. That’s 2500 days, 416.667 weeks, and a little more than 8 years.

Let’s see, I’ve been dabbling in writing, really, since before my mission. Then I got more serious about it. I accepted it as an occupation in . . . Since then, I’ve written for about four hours a day, on average. Yep, I figure I’ve reached my ten thousand-hour mark and I can expect a contract anytime.

Are you laughing yet? Yes there is merit in practice, and I think I’m getting better, but it’s like everything else in life, once you learn something, you discover so much more you don’t know.

Before you, or I, get discouraged, remember, I said that talent and desire, are factors. Also, belief in one’s self, will get you published. We’ve all heard stories about authors who put in their ten thousand hours after being published. And there are far more, who got where they are through determination and hard work.

There is a famous quote that states. “Whatever a mind can conceive, and believe, it can achieve." Lately, I’ve become convinced of this, but I’ve also learned to depend on a higher power.

We can do it, you and I. I’ve never heard it said this way, but JK Rowling put in her ten thousand hours escaping the reality of being a divorced mother on welfare, into a world of wizards and magic. She was determined to get past rejection, and finally she had the right book at the right time, in the right place. Do you see a higher power at work here?

The Sorcerers Stone is a good story but not that well written. After more practice, (another ten thousand-hours), Rowling improved, the writing got better.

Keep practicing and plan for the day you sign that contract. Good luck with your writing---see you next week.

It's a New Day

by G.Parker

People tend to get a little crazy around this time of year. I know that I look at the calendar differently, excited for a new year to begin, (usually) and the old year to go away with all its trials and frustrations. Some years haven't been as bad, but I'm generally ready to leave it all behind.

Hopefully everyone realizes it's all psychological -- It's all in our minds. There wasn't really a difference between yesterday and today. There is no cosmic calendar that gets turned over while the angels gaze at the new days with wonder.

Calendars are the way man came up with to gauge/mark time. To manipulate and deal with the space of light between morning and night. I ponder on the human need for change when the seasons come around, and I recognize the need within myself.

I love the change of the seasons, and am usually ready for each change. Winter gets old, with the cold and the snow and the shorter days. Spring is exciting with the new flowers, bright colors and promise of new birth. Summer is a time when I'm too warm and wish there were a swimming pool in my back yard, and then Fall is my favorite with the changing leaves, cooling temps and promise of winter with snow.

I used to spend New Years Eve writing in my journal, catching up on the year (if I haven't been as faithful in writing) and pondering the days. I wasn't a popular girl and didn't have loads of dates, so I had lots of time on my hands.

Now that I'm married with children, we usually stay home because we don't have tons of friends who like to party. We have a family party, eat snack foods, play games and stay up to watch the ball drop, drink sparkling cider and then drop in bed.

I gave up on making New Year resolutions a long time ago. I never saw the benefit in them, and I generally broke them within a month or two. I figure that's a waste of time and effort. As I've grown older, I've seen the wisdom of making and keeping goals. Since that's done throughout the year, I don't see the new year as any different.

I do have goals for this new year though. I have a goal of editing my NaNoWriMo entry and getting my proof copy. I want to finish the editing of my critique group story and get it submitted. And, I promised my hubby I would work on and finish a different story this year. So...I have lots to do, plenty to work on.

Welcome to the New Year!! It's a whole New Day.

Experience 2010

By Nichole Giles

Right about now, probably half the people in the world are talking about resolutions and goals. And if they aren’t talking about them, they’re thinking about them. Why not? We’re about to jump into a new year and what better time to make goals or plans for your future?

But there are some things that are out of our control and as much as we’d like to make goals about publication or acquiring an agent, I think we’re better off planning for the things we can guarantee will happen. For instance, if we’re determined to find a publisher for our manuscripts, rather than make a resolution to get that contract, make a goal to submit to a certain number of companies. Rather than make a goal to lose a certain number of pounds, why not plan instead to do the things it takes to lose the weight? Like exercise four times a week and eat balanced meals. By planning things within our control we have the best opportunity for success. And every little success brings us more in control with the rest.

But enough about resolutions and goals. Instead, I’d like to know what fun things you plan to do for yourself and with your family in 2010. Will you go somewhere new? What new activity will you attempt for the first time? What new skill will you learn? What books do you plan to read?

These are the things I want to talk about right now. The fun things in life. The best things in life. The reason we’re here to live. All of these plans and experiences can be used in our writing.

For instance, the other day I was able to give blood for the first time in my life. The process itself was no big deal to me. I just didn’t look at the needle or the bag of blood as it filled, and I was fine. It wasn’t until after my arm was all bandaged and the nurse leaned my chair up into the sitting position that I passed out cold. And I stayed out for a good thirty seconds or so. Long enough for my husband to jump out of his chair to come over and save me from doing a face plant off the chair and onto the floor, for them to lie me back, and for a nurse to slap me repeatedly without me even knowing . It was an entirely new experience for me. I mean, I fainted once before, but not quite so severely and it’s been sixteen years since then. It was a good thing to experience, and something I plan to use in my writing.

