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Craft Skills

Nine Ways to Prep for a Vocal Recording Session

September 8, 2023 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

A great vocal performance on a record does not happen by accident. Many factors contribute to making a recording session successful. After thirty years of coaching singers and fifteen years of recording them, I’ve gathered some tips that should help your next recording session go smoothly, giving you the result you are looking for—a killer record!

Before Scheduling the Session

Memorize the song

It’s true that you can hold lyrics in front of you while recording and no one would know, but after all these years of working with singers and being a professional vocalist myself, I know something magical can happen once you cross over from the “on-book” to “off-book” phase. You can focus more on the emotion, the subtle use of air and vibrato, scoops, straight tone, falls, attacks and releases, articulation, riffs, runs, and so much more. If you have the time, get off-book so the song is really inside you.

Practice

Maybe this should be an obvious one, but I’ve definitely had vocal sessions where the singer was still figuring things out—timing, phrasing, notes, etc. If you have the time, putting in the same effort as if you were going to be performing the song live without lyrics in front of you will elevate your performance dramatically.

Verify key and tempo

Before putting in the time to rehearse the song, make sure that you are singing in a good, healthy key for your voice and a tempo that feels right. If you are using a karaoke/instrumental track, then obviously you are tied to the key and tempo of the track. While a karaoke track can be altered, the quality of the track will diminish ever so slightly the farther away from the original recording you go. If you are creating your own instrumental with a producer, take the time to find the right key and tempo before the producer starts working on it, if possible.

That being said, it’s really easy to change the key and tempo of programmed instruments before anything is recorded.  Don’t just sing through it once and call it good. Sing through it a few times in a row to make sure your voice doesn’t tire after a few run-throughs. Double-check that you aren’t rushing or dragging as you sing along, which could be a sign that the tempo isn’t quite right or that you need to work on your timing.

If you are rehearsing the song and feel like the tempo or key needs to change, let the producer know right away so they have enough time to make a new track and you have enough time to rehearse with it before the session. 

Record yourself and listen critically

The benefits of listening to yourself are enormous. Simulate the actual recording session at home, even if you are just recording into your phone using an app. Going through the process of actually recording should highlight spots that need a bit more work or help you plan your session better. Do you need to record the low, soft verses first before the big, belty choruses? Or vice versa? Do you struggle with phlegm because you ate a cheese sandwich an hour before? Did you notice the overall emotional delivery falls a little flat and could use more thought? Invite a music buddy to listen back and provide feedback on this “scratch track” version.

Work with a coach

Even if it’s just one session with a coach prior to the recording session, this is a much safer, efficient, and cost-effective way to record a song. Getting feedback after the recording session can be very discouraging. Forking out more money to re-record vocals was most likely not figured into your budget. Be sure to include funds in your budget for at least one coaching session prior and if possible, during the session. It can relieve so much pressure to have a team member with you who is listening only to your vocal delivery, who knows your voice and your goal for the song. It’s totally worth the extra dough to have someone in your corner at the session.

Day Before/Day of the Session

Be well rested

Get a good night’s sleep the night before your session. Make sure it’s not scheduled for ten a.m. the day after a late-night gig or at the end of a long work day. Be as rested as you can.

Hydrate

Do your best to stay hydrated in the hours before the session in addition to drinking water during the session. Bring plenty of water with you.  

Warm or room temperature will keep your vocal folds and all other tissues involved in singing nice and pliable.

Be mentally “right”

Arrange your schedule so you’re not running late or in a hurry to finish. Take some time before the session to unwind, meditate, calm down—whatever you need to do to get your mind focused and clear.

Know your body and your voice

There are hundreds of lists out there of what foods and beverages to avoid. For the majority of people, these lists are pretty accurate, but there are exceptions. Be sure to know your body and your voice and how they might react to certain foods, either positively or negatively. Keep a journal that connects what you eat, when you eat, and when you sing with how your voice feels. You will start to see correlations between certain foods and how your voice performs. 

I hope this has given you some tips that will help you rock your next record!

A headshot of Becky Willard

Becky Willard

Becky Willard’s music career spans nearly three decades working in nearly every corner of the music industry. Her passion is in finding and working with the most determined artists who are ready to take control of their artistic career.

She’s coached, mentored, and developed a number of artists who’ve been featured on The Voice, American Idol, America’s Got Talent, The X-Factor, and more. You can learn about her here.

    Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Music Tagged With: music, preparation, recording, singing

    Tomorrow I Will Write a Book

    August 25, 2023 By LDSPMA 1 Comment

    I’m forming a club for people who feel like frauds when they call themselves writers. Prospective members are those who write on occasion, but don’t write often, haven’t finished anything in a while, and although they want to publish something, are working at such a slow pace that it looks like it’s never going to happen. This club would also be open to those interested in painting, drawing, sculpting, animating, etc. I know I’m not alone. Care to join me?

    Wait. I don’t want to be a part of this club. I want to write, but I’ve been saying that for so long. Am I supposed to give in and accept that I will never reach my goals?

