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Building a Skincare Business from Scratch

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Lauren Tyson, founder of Salt City Soapworks, became seriously ill after the birth of her fourth child ten years ago. When doctors couldn’t find answers to help her, she dove into research on how food and mindset influence overall health. She began changing her eating habits and shopping choices and understanding the importance of using skincare products with all-natural ingredients. Over the next two years, Lauren steadily improved and regained good health. Lauren notes, “Our skin is the largest organ in our body, and it absorbs whatever we apply to it.”

Lauren’s background in geology and passion for health led her to make her own line of skincare products. She uses a local natural resource—unrefined salt from Redmond, Utah, which is known for its high mineral content and detoxifying properties. “The salt was deposited around the time of the dinosaurs, which is really cool, and it contains over 60 essential minerals,” she says. Combining the salt with coconut oil created the foundation for her exfoliating, skin-nourishing salt soap recipes. This blend became the cornerstone of Salt City Soapworks, a family-run business rooted in community and environmental values.

Here are some key lessons Lauren has learned for anyone looking to start a soap and skincare business.

1. Allow Time for Research and Development

Soapmaking is a scientific process, and Lauren emphasizes the importance of getting the chemistry right. “It took almost two years to perfect my recipes,” she says. Adding salt alters the chemical composition, making the process more complex. “The salt makes the soap brittle, making cutting or removing it from molds difficult. Even a slight mistake with timing or temperature can ruin the batch.”

Lauren is meticulous about every step in the process. She measures everything down to the gram and keeps notes on what works and what doesn’t. “Scent development was a whole other challenge,” she admits. “I spent a lot of time experimenting to find natural and pleasing scents that appeal to many customers.”

She stresses the importance of patience and research. “You really need time to perfect your recipes and make sure they’re exactly what you want because your passion, or lack thereof, comes through when you sell your products.”

Lauren Tyson removing new soap from molds.

2. Perfect Your Craft

Lauren uses the cold-process method for soap making, which requires precise attention to detail, particularly regarding temperature control. “The first step is to mix lye with water. The mixture heats up naturally, so you have to wait for it to cool to the correct temperature,” she explains. In the meantime, she melts her oils and allows them to cool to the same temperature as the lye solution.

Once they reach the perfect temperature, Lauren mixes the lye and oils with an immersion blender. This process starts the chemical reaction of saponification: turning the oils and lye into soap. “If the mixture is too hot, it will burn off the essential oils, which will ruin the batch,” Lauren says.

After blending, the soap is poured into molds and allowed to set. “When the soap is firm but not too hard, I cut and stamp each bar.” Technically, the soap can be used after 24 hours, but Lauren lets the mixture cure for at least three weeks for a harder, longer-lasting bar. “It’s all about timing,” she says.

The process is more straightforward for lotion bars and lip balms but still requires precision. “It’s a bit of a mad dash to get everything into molds before it sets,” Lauren explains. “You’ve got to work quickly to get the consistency just right.”

3. Focus on Quality and Transparency

Lauren is committed to using only simple, eco-friendly ingredients that are safe to wash down the drain. “I won’t use anything I can’t verify as real and natural,” she says. She colors her soaps with natural ingredients like kaolin clay, charcoal, and oxides.

Her dedication to sourcing high-quality ingredients stems from an incident she experienced before starting her business when she ordered what was supposedly 100% organic beeswax from an online supplier. “I opened the box and was hit with a whoosh of petroleum odor. The beeswax was the same color as processed cheese,” she recalls. As a beekeeper, she immediately recognized that the product wasn’t authentic and wondered how many others would have been fooled by the imitation beeswax.

“I went online to return it and asked about their quality control procedures for sellers. That’s when I realized there were no checks and balances,” she adds. This eye-opening realization strengthened her commitment to sourcing ingredients she can personally verify and trust. “I also make sure to source my beeswax from local suppliers.”

She is also mindful of packaging materials. “Packaging is part of the ingredients,” she points out. “I try to minimize waste by stamping labels directly on the soap and using tin and glass containers that can be reused.” She wants to assure her customers that the ingredients in Salt City Soapworks are beneficial for their skin and safe for the environment.

4. Launch Your Products by Starting Small

Lauren’s marketing approach has always been organic and cost-effective. “The best thing about starting small is that you get to learn cheap and learn fast,” she explains. “It’s a low-risk way to figure out what works and what doesn’t.”

She built Salt City Soapworks by relying on word-of-mouth, repeat customers, craft fairs, and Christmas markets. She runs her website on Shopify and engages with customers through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. “I try to use social media to share what we’re doing, why we do it, and how our products are different.” Lauren also stays away from high-fee platforms like Etsy. “The fees eat into your margins. I’d rather keep the prices affordable for customers without compromising on quality.”

5. Keep Learning and Adapting

Lauren’s scientific education laid a foundation for developing her products, but she continually seeks to broaden her knowledge. She’s currently enrolled in the Master of Business Creation program at the University of Utah. “I want to learn as much as I can,” she says. “Understanding how to structure my business is just as important as the products themselves.”

She also gathers valuable insights into her product line by engaging with her customers to learn what they love and want from her products. This feedback serves as inspiration for new ideas. She shares, “Recently, a friend mentioned how much she enjoys using our salt scrubs on her face. It got me thinking about creating an unscented charcoal salt scrub specifically for the face. I haven’t had a chance to make it yet, but I’m excited to see if it might help with acne.” Another time, a customer requested an exfoliating soap. Lauren added finely ground pumice stone and coffee grounds to her soap to create a gentle, non-abrasive exfoliant that is safe for sensitive skin. Engaging with her customers helps her refine her offerings to fit their needs.