Now on to the next new thing. What do I want to do next? Skydiving? Parasailing? Scuba diving? Swimming with sharks? Maybe skiing since I live in Utah? Climbing a volcano? Hm. Maybe I’ll try writing a whole novel backwards. Well, whatever it is, I have a whole year to figure it out. What about you? What new thing will you experience? I want to know about it.

Happy New Year! Now, go out and experience life and as always, write on.

Nichole

Resolutions

By C. LaRene Hall

Well, what do you expect two days before the New Year? What else is there to talk about?

Sunday in church, we had a great speaker who began his talk by making ALL of OUR Resolutions. I think he did this to point out the fact that no one can make choices for us. We each have to decide what changes to make in our own life.

As we are setting our new goals for the year, here are a few things that I might consider –
1. Expand my horizons.
2. Preserve my physical health by doing all the things that I should, such as exercise.
3. Be a truer friend.
4. Grow spiritually.
5. Pray to communicate.
6. Read scriptures.
7. Write something every single day.
8. Read a book every week, including some self-help ones that I usually toss aside.

The speaker on Sunday said to remember that we do have the right to change our resolutions if it’s not working. He reminded us to appreciate what little progress we make, and to be kind to ourselves. Also during the year, we should re-evaluate our progress.

I wonder how many days until I break all of my new resolutions. How about you? How soon will you change your mind and declare that it’s just too hard?

K. I. S. S.

By Darvell Hunt

If you can’t pitch your story to an editor in an elevator in ten seconds, you may need to refine the focus of your story. It may just be a matter of changing the way you look at your story, or it may not be that simple—but it needs to be.

Why? Because simple sells. If your idea is so simple that you can say it in ten seconds, yet is something that has never been done before and you do it well, your book will sell itself.

Sure, don’t forget to be creative, but remember K. I. S. S.: Keep it simple, stupid!

Here are some examples of simple but effective story ideas:

Jaws in Space. (The first Alien movie)

I See Dead People. (The Sixth Sense)

What if your entire life was a TV show and you didn’t know it? (The Truman Show)

What if you were a superhero, but you didn’t know it? (Unbreakable)

What if your boyfriend was a vampire? (Twilight)

What if you found an alien in your backyard? (E.T.)

They have forty-five minutes to save the world. They need forty-six. (Big Trouble)

You probably get the idea from these examples. What’s a short tagline for your story? If you can't write one, maybe you need to refocus your story. Or, perhaps you need to think more on what your story is about. You might have to add something to focus it or remove some things that are making it too complicated.

Remember to keep it simple, refine your focus, and write your pitch with as much passion as you wrote your story—then all you need to do is find some excuse to ride a lot of elevators with book editors.

The Day After

By Keith Fisher

Over the past few days on the blogck, you’ve been favored with many Christmas wishes. Since the big day is over, I’ll restrain myself. As the sun makes an attempt at poking through the mist this morning, I’d like to offer my hope for your recovery. Dig yourself out from the pillows and blankets and face the new day.

Okay, move the crumpled wrapping paper aside, lay down and take a nap.

As I mentioned on Facebook this morning, It’s interesting how we can suffer from a hang over without ever drinking a drop. Between the joy in the eyes of a child, and the smile caused by a gift you gave. All the candy and cookies, and Christmas dinner, love and sadness from missing departed loved ones can overwhelm us. Toys shared, and those broken, persuading Aunt Jane to have the last sip of sparkling cider, and the five year old who wants a big piece of meat for dinner, even though you know he’ll never eat it all.

All these things, although, joyful, can drain us. So, when you finish your nap, and assess the damage to your messy living room, take a moment and remember Jesus. He is more than just “the reason for the season”. Jesus Christ, the Savior of all, offers a hand to everyone. Whether we’re rich or poor, bound to sin or free from it. He is there if we will only believe Him. If we take His hand He will lift us.

Then, with our eyes on Him, we will notice a peaceful Joy enter our hearts. We’ll have a renewed desire to serve others, and in the service, we’ll notice the so-called hangover is gone.

Good luck with your writing—see you next week.

And God Bless Us, Every One

by G.Parker

There are many things I love to read during the Christmas season. We have several movies that we pull out and watch only during this time of year, many of which were novels to begin with. I'm sure you've heard of them: The Christmas Carol (the George C. Scott version), How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Polar Express, the Miracle on 34th Street (old version) and many more.

We have several books that we pull out and read as well. Our family's favorite tradition is to read the Best Christmas Pageant Ever, starting a week before Christmas and reading each night till the end.

Our lives are enriched with the writing of others. It brings enlightenment, joy and quiet reflection, helping to focus on the true meaning for the season. I hope your family has many favorites and traditions that revolve around the written word.

We at the Writer's Blogck would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And to quote from the Best Christmas Pageant Ever; "Hey, unto you a child is born!"

Merry Christmas from the Blogck!