    No. I refuse to give up, and you shouldn’t give up either. I’ve been trying to stop procrastinating for years. In this article, I will detail the steps I’ve taken to become a more productive writer.

    Step 1. Realize When You Are Making Hollow Excuses

    I don’t know about you, but my excuse for not writing was always, “I don’t have time.” My justification never changed because I never had time.

    Well, I had time to watch over seven seasons of The Walking Dead with my fiancé this year, and I don’t even like that show. Plus, I wrote and published three books while I was a pregnant stay-at-home mom with a toddler and later a newborn. I realized if I could be productive at that busy stage of my life, my excuse of “not having enough time” was really a way to rationalize my procrastination.

    How do we turn these bad habits around? We need to face reality and admit when we are choosing to procrastinate.

    Step 2. Confront Imposter Syndrome

    Maybe you tell yourself you’re not a “real” author because you’re self-published, you don’t have a critique group, or you stopped marketing the books you already have out. Or you’re not a “real” writer because you don’t write every day, go to writing conferences, or fraternize with other writers.

    Here’s a beautiful fact—having a desire to write makes you a writer.

    However, being a writer does not only mean you are someone who writes. To be a writer, you have to assume so many other roles. You must be a researcher, an observer, a comedian, a romanticist, an adventurer, and a storyteller. You read books, watch movies and shows, and listen to songs. You absorb other people’s stories in the media and the world and learn from them. Writing? Ha. That’s the easiest part of the process, where you get to sit and create stories on your own. Everything else you do as a writer, you are doing constantly. To be a writer is to see the world differently.

    And isn’t that part of why we write? To make sense of our observations?

    You don’t have to write a specific number of words a day or even write on a regular basis. Being a writer means you have the potential to change people’s lives with your words, even if you haven’t written them yet. Practice mindfulness. Talk to people. As you go through your day, notice the things you observe and what makes your perspective on the world unique. So, stop feeling like you aren’t a writer, an artist, or anything else. Accept that you already are.

    Step 3. Create Goals

    What exactly do you want out of your artistic career?

    There are so many subjects in different genres that I enjoy and want to write about. I have more story ideas than I may ever be able to write. I decided that if I was going to dedicate so much time to writing, I should make the most of that time and choose the path that would have the most positive impact on my career.

    Narrow down what you want to accomplish with your writing. Will you write books? Screenplays? Hire an illustrator and do web comics? Do you want your writing endeavors to be lucrative, or would you rather write for enjoyment?

    It’s easy to get caught up in thinking in terms of our materialistic world, but I find this mindset can severely limit my point of view and the options I’m willing to consider.

    Step 4. Pray for Help

    Pray about what to write. Pray for opportunities to write. Pray for alignment in your life, heart, and soul. Pray about what needs to change for you to be able to make your work a part of your life. Pray about how to use your gifts. Carefully consider what is going on and what needs to happen for you to be able to spend more time doing what you love.

    When we’re struggling with what path to take and everything we choose feels wrong, it’s important to remember to seek God’s counsel, and to give Him room to answer us. He knows how we can best use our talents to bless the lives of others, and He knows what’s best for us and all our needs, as well. For me, sometimes what feels right isn’t necessarily what I’d choose for myself. For example, when I got the prompting that I needed to publish a book as quickly as possible, the timing didn’t make sense. The book I wrote and published was not one that I would have thought to write at that time.

    I haven’t regretted changing my mind about something that felt wrong, and I’ve always been grateful for doing what feels right. I know I want to follow God’s path for me. As long as I feel like I have that going for me, I’m usually happy with where I am and what I’ve accomplished. And I know this path includes writing.

    Step 5. Take Responsibility for Time Management

    My last leg of this journey has come down to establishing priorities and being responsible with my time. I’ve had to get to know myself better to learn what practices help me feel the most accomplished.

    Discover what times of the day you’re most productive and get better at forming habits and routines. Self-discipline is not easy. I’d rather be editing my work than writing. But I’m telling you, navigating through this part is going to make all the hard work worth it.

    Step 6: Do the Hard Things

    Learn to accept and enjoy every leg of the journey. Learn to be true to yourself and validate yourself by celebrating your successes. Change takes time. Self-improvement requires healing. Sometimes other things need to take priority for a while, and that’s okay. That doesn’t make my desire to create any less valuable. Everyone loves the process of baking bread, but it takes time for wheat to grow. When you make your art a priority in every sense, you will find yourself able to stop procrastinating and become more productive.

    A headshot of Mariah Porter.

    Mariah K. Porter

    Mariah K. Porter is a member of the LDSPMA and the author of Tomorrow I Will Make a List: Managing the Depressive Habit of Procrastination. In addition to her nonfiction, she has also written That Prince Guy, This Glass Heart, and These Extraordinary Thorns, which are fairy tale retellings. You can learn more about her here.

      Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Faith & Mindset, Productivity, Writing Tagged With: motivation, self-discipline, time management

      How “Save the Cat” Can Save Your Story – Part One

      August 10, 2023 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

      If you’re a Plotter—a writer who habitually outlines and pre-plans your books—you’ve likely heard of something called “Save the Cat.” But if you’re a Pantser—a writer who prefers to write intuitively and without a plan—I hope you will stop and take a look at this article because I believe “Save the Cat” method, or STC, is the perfect tool for every writer, even if you’re a Plantser—a writer who does a little of both.

      Origin of the “Save the Cat” Method

      Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by screenwriter Blake Snyder came out in 2005. The term “save the cat” relates to the moment when the unlikeable main character does something heroic, like saving a cat from a tree. This signals to movie-goers that there is a good side to him, so it’s okay to root for him.

      When we refer to “Save the Cat,” though, we’re most often speaking about the 15-point “beat sheet” Snyder presents in the book. The method caught on for novelists because Snyder’s analysis of a 150-page screenplay can also be applied to writing a novel of 250 pages or more. You can compare the novel-writing process to a road trip. The method breaks the process down into manageable parts like pausing at rest stops along the way as opposed to traveling on a never-ending highway where you have no idea where the next rest stop will be.

      With more readers these days wanting a movie-like experience when they read, the proven blockbuster movie formula is hard to ignore. It’s worked for hundreds of thousands of authors in the nearly two decades since the book’s release, and it’s a staple in many writers’ toolboxes—including my own.

      Road Trips and “Save the Cat”

      The STC Beat Sheet consists of fifteen “beats,” or story points. You can think of them as guideposts on a mapped road trip. You know where you’re starting, you know your destination, and you’ve planned some specific stops along the way. That’s the Beat Sheet. You wouldn’t want to go on a road trip without some sort of plan. Otherwise, you wouldn’t know how much time to take off work or where to stop for gas.

      But what if you prefer go-with-the-flow road trips where you’re free to wander from the main highway when something catches your interest? You still know how to get back to the main road, and you still know where you need to turn back—you just get to enjoy a little adventure on your way there.

      That’s “Save the Cat” too.

      Over a series of six articles, we’ll explore the meaning and purpose of the STC Beat Sheet and discover how it’s the best tool for all writers—Plotters, Pantsers, and Plantsers alike.

      Acts and Beats in “Save the Cat”

      The STC Beat Sheet is comprised of three acts and the following beats:

      Act 1: Opening Image, Theme, Setup, Catalyst, Debate, Break into Act Two    
      Act 2: B-Story, Fun & Games, Midpoint, Bad Guys Close In, All Is Lost, Dark Night of the Soul, Break into Act Three
      Act 3: Finale, Closing Image 

      Each act has a purpose, which helps us understand the beats within it. 

      Act 1 is your “thesis” world. It’s a statement of how things are. Each beat within Act 1 is a study of your protagonist’s regular life and how they interact with it. Even the Catalyst and Debate—the “invitation”—deal more with the life that is rather than the one beyond the horizon. Knowing you’re in the thesis world helps you focus your story and avoid rushing your reader.

      Act 2 is your “antithesis” world or the upside-down world. Just as the phrase “upside-down world” implies, nothing should feel commonplace or “normal” in this act. When you’re unsure what to write, write about what’s uncomfortable because it’s only when life pushes us out of our comfort zone that we truly learn and grow.

      Act 3 is your “synthesis” world. If Act 1 was one slice of bread and Act 2 was all the yummy stuff you put on a sandwich, Act 3 is the second slice of bread. Without it, you don’t have a complete story. Act 3 brings the hero from Act 1, who is a changed person due to everything they learned in Act 2, into a new world where they can save the day, get the girl, live happily ever after, etc.

      Examples of the Method in Action

      What “Save the Cat” does, above all else, is craft a story of transformation. It’s still about the plot, or story, but it guides you to create flawed, fallible characters who are challenged by the plot until they become changed people. Take Luke in Star Wars as an example. Anxious for adventure, he leaves the only world he’s ever known without a second glance (Act 1). Despite being told he has a gift for the Force, he can’t control it. He struggles with authority, eventually choosing technology over the Force (Act 2). But in the end, tools fail him, and he must trust the Force to accomplish what must be done (Act 3).

      In Iron Man, Tony Stark is unwilling to acknowledge any responsibility for the damage done by the weapons he sells to the enemy (Act 1). But through his humbling experience at the hands of those enemies (Act 2), he begins the arc that will transform him into a hero (Act 3).

      Gracie Hart from Miss Congeniality is a tough-as-nails cop who purposefully downplays her feminine side because she believes she can’t be both a successful cop and a beautiful woman (Act 1). But as she works undercover in a beauty pageant, she discovers she’s been wrong all along (Act 2). She learns to embrace who she is and what she is—woman, cop, friend—and in doing so, she finds she’s a happier version of herself (Act 3).

      Plotters, Pantsers, Plantsers, and “Save the Cat”

      A Plotter can take Act 1’s purpose and flesh out all the scenes that will demonstrate a character’s flaw.

