Balloons in My Backyard!

By Keith Fisher

I started running as soon as my feet hit the floor this morning. I wanted to sleep in, but that became impossible when a hot air balloon floated past my bedroom window just below the treetops.

At first I thought it was in trouble, and I thought it was in my neighbor’s backyard. As it turned out, it was losing altitude, and gliding down the street behind my house. I muttered something and jumped out of bed. I dressed in a hurry, grabbed my camera and went outside.

The cool morning air felt nice as I rushed down the sidewalk in the direction the balloon had gone. It sat on the road at the end of the block with people holding the basket from slipping away. I stopped to snap a few pictures.

It couldn’t have been a more perfect landing. At the end of the block, the road turns with a house set at the apex, like in a culdesac. The Balloon had landed in the center of the road and the center of the intersection.

"What’s going on," I heard someone say.
"It’s someone’s birthday and this is a pick up," another person said.
"If that’s the case, it’s a pretty darn accurate landing," I said.

As I began to move closer for a better look, the people climbed into the basket. The operator pulled a cord and the burner flamed up with the sound of a blast of air. The balloon began to rise.
When it was just high enough to clear the tree tops, the aircraft drifted into another neighborhood, then another. We watched, wondering who had climbed into the basket? Who was having a birthday anyway?

I talked my neighbor into going with me, and we found the balloon three neighborhoods away, the passengers were holding the basket and walking the balloon into a vacant lot. I asked the pilot if he was having problems and he said he was fine, just looking for a place to fold up the balloon.

He said that it was an unusual morning. The places were wind normally blew were calm, and the places that were usually calm were windy. The pilot had to change his flight plan and find a different place to land because of the wind.

I live in a place where the canyon winds blow daily. It’s nice to cool off in the summer and it protects young plants from frost. But balloons don’t land there. I’m glad for unusual days. It gives me something else to write about. Hopefully, this one has given you something to think about too.

See the pictures I took Here

Good luck with your writing---see you next week.

What's The Point?

by G.Parker

Have you ever felt conflicted about what you're writing? Perhaps you start writing one type of story and in the middle things switch -- the plot takes a turn, and suddenly you're writing something else? Have you written a story that you really didn't want to but felt obligated by a situation?

This type of writing wastes time, energy and frustrates everyone associated with it.

For example; I have a story that I've been presenting to my critique group that I wrote for the Nanowrimo project in 2007. It's based on a vacation I took by myself -- and didn't enjoy (long story). As I go through the story, I'm torn and it's obvious in how it comes across. It's become a mis-mash of story lines, as if I can't decide which type of story I'm writing.

My critique group informed me that I'm not a good action writer based on this book, and I decided not to take it personally, it's the only exposure they've had. They also informed me they felt I was a definite relations writer (i.e., romance writer) and that was my strength. Sigh.

Several years ago I had decided that I was a romance writer. Once in a while I added a little suspense or action, but I love romance, and that's what I write. By a fluke, I ended up writing a little bit of fantasy and discovered I liked it. It's not something I do very much of, but I have one long story that is gradually getting whittled down -- it's just not a priority, it takes too much brain power because it's outside my comfort zone.

That experience made me think that I could write anything I wanted; romance, suspense, action thriller, fantasy...the universe was my toy. Sadly, I am finding that is not the case. At least not without a great deal of practice and diligent reading.

What is your genre? What type of story do you feel most comfortable writing? Perhaps you just need to explore your options before you settle. I'm not sure I've settled yet, but this story is definitely going to end up on the chopping block.

How To Measure Success

By Nichole Giles

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky to attend a sci-fi/fantasy CONduit, during which I listened to an address by Howard Taylor, artist/ author of the web comic Schlock Mercenary.

Howard’s address in a sentence: Hard work takes time.

Howard’s address in another sentence: Don’t let fear of failure stop you from trying.

Third sentence: Practice and experience lead to optimal performance. (And by Howard’s calculations, you’ll need to “practice” for approximately a million words and a minimum of ten years.)

His speech reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend a few weeks prior to this CON. She said, “I continue to be amazed by your ability to create and construct an entire story from beginning to end. It isn’t a common thing, no matter how many authors you know.”

And she’s right. Of course, she’s right. The ability to follow a creation through is huge. Just the idea of starting a new project like a book can often be intimidating. But finishing is a true measure of success. Even if that particular book is never published, we have successfully completed a monumental task simply by finishing it. There’s something to be said for that.