Posted by Nichole Giles

Since I get to post on Christmas Eve this year, I've decided it should be something profound, something appropriate, something...worthy of this holy holiday. It seems that this year, the Spirit of Christmas has been elusive for many people, including myself. So, I hope this video will bring us back, help us all remember why we celebrate this glorious, festive day.

Merry Christmas from the LDS Writer's Blogck! 

*Video courtesy of Mailman0 on Youtube

Merry Christmas

I want to wish each and every reader a very Merry Christmas. I hope each of you have a wonderful Christmas day surrounded by those people you love most. Be safe and enjoy your day.

Writing Resolutions

By Darvell Hunt


I know that writing New Year Resolutions is a bit of a cliché, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t helpful. I encourage everyone to make goals for 2010. Here are my top three:

1. Make time to write EVERY DAY. It doesn’t matter if it’s one minute or six hours—any writing is better than none.

2. Finish at least three new projects in 2010.

2. Begin submitting my material to the national market, both to agents and to editors.

What are your goals?

A Great Misquoted Quote

By Ali Cross

Sunday I heard a wonderful talk delivered from the pulpit. The speaker was an energetic, entertaining girl who is new to my ward. I enjoyed her style immensely, and loved what she had to say. She shared the most amazing quote that really struck me.

"We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel unsure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone." ~ attributed to Nelson Mandela's Inauguration Speech.

Wow, I was so impressed Mr. Mandela had said that! I began to hypothesize about the truly great men and women throughout the ages who have been called of God and the power their words can have in our lives.

And then I discovered Mr. Mandela did not say those words.

At first, it seemed he was only quoting someone else. But no, no, that wasn't it. In fact, he hasn’t said those words at all. It's a myth that he said them, one regularly repeated. The real mystery to me is why would someone make that up? Why go to the trouble to put words in the man's mouth, even citing the source, if he never in fact said them? That I don't know. But I did find out who, in fact, did say them.

Her name is Marianne Williamson and she's the author of several books on spirituality and is the leader of The Church of Today.

However, why is it, that now I know it was Ms. Williamson who said these great words, they suddenly mean less to me? Like I needed someone truly great (read famous) to say them in order for me to give them credence? Thing is, I totally, wholeheartedly, cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die, believe in these words. It's just that now I don't feel special quoting them. I'm a quote snob. *sigh*

I want to repent though. Because these words have great value—these words are TRUE.

Sometimes people are embarrassed to be around me. They've heard me sing at every Stake thing. They've seen the beautiful little baby outfits I make when I give them at a shower. Many people in the ward have family portraits I've taken hanging on their living room walls. Many know I am pursuing a writing career. They sit beside me during Relief Society when the lesson is on talents and I can feel them shrinking away from me. They say things like "Well, I'm not talented like you."

Thing is, I'm not talented like YOU. I have many observable talents, it's true; and I've worked hard at developing those talents. But I'm really bad at just knowing when someone needs a dinner brought in, or even how to serve when I perceive service is needed. I tend to stand around wringing my hands at ward funerals or the like because I don't know how to just jump in and help. I admire all the women who rush from one thing to the other with such confidence in what they are doing.

I could go on and on about what's wrong with me, about what talents I'm lacking. And I usually do. But that's in part why I love this quote. Why should I try to make myself smaller, just because my outward talents might make others feel insecure about themselves? God gave me these gifts. I am so thankful to Him for them, because they bless and enrich my life. What a thankless girl I am if I can't pay homage to the God who created me by using the talents He gave me.

I also love this quote because it says what I believe and our church teaches—that we are all children of God and we are all blessed with gifts. Most often I think we have in our possession a multitude of gifts if we desire them. However it does take a sturdy shovel and a strong back to dig in and uncover that which we seek. But isn't it that way with most things of worth?

So I guess I've talked myself into accepting the value of this quote despite its not having been said by Mr. Mandela. Instead, I want Ms. Williamson to know how thankful I am for this wonderful piece of wisdom. Maybe it's a good thing Mr. Mandela is getting misquoted so often because this important message is being shared with more people because of it. Ms. Williamson's gift for words and Mr. Mandela's gift for public accolade—together they allow for a sweet message to be heard, to be shared, and hopefully, to be adopted by the hearts of many.

Our Creative Destiny

By Keith Fisher

We have a porch swing in our backyard. It’s just a bench hanging from an old swing-set frame. Last summer, I set down to relax and a slit-second later, I was lying on my back with parts of the swing scattered over me. After the initial shock, I found humor in the situation, but I still wonder if God was teaching me a lesson in humility.

It was old. The wood had rotted, and the nails were rusting through, to the point of falling apart. Using some of the pieces as a guide, I improved the design and built a new, stronger, one.

After hanging it, I sat down and admired my work. My mother came over, and I persuaded her to sit and admire it to. Somehow I got roped into building one for her, for Christmas. So, You might guess what I’ve been up to lately.

I have a problem with my mother’s swing, however, I have to design and build a support frame. Mom’s house is like many others these days. It doesn’t have an overhang big enough to hang a swing from.