6. Stay True to Your Business Goals and Values

Lauren’s values form the foundation of her business’s success. “It would be easy to churn out higher profits by using cheaper ingredients, but I’m not even tempted. That’s just not who I am,” she says. Her passion for Salt City Soapworks motivates her to stay stubbornly focused on her vision, while her commitment to remaining true to her values fosters creativity.

She emphasizes that people should be curious about the things they put on their skin. While Lauren’s customers have come to trust her advice and judgment, she states, “I would like to take it a step further by providing documentation so they don’t have to rely on my word. I also want to educate them about the benefits of our products and raise awareness about the dangers of preservatives and chemicals used as stabilizers in commercial skincare.”

She says the best part of her work is hearing from satisfied customers. “There’s nothing better than someone telling me they love a product I’ve made and that they appreciate the time and care that went into it.” Through persistence, research, and staying true to her values, Lauren transformed her health and created a business that helps others.

Headshot of Kami Pehrson.

Kami Pehrson

Kami Pehrson lives with her husband and five teenage children in Stansbury Park, Utah. She recently finished her master’s degree in English and creative writing and has written three novels—but is still trying to figure out what to do with them. She loves editing, reading, and playing word games on her phone. She also enjoys listening to audiobooks while half-heartedly doing Pilates in the living room.

    How to Find Your Golden Idea

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    One of my favorite quotes comes from business magnate Richard Branson: “The best businesses are built by solving a real problem that people have.” A great place to start is to ponder on this statement and let it brew in your creative mind until you’ve formed a list of problems. Then you can brainstorm potential solutions. Some solutions may ease the problem while others temporarily numb it. The idea that comes closest to completely and permanently fixing the problem is the golden foundation on which to build your business.

    I had a problem effectively keeping a journal while serving an LDS mission in the Philippines. I was having great experiences, but on some days I couldn’t find the motivation, time, or even willingness to record them in my journal. It felt like a very mundane task, so I found ways to make it more fun. I decided to break up my records into several different journals. In one I would record memories about my companions so I wouldn’t forget the small details that made them unique. In another journal, I would dedicate a few pages to each transfer, highlighting the best moments from that area. A tradition on my mission was to give notes and pictures to other missionaries when they went home. I had nowhere to store all these wonderful and creative cards, so I kept a third journal where I would glue or staple them onto the pages. Though it was a lot to store, I soon found joy in journaling. It even became something I looked forward to every day. Fast forward a few years after my mission and I had my idea: to create a journal for missionaries that would allow them to do everything I did all in a single journal.

    Identify Your (Small and Specific) Audience

    Now that you have a potential solution to a problem, you have a business idea. It’s time to figure out who this idea best serves. It may be tempting to assume that the bigger your market, the better, but there’s actually power in starting with a smaller and more specific audience. According to We Can Track, conversion rates for niche e-commerce sites are 29% higher than broad markets, and niche websites experience 53% more user engagement than general topic sites. The more specific your audience, the easier it will be to speak to them and learn from them.

    I asked, Is there real demand for my business/product idea? Before going all in, it’s important to know what the demand level looks like. I wanted to know if other returned missionaries struggled with journaling while they were in the field. How many of them even purchased a journal for their mission? How satisfied were they with their journal? What would make my audience more satisfied?

    Once Identified, Master Your Audience

    You can never know too much about your audience. The better you understand them, the better you’ll be able to serve them. Here are some strategies:

    • Create surveys. Post these surveys on social media groups and send them to friends and anyone else in your small and specific audience. Be prepared to provide an incentive for them to take these surveys. My first survey got me thirty responses. With my second survey, I offered two $10 gift cards to two random participants, and the $20 investment got me over 250 responses. The incentive drove people who took the survey to ask their friends and family to take it as well. Be sure to include questions to verify how well each respondent fits into your audience. I knew to value the answers of respondents who served missions and purchased a journal more than those who didn’t serve missions or didn’t prioritize purchasing a journal, and I couldn’t have distinguished that if I hadn’t asked.
    • Make a focus group. Once I had a sample of my product, I wanted to see my audience’s reaction. The feedback was brutal, but I knew as long as I was growing in knowledge of who my audience was and what they wanted, I was winning. This data taught me to take myself out of the equation and focus on what my audience cared about. The two focus groups I used provided me with the additional information I needed to make a more refined version of my product that my audience overwhelmingly approved. A business or product idea often begins with what you want it to be, but it should then progress and develop into what your audience wants it to be.

    Once Mastered, Build Your Audience

    You don’t have to wait for your business to be off the ground before building an audience. If your business is a landscaping service, try starting a social media page with beautiful before-and-after landscaping photos. If your business is selling a product to an LDS audience, try starting a blog centered on topics that the audience may find engaging. This way, come launch time, you’ve already built a community that you can continue to nurture—hopefully for years to come!

    Build Your Idea and Find a Supplier

    Using the data learned from your audience, begin the building process. I used tools to design journal pages and components such as Adobe, Canva, and other sites to find template inspirations.

    Do your due diligence in finding a good manufacturer. A popular platform that I prefer to use is Alibaba. After speaking with over fifty manufacturers on the app, here are some things I’d recommend you prioritize:

    • Experience. Find their profile or website and ensure they have years of experience working with sellers.
    • Verification. Find suppliers who are verified by third-party companies. This reduces the risk of anything going wrong.
    • Reviews. Find out how others who worked with the supplier felt about the service.

    Many suppliers offer good deals if you order in large quantities. I recommend starting small and then building out. I began with a modest order of 100 copies. This allowed me to test the waters and see if the demand level was accurate without being left with too many extra copies and a nonexistent audience. Once the data in our sales numbers verified the demand level, I ordered a greater quantity.