By writing a full manuscript, we jump into a small percentage of authors and wanna-be writers. Think about those who start new books all the time, or who claim to be planning to write a book, or building a world—but never actually finish the project. Those of us who finish, actually, truly finish, are unique.

So, if you have a completed manuscript, no matter how bad you think it is, give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve already succeeded.

Never Give Up

by C. LaRene Hall

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. – Albert Einstein

I love this quote, and it gives every writer hope. Last year I won the rejection contest for the Authors Incognito group. Most people can’t begin to understand why anyone would want to win such a contest, but I was excited and I did work towards this award.

The award was presented to me in April at a writer's conference and I have hung the plaque on my wall next to my computer where I can see it every time I sit down. To me it is more than rejections – I set a goal at the beginning of the year, and didn’t give up. I kept submitting the entire year. I decided early on that I was going to submit at least 52 times – once a week. I didn’t hear back from everyone because the rejections are still coming. They don’t even hurt as much now when then come, and some of the letters are encouraging. I know that with each letter, I’m one-step closer to a contract.

Believe that you have not failed. Keep aiming for your goal and never give up.

BYU Workshop for Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers

By Darvell Hunt

The most comprehensive writing workshop I have ever attended is the week-long conference at BYU called the “Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Workshop,” which is coming up next week. This will be my fourth year in attendance.

I was excited this year to discover that Ann Dee Ellis will be teaching one of the workshops on novel writing, so I signed up for her class. If you haven’t read her first book, you’ve really missed out! I’m looking forward to finding out what new things I can learn from her about my old craft.

If it’s like the last conferences, it will be tiring, yet invigorating. I just might learn that little extra bit of information that will make a difference for me in my quest for national publication. Wish me luck!

Your Story is Right in Front of You

By Keith Fisher

Angelica wiped the counter of the condiment area, and bent over to tie a garbage bag closed. She felt someone come into the café and looked up.

David stood at the doorway wearing sandals over bare feet, tan cargo pants, and a free flowing white linen shirt. Tendrils of long black hair protruded from under a painter’s hat. David couldn’t hide the bad boy stubble he wore on his face. Her heart beat faster at the sight of him. She had been raised to a higher standard, but this man held the key to the incessant pounding of her heart.

He leaned his head to one side, as if trying to see sideways. His eyes seemed to see right through into her soul. Her knees grew weak as he sauntered, catlike, almost like a dance toward her. Her hands trembled in anticipation. His outstretched arms seemed to indicate an unasked question.

She put one arm around him. After all, she was at work, and had to try and keep a standard but she knew she needed more. Angelica put her other arm around his waist and felt his spine as her hands glided up and down. David circled her shoulders and neck with his arms and he pulled her close.

His scent wafted into her soul and destroyed any self-control she ever had. She would’ve followed him anywhere, if he’d asked, but he didn’t ask. He pressed his lips to hers and the soft touch, almost silky, brought memories of imagination when she dreamed.

This scene although it needs lots of work, was inspired by an exchange I witnessed in a café. The girl’s face reflected surprise when she first saw him, happiness at seeing him, then passionate joy in his embrace. I was surprised, because they seemed to be from two different worlds.

I’ve preached about this before, but these kinds of exchanges happen in front of us everyday. All we need do is put on our writer’s glasses. Or see things through writer’s eyes. Look up from your notebook. Your next scene might be playing before you. Write your impressions. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination. Use the scene in your current work, or save it for later.


Good luck with your writing---see you next week.

You Should Write a Book!

by G.Parker

I got to meet up with an old acquaintance yesterday. This was someone I haven't seen for almost 35 years. It was as if the cliche' "blast from the past" had taken root and everything felt surreal.

She had brought her father along because our father's had known each other very well, and I was always on the search for more information about him. He and my mother died when I was young and we know nothing about how they met, what they were like, etc.

As we sat at dinner and caught up on our lives, what we've done since then and stuff, she said that I should write a book.

My husband and I both laughed, because she has no idea what I do now, that I'm a writer and illustrator. I didn't elaborate at that point because she was talking about personal history, not fiction, but that conversation is still playing over in my mind.

How many times do we hear that from people we meet? We tell of our life's experiences and they admonish us to write them down. Perhaps we're a good story teller and those hearing our stories suggest the same thing -- write a book.

Usually it's followed up with "I'd buy it!" and you think, great, that's one copy....

As writers we have so many decisions and choices going on in our lives, it's hard to step back and take a look. Many of us have life histories that would be fascinating to others. Several of us have amazing story telling abilities and should already be published, if not for the vagarities of the publishing world.