      A Pantser can take Act 1’s purpose and let it guide them as they write.

      And a Plantser can do whatever they please—plotting when it’s helpful, and free writing when it’s not.

      As long as you keep the purpose in mind, any of these modalities will help you write your best novel yet.

      I hope this brief overview has been helpful. Stay tuned for the next article, where we’ll dive into the beats!

      A headshot of Ali Cross.

      Ali Cross

      Ali Cross is a USA Today bestselling author, motivational speaker, and story development coach who loves to help writers level up both professionally and personally. A happiness enthusiast and believer in hope and magic, Ali’s a sucker for underdogs, redemption stories, and happily-ever-afters. She explores the concept of joy and where it can be found in her YouTube show and podcast, Write4Joy. She lives in Utah with her hacker husband where they collaborate on stories, artificial intelligence, and their plan for virtual world domination.
      Find Ali at her website or @thealicross online.

          

        Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Creativity, Faith & Mindset, Writing Tagged With: Plotting, Story Structure

        Combining Art and Writing

        July 27, 2023 By LDSPMA 1 Comment

        Art and writing are separate disciplines, each creative in its own way. While art can enhance the way we look at the world, writing helps us process words and ideas. Both subjects boost our creativity, help us learn to solve problems, and act as stress relievers. For me, adding art to writing is like putting a dill pickle on a burger.

        It occurred to me that writing is like painting with words. Can the reverse be true? Can creating a piece of artwork be like writing a message? I think it can. Here are some ways you can combine art with writing.

        The cover of Pysansky Promise by Cathy Witbeck.
        1. Create a picture book—Ironically, my first picture book, Pysanky Promise, was about an art form, the art of pysanky, or Ukrainian Easter egg “writing.” The word “pysanky” derives from the Ukrainian word “pysaty,” which means “to write.” Messages are written using a process that involves drawing letters and designs on the eggs with beeswax and dipping them in dye. The art of pysanky is a very literal way of writing a message with art.
        2. Make a graphic novel—This format is like a picture book that grew up or a comic book on steroids. Hats off to people with this talent.
        3. Keep a doodle or art journal—I found an opportunity to combine art and writing when I started a Book of Mormon sketch journal. I realized that I learn and retain more information when I express my thoughts with visual images. This study journal is the kind of record I’d like to leave to my family as a legacy of my spiritual insights.
        4. Write and draw in a nature sketchbook—You can jot down simple sketches that you label and date, or include complex observations and facts about the illustration. Sketching allows you to notice small details you may have missed at first or second glance.
        5. Design a greeting card—When a card is displayed in a grocery store rack, usually only the top third is visible. Make that section of the card distinctive to catch the browser’s eye, and that the artwork matches the theme of the card. Avoid pictures of people, as a card should appeal to any ethnicity.
        6. Create a website—Design your own logo and curate a portfolio page. If these suggestions add way too many dill pickles to your burger, find someone who is experienced in web and graphic design.
        7. Offer free printables on your website—These resources provide a good way to draw in traffic while giving your reader documents to enjoy. You could also offer a bonus information link related to your printable topic, i.e., “Collecting Shells.”
        8. Add your art to a PowerPoint—As a JustServe specialist, I made a PowerPoint using my art to emphasize important information in my presentation. I drew an illustration of a woman with a pile of responsibilities to contrast with an illustration of kids in a hot air balloon. My point was to demonstrate that JustServe is not a program to weigh you down, but an opportunity to lift you in service to others.
        9. Use your art to enhance a newsletter, program cover, or bulletin.
        10. Create your own hand lettering or make your own font.
        11. Make a board game—Design the board and write the rules.
        12. If you really want to go nuts, create your own world map. You could even write a study guide to share details about the images you choose to include.
        13. Design a business card—A business card is a multi-purpose tool. When properly designed, it can advertise your services, showcase your brand, invite people to act, and provide contact information.

         Items to consider when designing a business card include:

        a) Shape—traditional rectangle vs. something creative that reflects your brand.

        b) Size—you don’t want it to be so small that it gets lost, or so large that people use it as a fan on hot days.

        c) Graphics—a popular trend is to include a wordless visual with a QR code on one side and text on the other.

        I find that writing and making art build off each other. A story I’m working on will often give me an idea for an image I want to create and vice versa. Combining writing and art means I rarely run out of ideas. I keep track of them in a file and remind myself to be selective. A notepad sits beside my bed for brilliant concepts that wake me in the night. One morning I found the words “dill pickle” scrawled down on the paper. Maybe it was a reminder to combine art and writing? It’s a dill-ema!

        A headshot of Cathy Witbeck

        Cathy Witbeck

        Cathy Witbeck is a Canadian-born author-illustrator transplanted to the USA. She remembers writing and drawing ever since she could pick up a pencil. She did an especially lovely piece of artwork on the side of the septic tank with house paint at a very young age. Perhaps that’s when it was discovered that she was gifted, or maybe it’s why she was sent to the USA.

