Time To Cultivate and Plant

by Connie S. Hall

What writing skills have you cultivated? Have you prepared the reader by digging deep furrows? Did you plant the seeds, and cover them carefully? Don’t just wait for them to grow; you have to water carefully and frequently.

At the end of the season, you need to gather in the bounty. Some of us get our rewards sooner than others, and some writers like myself seem to wait and wait.

One of the things I did this past year was attend workshops throughout the year. I always felt I gained much insight listening to new ways to write because everyone has room for improvement.

There are many books written to help you develop your writing abilities. I decide what my weak points are and read about ways to improve.

Learning to describe my senses was one area I studied this past year because I’m more aware of how important they are to my writing. I’m getting better at my descriptions, but I still have to work at it.

Using the senses helps writers reach out from the page into the sensory perceptions of the reader. One thing I studied was about layering descriptions such as; one thing tastes like another smells, a sound is a color, an emotion feels like something looks. When you use one sense to describe another, they call it synesthesia.

If you are like me, you’re so concerned with your own routine that you don’t always see, hear, taste, touch, or smell the world around you. You can expand your writing by using sense words to portray the emotions and attitudes of your characters. Remember to use smell because it can evoke complete memories. Since we experience the world through our senses, we should allow them to show in our writing. Make your story come alive by cultivating and planting these things.

I Was a Writer, Before the World Was

By Darvell Hunt

Returning from the all-you-can-eat buffet that was the LDStorymakers writers conference last week, I find my stomach having difficulty digesting all the information that I took in. I feel it may take awhile before some of the things I learned settle into my head as something useful.

The one thing that has already digested was information presented by Tristi Pinkston. She essentially bore testimony to us that those who attended the conference had learned to be writers long before we were born and to deny that here on earth is to bury our talent in the ground.

I have never enjoyed being called to repentance more than this one-hour session presented by Tristi. I guess I’ve always enjoyed writing, even though I haven’t always nurtured it. The realization finally came that I have always been a writer.

I was assigned to speak at my high-school graduation ceremony, longer ago that I care to admit now. One of the English teachers was assigned to make sure I didn’t make a fool of myself or the school. I wrote my speech and took it into her for evaluation. After reading it to her, she was left with a surprised look on her face. She simply told me to memorize the speech without making any suggestions of her own.

She then confided in me that she had been nervous about me bringing my speech to her, because I had never been in her drama classes, nor debate, nor anything else that would give her any indication that I knew what I was doing. Yet she approved of my speech with no changes.

Somehow, I believe, I have been given an innate ability to write. But, just like the talents given to the three men in the parable of Jesus, I have had the chance to either develop that talent, or bury it in the ground for safe keeping.

I have buried that talent many times, only to dig it up later, reform it in my hands, refine, examine, and then bury it again. No matter what I do, though, I find myself continually prompted to dig up my talent and try to rework it.

Tristi has prompted me to not bury it ever again, but rather nurture, feed, further refine it, and multiply it as well as I can. I hope when the Master comes, I can show him my writing and say, “I have done the best I can,” and offer it to him in humble confidence.

Six Word Novels

By C.L. Beck
© 2007

A “six word novel” is a writing exercise in which you create the plot for a story using only six words. You've probably seen the well-known one written by Ernest Hemingway: "For sale: baby shoes, never used."

I don’t claim to know the details of Hemingway’s plot, because—well, actually, I’m not sure there were any. It was just a writing exercise. But my mind instantly wondered … who kidnapped the baby from the hospital? And why? Where had they taken him? And what color were those baby shoes?

That’s the point of the exercise—to get your mind shakin’ and movin’.

Because I thought you’d enjoy them, below are a few “six word novels” to get you started.
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Magician fired. Nothing up his sleeve!

Cat scratches. Baby cries. Fur coat.

Sale: Scuba tank with shark bite.

Rural America. Smell the dairy air.

Feathers, manure and money. Turkey farming.

Music loud, time fades, hearing aids!

Horse bucks, cowboy flies, ambulance ride.

Theater fire. Magician disappears, hare singed!
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Try writing few of your own; they’re a lot of fun to do.

And thanks to my husband, Russ, who allowed me to share a few of his six word novels as part of this blog.

Just Happy to Be Here

By Keith Fisher

I’ve been knee deep in the writer’s conference today and I need to post this tonight before I fall into bed. If you missed the conference today, I’m sorry for you. It was great! I attended a class about grammar and punctuation that left me self-conscious about my writing. I’m not sure if I should’ve used a comma up there or not. Okay let the chips fall where they may and since I won’t have to time to run it past the group for editing, the chips probably will fall. They’ll fall from the Internet and leak out of your computer screen, oozing onto the floor. Okay, maybe we’re not talking potato chips here.

I only have a few minutes so I’ll get right to the point. Rachel Ann Nunes, (pronounced noon-ish for those who are uninformed). Anyway she talked about the state of the LDS market. It was a good presentation and left us with hope that the market will be good but we have to work hard and learn the craft and keep writing.

At one point during her presentation, she compared our niche market with the national market and I asked the question: Why won’t national market publishers print LDS books? The answer was a good one, she said, because LDS fiction tends to try and convert.

I’ve got to agree with that, God’s stated purpose is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. If our need to write was given as a gift from God, then we should help to fulfill that purpose with that gift.

To be fair though, I think I can understand the fear of being converted. One of the things I would never do as a missionary was force someone to listen.

But I have another question and an observation: I hate to admit it, but I have been reading some of Dean Koontz’s books lately and I’ve noticed very strong overtones involving another church. He puts far more references to the other church in his books than the LDS references I put in my books. Other authors put less than I do. What’s the difference?

If we refer to the LDS church in our books, the moral family values are shown. Love of God and keeping the commandments are like innuendo. But it’s as it should be. As I said, If God is the source of our writing desires, then we can’t help express our love for him.

I am curious though, What would happen if one of us wrote a demons and monsters book with a character that is a worthy priesthood holder, who is not necessarily a Mormon missionary? In the story, the character would banish the demons and monsters and everyone would be happy in the end.

I said this would be short but I guess I was wrong. See you tomorrow at the conference.

"Constant Vigilance!"

By G. Parker

My family is probably much like yours in that we’ve read all the Harry Potter books. In fact, I think I’ve read each one at least three times. One of my favorites is the Goblet of Fire. This is the book where Mad-Eye Moody is teaching the Defense Against The Dark Arts class. (Of course, we all know now that it wasn’t really him, but the guy still did a good job in the class.) My favorite part was where he would shout “Constant vigilance!” every so often and make everyone jump.

I think we need to keep that thought in mind, especially when it comes to how we store or save our writing. Do you use a computer? Do you save your stuff to the hard drive or do you save it to a disk? Do you write on paper and have reams and reams in filing cabinets? Whatever way you write, you need to think of how these precious words are being saved.

On a computer, the hard drive is great storage (if you’ve got gigs of space) but when that computer dies – where is your stuff? Can you get to it? No.

Using a filing cabinet is a good thing if it’s fireproof. (You might want to see if it’s ‘heat proof’ as well, or it won’t make much difference either way) If it’s not, then all that work is gone. Poof. Believe me, there’s nothing like trying to write from memory when you’ve figured you were finished with a story and now it’s gone. It doesn’t happen the same way – it’s never the same.

Fortunately, there are options all around. For the computer, I would recommend at least two things. One: Save your information on a CD every month or every week if you are writing volumes every day. Label those disks and make sure you back up everything you would hate to loose. Two: Save your things to a site off your computer. There are lots of free email sites that have gigs of storage. There are even places you can pay to store them if you’re really worried, but I don’t think we need to go that far. Yahoo is great for storage, or Gmail. But always have a good copy somewhere beside your home. A side note suggested by fellow blogger, C.L. Beck, is that it’s important to save under a different name if you want to keep different versions or drafts. That way you don’t confuse which version you have. Using dates, numbers or letters is a good way to designate the new file.

If you have heard of or use USB drives, they are great until you lose them. I had one I got for Christmas that hung around my neck. It was great, and I had lots of things stored on it—but it’s disappeared and I can’t find it. All that work is gone, and I’m not sure where I can find any of the things I’d stored on it. It makes me sick, and that is what prompted this blog.

For handwritten or printed sheets, I would recommend scanning them into a computer and saving them to disk as well. That way you don’t have to worry about the condition of the paper in 20 years, such as if the mice found their way into your filing cabinet, or the kids pulled something out to read and spilled punch on them, etc. I would also recommend copies being stored either at someone else’s house, or, if you really cherish them, in a safe deposit box. That would be pretty safe from most hazards.

The most important thing I want to stress though is CONSTANT VIGILANCE! Walking away from a typing stint without saving your document is a nightmare waiting to happen. ALWAYS save a major editing or large file of writing right after you’ve finished with it. You’ll never be sorry.

So, everyone say it with me: “Constant vigilance!”

(sniff) I'm so proud!

Announcing...the Big Winner!