The important thing is that we write. We read how to do it better, follow the examples of others and just do it.

Someday I'll write my personal history, when I've over come the mental blocks that prevent me from sharing personal things. Till then, I'll keep writing and hopefully someday soon there will be a book I can hand her. I'll say, "Here -- I wrote a book."

Wouldn't that be the best feeling ever?

Maybe I'm Crazy

By Nichole Giles

A long time ago, someone asked me why I worry so much about helping other authors with their writing. If I pay good money to go to a conference, why would I try to pass on what I’ve learned to my friends who didn’t go? Why do I allow so much of my valuable writing time for helping critique the work of others? Aren’t they my competition? Isn’t it to my detriment in the long run?

Um, no. Far from it.

Here’s the truth. I help others instinctively because it’s in my nature. But more than that, I remember when I started writing, and how lost I felt, and how much the direction of others helped to mold and shape my techniques. Still does, to be honest. I rely on the instructions and advice of my author friends—published and unpublished—to help me learn and grow. That’s how it works. I help them, and they help me. We all help each other. (We’re a happy family…)

I’d even go so far as to say it’s why we’re here on earth. We learn from each other, and help each other, and watch each other grow and succeed. Life is not a competition to be won, but more a journey where each of us has failures and successes to discover what it means to truly be compassionate people. Good people. Successful people.

If I should ever become the best selling author I hope to be, dare I call it karma? Some might say, “You worked so hard, you’ve earned it,” but I’m not so sure. Can success truly be earned? Certainly it’s not something to which any of us are automatically entitled. In the long run, will I look back and know that I’ve done everything I could to help my friends be successful too?
Call me crazy, but I want that. Really, truly want that for them. Strange as it might sound, I want these people to find success, to be published, and have their books be hugely popular. I want to go to conferences or big conventions and look around and see all my friends sitting at tables signing their books for enormous lines of adoring fans.

Last week, the winner of American Idol was announced. The winner’s face registered incredulity that proved him absolutely floored at the news that he’d won. He thanked the judges and the audience, but some of the first words out of his mouth were, “Adam deserved this.” (Adam being the other final contestant in the contest.) Not, “I deserved this,” but someone else. His friend.

The news reporters then went on for days about how the contestants had all become close friends, and how they wanted to help each other succeed, to see them do well. As I watched these stories I thought: Yes. That’s how I feel. I want to see my friends succeed as badly as I want to succeed myself.

Is that crazy? I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe I’m kidding myself that life can actually work that way. But I want to believe it’s possible. I have to believe it. Because as much as my head wishes I would hurry up and get that big deal I’ve been waiting for—and that all my friends will get them too—my heart knows that it will all come in good time. I might shed a few tears in the process, but my time will come.

Just like it will come for my friends. And I hope to be there, jumping up and down and cheering for all of them, knowing they’ve worked every bit as hard as me. And they deserve it too.

Cell Phones vs. Writing

By C. LaRene Hall

What would happen if you treated your writing the same way you do your cell phone?

Many times, I’ve tried to remember what I did before I had a cell phone. It’s not that I can’t live without it, because I can. The other people are the problem. If I leave it home, or if I turn it off, my family and friends are yelling, “Why didn’t you answer your phone?” Some days I think it would be great to go back in time to the era before cell phones, and sometimes I leave my phone home on purpose.

Maybe we writers should carry paper around with us everywhere we go. If we forget to grab paper and pen before we leave home, we should go back for them. After all, no good writer is caught without their writing tools. Of course, you need to have them within reach every time you stop for a red light. A good idea might pop into your head, so you have to be prepared. No matter where you go throughout the day, you need to carry it with you. During lunch, someone might say something funny and if you don’t write it down, you soon forget. If you’re waiting to pick up the kids, maybe you’ll see someone do something funny and so you have to put it on paper. Whatever you do, don’t leave the paper and pen home because in reality it's an important tool for every writer.

So many people today act as if they can’t live without their cell phone. Writers need to live as though we can’t live without our paper and pens. We would finish our stories so much faster if we used it as a lifeline the same as we do our cell phones. Therefore,, my advice is, don’t leave home without your paper and pen. They may come in handy.

Be Thankful For Your Freedom

By Ali Cross

History is replete with periods during which freedom of expression was a non sequitur. It simply didn't exist. Artists and writers have been imprisoned and killed for their views. It didn't stop them, merely made their need to create all the more important--to them, and to those who would receive. 