        She has five grown kids and one grown husband. When she isn’t writing and illustrating, she is chasing after grandkids intent on making their own artwork.

          Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Creativity, Faith & Mindset, Fine Art, Writing Tagged With: artist, drawing, Painting

          Keeping Your Creative Spirit Alive

          July 13, 2023 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

          I graduated from Utah State University with a degree in commercial and fine art, ready to make my mark on the artistic world. USU was connected with The Art Center School in Pasadena, California—now called Art Center College of Design, one of the top art schools in the nation.

          After finishing my education, I was anxious to see if I could compete with other artists in the field. One little hiccup—I got married the week after graduation. This would not have been an issue, but we found out about a month later that we were expecting our first baby. Not a problem, I thought. I can still get out there and set the art world on fire. However, the pregnancy was more difficult than I had thought it would be, and I was extremely ill. Unfortunately, we lost that baby a few months into the pregnancy. A month or so later, we found out we were expecting again. I was thrilled, but very sick. The doctor scheduled an ultrasound to make sure all was well, and surprise! There were two little heartbeats.

          Original Art by Laramie Dunn

          I began teaching art at Grantsville High School, but I had to quit when I became too weak and nauseated to stand for long hours. So, at home with extra time on my hands, I sent off my portfolio and was picked up by two large galleries in Montana. I also started doing freelance illustration.

          Twenty-two months after the twins were born, we welcomed another baby girl into our family. By this time, we had built our first home, and I made my studio in the unfinished third level of our multi-level house.

          A company in southern Utah hired me to do a painting for the cover of their yearly magazine. They planned to send it out to all their stockholders and clients.

          Painting with small children was not an easy feat. I could only paint after they were in bed, so I would work from about eight p.m. to one a.m. After I put more than one hundred hours into the piece, it was ready. The people who had hired me were scheduled to pick up the painting. Before they came, I went upstairs to check on my sleeping baby and unwittingly left the door to the studio open and my paints out. I realized what I’d done halfway through changing a diaper, so I quickly finished up and ran downstairs.

          There they were, my darling little boy and girl, each with a paintbrush in hand, swishing paint across my masterpiece. I muffled a scream, sat on the steps, and shed a few tears. I realized that being a professional artist and having three small children was possibly not the best idea if I wanted to keep my sanity. Thankfully, I was able to salvage the painting before the clients arrived.

          Being a young mother with small children is rewarding and exhausting. So many moms lose sight of their talents and ability to create during those difficult years raising their little ones. It’s important to carve out time for music, art, and literature, as creativity enriches not only Mom, but her family as well.

          As my children grew older, I was able to set aside time to work on artistic avenues that fulfilled my desire to create. I taught art classes in the evenings and an art history class at Utah State Extension in Tooele, Utah. Using my talents to educate others was a fun outlet and helped provide my family with extra income.

          Here are a few ideas to help keep your creative spirit alive during the years when your children are small.

          • Find time to indulge in creative endeavors, even if it’s late at night. I looked forward to the quiet times when my children were in bed to watch a show or listen to music and work on an art project.
          • Volunteer at an elementary school. Teachers are always looking for parents to help with the arts, and my kids were so excited and proud to have me visit their classrooms.
          • Include your children in your art. For many years, I taught art classes in my home. I did have my children join the classes, but it was easier to have fun with them on my own time.
          • Take your family to art-related activities to teach them an appreciation for the arts. We visited many galleries and sculpting studios. I did this more with my two younger children when the older kids were involved with other activities.
          • Encourage your young children to be creative and unafraid to experiment with new mediums and ideas. I found if I made art materials available to my children, they would be free to create in their own ways.

          Though my attempt to continue with a professional art career while working as a stay-at-home mom ended in catastrophe, I never lost the desire to be involved with the arts in some capacity. Those hectic days have long since passed, and I don’t regret my decision to put my art on hold. For me, being a mom was much more rewarding than advancing my art career. Now I paint for family, friends, and just to enjoy creating art without the pressure of deadlines or critiques.

          Headshot of Laramie Dunn

          Laramie Dunn

          Laramie Dunn spent most of her youth riding horses and raising sheep. After graduating from Nutana High School, Laramie trained and showed Quarter Horses professionally across Canada and the United States. She became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was 19 and attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. She later attended Utah State University and graduated in illustration and secondary education.

          She met her husband, Clayton Dunn, in her senior year of college. They married and moved to Tooele, Utah, where they raised their five children. They now live in Stansbury Park and enjoy entertaining their 14 grandchildren.

            Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Creativity, Faith & Mindset, Fine Art Tagged With: artist, motherhood, Painting

            Writing Meaningful Struggles: Using Different Character Arcs

            June 30, 2023 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

            A “character arc” is how a character grows throughout a story. While your protagonist may have a fun personality, a cool skill, or a striking appearance, his arc is arguably his most important feature. But not all arcs are the same, and not all writing advice will apply to every arc. When you have a clear idea of your protagonist’s type of arc, you will have a clearer idea of how to shape their story.