My frame will be beautiful, but I worried about it supporting the weight. I used to design houses so I have a working knowledge of board stresses, but how do you figure weight variables for a three-person bench when you have no idea how big the people will be? Needless to say, I’ve been doing some thinking. I finished the bench part yesterday, and while it was on the sawhorses, I sat and admired my workmanship.

I love the feeling I get from building something from scratch with my own hands, but it made me think. Why do we create? Why do writers, write? Why do painters, paint? What is the attraction in writing a song and having the whole world sing along? Hey, that rhymes.

Realists would say it has something to do with ego, and in the case of some authors, that may be partially true. On the other hand, I’ve seen very humble writers who are the first to admit their dependence on other people’s help. Truly humble people are like that, thinking of others first, but what drives them to follow the creative urge?

Is it merely the satisfaction of a job well done? What about those who have a burning desire to write, but their finished manuscript gets rejected? Or the person who sits down to sew a shirt and makes one sleeve shorter than the other? It can’t be easy to hear laughter during a piano recital, after you’ve made a mistake.

It seems like something happens in the mind during creation. It fills the soul with endorphins and taps into what I believe is our creative destiny. A few years ago, I built a deck with an intricate series of angles spilling onto each other. I had some trouble with one of the angles and showed my frustration verbally. The neighbor heard me, and asked if I needed any help. I said, “No this is my therapy.”

In my writing, I’ve had moments when a plot comes together, or when a sudden flash of inspiration hits. We often say these are the times when our characters speak to us. These are the golden moments, the therapeutic seconds when we feel rewarded.

God has given his children many talents. Some of us are better at one thing than others. With hard work, we can develop any talent we choose. If we look at our rejected, finished product, we will see the parts where we reached our moment of clarity. It was the moment when we approached our creative destiny.

Good luck with your writing—see you next week.

Christmas Writings

by G.Parker

While some are enjoying moments with book signings (grin) others of us are struggling with the every day. Like Christmas cards. Christmas cards have become a lost art, I think. With the electronic medium, most of us tend to email greetings and forget the traditional route.

Personally, I love snail mail, and I love Christmas cards. I got one yesterday from a fellow blogger, and was so excited...I've only gotten 5 so far this year, which was what brought this subject to mind.

It's the same idea that penmanship has become a lost art. The two coincide in my mind. I do calligraphy, and I like to do it on the envelopes I write for Christmas cards. I think it adds a special touch and lets the person know I'm putting a little extra effort into it. Despite the fact that inside the card is probably just a signature and 'Hi'...I've never been much for the family newsletter.

What is your tradition? Do you spend hours writing personal notes in Christmas cards or do you send simple cards off, just anxious to let people know you are alive? How many cards did you send this year? It was probably less than last year, because -- let's face it -- we don't usually send cards to people who have stopped sending to us.

Well, here's to you, whatever your traditions are. This is my electronic Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you blog readers. Have a good one!

We Have Liftoff!

By Nichole Giles

I bet you’re wondering about the launch party for Mormon Mishaps and Mischief. Did it go well? Did we sell a lot? Did we have a good turnout? The answer to all three questions is yes. We had a huge turnout, we sold out of Barnes and Noble’s stock and most of our personal stash as well, and by the end of the night, the store manager was practically our new best friend.

I’d say that means it went well.

But that’s not what I really want to talk about. Instead, I think I’d rather think about why it went so well. I’d like to take all the credit for putting out a highly demanded book—well, okay, half the credit. I’ll give Cindy her share too. But really, I think it has more to do with advertising, word of mouth, and loving, supportive people. Not because they bought all the books, but because to spread the word for something like this, it takes many participants. And we had lots of help in that department.

Posters and invitations can do a lot to bring people in, but word of mouth travels faster and has better potential to pique the interest of an individual. Plus, it gives off a personal vibe that paper just can’t accomplish. So here’s what we did. Cindy and I each basically told everyone we knew, and then we kept telling those people, who told other people, who told others and the thing fanned out from there. We Facebooked, Twittered, and blogged. And we promised treats and prizes. (Which definitely helped.)

After three signings in two weeks, I’ve learned a lot. (To read about some of the things I learned, click here.) But of all the lessons I’ve picked up and stuck to over the past few years, one sticks out in my mind. Networking is key. Networking is key. Networking is a really, really, really, important, big deal. I’ve never been to a book signing where there weren’t several other authors standing around chatting. So, other authors will come to support you. Good. That’s how it should be.

But it’s also important to network with other people. At church, at work, in social circles, and within families. Because relationships = bonds, and as we form these, we also form a sense of loyalty and respect, and sometimes even love. This is what happened at our launch. People who know us from church, from school, from conferences, from jobs—our own and our husbands’—and family members all came to help us launch our book into the market. And each one of these people contributed to the success of our party.

Utilize your relationships! That’s what they’re for. And when I say utilize, I do not mean use or exploit. All I mean is invite people, and they will come. We had no idea how many people would heed that call until we were overwhelmed with them. So overwhelmed, in fact, that I missed out on getting pictures with some people who are very important to me. A fact that I’ll regret until I can somehow rectify it.