Today is our day to remember those fallen heroes who have given their lives to prot

ect our freedom. Today marks our right to that freedom, and our duty to honor it.

If you have the desire to write, if you feel you have a message to share, it is your duty to do so. 

For the sake of those who did not have such freedom, for those who gave their life for yours, for yourself and your own self-respect--write. 

What's the Story?

By Keith Fisher


Several years ago, our government set aside one day a year, specifically designed to remember those who died in the service to their country. Since then, Memorial Day has evolved into so much more.


Now, it’s a day to remember all our loved ones who’ve passed away. It’s a day off from work, a three-day weekend. The first real warm day to get outside.


In my family, we used to set aside part of the weekend to visit all the dead ancestors and place flowers on their grave. When my Grandfather died, my mother inherited his list. Grandpa visited every grave he knew about and since he raised peonies to sell, he gave the extras to his ancestors and placed color on their graves.

A few years ago, we started a tradition in my father’s family. After placing flowers on Grandpa’s grave, We’d go to the family home and visit. A picnic would ensue on Grandma’s front lawn.
There were times over the years, when camping and fishing were the order of the day, and vacations were sometimes planned during that time, but we always migrated back to family members and the comforting feeling of being connected.

This year will be different for me. It’s the first Memorial Day since my father died. His headstone has been placed, waiting for the onslaught of those who miss him. I took a picture last year of Mom and Dad at his father’s grave. Who knew that we would be visiting him this year?

I’ve witnessed some interesting traditions practiced in cemeteries over the years including big family picnics on the grave. I’ve seen "super sized" fast food left on graves. Candy, letters, pictures, and solar walkway lights. The latter gave me cause to wonder for awhile when I passed the cemetery on the way home from my writers critique group.


I stopped one day, and discovered the lights. What a great idea, I thought. It was a nightlight in case the deceased woke in the middle of the night in unfamiliar surroundings. I guess it could be interpreted as an eternal flame?

Whatever your tradition, for a writer, there’s a plethora of new material in cemeteries at this time of year. Almost always, I field the question: "Where do you get ideas to write about?" Here’s a great source. I recommend you go alone, unless you have kids who can entertain themselves and stay out of trouble. Take a lawn chair along and set it up on Grandpa’s grave.


Look around you. Humanity is unfolding before your eyes. Watch people from the time they get out of their car. We tend to show our hidden personality traits when we grieve. Some traditions are as individual as the people who perpetrate them. My uncle told a joke once, at my grandfather’s grave. It hadn’t been long since Grandpa died and the tree was still small.

The story is told that an American visited Japan and witnessed the tradition of leaving food on the grave. The American callously asked, "When do you expect your dead loved one to sit up in their grave and eat all that food?" The answer came succinctly, "Oh, I don’t know, about the time your ancestors come up and smell the flowers I guess."


There are millions of stories in the cemetery. Take along a voice recorder or a notebook. My friend, Kim Thompson, recently told a story about watching a young couple bury their child. She told of the feelings she felt. And several scenarios came into her writer’s mind.

I watched a man come to the cemetery once. He parked his motorcycle under a tree and made his way across the lawn. He looked at the ground at all the headstones. Then sat down in front of one. I watched his conversation proceed. It was obvious to me that he’s been having a hard time dealing with his loss. He missed his loved one, and I suspect coping with life was getting harder every day.


As a writer, I imagined the tragic death of a young wife, the end of a dream. The promises broken and hopes crushed. I imagined the death of a best friend. The broken promise to attend college with him.


I’ve heard stories of people actually dancing on graves, pouring the contents of a bottle of whiskey on the grass, and one true story of a man taking a sledge hammer to a headstone. The police didn’t arrest him because he promised to replace it. Can you see the drama? Are the stories percolating in your head?

When you get tired of sitting. Walk around a bit. Look at what people leave on headstones. Look at the headstones themselves. Sometimes there is a life story carved in that rock.


Good luck with your writing---see you next week.

The Twist of It

by G.Parker

My husband is taking college courses online. He is determined to finish his bachelors degree, and I'm really proud of his efforts. One of his classes involves writing an essay about a subject and presenting both sides of a position.

He's finding it to be a challenging assignment, and it started me thinking about writing. In our books we aren't always writing about things we enjoy, like, or even would want to do. It all depends on what the plot involves and the subject. If we are drawn to writing a story that involves the use of guns and we are personally an anti-guns person, it's going to be challenging to do the research so we can write it realistically.

