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Creating 3D Characters

October 3, 2025 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

Characters can make or break your fiction. It’s imperative that you populate your story world with three-dimensional characters who feel real. Cardboard characters used merely to push your plot along will leave readers feeling empty. Satisfying fiction is filled with characters that readers believe could exist. The more realistic, the better.

Readers don’t want flat characters. They want characters with dimension and depth. If you’ve ever seen Shrek, you might remember the scene when he tells Donkey that ogres are like onions. You want your characters to be like onions with lots of layers that readers are anxious to peel away as they get to know them.

Discovery, depth, and dimension can help you create 3D characters that are memorable, compelling, and realistic.

Discovery

The discovery phase can be compared to an awkward but necessary first date. What would you notice on a first date? At the top of the list would be their physical appearance. Hair color, eye color, physical stature, accent, voice quality, clothing style, laugh, and even skin tone might be part of your character’s description. Do they smile much? Are their teeth crooked? Do they stutter? Is there a stain on his shirt? Is her hair unkempt? Filling out a character sheet will help you keep track of your character’s physical features and other details. You can download a free character sheet from my website.

Another way to discover your character is to surf websites or use AI to find a model who most closely resembles the character in your mind. You can then refer to this image to make sure your physical descriptions are consistent throughout your story.

I like to create a document with images of my characters, along with other physical descriptions like height, weight, body type, speech patterns, and clothing style. Sometimes I even use a celebrity’s appearance as the basis for a character. I print out this document and keep it close as I write the story.

Remember, like a first date, this is all superficial. The physical descriptions only scratch the surface of your characters—don’t stop there. To effectively create compelling characters, you have to dig deeper.

Depth

You want to move beyond what is apparent to the eye and go deeper into the personality of your characters. One of the best ways to learn more about them is to interview them. Ask questions and listen to their answers. You might be surprised at what you learn. Ask them where they grew up, if they were happy as a child, which parent they were closest to and why, and if anything traumatic happened during their childhood. Interview them about school and ask which classes they liked best/least and why. Who was their hero? What music did they listen to? What was their favorite movie? What event most shaped their lives and why?

Ask about activities in high school, friends, and those they didn’t like and why. Did they go to college? Marry young? Have children? Join the Army? Fight for a cause? Go into business? Spend too much money? Do they have a pet? Do they like to eat dessert before dinner? What happened in their lives that shaped them into who they are now? The more questions you ask, the deeper you’ll dive into their psyche. In order to fully understand a character’s motivations, you have to know why they are at this point when your story begins.

You likely won’t use any of this information within your story, but you’ll be able to create a more developed character by doing this background work. To help you get started, you can download a free character interview on my website.

My son was cast as the lead character, Edward Bloom, in the play Big Fish. Edward is a complex character, and my son spent a significant amount of time thinking about him and how he would react in certain situations. He thought about what emotions Edward might experience in different scenes. He put a lot of effort into developing this character, and the result was pure magic on stage. My son brought Edward to life and created an emotional experience for the audience.

That’s exactly what you want for your readers. You want them to read the last sentence of your book, then sit back and continue thinking about your characters and your story for days to come. You want readers to experience your story themselves, and that’s what happens when your characters are fully developed.

Dimension

Now that you’ve dug deeper, it’s time to add even more dimension. This is where the characters become so real to you that you have a difficult time distinguishing them from people you actually know.

When creating multi-dimensional characters, it’s important to think about how that character reacts or responds in situations. For example, if Jane learns that her best friend has just been kidnapped, how does she react or respond? Does she fall apart? Scream? Pass out? Yell at people? Call someone? Cry? Get mad? Go out and look for her friend? Is her response reasonable or over the top?

How your characters react shows who they are and serves to characterize them more deeply. However, you also need to make sure the reaction fits the character (unless that is a specific device in your story—as in, he or she is having a mental breakdown).

A character who is generally calm would not throw a chair through a window when he discovers his shirt wasn’t ironed. This aggressive reaction doesn’t fit the situation or his persona and will feel contrived unless there has been enough revealed about this character that the reader understands his reaction. Reactions are an effective way to deepen the characters in your stories and to help readers understand them.

Look for ways to add dimension to your characters. One way to do this is to freewrite as if you are your character. When I’m stuck on a scene or don’t know how my character feels about something, I find it helpful to take out a notebook and pen and start writing. I’ll write the thoughts and feelings of my character and keep going until I get a better feel for my character in this scene.

Freewriting means that you tie up and gag your inner editor. Set a timer for five minutes, then write, write, write. Don’t give yourself any rules or limitations—simply write. This technique can help you get to know your characters in unexpected ways.

Characters Must Feel Real

Your characters will feel more realistic and compelling when you discover their physical attributes, dig deeper into their personality, and add dimension through their reactions. The more time you spend on developing your character, the more that character will be believable. Character motivations, or reasons for doing what they do, will feel justified and understandable.

Having three-dimensional characters will make your story come alive, so take the time to fully create them. Your readers will thank you.

Rebecca Talley

Rebecca Talley is the mom of ten children and nana of thirteen of the world’s most adorable grandkids. She lives with her family and her husband, Del, in Houston, TX, where she tries to avoid the heat and humidity by living in the pool.

She has published thirteen novels/novellas, a children’s picture book, a chapter book, a writing resource guide, and numerous children’s stories and articles for both online and print magazines. When she isn’t writing, Rebecca likes to date her husband, play with her kids and grandkids, swim in the ocean, crochet, and dance to disco music while she cleans the house.

You can find Rebecca’s websites here and here.