    Misconceptions That Keep You Stagnant

    • You don’t need a huge team to start. You will need to wear a couple of different hats, but it only takes one person to turn an idea into a business. With the help of services like Fiverr, it’s even easier to start without a big team.
    • You don’t need a lot of money to start. My wife and I used funds from donating plasma to start our small business, and because we started with a smaller supply quantity, it didn’t take much capital to launch.
    • You don’t have to succeed in order to win. The fear of failing or making a stupid mistake is what has previously kept me from giving any business venture a try. But I hope this quote by Henry Ford helps any reader as much as it helped me. It reads, “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” Your first business idea may not be the one that brings the most revenue, but as long as you are learning something, you are winning.
    Headshot of Junior Germain.

    Junior Germain

    In addition to operating a small business with his wife, Junior works as the head of the marketing and sales department at a real estate marketing agency based in Utah. He graduated from BYU-Idaho with degrees in Marketing and Communications, and welcomed his first child a few months ago.

      A Conversation with Bonnie Oscarson

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      Salt Lake City native Bonnie Oscarson served as the Young Women general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2013 to 2018. She and her husband, Paul, served as mission president and companion in the Sweden Gutenberg Mission and later in the Stockholm Sweden Temple as temple president and matron. Together, she and Paul have seven children and 29 grandchildren. Bonnie also authored the book What Makes Us Sisters, which addresses women’s roles to develop and share their talents and gifts. Connie Sokol, who until recently was the host of the LDSPMA podcast Called to Create, interviewed Bonnie about her callings in the Church and her creative pursuits.

      Bonnie recognizes a pattern throughout her life that prepared her to serve as the Young Women general president. Growing up, she developed empathy by living in several different states and attending wards and branches of various sizes. No matter where she was, she found ways to relate to the young women.

      Forty years after first attending BYU, Bonnie returned to earn a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on British and American literature. Though she has always found writing challenging, she gradually improved her craft through the many essays assigned to her in school. Bonnie hadn’t guessed that writing would become a necessary skill for her, but later, she found herself called upon to write articles for conferences and magazines. She looks back on this and other experiences as evidence that Heavenly Father knows what opportunities lie ahead and places experiences in our paths to prepare us for the future.

      Sometimes, we may wonder why we are having certain experiences and what purpose they serve. At times, it’s only in looking back that we can see how important these lessons were in shaping who we have become. Bonnie feels that choosing to devote oneself to a life of faith allows the Lord to provide some of these experiences. “I think sometimes if we hold back, we may miss a few of them,” she shares.

      Connie adds that as creators, we may be tempted to focus solely on the art we are creating. However, if we shift our focus to creating a meaningful life and allow the Lord to guide our experiences, we will be prepared for the future He has in store. This approach won’t negate any other pursuits we’ve chosen; instead, it will enrich them.

      Bonnie asked multiple stake and ward Young Women leaders, “How do your young women see themselves in this work?” Every answer she received came down to, “We support.” This insight prompted her to focus on shifting the young women’s perspectives from being cheerleaders to becoming fully engaged participants in the gospel of Jesus Christ. She encouraged leaders to step back to allow the young women to teach lessons, to conduct meetings, and to help minister to others.

      Bonnie and Paul now serve in the MTC as ecclesiastical leaders, and she has seen an increase in young women choosing to serve missions. “I just see greater self-confidence [in them] and a belief that [they are] an important part of this work.”

      After Bonnie spoke in a women’s session of general conference, Deseret Book asked her to write a book. She was surprised that they thought so highly of her talk. They referenced her Pinterest board to find images that reflected her personality. Bonnie had gone through her boards to make sure nothing would reflect poorly on her new calling. Connie points out that as creators and Christians, our focus should be on reflecting the Savior’s light, including how we present ourselves on social media. She extends the invitation to review our social media accounts to note whether they reflect that light.

      Bonnie has had many mountain and valley experiences, as we all do, where she chose to let go of something to create a more meaningful life. She met her husband while working on a degree in commercial art, which she loved, but chose a future with him instead of pursuing her education at the time. Upon having children, she repurposed the drawing board her parents had bought her years earlier into a baby-changing table. Though she put aside art in many ways, she feels that raising children is a creative process. Bonnie found fulfillment outside the stereotypes of “Mormon mothers” and taught her children how to use their creativity. When she and her husband moved to Sweden to serve as mission president and companion, she was 25 years old with five small children. Though the experience was difficult, she has no regrets.

      Looking back, Bonnie can see how God prepared her to return to Sweden to serve as temple matron and then to fulfill her calling as Young Women general president. Her experiences helped her guide young women, missionaries, and those learning about the Church to focus not just on the baptismal font but also on the temple.

      As Connie describes it, we may leave our creative projects on the altar as a sacrifice. However, like Bonnie using her drawing board as a changing table, what we sacrifice is recompensed in many different ways because we don’t only gain—we change. We become more capable and effective.

      Bonnie notes that because we are all trying to keep the same commandments and meet the same expectations, we may think we have to be alike in every way. However, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are diverse and should embrace our differences. Living a creative life requires following our unique paths and using our unique gifts rather than trying to fit a mold. We ought to follow those paths confidently, bringing our families along with us.

      This article is based on the Called to Create podcast featured during Season 3, Episode 2o. You can listen to the full podcast here.

      How to Master the Apostrophe

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      Apostrophes are one of the most diverse punctuation marks in the English language. They can be used and placed in various ways to change the meaning of a sentence. You’ll want to make sure you’re using them correctly, so that your writing reads clearly. In this article, we’ll outline simple rules that will bring confidence and accuracy to your apostrophe use in the future.

      This is an apostrophe: ’ It is also known as the right single quotation mark.

      This looks like an apostrophe but is not: ‘ It is the left single quotation mark, which can’t be interchanged with an apostrophe.

      Apostrophes are used for three main reasons: signifying possessives, replacing missing letters or numbers, and—rarely—to form plurals.