            Types of Character Arcs

            Many writers approach this differently, but the most useful way is to view an arc as the character’s internal journey. At the most basic level, there are only two ways a character can internally grow:

            • By changing
            • By increasing his resolve (remaining steadfast)

            There are two types of each:

            • Positive
            • Negative

            Innately, any internal journey taps into or demonstrates a belief system. That’s what internal growth is about—beliefs, values, and worldviews.

            For example, in A Christmas Carol, Scrooge starts out valuing wealth above all else. Throughout the story, he changes so he values charity over wealth. His belief system flipped.

            In a positive arc, the character will end with what we may consider a true or moral worldview (like Scrooge). In a negative arc, the character will end with what we may consider an untrue or immoral worldview.

            There are four types of character arcs—positive change, negative change, positive resolve, and negative resolve.

            Now, consider your protagonist. What worldview does he or she believe in, or at least demonstrate, at the beginning of the story? What about the end of the story?

            If your character has a 180-degree flip in belief systems, they are having a change arc.

            If your character ultimately keeps the same belief system, they are having a steadfast arc.

            Is their ending worldview true or moral? If so, it’s likely positive. If not, it’s likely negative.

            What does this mean for your writing? Let’s go over each type in more detail so you can gain insight on how to shape your story.

            Positive Change

            This protagonist usually starts the story with an improper worldview. This is sometimes called the “weakness,” “flaw,” or “misbelief.” Often, this flaw came from a traumatic—or at least significant—past event. As the protagonist engages in the main conflict, obstacles will steadily reveal to him that this weakness is holding him back. Antagonistic forces should push the character to confront his flaw until ultimately, he must forsake it and embrace a better worldview.

            For example, in The Greatest Showman, P. T. Barnum believes he needs the world to accept him—a misbelief that stems from how he was treated as a child, particularly by Charity’s father. As he strives to make a name for himself, he encounters obstacles. His obsession with becoming someone important leads to major setbacks in his personal and professional life. To make everything right again, P. T. must let go of his old worldview and embrace a better one—that you don’t need everyone to accept you, only those closest to you. This paves his way to success.

            More examples: Joy in Inside Out, Scrooge in A Christmas Carol

            Quick tip: When your protagonist acts on his misbelief, it should increase his problems through the story’s middle.

            Negative Change

            This protagonist starts the story with a true or moral worldview. As she engages in the main conflict, obstacles will lead her to question the validity of her original beliefs. Antagonistic forces will tempt or pressure her to go astray. There is something she greatly wants, and she thinks she needs to give up her original values to get it. In the end, she will reject what she first believed and embrace, then use, an improper worldview to try to claim victory. This ultimately leads to self-damnation.

            For example, in Revenge of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker starts the story believing in and upholding the light side of the Force, but his thirst for greatness, and above all, his fear of loss leads him toward the dark side. To be a true Jedi, he must be humble and accept loss, but instead he is so driven to save Padme that he turns his back on the Jedi ways and ultimately becomes morally corrupt.

            More examples: Light in Death Note, Winston in 1984

            Quick tip: As your protagonist pursues what she wants at all costs, show how this creates destruction to the environment and people around her.

            Positive Resolve

            This protagonist already has a true or moral worldview. During the rising action, obstacles will test her dedication to her beliefs. Antagonistic forces will try to weaken her resolve, confuse her, or lead her astray. She may or may not question her beliefs through the middle of the story, but at the end, she ultimately holds true to who she is and what she believed in the beginning. She may suffer a high cost, but it will be worth the internal victory of standing up for what is right.

            In Wonder Woman, Diana says we should fight for the world we believe in. Even though the atrocities of war test her worldview and Ares tempts her to embrace a different one, she ultimately upholds her initial belief. While she struggles and wavers through the middle, at the end, she holds fast to who she was in the beginning.

            More examples: Mulder in The X-Files, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde

            Quick tip: Follow the adage “No good deed goes unpunished”—make it difficult, painful, and costly for the protagonist to uphold what’s right.

            Negative Resolve

            This protagonist has an improper worldview. During the rising action, obstacles may highlight his flaw while opportunities will offer him a “high road.” He will have his resolve tested as he is encouraged to change for the better. He may or may not attempt to change through the middle, but at the end, he ultimately holds stubbornly to his initial ways. He will reject the high road and sink deeper into his misbeliefs.

            In Cruella, Estella starts as misbehaved and vengeful. She may “try” to be “good,” but inside, she wants to be bad. She befriends two orphans who later give her the opportunity to work an honest job in the fashion industry, but instead, she embraces her cruel ways. Despite Jasper trying to convince her to change, Estella chooses to become even more immoral as Cruella.

            More examples: Coriolanus in A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

            Quick tip: Emphasize how the character refuses to change by showing him reject a promising opportunity for something better.

            With these four basic arcs in mind, you’ll have a good foundation for shaping your protagonist’s story.