Sometimes we have to find out about things we don't like and paint them in a positive light in order to have a successful story line. Explaining why a psycho is the way he/she is so that we can somewhat sympathize with them as a character, for example. Or, showing how someone does something a certain way (perhaps not the usual way) and how it shapes their characters' development.

Writing is a challenge, be it fiction, non fiction, fantasy, contemporary, whatever. I used to think that writing fiction was the easiest course because I wouldn't have to do so much research. It didn't take me long to find out that I was wrong -- many fiction stories I've written required research.

What is it you would least want to write about? Abuse? Rape? Bankruptcy? There are lots of subjects that are difficult and I would have a hard time showing in any kind of a positive light, but that is the mark of a true writer. It would be a good exercise -- practice writing about something you hate and seeing the value of it. I think newspaper writers have to do this a lot. They have to delve into stories that would make most people turn and run screaming into the night.

What is your least favorite subject? Explore it and find out why. I would say it's a little like playing devils advocate -- but staying on the side with angels.

What Do You Know?

By Nichole Giles

The other day I met a good friend for lunch. We went to this wonderful, restored historic village that has delis, restaurants and shops. After we ate, we wandered around the shops, chatting and enjoying the afternoon. Eventually, we ended up in this fabulous little place packed to overflowing with fantastical wares. I soaked it all in, immediately falling in love with the fairy section, then wandering into the dragon one, then the pirate, and…well, you get the idea.

This shop had a little bit of everything—books, music, fairy traps, statuary, trinkets, smells, jewelry, fantasy style clothing—really, truly a taste of a fantasy world. Upon entering, a woman even offered us a sprinkling of fairy dust—at which point she stamped a silver star in glitter and pressed it on my cheek.

The woman I was with is the one person from my non-writing life who actually believes in fantastical things (well, not including my kids) like fairies and dragons and magic. But she isn’t a writer, and thus, not associated with so many fantasy believers as me. As we left the store, she asked, “Do you think the people in that store actually believe in those things they’re selling? Because most people don’t, you know? To them it’s just fun to make believe.”

I thought for a minute before answering, but when I did, my answer was honest. “I think they must. One thing I’ve learned from writing is that people truly believe in the things they write, including these fantastical creatures and made-up worlds. An author has to believe in the world they’ve created, because if they don’t, their readers won’t either. So, in order to run a store like that—one that sells fairy catchers, fabulously embroidered velvet capes, and pirate maps—they’d have to.”

I’ve thought more about our conversation since then, and I realize how lucky I am to know so many people who believe in things they can’t see. Things that others might laugh at or consider childish. How boring my life would be without these things or these people. And how nice it is to know others understand what’s going through my head.

We’re taught to write what we know, and so we do, and look at what comes out of us. Time-travel, and other dimensions, worlds of magical creatures, magic, wizards, witches, and other things that have yet to be discovered or invented. Have we ever experienced these things? Not likely. But somewhere deep down inside ourselves, we know, and that’s how we’re able to write them.

Okay, I get that not every author writes fantasy, and that’s perfectly okay. Romance writers know romance—the ins and outs and importance of the process. And life wouldn’t be the same without romance in it—romance in itself is a fantasy for some people. Historical fiction authors know history, and how to make it interesting through fiction. How to put us into a time other than our own (something similar to time travel). Humor authors know how to make us laugh—even when it includes creating images that stretch the truth beyond belief.

There are lots of other genres that I won’t even try to list. The bottom line is that at some point, in some way, all writing is fantastic and includes the unseen, unheard, and unbelieved. Does that mean we can’t write about something that lives in our hearts? No way. That’s why those things are there. To write and be shared with the world. Through our words and our writing, the rest of the world will have the opportunity to know what’s in our hearts and feel the truth of it beating inside them as well.

That’s why we write. It’s what we know.

Meeting Stumbling Blocks

by C. LaRene Hall

Last week in the David Wolverton newsletter there was a quote, “Any idiot can criticize my work--and most of them will." This made me think about the five critiques I recently received for a contest I entered. I’m not saying that the judges were idiots, but it surprised me how different all of their comments were. In fact, they were so different that I went on my own quest.