      1. Signifying Possessives

      This is the most complicated use of the apostrophe. Possessives have a handful of nuances based on singular or plural form and, in some cases, the pronunciation of the individual word. But don’t let that scare you. We’ll lay out some simple rules you can follow so you’ll get this down in no time.

      Singular Possessive

      This is the easy one. To show that a singular person, place, or thing possesses something or someone else, add an apostrophe and an s to the end of the noun.

      The cat’s paws were as pristine as a white carpet.

      A student’s book was in the street.

      My toddler’s red balloon sailed into the sky.

      The same rule applies to singular nouns that end in s. Add both the apostrophe and the s at the end of the word.

      James’s dog chases Chris’s ball.

      Arkansas’s capital has a booming industry.

      Agnes’s report said that her crocus’s petals were as vibrant as ever.

      Note: Not every style guide agrees on the treatment of singular nouns as possessives. For example, in the Associated Press (AP) style, the noun being proper or common will determine whether to use an apostrophe or the apostrophe s. However, the majority of style guides, including Chicago style (CMOS), American Psychological Association style (APA), and Modern Language Association style (MLA), agree with the rule above.

      Plural Possessive

      Most plural words in the English language end in s or es to show more than one person, place, or thing. For those plural possessives, add only the apostrophe after the end of the word.

      The knives’ sharpness made even the most experienced chefs take precaution.

      My sisters’ shoes always look pristine.

      The boxes’ angles interested the children.

      For plural nouns that don’t end in s or es, we revert back to the original rule. Add an apostrophe and an s.

      The children’s toys were sprawled across the room.

      The mice’s tails whipped behind them as they ran.

      The women’s discussion enlightened each member of the room.

      There are a handful of words in English that end in s both when they are singular and plural. Examples are leggings and politics. For these kinds of words, just add an apostrophe like you would for plural words ending in s, even if they are used in a singular sense.

      The headquarters’ main office had cubicles.

      The crossroads’ intersections both needed to be cleared of debris.

      The tweezers’ prongs were sharper than necessary.

      Similarly, words that have a plural form ending in s but are singular in meaning, like United States, follow the same rule of adding only an apostrophe.

      Beverly Hills’ homes are some of the most expensive in the country.

      Longwood Gardens’ woodlands contain over 100 floral species.

      Portland Academy of Writers’ meetings are extensive and informative.

      Joint Possession

      When a noun is owned by two or more people, this is called joint possession. The placement of the apostrophe (or apostrophes) in joint possession will change the meaning of the sentence. If two or more people own the same item, only one apostrophe is used with the last written owner’s name. If two or more people own separate but similar items, apostrophes are used with each written owner’s name.

      For example, if we wanted to talk about dogs that were owned by both Jim and Pam, we would write, “Jim and Pam’s dogs.” The apostrophe is placed only after Pam’s name to show that Jim and Pam own the same dogs. If we wanted to talk about dogs that were owned separately, some by Jim and some by Pam, we would write, “Jim’s and Pam’s dogs.” The apostrophes after both names signify that Jim and Pam do not own the same dogs but have their own set of dogs.

      Chancy, Noah, and Clara’s parents celebrated their 28th anniversary.

      (Chancy, Noah, and Clara all have the same parents.)

      Emma’s, Anthony’s, and Sawyer’s parents shop at the same grocery store.

      (Emma, Anthony, and Sawyer all have different parents.)

      Halley and Stuart’s bakery is located on the corner.

      (Halley and Stuart own the same bakery.)

      Josie’s and Caleb’s bakeries are across the street from each other.

      (Josie and Caleb own two separate bakeries.)

      Last Names Ending in S

      Here’s a little bonus section for you. Sometimes last names that end in s can make the plural and the possessive complicated. But if you follow the rules stated above, you can figure out the correct way to write each last name in each situation.

      Let’s say the last name is Leavitt. If we want to talk about one Leavitt (singular) in the possessive form, we would add an apostrophe and an s. “Sophie Leavitt’s nails were painted red.”

      If we want to talk about all the people in the Leavitt family (plural), it would be Leavitts. Now, let’s add the possessive form with the plural. Like we mentioned above, for plurals already ending in s, simply add an apostrophe. “The Leavitts’ car is brand new.” Simple enough, right?

      Here’s where the confusion comes in. What if the last name ends in s already? Let’s take the last name Roberts, for example. In the singular possessive form, we would say, “Ignacio Roberts’s house is the quaintest on the block.” Making that last name plural, it’s Robertses. Now, follow the same rule for a plural noun already ending in s: add only an apostrophe. “The Robertses’ cat dashed under our porch.”

      2. Replacing Missing Letters or Numbers

      Sometimes apostrophes stand in for letters or numbers. These are called contractions. For example, in the contraction don’t the apostrophe stands in for the missing o in the phrase do not. Here are more examples:

      won’t for will not

      ’twas for it was

      gov’t for government

      rock ’n’ roll for rock and roll

      cookin’ for cooking

      Apostrophes standing in for numerals have less variations. They are mainly used to signify the year. So, instead of 1994, we could use an apostrophe to replace the numbers 19 and simply write ’94.

      3. Forming Plurals

      This is the least common use of the apostrophe. In fact, it’s pretty rare. An apostrophe can show the plural form only when adding an s or es would make the meaning ambiguous.

      For example, if we’re talking about lowercase letters of the alphabet in the plural form, it would be confusing to read “The teacher wrote xes on the chalkboard.” The reader may not know if the teacher wrote more than one x or xes. Instead, to be very clear, we would use an apostrophe. “The teacher wrote x’s on the chalkboard.” This applies to lowercase letters, but capital letters are pluralized by adding only s. (“She got all As on her report card.”)