By Nichole Giles

In the blog I posted two weeks ago today, I threw a plot beginning out into the wind—or more accurately to our readers. I suppose you could call it a writing exercise of sorts, with the promise of a prize at the end. The idea was borrowed from a book that is full, from beginning to end, of great writing ideas.

This is a book that has helped me—on many occasions—to wake my brain up and get my fingers moving. It is called, “The Pocket Muse Endless Inspiration, New Ideas for Writing” by Monica Wood.

The offered prize? Well, what better prize than a king size bar of the winner’s favorite candy?

The assignment was: in 50 words or less, Write about a household item that becomes the source of a family war.

And the winner is (drum roll please)…Keith Fisher for his entry:

"Oh no! I fell in," said my wife from the bathroom.
As I ran to hide I asked myself,
If a man is required to lift it up,
Then why can't a woman learn to put the seat down?

By Keith Fisher

Keith can expect his king size Symphony bar by the end of this week.

Honorable mention (but sorry, no candy) goes to Connie Hall, C.L. Beck, and Triple Nickel. Thanks for playing!

Perfection Doesn't Exist

by Connie S. Hall

"I assume that the first fifty ways I try it are going to be wrong." – James Dickey

I agree with the above quote. Writers should expect to change the stories they write. A first draft usually needs rewriting. Revision means to see again. As a writer, you need to look at your story through a fresh and critical perspective. Rethink, reconsider, review, refine, reorganize, and revive your story. Remember that revision is not proofreading (commas and spelling), or editing (looking for better words, and repetition). Revising is something completely different.

Some instructors suggest that you wait awhile after you’ve finished a draft before you revise it. Others tell you to wait to rewrite until you've finished a scene, a section, or a chapter.

As writers, we often produce lots of stuff that needs to be tossed. You shouldn’t fall in love with what you have written. If you want to be a polished writer, then you can't afford not to throw stuff away.

Save your drafts. You never know if something you took out of your story might work later on, and you certainly don’t want to lose the hours you spent struggling with a certain scene. If not in this story, maybe it’ll work sometime in the future for another piece.

Here are a few suggestions to think about when you begin to revise: Do you give lots of detail early on and then let it fizzle out by the end? Are your facts accurate? Is the tone and language appropriate for your audience? Do you spend too much time on trivial people and neglect the main character? Are your transitions smooth, or do you need to move some things around? Remember, if you don’t have a smooth ending, your story dies a slow death.

Revising is easier from a hard copy, and you should read it aloud. You won’t catch every thing on your first draft. When you have finished revising it, you are done. Leave it. Too much revising can take the life right out of the story. Remember perfection doesn't exist.

First-Letter-of-Your-Name Game

By Darvell Hunt

Writing exercises can be stupid. They can also be fun. Some writing exercises can even be stupid and fun, yet still be worth doing. It's all about teaching yourself to be creative and to think new thoughts.

I found a writing exercise that I found fun (but not stupid!) on Josi Kilpack’s web site (see josikilpack.blogspot.com), which was in response to the same writing exercise posted by Sariah Wilson on the Six LDS Writers and Frog blog (see sixldswriters.blogspot.com). I thought it would be interesting to repeat here. Feel free to do this exercise and post your results below. I even promise not to call your answers stupid (unless, of course, you have stupid answers).

Rules: Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following. They MUST be real places, names, things...NOTHING made up! If you can't think of anything, skip it. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Name: Darvell

1. Famous Athlete: Dennis Rodman
2. 4 letter Word: Darn (after all, this is an LDS writers blog)
3. Street Name: D-Street
4. Color: Dark Green
5. Animal: Dingo
6. Vehicle: Dodge Dart
7. Tropical Location: Dominican Republic
8. College Major: Dance
9. Junk Food: Doritos
10. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Die-cast landmark statues (kind of working that one)
11. Boy Name: Daniel
12. Girl Name: Danielle
13. Movie Title: Dune
14. Occupation: Doctor
15. Flower: Daisy
16. Celebrity: Dom DeLuise
17. Magazine: Discover
18. U.S. City or State: Dover, Delaware
19. Pro Sports Team: Dayton Dragons
20. Something Found in a Kitchen: Dirty Dishes
21. Reason for Being Late: Dog Died
22. Something You Throw Away: Dead Mouse
23. Things You Shout: “Dang, don’t do dat!”
24. Cartoon Character: Donald Duck

Come on, post your answers! Let's see 'em!

What a Load of Manure

By C.L. Beck
© 2007

Every once in a while, I like to post a blog that has nothing to do with writing—well, except for the fact that it's written. So ... for a change of pace, here's one that's just pure fun.

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It’s time to think of spring crops and thereby, to ponder manure. But first, let me qualify—pondering animal waste is a guy thing.

I base that opinion on observation. Just go to any feed store and you’ll hear men discussing the merits of manure. Apparently it cures everything from warts to hiccups. And even grows mammoth veggies in the garden.

Speaking of gardens, ours is a cement pad. You probably think I’m kidding, but try to stab a pitchfork in it and you’ll agree. Every year we’d till, add sand, and by the next spring, it’d be hard enough to play basketball on again.

One year, my husband, Russ, mentioned the problem to our neighbor—a farmer who grows a vegetable patch that rivals the Garden of Eden.

“Ya need cow manure. I can give you a truckload,” he said as he whacked a weed with his shovel.

The next day we drove to his farm. Our neighbor had the front-end loader ready and signaled us over to a 300 foot mountain of cow chips. As Russ backed the pickup to it, I shouted to him over the roar of the loader’s engine, “I don’t think we need to get very much, just a small…”

Wham! A load of manure landed in the bed of our truck and I instantly wished I’d thought to close the rear window. Manure dust floated into my hair and eyes, and I started coughing.

When my throat finally opened up, I tried again. “We probably don’t need a lot…”

Wham! Another load dropped into the truck. Then, before I even had a chance to catch my strangulated breath, a third batch landed.

By now, the front end of the truck was slowly lifting off the ground, and I had visions of the epitaph they’d engrave on my headstone: “Here lies C.L. Beck, a ton of manure fell on her neck, her writing career has come to an end, the result of the waste from a cow’s rear end.”

My nasal passages felt like someone had packed a set of long johns up them and my throat was so constricted from the dust that I figured they’d need a crowbar to open it. I managed to nudge Russ and make a slashing motion across my throat. Normally that signal means “stop”, but in this case it had a dual meaning that Russ easily understood.

Our trip home was like something out of “Ma and Pa Kettle”. The rear bumper smacked the asphalt on every pothole, scattering cow pies down the road, while the front tires only touched the pavement once every 50 feet.

When we got to the house, we unloaded the stuff. As we finished, I turned to Russ and said, “We are never getting a load of cow manure for the garden again.”

Russ nodded his head in agreement, leapt over the side of the pickup and as he walked away said, “Yup, you’re right. Next year we’ll get turkey.”

It was a good thing all that manure was beyond arm’s length. I’ve got pretty good aim, and if I could have grabbed a cow chip, I’d have flung it at him.

I’m Sorry Teacher but My Dog Ate my Homework

By Keith Fisher

Okay I didn’t finish part two of the two-part blog. I was caught napping (I mean editing) when something, (Cooking Dutch oven for the whole Fourth Grade), sneaked up from behind and hit me on the head.

Then I was roped into Judging at a Dutch oven cook off, I gave a talk in Church, and I still haven’t prepared my lesson for Priesthood meeting.

Starting Monday, (afternoon, because I work Sunday night at eleven and I’ll be sleeping Monday Morning). I have to get myself organized for the LDStorymakers conference. I was foolish enough to say I’d help with the Mix & Mingle. So, part two may not get posted next week either. (I’ll probably be writing about some totally sage thing someone says at the conference).

Through all of this, I finished another novel, (Now I’m napping, I mean editing.) It’s going to be terrific. If you read it, you will cry. It is the story of twin brothers who . . . well I don’t want to give anything away until I get it re-written. Perhaps I’ll have a stack of volunteer readers by then.

You know, not that I’m Rambling, but during the time period above, I made copies of Eternal Tapestries, (you know the cover I put on this blog?) Anyway, I gave those copies to the ward RS book club and I’m on pins and needles, waiting to hear what they think.

I hope you’re waiting with baited breath for the second part of the other blog. It may get hairy. Well, not really, but I got your attention didn’t I?

It’s Saturday night and I know you have been wondering why I didn’t post early this morning. (See above). I am excited about the conference coming up and I hope to see you there. Look for me, I’ll be the guy with the Dutch oven burn on his arm. I felt like a newbie with a Dutch oven, but that’s another story. Good luck and good writing.

Real Life What If's

By Nichole Giles

In every writing class I’ve ever taken, the subject of “what if” has come up. “What if” your character does this? “What if” this happens? “What if” that happens? It’s a question writers learn to ask constantly as they are perfecting their plots.