I took a trip to the library to check out seven of the Magic Treehouse books. Because a couple of judges said my book was too similar to that series, I had to see for myself. From this experience, I learned that you don’t ever take someone’s word for everything. I was able to decide they were wrong. I wrote my book for a different age group. The only similarity I found was my story also involved a brother and sister who went back in time. The way they accomplished this is entirely different. In my novel, the boy and girl have to solve all their own problems. They don’t have a magical book telling them what is happening, or giving them hints along the way. Everything they did while away from home could have happened to any other child.

I learned that you don’t let the comments of other people stop you from doing what you love to do. Another thing David said was, “No matter how well you write, you’re going to find plenty of people who hate what you do.”

People criticize for many reasons, but don’t let any of them stand in your way of accomplishing something that might someday be great. David also said, “When you’re new as a writer, the fear of criticism can be one of your greatest stumbling blocks.” Please, don’t let this happen to you. Don’t be afraid – keep writing.

“Expect the Unexpected”

By Darvell Hunt

I hate clichés like “Expect the unexpected.” What does that even mean? If it’s really unexpected, how can you expect it?

I imagine this phrase was considered clever at one point. The contradiction is probably what makes it so popular. It's ironic. And moronic. I suggest that we get rid of the cliché phrase and replace it with what we really mean.

How about this: expect surprises. I like that better. Simple and to the point.

David Copperfield, the famous magician, was full of surprises in his show near the University of Utah last Saturday night. My Dad bought my boys and me tickets for the show. I’m sure he would have enjoyed the show, but he did “the unexpected” and performed a bit of a disappearing act himself shortly after he bought the tickets. His death came as a surprise to all of us.

As a writer, it can be difficult to create a good balance between expected surprises and confusing plot twists. A good story has an unpredictable plot, but must make sense afterwards. That’s not always an easy thing to do, especially when you hope to create as large a target audience as possible.

I’m currently reading book #3 in the Twilight series. I’m finding the writing much better in quality than in the first two books, but, to my satisfaction, the storytelling is also better. Even so, though it has a few unexpected surprises, I have anticipated every major plot twist so far, at least a chapter in advance, and I’m almost done with the book.

On the other hand, last Friday night, my wife rented the latest James Bond movie Quantum of Solace. I don’t know if I’m getting too old to enjoy 007 movies, but halfway through the film, I still had no idea what the movie was about—except that I recognized the familiar speeding car chases and rooftop footraces. There were so many unanticipated surprises that I no longer had any interest in what was going to happen next. The scenes just seemed so random. Whatever happened to the good ol’ days of James Bond?

Unexpected is one thing, but incomprehensible is another. Sheesh.

Anyhow, my dad dying between purchasing tickets for the magic show and the date of the performance is a good example of an unexpected surprise. I never considered it might happen, and even though the experience was jarring, that’s the way life works. People die unexpectedly. The inevitability of death makes it believable when it happens, no matter how surprising the timing ends up being.

Consider the following series of unexpected events involving a death:

Your neighbor’s cat jumps off your house and onto your windshield as you start to pull from your garage, startling you and causing you to slam your foot on the gas pedal into reverse. Much to your horror, your reverse movement causes you to run over your 80-year-old neighbor and the dog she’s walking on the sidewalk behind your car. Since you know that cats hate dogs, you can’t help yourself from believing that the neighbor’s cat conspired with you (without your permission!) to kill the neighbor’s dog.

Now, would this event come as a surprise to you? Certainly. But, bizarre as it is, is it believable? I wrote this little fiction piece assuming it was beyond belief, but when I submitted it our blogging staff here at LDS Writers Blogck for critiquing, many of my co-bloggers asked me if it really happened (minus the part about believing the cat killed the dog).

So my attempt at stretching the truth beyond belief apparently was unsuccessful, which leads me back to James Bond and Twilight. How do you know if your story is predictable or too complex such that the reader will not understand it?

To answer this question, I would like to use another cliché penned by Justice Potter Stewart, regarding pornography, of all things. The matter of obscenity was before the Supreme Court in 1964, and Justice Stewart said that he could not specifically define what was obscene, but he said, “I know it when I see it.”

Creating the balance between predictability and believability is, in itself, a magic trick that many of us do not fully understand. On Saturday night, David Copperfield made a dozen members of the audience disappear before our eyes while they sat in chairs on a platform suspended above the stage. I don’t know how he did it, but it was certainly an amazing performance. Unexpected? Sure. But believable?

Well, I did see it happen right before my eyes. To use another used-too-often cliché, seeing is believing.