      You may also see this same usage being applied to numbers, but it’s not as common. (“The algorithm required we use only 0’s and 1’s.”)

      Apostrophes are diverse, but you can master them if you review the guidelines outlined above. The more you practice using apostrophes, the more confident you’ll be that you’re applying them correctly. To learn more about apostrophes, you can read the Chicago Manual of Style, sections 7.5–30 and 5.20. And if you’re ever confused, you can always refer back to this article.

      We would like to thank Breanna Call and our friends at Ever Editing for allowing us to share this article with you. To read the other great articles they’ve written, click here.

      The Desire to Paint the Savior

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      Growing up, I was surrounded by creativity and love of the beauty in the world. My dad was a concert violinist, a writer, and an inventor. My mom sang hymns, gardened, and created beautiful quilts. Both were art appreciators. They spoke often of works of art that inspired them.

      My mom had traveled to Europe and talked about her experience seeing the works of Michelangelo and da Vinci. Stories of her travels led me to study works of art from these masters who demonstrated devotion to God in their work, which caused me to seek out other artists like Carl Bloch and more modern contemporary artists like Harry Anderson and Greg Olsen. Being in a home surrounded by beautiful paintings of Christ guided my journey to want to do the same.

      Preparing to Paint the Divine

      The desire to paint Christ came very early in my life; however, the application of this was and still is very intimidating. Of all the subjects I paint, this is the one that requires the most meditation, study, personal reflection, and help from Above. I find that when I am working on a painting of a spiritual nature, but especially one that includes an image of the Savior, it is very important how I prepare myself for the task.

      This starts with prayer, then leads to scripture study, which is often tied to the theme of the piece, and then I journal my ideas and impressions. I am also affected by what I listen to while I paint. I will listen to conference talks, hymns, classical music, or uplifting podcasts to help with the mood as I work. I pray for the Spirit to be present while I work so that the viewer feels the same spirit while appreciating the finished work.

      Searching for References

      The first time I attempted to paint a depiction of Christ, I prayed earnestly to find a model to photograph as a reference. I searched for someone with kindness in his eyes and the love of the Savior in his countenance. I was blessed to find a model who exhibited both attributes, and he was wonderful to work with. I would explain what I needed during our photo shoot, and his expression would become contemplative. The feeling of trying to bring the Spirit for both of us was there.

      I prepare myself personally as I plan to paint a representation of the Savior; models and actors do the same when they are trying to represent Him as well. It’s a daunting task for both of us, but I believe God sees our efforts and magnifies them. I’ve definitely felt His hand helping me with what He wants me to accomplish. The challenge for me then is to bring that same spirit into the physical work of art.

      Receiving Inspiration through Trials

      I have had some of my most emotional paintings come to me during my darkest times. There are paintings and ideas that have come to me specifically because of what I am going through at the time. It helps me to know that God sees me and speaks to me through the gifts He has given me.

      I know also that if I am feeling these things, others are as well, and my prayer and hope is to allow God to use me to speak to others who are struggling. My painting Our Mediator came during a challenging time in my life, and I felt so strongly that because of Jesus, I would be able to get through my trials because He would mediate for me. It was such a comforting feeling.

      A painting of Christ.
      Our Mediator by Jessica Michaelson

      Coming Closer to Christ

      When I am painting works of Jesus, I find that I search and ponder about His teachings more in my daily life. I am searching for what He said in the scriptures and for the deeper meanings behind His words. I find that I grow closer to Him through this process, and it not only helps me paint, but also shapes me as a person.

      After losing my father unexpectedly, I thought about how Jesus had experienced loss. He lost His adopted father, Joseph, His cousin John, and for a time, His friend Lazarus. Knowing this led me to paint Acquainted with Grief, which illustrated the grief Jesus felt in the moment of losing a loved one. I felt closer to Him knowing that He knows what my grief feels like.

      Acquainted with Grief by Jessica Michaelson

      Honoring the Great Creator

      God is the best example of being a perfect creator. What a wonderful example we have from Him of the joy of creation. He shows His love for us when He shares His creations with us. It is like admiring a sunset, knowing that it will disappear the next day, but that its beauty, while fleeting, is stunning.

      God’s creations show us the love God has for us. They show us that He created everything and continues to create not just the world around us, but also the beauty in our lives amidst our trials and weaknesses. That’s what I see every day as He takes my weaknesses and makes them stronger in my attempts to use the talents He has given me to glorify my Savior, Jesus Christ.

      Jessica Michaelson

      Jessica has been an artist as long as she can remember. Growing up, she would draw on walls and furniture and even went so far as to etch a picture in her bedroom door with a safety pin, much to the dismay of her parents. To save their home and their sanity, her parents enrolled her in private art lessons, and her love of art continued to blossom. Jessica found mentors and teachers in workshops from world-renowned artists.

      Jessica teaches art in her home studio part-time to both adults and children. She enjoys sharing what she knows and works with her students in nearly every medium. Not only has teaching been fulfilling, but it has solidified what Jessica has learned through countless hours of study and practice as only teaching can.

      In her continued art practice, she has found she enjoys working with an emphasis in portrait and figurative work, as well as works in nature. More recently, Jessica has been painting religious and spiritual work with a focus on painting Christ. Her religious work holds great meaning for her. Her works have been published in books and calendars and highlighted in gallery shows. You can learn more about her on her website.

        A Conversation with Scott Christopher

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        Scott Christopher is the author of the best-selling People People, The Levity Effect, and The Seven UPs of Happiness. He is also a sought-after actor who has appeared in many network television series, including NCIS, Modern Family, Criminal Minds, Granite Flats, Touched By an Angel, and many other movies on Disney Channel, Hallmark, Lifetime, Netflix, and Amazon. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Salt Lake City and have five sons and two grandkids.