But sometimes “what if” is not a good thing. In the nonfiction of real life, sometimes you have to close your eyes and ignore all the “what ifs” raging through your mind. “What if” that doctor had caught your child’s appendicitis (rather than convincing you it was the stomach flu) before it burst? “What if” you hadn’t followed your instinct to take him to another doctor a few days later? “What if” you had left him home sick while you went shopping? “What if” you had come home and he was dead? “What if” the surgery didn’t go well? “What if” he got pneumonia in the hospital after surgery? “What if” you lived far away from your family during a critical time when you really needed help from them? “What if” you lived fifty years ago instead of now? What if…what if…what if….

In real life, “what if” becomes guilt, anger, and unattainable wishes. Sometimes, you just have to stop wondering “what if” and be proud of yourself for going with your gut. Because you did take your child to the second doctor, and you didn’t leave him near death to go shopping, and he didn’t die. You can be glad his surgery went well, and even though he got pneumonia, he fought it off beautifully. And your ward and family rallied, offering more help than you knew what to do with. Today, it is 2007, not 1957, and technology is on your side.

There are days when “what if” needs to be left completely alone, so the writer in you can live real life. In real life, “what if” is not always your friend. I should know. I’ve been “what if-ing” myself for the last two weeks. Trust me. It only makes things worse. I’ve decided to leave my “what if’s” for fiction. After all, that’s where they belong.

Some Techniques Pay Off

by Connie S. Hall

This past week I spent my time getting ready for a stake 24-hour roadshow. Friday evening and Saturday during the daytime, I observed the different wards as they prepared their performance for the evening. Many of them brainstormed their ideas before they wrote their first draft. Next, they revised the script. Each of the seven wards had a different technique, but in the end, all of their efforts worked. All seven wards were able to present a good show.

Some wards had excellent directors and others muddled their way through. Costuming was important to some, and others worried about the props. A few of them included dancing, while others mostly acted. All shows included songs because it was a requirement. As each drama unfolded, you could recognize the efforts put forth as we all enjoyed a fun evening together.

This made me think of writing and the efforts we put into the things we write. Sometimes I take the time to brainstorm, while other times, I just plunge into the story. After the draft, I spend lots of time revising. Developing a good story line takes extra effort. If I read my story aloud, I usually find the errors. Editing for me is never over until I have the manuscript in the mail. I spend much of my time doing research because I don’t want to write anything too dumb.

Like the roadshows, if you put the effort and time into the story you are writing, it will all come together. No two writers use exactly the same technique, but in the end, you’ll complete your story.

My Bishopric Has 27 Fingernails

By Darvell Hunt

My bishopric has 27 fingernails. Each member of my ward’s leadership has a missing fingertip on his left hand, leaving all three of them with only 9 fingernails each.

I can write with my left hand. So can my dad, my dad’s dad, my son, and my sister. Only three of us are left-handed.

When my youngest daughter was born in 2000, her name was the third most common girl’s baby name that year in the United States, even though her name was practically nonexistent before a 1984 film directed by Ron Howard.

While I don’t know if any of these details make a good story or not, they are certainly interesting bits of information. And—they are all true details from my life. I don’t think I have a terribly interesting life, but I do have unique experiences that might become source material for my writing.

One of the most common questions I hear asked of writers is: Where do you get your ideas? I have one simple answer for this question:

LIFE.

Be observant and you, too, can tell interesting stories.

My Favorite Links

By C.L. Beck
© 2007

To set the stage for this poetic piece of nonsense, imagine you have a voice like Julie Andrews, and you're in an Austrian castle during a thunderstorm, singing this song to a group of writers.

Publishers’ blog sites
And writers’ home pages,
Magazine guidelines
And stories in stages,

Places that all help a writer to think,
These are a few of my favorite links.

Agents who guide us
And answer our questions,
Authors who listen
And give us suggestions,

People who just help a writer to think.
They are a few of my favorite links.

When the “no” comes,
When my mind blanks,
When I’m feeling sad,
I simply go click on my favorite links,
And then I don’t feel … so bad.


The links below are some of my favorites. Please note that I am not endorsing them in any way, they just happen to be a few of the sites I like to visit and that I think you might enjoy. In addition, please check out the links for our bloggers, listed at the right, under LDS Writing Links.

Links Related to Writing:
http://pubrants.blogspot.com/ (Agent—Kristin’s blog page)
http://ldspublisher.blogspot.com/ (LDS Publisher’s blog page)
http://anwafounder.blogspot.com/ (American Night Writers’ Association blog)
http://www.shirleybahlmann.com/new_page_1.htm (Author Shirley Bahlmann—writing tips)
http://www.tristipinkston.com/ (Author Tristi Pinkston)
http://www.suite101.com/readingandwriting/ (Experts who offer advice on everything to do with reading and writing)
http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/index.html (Poets’ Corner)
http://www.m-w.com/ (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, on line)

Links for Fun:
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/ (Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer)
http://www.flylady.com/ (Fly Lady—cleaning and decluttering tips)
http://www.families.com/ (Good, clean blogs on almost every topic)
http://us.mcafee.com/root/speedometer/default.asp (Internet connection speedometer—to check out the speed of your DSL line)

Do You Feel Inclined to Censure

OR . . .

"I promise I’ll be a good writer just please, don’t burn my book!"

By Keith Fisher


This is the first part of a two-part blog that is intended to incite the expression of opinions. I'm on my soapbox again and I would like to hear your opinions, but please keep your comments within the parameters of the spirit of the blog.

In 1933 Nazi youth groups, encouraged by Hitler, set out to burn books in Germany. The books they burned were subversive by their own standards, not conducive to the doctrine of the state.

I have been told that in 367 AD, in the interest of purity of religion, Athanasius, a Bishop of Alexandria ordered the Egyptian monks to destroy more than 95 percent of a legendary library that had been built for thousands of years.

These were not the only groups guilty of this act of abolition in a quest for absolution. Many have repeated this atrocity throughout the centuries, to the extent of the loss of irreplaceable volumes of the history of man.

Recently, I was reading a book by author, editor, and publisher, Sol Stein. After reading his non-fiction books about writing, I looked forward with great anticipation to reading one of his novels.
In the forward of Stein’s book, The Magician, the author talked about the history of the novel, and discussed at length, the banning of his book by several school districts in Wisconsin and elsewhere.

Immediately, my hackles were raised. I thought back to a time in my youth when there were several books on the "questionable list" Such books as Catcher in the Rye, the Great Gatsby, and Breakfast of Champions, to mention a few.

I thought of the television episode of Mash when the characters were driven crazy by the desire to see a banned movie called The Moon is Blue. When they finally saw the movie, they discovered the questionable material was really nothing, especially by today’s TV standards.

History shows that when you attach the word "BANNED" to anything, it only increases the desire of consumers to experience it.

I was torn between my intellectual side and my spiritual side. On one hand, I was appalled that anyone would ban a book. After all, isn’t banning the first step to burning? On the other hand I read further in the Magician and I asked myself, would I want my kids to read that book?

I turned to my neighbor for his thoughts. He is a sociology professor who has taught in both LDS and state institutions. I recited for him, my dilemma. His response is telling, he said, "I have asked my students to read materials that I wouldn’t want my own children to read." As an educator, his task is to teach his students about different cultures and some of them reflect a different set of standards than does the LDS culture.

For now, I can control what I, and my children read. You might say I’m banning books in my family. But the evidence is in. Children are better adjusted if they are allowed to keep purity of mind and heart for as long as they can. It’s true that naiveté is a factor, but my heart tells me they are better off learning certain things later in life, when they can deal with it in an adult way.

On the other side there is the parent who bans LDS fiction and non-fiction from his family. The parent is undoubtedly convinced that his children will be brainwashed by those blankety-blank Mormons.

Continued in my next blog

Today's New Beginning

By Nichole Giles

Last week we passed the deadline for the “Highlights for Children” Mystery Fiction contest. I’ve noticed contests are a good motivator for our group, because as soon as the first entry was sent to the group for critique, a whole bunch more started showing up.

The LDStorymakers also had a contest deadline last week. They are running a “First Chapter” contest for the attendees of their March conference. I know several people in our group have entered that contest as well.

Some people wrote furiously, attempting to enter as many stories or first chapters as possible. Others wrote only one story, and edited it over and over and over again in order to make their one entry the best it could possibly be.

Whatever the method, we find ourselves motivated by the enthusiasm of others. And lucky for us, when someone from our group wins, we all win. We congratulate them, we cheer for them, and then we start our next contest entry hoping that someday we will be the winner everyone is congratulating.

Since the contest deadlines have passed, I’ve borrowed a writing beginning from “The Pocket Muse: Endless Inspiration” by Monica Wood, in hope that our motivation does not wane.

“Write about a household item that becomes the source of a family war.”

You get fifty words, and ten days. Your prize? A king size candy bar of your choice, sent directly to your house via the US Postal service. Contest deadline: March 17, Saint Patrick’s Day.

Good writing!

Don't Spin Out Of Control

By Connie S. Hall

When traveling an unfamiliar road most of us need a map. That’s also true when we’re writing. We don’t want to get our readers hopelessly lost so we need to know where we’re going. Every story needs a beginning with characters, setting, and problems. Then along comes the middle with lots of details, description, and dialogue. In the ending of the story, we all know there has to be a solution.