When you’re getting ready to launch your book, never be too shy to tell everyone you know, everyone with whom you come in contact, and strangers on the street that they’re invited to come get an autographed copy of your book. And then, when lots of people come, you will feel the rewards of all the many relationships you’ve nurtured over the years.

This, I think, is a key to success.

Have a wonderful holiday season, and until next time, write on.

Nichole

PS Click here to visit the humor blog and see a funny video of Cindy and I dancing.

Flight of the Bumblebee

By C. LaRene Hall

I really hadn’t thought much about bumblebees and believing in myself until my granddaughter gave me a beautiful mug this past week. It says the things that I truly believe. The inscriptions on the mug say – Beelieve and achieve, Beelieve with your heart, Beelieve you can succeed, What the mind can beelieve, it can achieve, Bee true to yourself, Surround yourself with beelievers, Great things happen when we believe, and When it is to bee, it’s up to me.

Bumblebee’s are not supposed to fly – their wings are too weak and their body too heavy, but the bumblebee, not knowing this, flies anyway. I guess I’m a lot like a bumblebee, if I set my mind to do something; I do it, even if someone says I can’t. We should all believe in ourselves, and not let anyone else determine what we will or won’t do in this life.

Some of us are lucky and have people standing behind us in our writing, and others aren’t as fortunate to have someone by our side. That shouldn’t matter; we are each responsibility for our success or failure. I know that if I continue to try someday I will succeed.

Let it Snow, Rain, or Sleet. And Bring In the Fairies

By Keith Fisher

I heard groans from some of my friends when they heard it was going to snow. I must admit it wasn’t much fun shoveling the most recent batch of it this morning. While I was out there, though, I debated plot scenarios in my head. Sometimes I argue with myself out there, working out a problem. When I do that, however, I frequently check to see if anyone is listening. I can’t afford to be committed to the booby hatch, (although I bet I could get some writing done).

Also, While shoveling this a.m., I reflected on my childhood and the magic of snowstorms. I grew up in a house next to a hillside vacant lot, so when it snowed, I waxed the runners of my sled and patched the holes in my inner tube. I loved the snow, and I loved winter.

Now I’m an adult and a writer. I still find myself staring at fresh fallen snow with a sense of wonder. I love the way it hides the brown grass and the leaves I didn’t get picked up.
Have you ever sat on a ridge gazing at a forest of pine trees covered in fresh snow? Then, while you watch, the sun comes out. The sparkling splendor of the fairytale world can take your breath away.

I experienced a similar feeling the other day, when, as a writer, I parked in the overflow parking lot of the Provo Utah LDS temple. I set my laptop on the steering wheel as I always do, but I spent fifteen minutes gaping at the view before I could write. The sparkle in the sunlight was fabulous.

The real attraction of snowstorms, or any storm for that matter, is the possibility of being able to write without feeling guilty about taking the time. I can’t do yard work while its raining, and sleet makes it almost impossible to walk outside. I can escape into my manuscript, holding a cup of hot chocolate, and follow my characters into places of their choosing, and not worry about yard work or even hanging Christmas lights. I give myself permission to be a writer.

Now, I’m sure that some of you, especially mothers, will bring up housework, and the many tasks that must be done for a family regardless of snow. Well, in my perfect world, fairies exist, and they like nothing more than to help. In my imagination, my children are fairies and they can’t go outside during the storm anyway. Then when the housework and fighting is finished, the storm clears, drawing the kids outside for awhile, giving you time to climb into the world of your manuscript.

Like I said at the outset—childhood was, and is, a magical time. I hope you can steal a moment for yourself. Good luck with your writing—see you next week.

Only Two Weeks Left...

by G.Parker

I was happily working away yesterday when a coworker reminded us that there were only 14 days left till Christmas. Only one week left of work, as we get the week of Christmas off.

I had a moment of panic.

I am not prepared this year. I was so involved with NaNoWriMo, that I didn't get much else done. We have stocking stuffers...but not much by way of presents. Money has also been tight, and so it's a question of how much and when in the world we're going to do it!?

I guess my personal life is much like my writing life. I write better under pressure. I like deadlines. Knowing that there is a limited amount of time makes my brain function better. Perhaps that's why I haven't been able to do much since November and the pressure is off. I'm not sure.

Anyway, I guess it's time to start polling the children because no one has really given me anything to work with and the shopping days are waning...

Demands, Requests, and Rights

By Nichole Giles

The other day I got a strange phone call. Without detailing the entire conversation, I’ll just say that it resulted in me being asked to delete a past post on my personal blog. The post was eight months old, and the reason behind the request was beyond stupid—it was, well, insane.

Needless to say I found myself somewhat incensed. Who did this person think he was to tell me what I can and cannot write about on my blog? (I need to interject here that while the person on the phone was my someone I know, the request didn’t come from him. It went through three separate channels, just to make things more complicated.) The post had nothing to do with any one person and in fact was a silly joke about the people of Utah starting a potato revolution. (I know, right?) But some childish potato heir got his feelings all hurt about it, and called someone who called someone else, who called my caller and demanded (yes, demanded) that I delete that particular post.