        Scott knew he wanted to be an actor when he was three years old and his sister taught him to read. From there, he began to read and copy scripts or whatever literature he could get his hands on. Every movement he made became a scene in his head, imagining a camera trained on him no matter what room he was in.

        Validation for his creative pursuits came years later when he and his brother won a national acting competition at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Before their turn to compete, they stepped outside through the emergency exit for a moment. “And we two elders of Israel… folded our arms and said a prayer right there on the bank of the Potomac.” They didn’t ask for the Lord’s help to win the competition, though they and their young wives needed the money.

        Instead, they prayed, “Father, please just help us to do our best. We’ve been rehearsing and have yet to [finish our routine within] the time limit, which is five minutes.”

        They came in at four minutes and fifty-nine seconds, winning the whole competition by a unanimous decision from the judges. Scott won best actor, and his brother won best partner. The win motivated Scott to continue pursuing his goals. He recalls thinking, “I’ll keep trying this. I wasn’t gonna change my mind anyway, but that helped.”

        Born in Michigan and raised by a single mother who converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Scott learned to trust in the Lord. Thanks to his mother’s faith, he grew up believing God was in charge of his life. Once his mother realized he was set on being an actor, she told him “to trust the Lord. Let Him be your agent.” And while that wasn’t the most practical advice from a business standpoint, Scott still pleads with Heavenly Father to point him in the direction he needs to go.

        One of the first moments Scott realized he had made it in the acting world was working on the BYU-TV scripted show Granite Flats, which was a well-received and highly rated show. Scott says, “I made good friends with one of the actors who was very helpful in connecting me to [directors and producers in] Los Angeles. She understood that I had pretty strict values and standards and that I wasn’t looking to audition for everything under the sun.”

        He goes on to say how critical the writing process is in terms of the creative whole. “If it’s well written, just hand me the script, give me a minute to memorize it, and I’ll just come out and play as me—within the context of the script. I put my life in the hands of the Lord and just see what’s out there.” Sometimes the parts are only two lines, but if the TV episode is clean, he can leave the set without feeling embarrassed about his work.

        There are things, however, that Scott won’t do for the sake of an acting part. During his LDS mission in Barcelona, Spain, he became fluent in Spanish, a skill that opened up unique opportunities in his career. When offered a Spanish-speaking part on a major Amazon Prime series, his “spidey sense” started tingling over the possible content. Though he knew the show would be grittier than his other projects, it wasn’t until he reviewed the scripts and discovered the TV-MA rating that he realized he couldn’t lower his standards to take the role. He says, “Within two minutes, I was on the phone with my agent, and I said, ‘It’s not gonna happen.’”

        While the producers begged him to be a part of the show, the writers refused to change the script to conform to his standards. Scott says, “So we parted ways. I thanked and praised the Lord for letting me see the scripts before I signed anything. I was heartbroken, but I was happy and at peace.”

        As he concludes his discussion about his creative journey, Scott says, “Be 100% true to what you know and have felt and believed, that truly the perspective of the great plan of salvation is not about what we can take with us. We automatically assume that we’re talking about the money, jewelry, cars, and boats. And while that is true, there are    
         other things you can’t take with you, like the desire to have these things. We each have our own little gifts. Those carry on through eternity, but their worldly importance does not.”

        Scott emphasizes how service and loving others truly make a difference. Joy comes from helping others. “Find what you’re passionate about, and hopefully what you’re passionate about does make a difference, even if it’s minute and small and local. Go after it.”

        This article is based on the Called to Create podcast featured during Season 3, Episode 15. You can listen to the full podcast here.


        A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Online Business

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        Megan LaFrance’s journey into entrepreneurship started during the COVID-19 pandemic when she was home with her three young sons and facing a never-ending cycle of messes. She found that the towels she was using were ineffective at absorbing spills and cleaning sticky surfaces. On top of that, their boring, one-sided designs left much to be desired. These insights sparked the idea for Bloom Towels, a line of efficient microfiber dishcloths with vibrant patterns printed on both sides. Through research, hard work, and determination, Megan has grown her passion into a thriving business that supports her family and employs other moms of young children.

        Bloom Towels owner Megan LaFrance

        Here are the steps Megan recommends to start your own online business.

        Step 1: Choose Your Product

        To start, Megan had to think of a problem that needed to be solved. She first tried selling tiered trays and wall decals, but she wasn’t passionate about the products. Dish towels proved to be a perfect fit, as they are lightweight, easy to ship, always in demand, and they solve an everyday need.

        Step 2: Research Suppliers and Order Samples

        After brainstorming an idea, Megan had to source her supplies. She ordered towel samples from various suppliers and tested them at home to compare quality and functionality. She prefers to buy through Alibaba— a business-to-consumer (B2C) platform that keeps prices low by requiring a Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ). The MOQ is usually higher for custom designs and lower for items they already have in stock.

        Step 3: Design and Brand Your Product

        Megan, along with her mom and sister, comprise the design team that shapes the aesthetic of Bloom Towels. They brainstorm pattern ideas based on seasonal themes and customer feedback, drawing inspiration from places like Pinterest and other image sites. Together, they develop cohesive design themes like bright pinks for Valentine’s Day or neutral tones for autumn, creating three to five trendy towel designs for each launch.

        Step 4: Start Small and Test the Market

        Megan recommends starting small when launching an online business. Instead of committing to a large inventory, focus on a limited selection of products. Test the market and assess customer interest without overextending your finances. Selling out of your products can benefit your business, as “out-of-stock” products create a sense of urgency and exclusivity among your customers. As demand for your product grows, you can gradually increase your orders. If the product you are trying to sell isn’t successful, you can pivot to something else. However, Megan cautions against switching products too often. “I’ve seen many businesses jump from one product to another, leading them deeper into debt without becoming successful,” she says. “Make sure to sell your initial batch of products before moving on to the next.”