            A headshot of September Fawkes.

            September C. Fawkes

            Sometimes September C. Fawkes scares people with her enthusiasm for writing. She has worked in the fiction-writing industry for over ten years and has edited for both award-winning and best-selling authors, as well as beginning writers. She runs a writing tip blog at SeptemberCFawkes.com (subscribe to get a free copy of her booklet Core Principles of Crafting Protagonists) and has served as a writing coach on Writers Helping Writers. When not editing and instructing, she’s penning her own stories. Some may say she needs to get a social life. It’d be easier if her fictional one wasn’t so interesting.

              Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Writing Tagged With: character, character arcs, conflict, plot

              Representing the Savior on Stage

              June 3, 2023 By Tristi Pinkston 1 Comment

              Photo from the 2019 Hill Cumorah Pageant.

              The theater has been an important part of Latter-day Saint culture from the very beginning. One of the most prominent buildings erected in Nauvoo was the cultural hall, where the Saints would gather to enjoy concerts, plays, and other performing arts that celebrated the life of the Savior and taught other important gospel concepts. Visitors to Nauvoo can still attend events held in the cultural hall to this day, and it’s a marvelous experience.

              As Latter-day Saint creators today, we frequently feel a pull to use our talents for the same objective—to honor the Savior and to convey our love for Him to others. I personally feel this is the most important use of our talents, and perhaps even why we were given them in the first place. As with all gifts, however, there are ways to use them appropriately, and this is especially true when it comes to depicting the Savior in our dramatic works.

              Several years ago, I had the opportunity to serve on the Church’s music and cultural arts committee. We had the task of reading over scripts and musical compositions submitted by Church members to determine whether they were appropriate to be performed within our meetings. This committee no longer exists, but I certainly did enjoy my time there.

              As part of our process, we evaluated each piece for the following criteria, which you can use as well in examining your own work.

              Is the Savior Depicted on Stage?

              Great care should be taken in how we show the Savior in our theatrical productions. We should demonstrate reverence in every respect, including how the actor is costumed and who is chosen to play that role. As per the Church Handbook, the Savior may be portrayed by a man “of wholesome personal character” (Chapter 20: Activities 20.5.6). Additionally, the Primary may portray the Savior in Nativity scenes, but should not depict Heavenly Father or the Holy Ghost (See Chapter 12: Primary 12.5.5).

              Is the Savior Quoted Correctly?

              While other characters in our play may be fictional and we might use our imaginations to create dialogue for them, the actor portraying the Savior should only speak lines taken directly from the scriptures, without adding anything extra. It’s best to check the script carefully to make sure we have quoted the Savior’s words as accurately as possible. An excellent example is found in the Bible and Book of Mormon videos the Church has produced over the last several years. As I watch them, I feel as though the scriptures have come to life before my eyes, which helps me understand and appreciate them more. Attending a play that reverently features the words of the Savior can likewise be a testimony-building experience.

              Is a Testimony of the Savior the Prevailing Message?

              If you ever had the opportunity to see the Manti Pageant or the Hill Cumorah Pageant, you’ll remember how those productions made Christ the focus of the story. While they depicted the difficulties experienced by the early Saints (in the case of the Manti Pageant) and the wars between the Lamanites and Nephites (both the Manti Pageant and the Hill Cumorah Pageant), the message was brought back to the hope that Jesus Christ gives to all of us. Depictions of sin, war, and conflict should be kept in careful balance, and the audience should be left with feelings of hope, joy, and reverence.

              Our Personal Preparation

              I can think of no subject more daunting than writing about the Savior. Because the subject is so immense, no author could truly write something that adequately conveys everything that He is, but this does not mean we shouldn’t try. Again, we were given our talents so that we might share our testimonies with others, and our attempts don’t have to be perfect.

              I suggest that as we embark on these projects, we prepare ourselves in the following ways:

              1. Study the life of the Savior and His actual words as found in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon.
              2. Look up conference talks and other addresses that focus on the Savior and His mission.
              3. Pray earnestly for inspiration so that we may be guided in what to say and how to present it.
              4. Attend the temple when location and circumstances permit and seek guidance there.
              5. Seek out positive examples of the type of art we wish to create and study them to determine why they are successful in conveying their themes.

              The most important element in our preparation is our willingness to humble ourselves and allow the Spirit to teach us how to create. It’s far too easy to let our artistic egos take the upper hand, but when we’re seeking to write something that truly has the power to carry messages to the hearts of our viewers, we should step back and let the Spirit take the lead, for that is the true way people are touched.

              Theater is just one medium through which we can teach others about the Savior, but it’s certainly powerful. It not only touches the audience, but the cast as well. When we choose such an uplifting topic and show it the reverence it deserves, the experience can change lives.

              A headshot of Tristi Pinkston.