The Chosen Becomes Beautiful

By Ali Cross

My favorite aspect of being a photographer is being able to bring out my subjects’ inner beauty. The best example I have is Lily, a mouse of a girl in every respect. She kept her head down, rarely making eye contact with anyone. She wore her brown hair straight and shoulder length where it would fall over her face. And when she did look up, you noticed a plain girl with eyes that were afraid to face the world. 

When her mother approached me to take Lily’s senior portraits, I happily said yes, though I worried about how they would turn out. Lily hadn’t ever said more than one word to me, and I thought having a camera between us would make her even more nervous to talk and interact with me.

The day arrived and to my surprise, Lily had dressed attractively and was agreeable to my suggestions. The more we worked together, the more she opened up, and I discovered that Lily was truly lovely—inside and out. 

To my great joy, the photographs proved what I discovered that day. Lily was beautiful. And what’s more, when she saw her portraits, Lily knew it to.

It only takes one person—a photographer with an eye for what makes you shine, one love-of-your-life who sees in you beauty unequaled, one editor who sees the potential in your manuscript. 

You might have to go through several editors before you connect with the one who praises your story, but it will happen—only believe. You are a writer. For someone, your story will soar in their hearts and find a home. Don’t give up until you have found the editor who sees the beauty in your work. 

What's in a Name?

By Keith Fisher


Until recently, (long story), I did a lot of multitasking at work. I work in document preservation, digitizing records, and I kept facebook open in a small window on my desktop. Staying in touch with my world at 3 a.m. is not difficult. Most of my facebook friends sign off around midnight.

Occasionally a friend or two will be up because they can’t sleep, or they’re burning the midnight oil. I’ve been meeting writers who are part of my network but I didn’t know them very well.

I talked to Susan Corpany Curtis one night, because she lives in Hawaii and there’s a time difference. Anyway we chatted about our books, and she pointed out something I’d thought of, but never really paid attention to.

When you’re plotting a story, How do you come up with names? If you’re like me, you start at an arbitrary point in the alphabet, and begin listing names in your mind. When you come up with one, you compare it to what’s already been written. You determine if the name matches your character and you make changes if it doesn’t.

Character names are tricky. It’s almost as important as when you chose a name for your children. Someone read from a book of funny baby names at work the other day, and I can’t believe some of the cruel jokes perpetrated by attention starved parents who probably shouldn’t have been given the keys to a new baby anyway.

Of course, you can write myriad situations, caused by an unusual name. Just like Johnny Cash did in his song A Boy Named Sue. Naming a boy, Sue, or a girl, Henry would help you write new plots.

Often, when we pick a name for a child we think about the generations who’ve passed and sometimes we honor them by giving our child a namesake, sometimes we give them pieces of our own names. My brother has the same first name as my father but we always called him by his middle name. It caused problems, though, whenever someone official, or legal, would call and ask for the name, we always assumed they wanted Dad.

When we pick names for our characters the considerations are different. If we name a son after the dad, it’s confusing for the reader. So, we think of vastly different names for each character, and we often try to find gallant or sexy names, something that stands out. We want the reader to fall in love with the name. We pick Trent, and violet. Brady, and Bambi. There are many websites with baby names that will help for the other genres, but writing fantasy is different. It’s not easier in fact it’s probably harder because you have to invent.

I have a problem with using names that almost rhyme. Like in my WIP (work in progress), I have characters named Debbie, Leslie, Jenny, Brady, and Ruthie. Just to name a few. Do you see the problem? They all end with the EE sound.

The thing that Susan pointed out, however, was when authors pick names they like, but they don’t consider the era. Would you give a name like Ethan, or Olivia, to a character born in 1908? You might, but while those names were ranked three and six in 2008, they didn’t make the top one hundred in 1908. These facts are from the social security website.

When Susan reminded me of the problem, I took all the names from my current work in progress and ran them through the website. First I had to determine how old I wanted them to be and I gave them birth years. Of course, because of the EE sound, I planned to change most of the names anyway, but I discovered from their birth dates, I’d misnamed some of them. I have the luxury of living for more than fifty years so I remember most of the eras I write about, but even with personal knowledge, I still falter.

As I said above, there are many websites that provide baby names, but I recommend the Social Security site. It’s easy to use, and the data is from government records. I would wait until you’ve written the book then go back and find the names that need to be changed. You might find a name that fits your character better than the one you chose originally and it will be from the right year.

Good luck with your writing—see you next week.

Oh! and don't forget today's the day for the Launch party of Tristi Pinkston's new book Agent in Old Lace. scroll down to my last post for time and place.