I don’t always plan my stories this way. I hate to outline, and sometimes I spin out of control, the same as I do when driving down a dry road and all of a sudden hit black ice. Sometimes I can’t find a solution to the corner I’ve written myself into, and I know it’s my own fault.

Last week I hit a long patch of black ice and slid off the road. I even had several warnings that it would happen. My husband called to caution me about the treacherous road ahead, and several men were standing along the road warning the motorists of the upcoming danger. By the time I hit the ice I was only traveling about 5 mph, but I still slid. I was lucky because my car didn’t go through the fence or hit anything. I could see others sliding and I was a bit concerned so it took me awhile to get enough courage to continue on my way.

Since this experience, I’ve tried to come up with a better writing plan. I’ve had many warnings that I should use an outline. At workshops I’ve attended, the teachers tell us to use one. I’m stubborn and still hate the idea, and I continue to paint myself into a corner. When a writing idea hits me, my fingers won’t wait for me to outline.

After typing several pages of my newest story, I can tell I need to sit back and take a hard look at what I’ve written. I have the story in my head, but I need to develop the characters and setting more. Maybe now’s the time to put together a good outline. I know it’s not the ideal time, but at least maybe this time I’ll keep myself going down the right road, and won’t spin out of control.

Finding a Great LDS Story

By Darvell Hunt

On Sunday, I watched the James Cameron documentary about the supposed lost tomb of Jesus. While I don’t buy the story of the bones of Jesus being found, the evidence presented was very compelling—and more importantly, it made for a great story.

In the very controversial novel The DaVinci Code, I didn’t necessarily buy all of the ideas presented about the Holy Grail, but Dan Brown did effectively create a great story and I must admit that I enjoyed reading most of it.

I also didn't really believe that a psychologically disturbed kid could see dead people. However, in M. Night Schyamalan’s breakout movie, The Sixth Sense­, for about an hour and a half, I did believe just that. I suspended my disbelief long enough for me to leave the theater thinking I had just experienced a great story.

I want to find that great LDS story—a great story idea that makes people sit back, nod their heads, and say, “Wow, I never thought of that sort of thing happening, but you know, that’s really a great story.”

But here’s my problem: Members of the LDS Church are interested in truth. I think this has always been a stumbling block in marketing LDS fiction, because how do you tell the truth when writing fiction?

The easiest and safest way to deal with this issue in the LDS media marketplace is to write stories with fictional LDS characters, but leave them in real-life situations. Much of the current LDS fiction fits into this category. But what if I want to write LDS stories with plotlines closer to the likes of Dan Brown or M. Night Shyamalan? My fiction wouldn’t be presented as gospel truth, but as entertainment for people familiar with LDS teachings. Would fabrications dealing closely with LDS doctrine be too much for the majority of LDS readers?

I honestly don’t know. I do, however, want to find out.

And the Winner Is …

By C.L. Beck
© 2007

The month of February is over, and I know you'll all be sad to hear it, but I’ve officially closed out the License Plate Frames Slogan Contest. (That’s a mouthful—say that five times fast!)

Just to be sure I was doing this correctly however, I watched the Academy Awards and took notes. Following their example, I’m awarding the coveted Rubber Ducky Award to none other than … Al Gore!

Oops, sorry. He didn’t actually enter a slogan, so I guess that won’t work. Apparently he is a writer, and if he’d known about the contest, I'm sure he would've entered.

If by some slight chance you wanted to compete but forgot about the contest, (oh, heavens, you didn’t forget it, did you?) you can always enter … someone else’s contest. But it’s too late for this one.

The first prize—a genuine, almost two inches tall, never-before-used-in-a-bathtub, rubber ducky—goes to Nichole Giles for her award winning, license plate frame slogan: "Undercover surveillance vehicle...surrender your chocolate."

Honorable mention goes to Triple Nickel, W.L. Elliott, John Ferguson, and Darvell Hunt. (Sadly enough, they get a mention but no ducky.)

If you didn’t get a chance to read the entries before now, you can go to:
http://ldswritersblogck.blogspot.com/2007_02_04_archive.html

Once you’re there, scroll down to the bottom of the page to “License Plate Frame Slogans (And a Contest!) By C.L. Beck © 2007” and click on “comments”.

Thanks to all who entered. And Nichole, enjoy your rubber ducky!

A Spot on the horizon

By Keith Fisher

I was so impressed with Connie’s blog about mapping your success that I had to tell you about my new campaign.

I was reminded of the old hiking trick of finding a landmark on the horizon and making that your goal. Then when that spot is reached you find another one. Reaching goals in little chunks is a tried and true method of reaching a larger goal.

While perusing the Authors Incognito group page I discovered the book covers created by authors that were planning ahead. (Elizabeth and Darvell.) I admired their work and realized I could use this idea in mapping my success as suggested by Connie.

I created my own book cover for one of my books. I turned it into a jpeg then I set it as the background for the desktop on my computer. Now every time I turn it on, I’m reminded of my goal. It’s my inspiration, a goal I’m working toward. It helps me persist in achieving the large goal of becoming a successful author while I work on all my other projects.

My book cover is like a refrigerator magnet that is designed to inspire me to greatness. It’s a positive image I can focus on. It’s different than a picture of my overweight body placed on the refrigerator in an effort to loose weight. It’s my spot on the horizon.

I know a publisher will probably have other ideas for the cover, but for now, it helps me stay focused. Thank you Connie, for the great suggestion.

The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword?

By G. Parker

I think as writers, sometimes we wonder if what we have to say has any meaning. We wonder if our opinions matter. We wonder if what we write will affect anyone and do any good.

If we are writing fiction, does it touch the heart? Does it lead the reader to want to do better, or leave a good feeling? If we are writing non-fiction, do we state our point clearly and are we able to persuade the reader to our way of thinking, and if not—are we able to at least get them to see our point of view?

We’ve heard the phrase many times “The pen is mightier than the sword”. I agree - most of the time. But lately, I’m not sure which type of pen they are talking about and I wonder if it is the pen I want to be associated with. Does it uphold the values I cherish? Is it true?

I had the opportunity to listen to a gentleman by the name of James B. Mayfield who used to be a Political Science Professor at one of Utah’s top universities. He is also LDS, and has been a mission president twice. While he was just finishing a stint as mission president in Texas, he was asked to help set up Iraq’s government in 2003. He was instrumental in establishing the neighborhood counsels and city governments during the year he was there.

He has written a book called “The Enigma of Iraq” and it looks very interesting, (unfortunately they were all gone by the time my husband and I got to the table). But what I wanted to mention was the information he gave through his presentation. He told of an incident where 600 men had lined up to enlist in the new Iraqi Army. A suicide bomber drove into the midst of them and exploded - killing 54 or so of them. Perhaps some of you remember this incident—one among so many. Anyway, one of the men Mr. Mayfield had worked with emailed him a day or so later, extremely frustrated. He said he’d been reading the US press, and they had run a big story on how the terrorists had thwarted the Iraqi Army in a suicide blast.

His frustration came because the next day, 600 men did not show up to sign up—1200 did. And not a thing was printed in the papers.

So we have to ask ourselves—what kind of writer are we trying to be? Do we stand for truth and getting that truth to our readers? Or are we going to sell out to the big bucks and become cynical—leaving the world to fall to the wolves?

I know there are many writers who would write an excellent story about the 'war on terror' right now, but no one would be likely to print it. No one seems to really want the truth.

The truth: out of 221 counties in the country of Iraq, only 18 of them have violence. The truth: the only people willing to go into these counties are the Marines, the terrorists and the media. The truth: more high school graduates came out of Iraq in 2006 than in the entire history of the country.

According to Mr. Mayfield, Al-Qaeda is run by a man who wants desperately to kill the independence Iraq has gained and that if we are unable to stop him—if we do NOT stop him, our children’s children will still be fighting over there.

I feel like we are seeing a reality of Captain Hook in the movie Hook. “There will be hooks in the doors of your children’s, children’s children…”

So—while this has become more an editorial than anything else, I am asking for the American public to stand up for truth. I want them to print the truth of what is happening over there - to emphasis for once the good we are doing over there.

Is it too late? Only time will tell.

Ideas, Moments, and the Next American Idol

By Nichole Giles

I’ve never been a fan of American Idol. I don’t usually watch much T.V., but when your children have it on, excited to see their favorite singers, you can’t help but look. So I looked. Then I kept looking, and before I knew it, I was sitting on the couch next to the kids predicting who was going to be eliminated and who would make it to the next round.

Then I got thinking. Not long ago, these contestants were waitresses, auto mechanics, and students, who sometimes sounded good when they sang in the shower. They might have stayed that way, only sharing their talents with the soap and shampoo, except that one day, someone thought, Hey, wouldn’t it be a good idea to hold a T.V. contest to find the one person in America who sings better than everyone else?

And a few years later, a whole lot of nobody’s became overnight sensations. Now, that waitress is almost a household name. The lives of those people are forever changed by someone’s good idea.