              Tristi Pinkston

              Tristi Pinkston is the mother of four, the wife of one, the author of one hundred and seventy-five, and the editor of oodles. She serves as the chairman of the board for the Bear Lake Arts Council and participates enthusiastically (if not with utmost skill) in their theatrical productions. She is currently the editor-in-chief for the resource library here on the LDSPMA website. You can learn more about her on her website.

                Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Faith & Mindset, Gospel Principles, Media, Film & Theater Tagged With: acting, Jesus Christ, Theater

                What’s in a Melody? Eight Tips to Getting It Right

                May 19, 2023 By LDSPMA 1 Comment

                Crafting the perfect melody for your lyrics can be tricky. On one hand, you want the music to sound original and fresh. On the other, the melody must be memorable and catchy enough to stick in the listener’s mind. There are many factors to consider when composing a melody from the limited number of notes on the scale. Let’s consider a few strategies necessary to write an unforgettable song.

                Stress Less 

                There’s a good chance that your initial attempts to write a song will resemble something already written by you or someone else. That’s okay. You can use various techniques to set your work apart, but first consider how well the music fits the lyrics. Next, reflect on the mood you want to create and the emotions you wish to evoke.

                Words First vs. Music First

                Every songwriter faces the fundamental question, “Words first or music first?” The good news is that there is no single answer to this question. Pre-written words might spark ideas for new compositions, or existing music could be the springboard for creative lyrics. Play around and discover what method works best for you. 

                Try New Things

                Experiment with your melody! Try playing various versions to find a new and interesting arrangement. Switch up the scale or mode to give your melody a different flavor. Change the rhythms in the song. Do something unexpected! Add variety to your melody to catch the listener’s ear.  Try your melody on different instruments, whether standard or digital. Listening to different timbres of instruments may help you think of new compositional possibilities. Play around with dynamics and make sure there’s enough contrast throughout your song. Variations in dynamics can make the difference between a good melody and a great one.

                Syllable Stress 

                Carefully consider the syllabic stresses of your text and how your melody emphasizes certain words. For example, the word “father” is spoken with a stressed first syllable, “FA,” and an unstressed second syllable, “ther.” Different time signatures naturally place stress on particular beats. For instance, a song written in three-quarter time creates a stressed first beat, followed by two unstressed beats. Ideally, the stressed syllables or words should fall on the stressed beats in the music. In the above example, the first syllable of “father” should fall on the first beat of the measure so it’s given special emphasis while the second syllable remains unstressed.

                Making melodic decisions can be a bit like piecing together a puzzle, but focusing on rhythmic patterns will help your song flow naturally. 

                Jumps and Skips

                Keep the performer in mind when writing a melody. If you are writing a vocal solo, know what range of notes each voice part can sing. Using a wider range of notes makes singing a piece more difficult.

                Also, remember that it’s much easier to sing notes that are next to each other on the staff than those that skip around in large jumps and intervals. Make sure the range and position of the notes match the skill level of your intended performer. 

                A Musical Canvas 

                Take opportunities to “paint the text” with the accompanying music. For example, songs often use sixteenth notes to mimic the effect of flowing water. A text about fire might use staccato notes to sound like crackling sparks. These effects might not work for every text, but when appropriate, painting the text with music can exemplify the meaning of the piece. 

                A Catchy Tune

                What makes a tune get irrevocably stuck in your head? No one method guarantees your melody will be “sticky,” but catchy tunes have two things in common.

                First, many popular songs repeat words or parts of the tune. Just think of how easy it is to get The Beatles’ “She Loves You” stuck in your head with its catchy refrain of “Yeah, yeah, yeah!” The repetition is effective without being annoying.

                Second, a catchy melody is often simple. If a tune is too complex, it will be hard to remember, and you probably won’t find yourself humming it later. This rule also applies to the lyrics. To make your song relatable and memorable, avoid uncommon words that your audience probably wouldn’t know. When in doubt, sing or play your tune for someone else–if they start humming along with the second verse, that’s a surefire sign you’ve written a winner. 

                Your Laboratory 

                Sometimes, lightning will strike, and you’ll come up with the perfect combination of melody and words in a flash of brilliant inspiration. More often, the process will require experimentation, fine-tuning, and endurance to get it just right. You don’t have to settle on the first idea that comes to mind. If you give yourself time to mull the song over, you will come upon creative revisions you hadn’t considered at first. Just like in a real laboratory, sometimes your creations will blow up in your face, and you’ll have to start over. But occasionally, you’ll find the perfect combination of elements right away and produce a spectacular reaction.

                A headshot of Michael Young.

                Michael D. Young

                Though Michael grew up traveling the world with his military father, he now lives in Utah with his wife, Jen, and their three children. He played for several years with the handbell choir Bells on Temple Square and is now a member of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. He is the author of the novels in The Canticle Kingdom Series, The Last Archangel Series, the Chess Quest Series and the Penultimate Dawn Cycle (The Hunger), as well as several non-fiction works, including An Advent Carols Countdown, The Song of the Righteous and As Saints We Sing. Visit his website here.

                  Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Music Tagged With: composing, lyrics, melody, songwriting

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