        Step 5: Build Your Online Presence

        Megan uses Instagram and her website as her primary marketing channels. She has also expanded to Facebook and TikTok, but she advises focusing mainly on one platform to avoid spreading yourself too thin. She says, “Put up a lot of videos and pictures on whatever social media platform you’re using because when you reach out to influencers, that’s the first place they go. If you have no images or videos to show them, they won’t want to represent your brand because they can’t see what you’re selling.” She sends samples of her towels to a professional photographer who takes “flat lay” photos for the product catalog. Her sister oversees content on her social media sites, including stop-motion animation, lifestyle videos, and slow-motion clips of people using the towels.

        Step 6: Use Influencer Marketing to Grow Your Audience

        Influencer marketing played a significant role in growing Bloom Towels. Megan markets to influencers in the cleaning and home organization niches who resonate with her target audience. She uses an outreach strategy to get influencers to notice her messages by commenting on their posts before sending direct messages to ensure her message goes to their main inboxes. She explains, “I’ll leave a message that says, ‘Hey! We have these cute towels, and we’d love for you to try some. Let us know if you’d like more details.’” She then offers influencers affiliate marketing opportunities, allowing them to earn a commission from sales generated through their posts.

        Step 7: Create a Reliable System for Affiliate Marketing

        Affiliate marketing systems help business owners facilitate partnerships with influencers who promote their products. Megan uses UpPromote to streamline her affiliate program and organize her sales data. The software tracks sales, assigns discount codes, and calculates commissions. She says, “When an influencer signs up to be an affiliate, the software will assign them a coupon code that gives their followers a 15% off discount. The system will track sales for us so when we pay our influencers, we know exactly how much we owe them.”

        Megan likes to reach out to influencers a couple of weeks before her launch days to get them on board. Influencers will share sneak peeks of the product leading up to the big launch party when the towels become available, including their unique affiliate link.

        Step 8: Engage with Your Customers

        Megan listens to customer requests and suggestions to guide her designs. She uses her email list and social media to engage with customers, build customer loyalty, and decide on new products and themes.

        Step 9: Invest in Coaching and a Support Network

        Megan credits much of her success to using a business coach and following their process. She explains, “I used the program ‘0 to 100K’ from Alison Prince. She was also a mom who started a business selling online and then taught others how to do it too.”

        As her business grew, Megan sought out different coaches who specialized in areas she wanted to improve, such as wholesaling to retail stores. Networking with other business owners also provided her with valuable advice and support that helped her when her business reached a plateau in sales. She shares, “When I started my business, it helped to have a group of other business owners I could talk to all the time who were on the same level as me because we could grow together.”

        Step 10: Adapt and Evolve Your Strategy

        Over time, Megan expanded her product line, tried out new opportunities, and fine-tuned her influencer marketing strategy. She also started selling her towels on Faire, a wholesale platform where retailers can buy products to sell in their stores. By earning a “Top Shop” ranking, Bloom Towels got a huge boost in visibility. Then a team of sales reps reached out, wanting to represent her products. Today, customers can find Bloom Towels in 180 brick-and-mortar stores.

        Step 11: Celebrate Your Progress

        Megan enjoys running a business that allows her to support her family financially, explore her creative side, and give other moms the opportunity to earn extra income. She says, “Starting out slow has been a gift. It took me five years to get to where I am now, and I’m growing steadily and doing well, which is exactly what I want. I don’t want it to be overwhelming for anyone. Don’t measure your success against others—just focus on yourself. If your business is growing even just a little bit each month, you’re doing great.”

        Headshot of Kami Pehrson.

        Kami Pehrson

        Kami Pehrson lives with her husband and five teenage children in Stansbury Park, Utah. She recently finished her master’s degree in English and creative writing and has written three novels—but is still trying to figure out what to do with them. She loves editing, reading, and playing word games on her phone. She also enjoys listening to audiobooks while half-heartedly doing Pilates in the living room.

          Common Publishing Terms to Know

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          If you’re jumping into the publishing world—welcome! We’re happy you’re here. We love new people, voices, and stories. As you’ve looked into writing groups, editing stages, publishers, and more, you’ve likely come across the many terms associated with the publishing industry. As with any trade, there is a plethora of jargon. 

          But there’s no need to be overwhelmed or confused as you step into your writing journey. We’ve got you covered. This publishing tip will introduce you to some of the main terms used in writing, editing, design, and publishing.

          Acquisition. When a publisher “acquires” a manuscript and sends a contract to the writer for publication.

          Advance Reader Copy (ARC). A copy of a book that is given to a select amount of readers before it is officially published. This allows readers to read the book before publication so that they can positively review the book as soon as it is published.

          Alpha Reader. A reader who looks over the first, unpolished draft of a manuscript to give feedback.

          Backlist. Books that are not newly published but are still in print.

          Back Matter. The material in the back of a book, including afterwords, addendums, appendices, author biographies, epilogues, glossaries, and indices.

          Beta Reader. A reader who gives feedback on a manuscript after it has gone through several drafts. Beta readers can be volunteer or paid and should be regular readers of the book’s genre.

          Bibliography. Section in the back of a book that cites all sources that were consulted in the book’s research. Bibliographies are commonly found in genres such as nonfiction, reference books, and historical fiction.

          Blurb. A brief description of a book that entices readers to read it. The blurb is commonly found on the back of a cover, inside a book jacket, and as the book description in an online store. Also known as cover blurb.

          Character Arc. How a character develops from their original state at the beginning of the book to their new state at the end of the book based on the events that transpire throughout the storyline.

          Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). A style guide used in publishing that sets grammar, punctuation, and similar guidelines for publication. It is most commonly used in print publications, fiction books, and nonfiction books.