It is amazing to me that one person’s idea could affect so many people—from the rejects to the stars. All these thoughts of ideas that influence people with life changing consequences made me think back to some of the things that have affected my own personality, even my own life. Surely, there have been many. But that is not the point.

The point is, whether we realize it or not, sometime in our life each of us has the opportunity to change someone else’s life, one way or another. And it doesn’t usually take a really big-deal-national-phenomenon-great idea. It could be a passing thought, a silly quip, or a profound sentence. You just never know when or where that life-altering moment will happen to you, or conversely, when you will create that moment for someone else.

Now, you are probably thinking, “Okay, nice thoughts and all, but what’s your point?”

The way I see it, you only have one chance to live today. Today is the best day to come up with a brilliant idea. And if that idea isn’t the one that will change a life, maybe tomorrow’s good idea will. Or the idea after that. You just never know. It might be ten or twenty years or more before you run into the person who remembers you as the person who set the example, made the statement, or wrote the words, that made a difference. So take your idea and run with it.

And who knows, maybe someday YOU can be the next American Idol.

DREAMING A PERFECT STORY

By Connie S. Hall

I recently read some advice. “Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.”

For a writer it’s all about dreams. Most of them occur while we are awake. We all take journeys wherever our mind wanders. I do disagree with the advice because as a writer I get many chances. They come every time I write about another adventure. In every story, I want to be someone different, do original things, and reach new heights. I’m not content to do the same thing all the time.

The human mind has the ability to generate and conjure up many images. Most of us share common fears. We worry about the same things, have similar hopes, and everyone has conflicts in their lives. Having someone chase you during a dream is a common occurrence. Nightmares are frequent, and recurring dreams happen to all of us.

I did a little research about dreams and was surprised to learn that an average person spends a total of six years of their life (at least two hours a night) dreaming. Your senses are the basis of many dreams. Five minutes after your dream is complete, you forget half the content. Ten minutes after you wake up you have lost 90% of what you dreamed.

Have you ever had a vivid dream that seemed to take most the night, but you refused to wake up to write it down, and by morning, the entire episode was gone? Erasing it forever from your memory is sad. The chance of a recurring dream might happen, but probably not.

This happened to me recently when I was studying how to write a good mystery. As I dreamed, I knew it would be a good story, but I didn’t want to stop dreaming. Now all I know is I dreamed a good mystery, and it will never enter my head again. I hope I will never again refuse to wake up. I, like all writers, know that when you think it, you have to write it immediately. Next time I dream a perfect story I’m going to wake up.

Tidbits of Life

By Darvell Hunt

What is one thing that almost everybody on earth has experienced in the last twenty-four hours, but none of us will ever experience again?

Let me get back to you shortly on the answer to this riddle.

Writing is composed of little tidbits of life. My best attempts at telling stories have been when I told the truth by means of a fictional story—telling the what could’ve, should’ve, or would’ve happened—if such-and-such had been slightly different.

I believe that good observation skills are one of the best tools in a writer’s toolbox. Life experiences make great fuel for interesting stories.

In Stephen King’s book On Writing, about half of the book is an autobiography of King’s life. Why does he do that in a book about writing?

Because we write what we experience. John Grisham was a lawyer, so it’s no surprise that he writes stories about lawyers. Willard Boyd Gardner has experience in law enforcement, so it’s no surprise that he writes about cops. J. K. Rowling is a . . . um, well, okay, maybe she’s not a witch, but I hope you see what I mean.

So, returning to my riddle: What is one thing that almost everybody on earth has experienced in the last twenty-four hours, but none of us will ever experience again?

Yesterday.

If you missed noticing something from yesterday that would have made a great story, it is probably gone forever. Try not to miss something from today before it becomes yesterday and thus lost forever.

Movie Night at the O.K. Corral

By C.L. Beck
© 2007

“If you were an actor, in what movies would you have starred?” Shirley Bahlmann, our writing group moderator, adjusted her tiara as she posed the question. Anyone who’s met Shirley knows she’s a kid at heart. She said she wore the plastic crown because she’d been involved in something at the elementary school, but I’m guessing she really wanted to be princess for a day.

“Write your list of movies for next week’s assignment,” Shirley continued. She’s a lot of fun, but if she keeps giving homework where we have to write about ourselves, I’m going to insist that she turn in her crown.

I could hear my husband, Russ, groan under his breath. Was it because he felt the same way about the homework or was it the burrito he had before class? I’m voting on the burrito. They do it to him every time.

It’s early in the morning now. I haven’t had breakfast, much less a burrito, and I’m sitting here groaning, too. Is it because I hate writing about myself or is it because of the six Twinkies and chili-cheese dip I ate at midnight?

I’ll never tell.

But just in case you’re interested, here are the movies I came up with and the parts I would have played.

• Night of the Living Dead: I’ve heard I’m a dead (no pun intended) ringer for a zombie.

• Grapes of Wrath: It’s with the greatest humility that I say I could have easily won the part of a grape.

• The Muppets Take Manhattan: Hey, everybody wants to be a Muppet. I would have been Big Bird. Or Animal. Or Kermie. Or … ooo, ooo, me, me. Put me in as Miss Piggy. (I probably deserve the part after last night’s snacking episode.)

• The Sons of Katie Elder: Well, pilgrim. Let me get my boots and ten-gallon hat and I’ll play the Duke. Ok, wait, I realize there’s a gender issue here. How about if I play Maureen O’Hara? Aye, 'tis true, there’ll be none fairer than she in all the land of Ireland.

• The Old Man and the Sea: The way I’m floundering around with this, I’m sure I could have played a fish.

• Moby Dick: After that midnight snack last night, it would seem I’m perfect for the role of a very big fish. Now, now, let’s be nice. I never said I wanted to be the whale.

• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest:

You’ll notice I left the reasons off on that final one. Why? Because they make a great last line. According to Russ, I should have starred in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" because no one he’s ever met is more cuckoo.


(Give this exercise a try and see what you come up with. If you’d like, post your “movies” as comments so we can all enjoy them. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that the exercise really does stretch your imagination as a writer.)

Please Enter Your Number & Stay in the Line

By Keith Fisher

Have you ever wondered how the human race survived in a world without microcomputers, credit card numbers, and cell phones?

I have heard of a time when we were all people, before the George Orwellian society reduced us to a series of numbers. We should have seen it coming when the phone company gave out phone numbers that would ring eight or so houses in an attempt to reach the one person who wasn’t home. Perhaps we should’ve resisted the government when they issued nine digit social security numbers.

Recently, I was the butt of a joke. I choose to call it a joke. Otherwise I would run screaming into the night because of the loss of my mental faculties. Do you know how to dance to the digital Loonie Tunes?

The company I work for switched health insurance carriers at the first of the year, coinciding with my wife’s visit to a doctor. She gave them our health insurance card and they billed it to the old insurance. Without the correct insurance card they sent me the bill.

I couldn’t ask the insurance specialists at work to help because I now work Graveyard shift and they go home before I wake, so I called the insurance company.

I had to find their phone number and was put on hold. I had to give my SS number, my address, birth dates, and my company’s new name, (because they changed the name). They gave me an insurance card number and promised to send a new card to my address. (Wasn’t that nice?)

Armed with an insurance card number, I called the billing department for the doctor’s office and had to leave my phone number because the whole department had gone home early. I called back and got an operator and had to give her all my wife’s information, they also wanted MY information and discovered the records show that I still work at my old job. I corrected it and they wanted to know the name of the insurance (not just the company name).

It reminded me of the time I tried to convince a credit card company that the number they called was my private cell phone number. And no, I wasn’t the person who was on their records. And no, I don’t have a capital one card. And no, I don’t want one.

Small wonder that in this day and age, we all stress out. With all the numbers and passwords we must keep in order to function today, it’s a miracle we can remember the difference between a noun and verb. Let alone diagram sentences.

So if I use a password in my writing instead of an adjective please forgive and remember there are no periods in an email address. Uh . . . “I” before “E” except after uh . . . In order to verify your Identity, please tell me your mother’s maiden. You need a minimum of five characters for a pass . . . go or collect $200.00 . . . please enter the last four digits of your social security . . . In order to assist us in serving you, please enter your account number followed by the pound sign.

Do you remember the Porky Pig cartoon character? Bbbbb that’s all folks.

The Greatest Escape

By Nichole Giles

The world has gone mad. People shoot other people in shopping malls and schools. Suicidal maniacs threaten to blow themselves to oblivion with homemade explosive devices. Groups of extremists kill themselves and others in attempts to make a violent statement of political protest.

People aren’t even allowed to bring bottled water on an airplane anymore.

Day to day we live, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute, making the best of our personal circumstances. But sometimes the crazy world becomes too much, and we find ourselves utterly distracted, our bodies become completely still; we stare at nothing while we wonder what will happen next.