The situation brought up a question that is relevant to all writers. At what point do we let an outside source tell us what we can write, or what we should write, or what is appropriate in our writing? And if we do allow this kind of influence, from whom will we accept it? And when we do post a public blog, how will our words affect us in the world outside the writing/ blogosphere? How will they affect the people we love?

I have to be honest. The trouble-causing post used no names, no brands, and nothing that should have been seen as offensive in any way. Yet, someone I’ve never met somehow found the post—which was so old I’m still working on finding out how, aside from absolute stalking—and got offended. That person thinks that because he has oodles of money, he should get to say what I’m allowed to write about. Only he isn’t an editor, or an agent, or even someone I know.

But the person on the other end of my phone had other reasons for making the request, and the bottom line was that having me delete it would make his life easier in dealing with the person who was dealing with the rich kid. (Are you still with me?) Thus I found myself in a tough spot. On the one hand, to delete the blog wouldn’t mean much to my readers. Sure, I’d lose the few comments on the post, but no one would really miss it, right? I mean, most people read the most current posts unless they’re looking for something specific, which generally doesn’t include potatoes.

On the other hand, the person making the demand (not the one requesting I comply) had no right to be asking, requesting, or demanding any such thing. And my inclination is to say no out of principle. The truth is I absolutely detest having someone attempt to push me around or strong-arm me into doing anything.

So what to do? To tell the truth, I replaced the blog with a scathing paragraph for about two hours—just long enough for the right people to read it—and then I deleted the whole thing (after backing it up on my hard drive). It really wasn’t such a big deal, except that I was extremely angry for even being asked. But… I saved what I wrote and will probably repost it eventually out of principle.

Have you ever been asked to do something like this? Who asked you and what did you do about it? I want to know.

Believe In Yourself

by C. LaRene Hall

The main reason that we, as writers, are succeeding is that we are trying. Behind every good writer is a motive, or reason that we sit for hours at a computer.

I’m sure that all of you had parents who guided you and made you believe in yourself while you were young. When I was in the 3rd grade, my parents put a small violin in my arm. Because of the proud expression on their faces, I tried my best to make something besides squeaks come from that instrument. Without their smiling face in the audience at every concert, I would not have kept trying.

The same thing happened when I sang my first solo, and when I performed group and solo dances. They were always there lending support. I knew if they were watching, I would do my best because I didn’t want to disappoint them.

Since my days of youth, I don’t have to look for their approval. They taught me to believe in myself and I could do anything that I set my mind to do. It’s still nice to have support from your family, your spouse and yes, your friends, but you don’t have to have it. If you believe – you can do anything.

Word Games

By Darvell Hunt

Writers are known for enjoying word games. Some of my favorite writers have them in their books, including Dan Brown’s use of anagrams and Ann Dee Elli’s use of palindromes. I’ve used them in my stories as well. Word games can be an interesting way to interest your reader, as well has have fun writing.

At the below link, you can find a useful tool to help you create anagrams, which are words arranged from the letters of other words:

http://wordsmith.org/anagram/index.html

I used my full name, Darvell Dean Hunt, to create the below anagrams, just for fun. Some of them are stupid, I know, but from this list, I might be able to pull just one that I could use in a story (if I needed an anagram for my name, that is).

Q: Why did your Dad get evicted from his apartment:
A: Dad have null rent.

Q: What would someone have done who jumped over a borrowed Toyota Sienna?
A: Hurdled a lent van.

Q: What does a banker do who likes airplanes?
A: Uh, lend and travel.

Q: Where would you find an uninteresting intelligent dork?
A: Dull nerd at Haven.

Q: Where do purple monsters live:
A: Lavendar Land Hut.

Q: What does someone do who is affectionate toward pre-humans?
A: Luv D Neanderthal

Q: What pet does a valedictorian keep?
A: Nerd have dull ant.

Q: What happened when someone jumped over an insect on the ship deck?
A: Naval ant hurdled.

Q: What did Noah’s wife tell him when he was making a list of animals to take on the ark, but forgot boring black birds?
A: And the dull raven.

Q: Where do math geeks takes baths in a college dorm?
A: Nude nerd hall vat.

Okay, yes, these may be stupid questions, and maybe stupid answers, but they are all anagrams of my name. Try yours and see what you find.

Be True

By Ali Cross

Some of you may know that I recently had to leave Valor, the company I expected to publish my YA paranormal fantasy The Devil’s Daughter. The nuts and bolts of why I’m not going to be publishing with them comes down to being true—to myself, to my friends, to the things that I value and honor.

Though I’m sad that my book won’t be on bookstore shelves in 2010 like I’d hoped, I feel good that I haven’t sacrificed the things that make me who I am. Whatever else, I am me, and always will be.
Sometimes, our drive to be published can stamp out our sense of self. We do what, how and when the market tells us to do. Our agent or editor guides and direct us and, for the most part, we follow along because they are the experts. We cultivate an attitude of gratitude—and the feeling that our publisher is doing us a big favor.