          Climax. The part of a story that has the highest tension, emotion, and action and is a major turning point for the main character.

          Comps. Published works that are similar to a writer’s own work. Comps are usually referred to when a writer is pitching their work or writing a proposal to an agent or publisher.

          Copyediting. A type of editing that corrects errors in capitalization, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage. This stage of editing generally comes right before the book is put into printer-ready format.

          Copyright. The right to publish, sell, and revise a work, be it written or artistic. This right generally belongs to the creator of the work automatically unless otherwise stated by the creator or sold by contract.

          Cover Blurb. A brief description found on the cover of a book that entices readers to read the book. Also known as blurb.

          Developmental Editing. A type of editing that evaluates overarching story elements, such as themes, organization, character arcs, and pacing for the manuscript as a whole. This stage of editing would be done before any other stage. Also known as substantive editing.

          Editorial Letter. A letter that most often accompanies a developmental edit and can accompany other levels of editing. This letter is written by the editor and includes actionable steps and advice for revision of a draft.

          Elevator Pitch. A short promotional description of a book that aims to sell the book as fast as possible. An elevator pitch is typically no more than 100 words and delivered vocally to agents, publishers, or potential readers.

          Endnote. A source reference or author note that is listed at the end of a book or the end of a chapter. It is marked by a superscript in the main body of text.

          Epilogue. A section at the end of a book that is found directly after the main chapter content. It can act as a conclusion for the book or give commentary on what happened in the story.

          Flash Fiction. A short fictional publication generally no more than 1,500 words. It may be a few paragraphs or even a few words long.

          Footnote. A source reference or author comment that is listed at the bottom of a printed page and marked by a superscript in the main body of text.

          Foreword. Section at the beginning of a book that briefly describes how the book came into being and why readers should read the book. Forewords are typically written by someone other than the book’s author.

          Front Matter. The material at the front of the book, including title pages, forwards, prefaces, copyrights, dedications, lists of publications by the same author, and tables of contents.

          Galley. A typeset document that authors, editors, and publishers review before the final publication. Also known as a proof.

          Hook. A sentence or paragraph that catches the reader’s attention and entices them to keep reading. Hooks can be found at the beginning of a book or chapter and even on cover material.

          Hybrid Publishing. A new publishing model that combines aspects of traditional publishing and self-publishing. There are many variations of hybrid publishers that allow for more author involvement, but it is important for authors to research any hybrid publisher in order to avoid illegitimate publishing deals.

          Imprint. The trade name a larger publisher uses to distinguish and publish a specific type and collection of books.

          International Standard Book Number (ISBN). A number used to identify a specific book. This number is needed in order to sell a book.

          Lead Time. The time between when an editor receives a book and when it is officially published.

          Line Editing. A type of editing that amends discrepancies in tone, style, plot, and characterization at the paragraph and sentence levels. This stage of editing happens after a developmental edit and before a copyedit.

          The Modern Language Association Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing (MLA). A style guide used in publishing that sets grammar, punctuation, and similar guidelines for publication. It is most commonly used in the humanities, liberal arts, and literary criticism.

          Narrative Nonfiction. A genre of books in which actual events and facts are structured and presented in a storytelling style.

          Pacing. How quickly or slowly key events in a story develop.

          Pitch. A very brief written or verbal presentation of a book that authors use to entice agents, editors, or publishers to accept their book for representation or publication. This pitch may also be found in a query letter.

          Printer. Not to be confused with a publisher, a printer is a company that prints the physical copy of a book.

          Print on Demand (POD). A printing process that prints single physical copies of a book only after they are ordered by a customer, instead of printing a large amount of books at once to sell at a later time.

          Prologue. A section at the beginning of a book that is sometimes found directly before the main storyline. It acts as an opening for the book or gives relevant information needed to understand what will happen in the story.

          Proofreading. A type of editing that catches the final errors in the typeset format of a book, including making corrections in punctuation and formatting.

          Proposal. A document sent to an agent, an editor, or a publisher to convince them to accept a manuscript for representation or publication. It may include a cover letter, an author’s bio and credentials, a query letter, comparable titles, sample chapters, an outline of the book, and marketing strategies.

          The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA). A style guide used in publishing that sets grammar, punctuation, and similar guidelines for publication. It is most commonly used in behavioral sciences, healthcare, and social science.

          Publisher. A company that acquires, edits, designs, and markets a book. They also oversee public relations and sales.

          Query Letter. A brief letter, typically one page or approximately 250 words, that is sent to an agent, editor, or publisher to convince them to accept your manuscript for representation or publication. A query letter includes a manuscript’s title, word count, and genre, as well as a hook, quick author bio, and synopsis of the story.

          Revisions. The changes an author makes to a work.

          Slush Pile. Unsolicited manuscripts received by an agent, editor, or publisher. These manuscripts may not be top priority and may not be read in a timely manner.

          Story Arc. The chronological structure of a plot, including a beginning, a middle, and an ending.

          Synopsis. A brief summary of a manuscript.

          Title Page. A page near the front of the book that includes the title, subtitle, edition, author name, publisher, and, when necessary, the imprint.

          Trope. A common theme or element found in a specific genre.

          Typesetting. Formatting a manuscript from a Word document, Google Doc, or similar format to an industry-standard e-book or PDF. 

          Unique Selling Proposition (USP). What makes a book stand out in the marketplace.

          Work in Progress (WIP). A manuscript that a writer is currently working on.

          You’re sure to find many more terms and acronyms in the publishing world, but this list should give you a good starting point to understanding the rich jargon used by agents, editors, designers, publishers, readers, writers, and more.

          We would like to thank Breanna Call and our friends at Ever Editing for allowing us to share segments of this article with you. To read the article in full, click here.