Then we shake free of our musings and force ourselves to move forward again, one second at a time. We find ourselves longing for an escape from reality as we know it. Some people spend hours and hours and lots of money sitting in dark, sticky-floored movie theaters, one hand in a bucket of popcorn and another on a sweating paper cup, while giant images flash across an enormous screen.

Others prefer a more solitary escape. We pick up a book, one by our favorite, trusted author, and jump into a completely different day. For a little while, we become someone else, worry about something else, and live a different life. Perhaps our book sends us to a tropical island, solving a murder while we struggle to survive. Or maybe we are starting a new life in a new city after a major tragedy. We might even have the opportunity to save the world. Or, we might jump into a whole new world, and meet another species. Friend or foe? We must read on to find out.

Whatever road the plot follows, we jump in headfirst and submerge ourselves in the problems of a fictional character. Is this the only escape from the world we live in right now? The one in which children are no longer allowed to walk home from school because something terrible happened to someone down the street?

For some of us, it is the greatest escape. It is the break from life we use to help us catch our breath. The little nap during a hailstorm of gunfire. The charger that refills our batteries.

Religion helps us cope. It gives us the courage to take whatever comes at us. But fiction is the thing that takes us away and allows us to forget, for just a little while. And when we finish the book, we feel a hint of sadness mixed with satisfaction, like coming home after a great vacation. So, we pick up another book and start another journey. While we read, the world around us keeps on turning. But we emerge recharged, ready to face life in this century.

That, dear readers, is the priceless gift an author gives to readers. And if our author is really generous, kind and giving, maybe we will be able to face turning on the news.

Create A Treasure Map

By Connie S. Hall

I recently read an article by Shakti Gawain that suggests you create a treasure map for every single goal in your life. It will help your mind focus on your objective more clearly. The article also recommends that after you finish your map you need to look at it each day, which will cause your mind to think about your target.

Creating a visual picture of what you want to accomplish sounds like a good idea to me. Since most of you are probably more artistic than I am you would have fun with this idea. The next suggestion was that you draw yourself into the picture.

Since our group is focusing on writing this means you would make a colorful map with pictures showing you working on your novel, mailing off your completed manuscript, and it even advises you show yourself as the proud author of your new book.

As for me, if I drew a picture I would burst out in laughter every time I saw it, and I would never get any writing done. Instead of a treasure map, I have a few notes attached above where I spend most of my time writing. Make sure the slogans you choose are inspirational and uplifting, and help energize your goals. The verses could also be exciting, playful, or humorous, as long as it reminds you how important writing is to you.

Here are a few suggestions I borrowed, but since you are a writer you could make up your own:

“I can fix a bad page, but I can’t fix a blank one.”
"Everyday begins as a clean new slate I am free to choose what gets written there."
“Listen to the demands of your characters, who, as they begin to come to life, may insist upon a different fate than the one you planned.”
“The original writer is not one who imitates nobody, but one whom nobody can imitate.”
“Grab your reader by the throat from your very first sentence.”
“Cut out anything that doesn’t help the story complete itself.”
“If anybody can stop you from being a writer, then don’t be one.”
“You don’t have to blow out someone else’s candle to make yours glow brighter.”

The recommendation I liked best was that you don’t show anything negative. I suggest that whether you draw a picture or write a slogan to place above your computer that you make it as positive as possible. Do whatever it takes to keep motivated.

Valentines All Over the Hedge or Was That Edge?

By G.Parker

Do you remember when Valentines Day used to be an event? We spent the week before planning, pasting, cutting and marking our way into someone’s heart. Now we go to the store to buy pre-made little ditties that are usually based off some recently released movie for kids. And cards for adults? They cost over a $1 a card…and then they don’t usually come across with the message you want.

Enter the e-card world. I spent half the day today trying to find the right card to send to my husband. Something that was animated as well as fun and cute. Romance is nice, and I like romantic cards as much as the next woman. But my husband likes fun and something that makes him chuckle. Men can be romantic, but let’s face it; if we make them laugh, they’re going to be much more willing to put up with the romance we want.

There appears to be a lot of room out there for good greeting-card writers. I don’t think half of the existing ones are using imagination or creativity. I mean, just take a look at the selection I picked up for my son’s valentines for school. Taken from the Over The Hedge movie, they are cutesy little pictures of the Over The Hedge gang with dippy little phrases like: "I’m Hedge over Heels for you!" or "Have a Nutty Day" or "You’re Crazily Fun!" How about, "Have a Turtlelicious day!" Turtlelicious isn’t even a word!

Okay, I realize I’m coming down a little hard on a multi-million dollar industry that ranks third behind Christmas and Halloween in the amount of money spent on it…but it just rankles the writer’s heart. I know lots of people who could come up with better wishes than these.

I was going to have a contest for this, but we already have one going. Since we're also planning a couple for March, I’ll desist and wait to see if you leave samples in your comments. Anyway, for grins, here are some little verses I think would work for Valentine’s Day cards.

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Since we both hate candy

Let’s go buy some shoes

The balloons may pop

Tomorrow

The flowers may die

In three days

But the love that I have

In my heart

Will last for you always

Writing That Award Winning Novel

By C.L. Beck
© 2007

Writing can be a lot like baseball—at least for me. In baseball, the pitcher spits on his hand, wraps his fingers in some weird way around the ball, cranks back, and throws like heck. Who knows what’s going to come across the plate? It could be a slider, sinker, or a curve ball.

In writing, I don’t spit on my hand—that would make the keyboard all slimy. But I do wrap my mind in some weird way around an idea, crank back, and write like heck. Who knows what’s going to show up on the computer? It could be a mystery, a romance, or fantasy.

Or it could be a cross between a sinker and a slider, which I like to call … a stinker. I’ve run across several authors who’ve had great success getting those published, so if you think you’ve written a stinker, don’t throw it away. When you’re rich and famous, the reading public will want anything you’ve written, including your note to remember to buy new underwear. (If you were smart, you didn't write down the size. After all, what writer wants the whole world to know he wears a 52½ in undershorts?)

Most of us have heard stories of authors who’ve written their award winning novel on a napkin, in two hours, and with a quill pen. Doesn’t that amaze you? You’d have to have one mighty big napkin for a whole novel to fit on it. But wait … I’ve heard of people copying the Bible onto the head of a straight pin, so technically speaking, I guess it can be done.

I suppose the moral of the story is to write, regardless of where you are and what writing tools are available. You never know which is going to be ‘the one’ that will catapult you into fame. And don’t worry about the rejections. One way to guarantee you’ll never get a rejection is to write nothing. That, however, is counterproductive to winning awards and making millions off a book you wrote on the back of your napkin while at Wendy’s.

And now that I’ve made these suggestions, I really must go. A plethora of ideas have floated into my mind, and I need to go find my business card. No, not so I can send it to an agent. So I can write my next stinker on it.

Learning the Craft

By Keith Fisher

The other day, I struggled with a novel I found lying around the house. I say struggled because it was hard to read. The concept of the plot appeared to be heading in an intriguing way so I battled to keep reading it.

"What was so hard about the book?" you ask. I’ll tell you, but first, let me tell you a story.

About ten years ago I submitted a novel. It was a labor of love. It was a book everyone needed to read. It told the story of a family’s experiences in a way that would touch hearts and change lives. It was a good story.

Of course I got a rejection letter. But it was a nice rejection letter. I was told that it WAS a good story but perhaps I would benefit by attending a writer’s workshop somewhere.

Ten years later I look back on that experience and realize that the publisher was right. The story was told not shown, there were point of view problems, and the characters were flat. In short, my book wasn’t ready to be published.

At the same time, the other novel, (the one I struggled with), was submitted to the same publisher. I doubt it sold very well, at least I hope not, because it would explain why LDS fiction got a bad rap. If this sounds like "sour grapes" I suppose it is. But I’ve had time to learn about my mistakes and will eventually be a better writer when my book gets published.

It might be interesting to note however, a published non-fiction author wrote the hard book I mentioned.

While reading the book, I was reminded of everything I’ve read about not telling but showing, point of view mistakes and "head-hopping". The big problem was the author let the protagonist’s mind wander all over the place. Normally this can give depth to a character but I found myself skipping whole pages because the subject had nothing to do with the story and it went on and on. When a writer dedicates page after page to a character’s ramblings it becomes narration (not unlike non-fiction).

I read once that some non-fiction writers have a hard time crossing over to fiction because of the tendency to tell.

So what can we learn from all this? One lessen is, that it helps to know someone in the publishing business, but most important for me is to remember to get it right before it gets published. As much as I want to see my work in print, I also want to give my readers a wonderful experience, to help them come away with the realization that they have been reading for hours and didn’t notice time passing. I want them to buy my second book because they had a great experience with the first one.

Here are 2 writing tips I am learning. The first is about showing and telling from Sol Stein (a writer, editor, and publisher).

He was nervous. tells.
He tapped his fingers on the tabletop. shows.

As for point of view, if you’re writing about what’s in the head of a character and in the next sentence, you switch characters, it’s called head hopping and it’s confusing because the reader isn’t sure who’s head they are in.