I saw that happening to me, saw myself giving in, folding, capitulating. But before I went tumbling off that cliff and effectively losing myself to the ‘machine’ I dug in my heels and flung my arms backward. Clinging to the edge with the last of my self-respect, I managed to drag myself back up, away from the precipice.

For many people, the slip off that cliff will be a happy journey, like free-falling through cotton candy. But for me, the fall would have meant giving up much of what makes my writing mine.

As you navigate the tricky maze of publishing, remember to be true to yourself and to your work. Don’t be afraid to make the hard choices—because in the end, your duty to self, to faith, to God is paramount. As Shakespeare penned in Hamlet, “This above all: to thine own self be true.”

Finding Inspiration

By Keith Fisher

There are many places writers go to for inspiration. I’m not talking about ideas that come from outside sources, such as the baby born on a plane coming into Salt Lake the other day. What a good writing prompt that is. Also, a headline on Yahoo intrigued me. I didn’t stop to read, but it was something about an American woman being charged with murder in Italy. In the picture she looked like a nice girl. I could let my imagination soar with that one, but that’s not the kind of inspiration I’m talking about.

Recently, I discovered that every writer has doubts and fears. For some writers it can be debilitating. Even the most talented, are afraid of failure. In Ralph Keyes book, The Writer’s Book of Hope, he writes that on the day The Great Gatsby was published, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote “I am overcome with fears and forebodings. . . . In Fact all my confidence is gone.”

Keyes also wrote about a condition all writers have, called AFD Syndrome. He calls it the three-legged stool we sit on when writing. Its three legs are Anxiety, Frustration, and Despair. It seems writers are prone to bouts of self-doubt and depression. Who can blame us? When we place so many people in a position of judging us? Not to mention the constant fears that our manuscripts won’t see daylight past the veritable slush pile.

It sometimes doesn’t help to actually get published either, the example of F Scott Fitzgerald illustrates this. We writers are a strange bunch.

It’s normal for a writer to fear the keyboard. But writing is the occupation we have chosen, and we need to recognize our anxiety for what it is. We call it laziness, procrastination, evasiveness, writer’s block, giving up all together, and sometimes arrogance.

The trick is to work through it. To keep going, even though your whole being cries enough! I can’t take it anymore. Keyes told the story of a young man who, after getting many rejections, went to the garage, put a hose on the tail pipe and started his car. After his death, his mother pursued the publication of his book. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and has sold over a million copies.

Perhaps that is an extreme example, but it illustrates the mood of a writer sometimes. The point is to keep trying. I have a tune floating in my head. I can’t remember who wrote it. Essentially the chorus is, keep trying. Never give up on you.

I came away from a writer’s conference, a few years ago, with the feeling of confirmation. I felt I was meant to be a writer. I considered it a sacred calling. To touch hearts and improve lives through my stories. Since then, I have been to the depths of despair over my choice to pursue what, until the conference, had only been a way of relieving stress.

But, I now have a renewed sense of self-worth. What happened? I finally caught on to what my critique group, and a good friend, has been trying to tell me about a problem in my writing. Also, I heard about a study conducted with writing teachers across the country. Almost invariably, the students who were the most talented, the ones everyone marveled over, the shinning lights on the horizon, quit writing. This is not a hard and fast rule, but for the most part, successful writers are those who keep writing. No matter what, they steadfastly pursue the dream.

So, I ask you, where do you get your inspiration? What motivated you to pick up that pen, typewriter, or sit in front of that computer? Whatever it was, try to remember it. The dream lives. There are myriad stories about successful writers who got rejected thirty, forty, even hundreds of times, before getting that book deal. The problem, however, is dealing with anxiety, frustration, and despair. (Notice I didn’t say overcoming it?)

I read, . . . the depression J K Rowling suffered when writing the first Harry Potter book, inspired her to create the dementors who, vacuum out happy memories, leaving only desperate ones. Recognize anxiety for what it is, and deal with it. Everyone has it. Don’t let it stop you.

On a final note, when a miracle happens, and they do, all time. When the miracle of publication happens, don’t stop. You will be tempted to believe it was fluke, and you couldn’t possibly do it again. Don’t believe it! Your writing voice has resonance, or you wouldn’t have been published in the first place. You have many more stories to write, get busy and write them.

The definition of a “good writer” is one who keeps writing. Even when the barking dogs are seemingly all around you, waiting to take your head off, Keep writing, never give up on you. Then, on a good day when you remember why you started to write, the fact that you are doing, what you set out to do, will bring comfort. You will know why you are a writer.

Good luck with your writing—see you next week.

The Day After Hangover

by G.Parker

Okay, before you look at the screen funny, I don't drink. I'm talking in a hypothetical sense, as in Nano is over and it's the days after.

I don't know about the rest of our group, but I feel kind of washed out. I finished before the end of the month, and thought about reaching 60,000 words, remember? I got to 53,000 and then kind of petered out. Sigh.