Tool Boxes

by G.Parker

A couple of months ago (okay, almost a year) I borrowed a book from one of my critique group members called Stephen King on Writing. I was intrigued by the stories of his youth. His history, and how he got to where he is now, was fascinating. Once he started in on his advice though -- I began to loose interest and ended up not finishing the book.

Sigh.

What I did glean from his pearls of wisdom, was that our equipment as writers could be compared to a tool box. Our tool boxes should contain the things that are going to help us the most in getting the writing done.

King went through various techniques, but what I took from it was that reference books are a great asset to have within reach. I have three books; A Grammar Book for You and I (Me), a Thesaurus (although I look up most of my stuff online now) and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. The group could be bigger, had I funds to purchase more. As it is, I use these and go to friends, past writing conferences and the library for my education.

I have to admit, I have rarely looked at the grammar book, and my critique group will tell you that grammar is definitely something I struggle with. I also haven't finished the self editing book -- it's just a bit too dry for me.

What is in your writing tool box? What would you recommend? I'd like to know.

The Doctor's Diagnosis

By Nichole Giles

This week, my computer had to spend some time in the computer emergency room. I took it in for a power malfunction, expecting it to need minor surgery that would first make it turn on, and then run better.

When the doctor called to tell me my baby might not make it, I was crushed. Not my computer! No, it couldn’t be.

“I’m very sorry,” the doctor said. “Your motherboard has gone bad. There’s nothing more we can do.”

“My motherboard?” I said. “That can’t be right. It was working yesterday.”

The man sighed. “But it’s true. We can’t even get it to power on.”

Well, I wasn’t about to allow my poor, sad computer die all alone, and so I got in my car and drove across two towns to be with her in her hour of need. I walked in the door, hesitant to hear what I knew they would tell me, and said, “How is she?” “Not good,” the man said, a grave tone to his voice. “I’m sorry.”

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the worst. “Show me.”

They pulled out my cord—first problem, since that was one of the major reasons I brought my laptop to the doctor in the first place.

“Wait,” I said. “It doesn’t recognize that cord. That’s why she’s here.”

“Yes,” the man said. “The cord is definitely bad.” I bit my tongue, having been told by two other people that the problem was a connection inside the computer.

Then they pulled out another cord and plugged it in. I pushed the power button, and lights came on, the screen flickered to life, and my computer smiled at me. (Yes, smiled—though it was weak.) “You see?” I said. “The motherboard is fine. It’s the power source—like I told you.”

The doctor frowned. “That’s odd, it wouldn’t power up at all earlier.”

I could’ve told him that. Duh. They plugged in a useless cord. Plus, maybe she was waiting for me.

“Anyway,” he continued, “there’s still something not right about this machine.” And he proceeded to list several things it should be doing but wasn’t. I shrugged, paid the $20 fee for their failed attempt at turning it on, and took my baby with me. On the way home, we stopped for a new universal cord, and I fixed her myself. However temporarily.

Now, I’m no computer doctor, and I do realize my machine can’t last forever—especially as much as I use her. Considering the problems I’ve been having, I know it’s only a matter of time. I’m backing up everything, and taking this time to make sure my poor baby knows how much I love her, and that I’ll miss her when she’s gone.

This experience taught me that it’s important to listen to your intuition when your computer is having issues, very much the same way a mother listens to her intuition when she has a sick child. I learned the hard way with one of my children that medical doctors aren’t always right. And now I’ve learned the same thing with computer doctors. Sometimes, even when they think the problem is terrible and grave, it’s a minor issue that can be fixed with a little ingenuity and clear-thinking

I think the same lesson could apply to some of our manuscripts. We see issues that need fixing and worry that we’ll have to rewrite the entire book when in reality, most of the time a few sentences or maybe a paragraph are all the story needs. Think about it.

Back to writing.


By the way, do you have a laptop you love? Tell me all about it—literally. I may be in the market soon. My baby’s disease is progressing—it may be terminal.

Take Control

By C. LaRene Hall

Are you on autopilot, with little hope of changing the direction you are going? Many years ago, aircraft required the constant attention of a pilot in order to fly safely, but now an airplane has an autopilot designed to perform some of those responsibilities.

There is no better time than now to learn, to do, to develop, to work, and to improve. It’s time to stop drifting along, and time to take control. If you don’t have power over your writing time, who does? Of course, sometimes things do happen to change your course, but you still need to be in charge of what you are doing each day. Don’t continue along on autopilot – take control. Be your own pilot.