My hope:

May all your creative writing, always prove to be perfect prose. As for the book in question, I finished it and the author never answered the story question that kept me reading. I might dig a deep hole and deposit it in the bottom. (Just kidding).

Saving Emotion

By Nichole Giles

“His wife is dying,” she said. “He cannot find the words to speak, so he writes them to us in beautiful, poetic emails.”

In a recent conversation with a dear friend of mine, I had a revelation. In times of great emotion, people often have a difficult time voicing their feelings. Sometimes, these people bottle them up inside, until they explode in unpredictable ways. But other times, writing about your experiences can be the balm for all of life’s worst hurts.

This same piece of writing can be key in coming back to that emotion—that moment of anxiety, fear, pain, anguish, joy, excitement or love—days, weeks, or months after it has passed. Readers love emotion, as long as it is believable. And what better way can a writer make it believable than going back through his or her own life and feeling that genuine emotion?

Be warned, however, I’ve heard that writing these things—however you fictionalize them—can be draining on the writer. Almost like living through that emotional phase of his or her life all over again.

Award winning author, Sue Monk Kidd, speaks of the importance of journaling. She mentions writing through all emotions, happy, sad, or otherwise. She writes all her life questions, and all her thoughts into notebooks. These notebooks never get thrown away, and she fills them frequently. By doing this, she is able to look back at her life, and see her own shortcomings and flaws, as well as accomplishments, as a person, a woman, and a writer.

I hope I can take her advice. I think I’m going to add one more goal to my list of resolutions this year. I’m going to start journaling my emotions. Or maybe, like the man whose best outlet of expression was through the internet, I could just print and save all my emails.

A Night Under the Dinosaur

By Connie Hall

A while back, there was a comment on my blog asking, “Do you also fiddle, or just do the serious stuff?” Sorry, I didn’t give an answer. It seems time got away from me.

If you are talking about the violin, because of the lack of practice the music I play is pathetic. It probably doesn’t sound serious or like a fiddle, just a bunch of squeaks-the type of sound a beginner makes. But, if you were referring to my life, I guess I do sound serious most of the time, but in reality, I’m not.

I take my writing, and life, seriously, but I live it to the fullest. Many people tell me I’m too busy, but I prefer it that way. I’m not letting my age slow me down.

Being busy gives me plenty of ideas to write about. I spent last weekend with a couple of grandsons sleeping under the belly of a bunch of dinosaur bones. It reminded me of the new movie, “A Night At The Museum”. Nothing came to life, but the shadows were a bit spooky, and I’m sure every child there had some interesting dreams, that is, if they slept. Even though they called the activity ‘DinoSnorzzz’, I didn’t hear many snores.

Of course, I took my trusty notebook, and many pens and pencils. I won’t say much about the hard, uncomfortable floor because I did have fun. Since I write mostly for children the ideas I collected on this adventure will come in handy.

I guess my advice this week is: keep busy. The ideas you collect along the way will benefit you in your writing. If you are always home nothing new will ever happen to you. The things you write about will always be the same. I love creative, original, and exciting adventures, and they do help with the ideas.

My First Review

By Darvell Hunt

The first review of any of my published writing has been posted on the blog: A Motley Vision: Mormon Arts and Culture. (http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=315).

My short story, Fatal Broken Heart, appears in the current issue of Irreantum, the official publication of the Association for Mormon Letters. While the mention on A Motley Vision was more of a short description of my story rather than a review, being mentioned at all when others were not was certainly encouraging.

I do know, at least, that somebody actually read what I wrote. After all, if you write a story and nobody reads it, is it really a story at all? (Sorry, I guess that’s a bad stretch of the tree-falling-in-the-forest-with-nobody-to-hear-it cliché.) I’m just happy that they didn’t tell everybody that my story stinks.

So now I will cautiously allow this tiny tidbit of fame to inflate my writer’s ego—which I mentioned in my last blog entry—so that I may have a little fuel in my sputtering engine as I write in my secluded lonely basement office.

Ah, the life of an overworked, under-appreciated writer—ain’t it wondrous and great?

Five Hundred Words at Five Cents a Word

By C.L. Beck
© 2007

Since good writers should be multi-faceted, I’ve momentarily turned to writing children’s stories. Believe me when I say it’s not easy.

Let me give you an example:

First, imagine you have this great murder mystery in mind. Oops, you’re already off to a bad start. Unless you want parents calling at two in the morning because you gave little Zu-Zu nightmares, “murder” is a four-letter word. Well, ok, not really. It’s a six- letter word that’s the equivalent of a four-letter word.

Throw out the murder, but you can keep the mystery. Next pick a setting. Let’s have it take place in … oh, I don’t know … how about an office?

Every great story has to have a protagonist (that’s the good guy), and an antagonist (that’s the bad guy). So, let’s make the protagonist a mouse, and the antagonist an unknown being.

Throw those all together, with the antagonist moving around the mouse's most prized possession and what have you got? Voila! A story about a mouse who’s mad because someone moved his cheese.

If you’d come up with that idea 20 years ago, you’ve be rolling in the dough because you would have authored “Who Moved My Cheese”, an adult self-help book that is loved by corporate executives. You’d be rich and famous … with everybody but the kids.

I’m sure you can now see my frustration. Like I said, it’s not easy to write children’s literature. And just think, I’m doing it in hopes of making $25 a story. I must have rocks in my bats. Or belfries in my head. Or whatever.

But I’m not going to give up. I’m going to try until I get it right—at five cents a word, for 500 words.

I know. What if I create an adventure story, on the high seas . . . with a captain . . . and a great white whale?

A Long Stem Red Rose, Dinner, and a Box of Candy

By Keith Fisher

According to Wikipedia, in about 496 BC, Pope Gelasius I proclaimed a feast to be celebrated every year on February 14. This was to honor three martyred saints of ancient Rome. One of them was allegedly Saint Valentinus. The feast was slated to replace an old Pagan holiday of Lupercalia that had been celebrated for many years on February 15.

In the Middle Ages, the legends and the feast became associated with romantic love.

William Shakespeare (or was it Marlow?) gave us Friar Lawrence who in his compassion married the star crossed lovers and set into motion events of woe that young girls swoon over.

Ah love, at this time of year we (husbands) are once again, brought to the brink of insanity by the uncertainty of the moods of our dear sweethearts.

What type of bribery, trinket, or dead flower will please our true love? What kind of maniacal, sadistic punishment will we be forced to endure if we (heaven forbid) forget?

But what about receiving? Is it harder to find the perfect offering, or graciously accept a gift that you would never buy for yourself? In fact if you received it from anyone, (other than your true love), you would hide it in the dark recesses of the downstairs closet, never to be seen again?

Is this the kind of behavior inspired by true love? Well, if we use the example of Romeo and Juliet, then yes it is. What causes this behavior and leaves men sleepless, wallowing in a cold sweat, well into the night?

Ah love. I have heard it said that it is "a many splendored thing". (Try that word on your spell checker) It’s what causes mouths to go dry, dinner to go uneaten, and teenagers to plot their imaginary suicides, knowing they will never be allowed to show their faces in public again.

You may have guessed I am not a romantic fiction writer. If I were, I would write pages about the beauty and wonder of the day we have set aside for expression of the evidence of that knot in the pit of our stomach.

I implore you, in the interest of sanity, let’s go back to having a feast on February 14. Of course it means that we (husbands) will have to remember to express our love, everyday, in everything we do. We will have to start courting our wives again and go back to the time when we, as teenagers . . .

Uh, Never mind. It’s Saturday dear reader, barring Sunday you now have three days to get something for your true love. Try to avoid the last minute rush when white-faced husbands invade the local department store, settling for the last teddy bear and a chocolate bar.

If the unavoidable happens, try to repress the anger that rises because of the chuckles of the female store clerks who just know their sweetheart has already purchased a valentine that will knock their socks off.

Don’t tell them you saw their sweetheart at the other store, the one that was sold out of everything.

CHECK YOUR VITAL SIGNS

By Connie S. Hall

A good time to look at your present vital signs is the beginning of every year. Reflecting on your accomplishments will help you know what direction you must head. Decide the goals that are important to your writing pursuits.

Studying and staying on top of current market requests is very important in being able to have your works published. My vital signs have been a bit sluggish the past couple of months. I’m still studying and watching the world’s trend in books. I’ve even sent for a couple of new books to help in my studying because I think I need to learn a few new techniques.

Two weekends ago, I went on a writing retreat. This was just the ticket to get me back on track. I actually completed six short stories. Some I had been working on for months. Since Nichole has done a lot of prodding, I don’t dare put them in a drawer. With her encouragement, each one found its way into the mailbox.

I’ve never tried to write a mystery, but I’m going to enter the Highlight Mystery Writing Contest this month. Since it’s only 800 words, I should be able to whip out a good story. My chances are slim since I’ve never seriously tried to write mystery, but since I love to read them, I think I should learn to write a fun whodunit book. Another thing in my favor is I love to write for children.

To me trying something new is always a challenge, but I love new things. This should be just the obsession to get me back on track. Maybe my vital signs will be normal again. That is if anything can be normal for a writer.