It was so great to sit down and have the words pour out again, fun to see characters grow in front of my eyes, a story line take shape. Unfortunately, the moment I reached my goal, things kind of went flat. The story needs a little boost, and I haven't got the desire to do anything with it.

I'm thinking that January needs to be edit and finish month. Anyone with me? We'll finish the stories we started for nano (if it wasn't done) and see how much editing we can get done in one month. January is usually a slow and depressing month for most people -- me not so much. But I do think it would be good to have others with me in the endeavor.

So...get your thoughts in line, and get ready for the first week of January, 'cause words are gonna roll!

The Gift of Vulnerability and Launch Party News

By Nichole Giles

I have a lot of friends. Not that I consider myself popular, or that I try hard to make friends. The truth is that the people I consider true friends are people I’ve come to know over several years, and who I’ve grown closer to as time has passed. Some of my friends have come because of shared values or goals, some from shared interests, some from common jobs or spouses who have common jobs. Each person has come to me through a different path, a different channel, and a different means.

But while my relationship with every person in my life is different, they all share a common thread for me. They all own an individual piece of my heart. And while that might sound somewhat impossible, I’ve discovered that as each person reaches out for a portion, my heart grows accordingly and makes room.

Call it a character flaw on my part. Or a blessing. Or a point of vulnerability. Depends on the day.

And I’m not complaining. Really, truly, I’m so blessed, so grateful. But this heart of mine, while complete with all the strings and chords stretching from friend to friend, has a downside. Even as I am able to feel and share in the joys of the lives of people who matter to me, so do I feel the heartaches inflicted on them. I hurt with them, I cry with them, and I experience surges of anger when one of my friends suffers from an injustice. See? Point of vulnerability.

I think this is one of the reasons I started writing. Sometimes there’s this excess of emotion welling up inside me, and for the longest time I didn’t have a clue what to do with it. Since I’ve discovered my writing outlet, I realize that all my experiences, even the vicarious ones, have been given to me as a gift. That gift has become material for stories.

My work generally has an emotional tendency, and that’s okay. I write how I feel, and I’m proud of it. The stuff written out of emotion is leaps and bounds better than the stuff I force myself to type—though I recognize that both kinds of writing are necessary in order to finish a piece of work, however short or long. There has to be some balance.

Anyway, this week, I have a handful of friends—all of differing situations and circles—who are hurting for various reasons. I tend to have this crazy urge to fix people’s lives, even though I’m well aware other people's circumstances are out of my control. Still, the instinct is there. And it’s hard to not be able to help.

Except I can. Not by taking away the problems inflicted on others, but by being a friend. Offering a shoulder, an ear, or a punching bag if needs be. And for the times when that just doesn’t feel like enough, I write. And maybe, someday, something I’ve written will help someone else by helping them find a solution to the problems of the world.

And that will have to be enough.

In happier news, the launch party for Mormon Mishaps and Mischief is being held this coming Wednesday, December 9th from 6-9 pm at Barnes and Noble, University Crossings Plaza, 330 East 1300 South, Orem, Utah. C.L. Beck (aka Cindy) and I (aka D.N. Giles) will finally be celebrating this long awaited release. We’d like to invite you all to share in the festivities. Come join us for treats, readings, and prizes, as well as a really fun social opportunity.

If you can’t make it to the opening, that’s okay. We’re scheduled for several signings in Utah over the next couple of weeks. Click here for the updated full schedule.

Hope to see you there!

I Made It!

by C. LaRene Hall

As most of you already know, several of us bloggers joined with thousands of other people and wrote 50,000 words during the month of November. Karen, Darvell, Nichole, Gaynell and I all passed the finish line.

Now I’m wondering, was it really worth all that effort? Maybe it was, but I’m not sure. It took lots of effort. I now have a completed novel that needs lots of fixing up. Nichole reminded me that I can fix a bad page, but I can’t fix a blank one.

I wrote the story faster than anything I’ve ever written before. The best part of it is that I now know that I can write that fast. It actually is a good feeling to finish something that huge in such a short time.

Now comes the awful part – the editing. I honestly think that it’s going to take longer to fix the story than it took to write it. At this point, I’m not even sure if any of it makes any sense. I haven’t even opened my story since I wrote – The End. Maybe next month I’ll get brave and face the consequences of opening my story to see what awaits me. However, this month, I’m going to enjoy the holiday season.

Merry Christmas to all of you, and have a wonderful month, and for those of you who wrote so diligently have a relaxing month.

830,000 Words!

By Darvell Hunt

My writing group, Authors Incognito. wrote over 830,000 words in the month of November.

About 30 members of our group participated in National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. The challenge was to write 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days. 11 of us succeeded and rest made good progress.

I personally wrote about 52,000 words of an LDS romance novel. I'm going to spend December completing it (I need about 20,000 - 30,000 more words) and then begin the editing process.

Congratulations to everyone in our group and everyone else who participated in the challenge! You can see Authors Incognito actual word counts here: AI NaNoWriMo.