The Doctor Will See You Now...

G.Parker

I have a favorite movie that my family likes to quote: Princess Bride. One of our favorite parts is when Inigo Montoya says, "I hate waiting." I would guess that's probably a common complaint, especially with mothers.

On the other hand, a writer will tell you that 'waiting' is an opportunity 'waiting' to happen. Those moments of time spent waiting, can be filled with writing. I've decided, as one of my determinations this year (I don't believe in resolutions), I'm going to follow that adage. In fact, that's what I'm doing right now – waiting for my daughter at the doctor's office.

Normally I would use this time to read; catch up on all the magazines I don't get at home, read all the latest gossip about Hollywood that I don't allow in my home, and look through all the recipes that I can't wait to try. I take the chance to read every time the opportunity presents itself, especially when I've been too busy to read.

But today I had to remind myself that I'm a writer–trying to be a serious as well as freelance one–and that means I need to write in any spare time I have, not waste it. While playing Bejeweled on my cell phone is sometimes more entertaining, (and at times more fun) than researching how to make rubber stamps for a current article, I have to remember that playing on my phone won't get me what I want; namely, being more productive and earning an income as a writer, which writing while waiting will.

My daughter's finished, and amazingly enough, so am I. I just hope I have time to get this transferred to the computer before I lose the notes...

Have You Ever?

By Nichole Giles

Have you ever read a book that was so well written that you became emotionally involved in the outcome?

Have you ever found a plot written so intricately, so completely simple, yet unpredictable, that the outcome not only shocked you, but made you slap your forehead in amazement and say, “Of course! It had to be him.”?

Have you ever admired a character so much you felt connected to them? Whose actions were so enviable, that when you came upon difficult situations in your own life, you searched your memory asking, “What would that person do?”

Have you ever been so completely entertained by a simple sentence, that you laughed until you cried?

Have you ever been so affected by a work of fiction that you had an insane urge to share the story with everyone you know?

Have you ever read something that gave you a profound desire to do something good?

Have you ever waited in line for hours, fighting hordes of fanatical fans, to buy the newest installment of a popular series that you love?

Have you ever become so engrossed in a story that you read 1,500 pages in three days or less? (In which case, you probably put real life on hold to see what happens next.)

I don’t have to tell you that this is the kind of author I want to be. I want to stand and say proudly to the world, “Look, I created that! It came from my heart, but go ahead and gaze upon its beauty.”

I know I’m not alone in this desire. This is the desire of all writers, but it takes a great deal of work. A lot of people can write; some degree of writing is required in almost every aspect of life. But an author puts a great deal of time and thought into every word, wrestles with every sentence as an individual, yet critical element of the whole story.

Authors have the ability to create from nothing the stories that push us forward in life, the stories that shore us up and give us courage in times of fright, comfort in times of trial, and laughter in dismal weather. And when we feel as though hope has deserted us and our own situation becomes too much for us to bear, we beg our favorite authors for respite and lose ourselves in the worlds of their creation.

This is what we strive for, what we work toward, and for some of us, the deepest desires of our hearts. Someday, I will be the author of someone’s favorite story. And every second I spent writing that story will be worth it.

Have you ever written something that really mattered?

License Plate Frame Slogans (And a Contest!)

By C.L. Beck
© 2007

If you want to see how important writing is, just take a look around. Words are everywhere. For example, there are tee shirts with all kinds of sayings. One of my favorites (in light of having reached the ripe old age of plenty-nine) is “I’d rather be over the hill than under it”. Appliances all have instructions on the boxes. Steam iron manufacturers now list the caution, “Do not use while wearing clothes”. I find that advice to be a little ambiguous. I can't decide if it means you should iron naked, or you shouldn’t iron the clothes while on your body.

Luckily for writers, the written word is in our mail, on our televisions (oh, yes, you know you’ve been reading that little ticker tape at the bottom of CNN), as well as imprinted on our sunglasses and license plates frames. Hey, it’s even in our underwear! For the moment, though, I’d like to ignore the underwear (not wearing it, just writing about it) and concentrate on the advice given on the rear of vehicles.

The other day, my husband, Russ, and I were driving along reading the license plate frames of passing cars, and we came up with our own list of original slogans:

If you don’t like my driving … get off my windshield.

This vehicle powered by 350 horses … watch out for exhaust.

Mountain Heights Hospital … your link to eternity.

My lawyer’s smarter than your lawyer … go ahead and hit me.

My grandkids … are kinda homely. Can I have one of yours?

Pass with caution … blind driver.

He who dies with the most toys … has toddlers at home.

My child is a proud graduate … of the Utah State Correctional Facility Cooking School.

How do you expect me to soar like an eagle … when I’m a big chicken.

Friends don’t let friends drive … over other people.

(And my personal favorite, which only women would understand.) You toucha my car, I breaka you … fingernail.


I’m sure all these slogans have inspired at least one for you, so I’m running a contest. Submit your own, original slogan(s) as a comment on this blog. The best entry—as determined by me; my husband, Russ; my dog, Corky Porky Pie; and whomever else I designate—wins a genuine, almost two inches tall, never-before-used-in-a-bathtub, RUBBER DUCKY!


Please note that, despite the photo shown above, your ducky will not have been sitting in a mud puddle. The ducky shown is a professional model/actor who has been hired for this photo shoot.

Contest is subject to rules and regulations as governed by the great State of Utah … blah, blah, blah ... contest ends February 28, 2007.

(I’m sorry I won’t be able to respond to every entry personally, but be assured that in my heart, I’m laughing at yours.)

Hobnobbing With the Upper Class

By Keith Fisher

I put in my paperwork. I’m planning to attend the LDStorymakers Writers Conference again this year. Even after forced changes in occupation, I have been scrimping and saving to make this possible.

You might ask why I would take a vacation day, spend all my money, and go to all the trouble of attending the conference. I’ll tell you:

I am not the writer I want to be. I know you’re shocked, you thought I was perfect. The truth is, I manage to put words together on these electronic pages every week and I fake my way into believing I can write, but the reality is; I have more to learn than most, and who better to learn from, than published authors.

If I were wealthy, I’d attend every writer’s conference there is and perhaps come away with great improvements in my craft. It couldn’t hurt to network with great writers and publishers either. Yes, if I were wealthy, I would perhaps attend so many conferences that I wouldn’t have time for writing.

So why LDStorymakers? I can explain it with the words of the late Ben Bracken. I have mentioned this story before in this blog but I think we can still learn from it; last year, I attended the class taught by Tristi Pinkston titled: Using Believable Inspiration in Fiction. I heard someone ask Ben about the class and he said with a tear in his eye, "It was like attending church."

For those of us who have chosen to write LDS Fiction it’s like a breath of fresh air to hobnob with other writers who have the same beliefs. To be with those who have the same struggle with appropriate words for a story, those who endeavor to write the spark of inspiration that we know will touch the heart of someone seeking guidance from Deity.

This Year I will attend the writer’s boot camp again. I love the smell of red ink in the morning. It’s quite an eye opener to have someone critique your wonderful manuscript and realize how much editing you must do. I once read about the concept of the boot camp in a book on writing and wished I could afford to travel back east and attend one. Last year I was thrilled to be part of one and this year I get to do it again.

That’s what makes this conference so special for me. Hope to see you there.

Helpful Favorites

By Nichole Giles

Somewhere in the vague recesses of my mind lay fragments of several different conversations about writing books. I am not talking about the writing of books, by us, the authors, but instead the reading of books about writing by other people…also authors.

Everyone has a favorite—one certain book—containing pertinent information that we believe is going to help us write the next bestseller. Or, failing that, this book will at least give us pointers, tips, and secrets that will surely send us straight to publication.

The truth is, even if our favorite writing book cannot catapult us into fame and fortune, or even publication, it can steer us in the right direction. One thing all of these books have in common is that they are all written by published authors, editors, or agents—lets face it, if we are buying it, they are published—so whatever they have to tell, whatever information they may impart, will be useful to us…as readers and as writers. After reading several writing books, I asked other people about their favorites. The following is a list of favorite writing books, and the people who recommend them.

Recommended by myself, Nichole Giles:
Word Magic for Writers by Cindy Rogers
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser
The Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice to Writers by Betsy Lerner

Recommended by Connie Hall:
Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood
American Dialects by Herman and Herman
You Can Write a Mystery by Gillian Roberts

Recommended by Keith Fisher:
Stein on Writing by Sol Stein
Publishing Secrets by the LDS Storymakers

Recommended by author BJ Rowley:
Self Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print
by Renni Browne and Dave King

Recommended by author Martine Leavitt:
Story by Robert McKee

Recommended by Darvell Hunt:
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Recommended by C.L. Beck (and nearly everyone else on this list, including myself):
Writing Secrets: A Comprehensive Guide to Writing Fiction & Nonfiction in the LDS Market by LDS Storymakers

If just one person learns just one something great from only one of these books, then my work for today is done.

Happy Reading!