Using Music, Dance, and Drama to Combat Gangs and Criminality

September 19, 2025 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

In a world that is increasingly filled with chaos, participation in the arts can be a valuable resource to maintain positive relationships, combat mental health issues, and give a sense of belonging. Our friend Rebecca Burnham from Summit Stages shares an interview she conducted with Jerry (J.J.) First Charger Jr. about his work with at-risk youth. We redacted some paragraphs for space, but you can read the full article here.

Jerry (J.J) First Charger Jr. is a Blackfoot man from Kainai who is a hero to many young people, including some of my own children. I first met Jerry when I was helping in a community-building collaboration between Blackfoot and settler high schoolers in our area. Jerry was great with the kids, and enthusiastically helped them develop confidence in themselves and each other. I was also wowed by the breadth of his talents and his willingness to share them with us. He competently taught break-dancing, stage-combat, Indigenous singing, improv, acting and more.

More recently, Jerry’s dance crew, the Westwind Thunders, made Global News (a Canadian network) on a dance tour where they mixed breakdancing and Indigenous styles of dance, (including hoop, fancy, grass, chicken and jingle dress and fancy shawl). I was able to attend one of their performances and was almost brought to tears. I was taken aback by the skill and stamina of the dancers, the joy I saw on the faces of the kids, and the beauty of the dances, especially those performed by Indigenous students in full regalia. My son, who had carried water for the Thunders working as an EA, said it was just as impressive to see how Jerry worked with the kids, that he “leads through pure rapport. The kids would do anything for him, and because of him they know they can do anything.”

I was surprised and moved by the spiritual roots of Jerry’s approach to teaching and the degree to which personal experience has helped him relate and help so many young people and communities who have endured generations of persecution and personal trauma. Here is his story.

Jerry was twenty-two years old when he woke up in a drunk tank in Cardston, Alberta. This was not a first-time experience. He didn’t remember what brought him there–but that wasn’t new either. Only a few months earlier, he’d gotten drunk to the point of black out at a family wedding and wound up severely beating up his little brother, only to wake up the next day with no memory of the conflict. It terrified and deeply shamed him that his brother could have died at his hands. Not knowing how to cope, he’d retreated even further into drugs and alcohol.

Jerry asked the guard what had happened and learned that he’d been at the home of some friends who had wound up calling the police and did not want him coming back. He didn’t know what he’d done, but it was once again threatening his relationships. Why did he keep messing up like this?

He had tried to get help and only gotten more alienated. He felt abandoned and angry at his family, friends and society. All of this had brought him here, sitting on the cold, hard floor of a drunk tank, scared and hopeless. In his distress, he prayed, and he heard an answer, an invitation to change his life. That wasn’t happening. He’d seen friends and family go to treatment, only to relapse as soon as they came out, a month, or even a year later.

He thought about how his life seemed like a waste to this point. He wanted to be remembered as a good person, who helped others out, not as a menace to society, leaving wreckage in his wake. But he knew he couldn’t do it. He was too weak and he would fail.

The Creator said, “You can change. Trust me.”

“But how?” he asked.

Again, he heard, “It can be done. Just trust me.”

He had no arguments left. He agreed he would change, but only if the Creator agreed to never leave him. “Because if you do, I will fail.”

“J.J., I will never leave you. I will always be there for you.”

A few hours later, Jerry walked out of the drunk tank, never to return, “because of the love of the Creator and because I called my spirit back,” he says. He returned to church and the Creator, true to His promise, has been with him ever since.

Seven years of sobriety later, Jerry got a call from a friend who said the Young Offenders Centre in Lethbridge was looking for a youth mentor to run a drumming and dance program for young inmates. He taught the youth inmates to sing, drum and dance. He found this to be a gateway to connection. He noticed that the youth came to trust him first as their music and movement mentor with whom they had fun, and that opened the door to honest discussions about personal responsibility and the power to change. Drumming, he has since learned, is correlated with resilience among war-torn people in Africa. He didn’t know that then, but he started seeing that same burgeoning resilience in the youth with whom he was working.

Music, dance and drama gave him a natural way to teach the inmates that making mistakes is not a good reason to be beaten down. “Everybody makes mistakes. That’s how you learn and grow.” This allowed him to teach about choice and consequence as a learning rather than a punitive experience. Instead of using language like “good and evil” that tended to activate inmates’ shame and their fear of rejection, he taught about choosing between positive energy and negative energy. Jerry told the inmates that, “before you can help your children, you better fix yourself, take on some personal responsibility for your actions, be mindful and accountable.”

Inmates loved it. They told him that his program was a sharp contrast to the rest of their prison experience. Among the things they said were, “We love coming to your programs because you make us think,” “You made me feel like I was not in jail. You took the walls away from me,” and “You helped me enjoy myself and learn that life can be fun again.” It was a novel approach to correction, but Jerry believed the system should be focused on rehabilitation, not punitive measures.

Jerry began to work with kids who were struggling to cope with chaotic home lives, and with parents who feared having their battles with addiction, anger, and so forth revealed to a counselor in a system that they didn’t trust. Once again, music and dance were the gateway he needed to get into a position of trust from which he could help.

One of the key tools he uses now is BBoying and BGirling (breakdancing). He has learned that it helps kids self-regulate. Breakdancing and hip hop were popularized as an antidote to violence in the Bronx, New York, when gang violence was so pervasive that you could get killed for crossing the street wearing the wrong colors. Former gang leader African Bambaataa persuaded other leaders to embrace the creative expression offered by hip hop as a way of pulling back from the brink of annihilation. Gang members started settling turf wars with dance battles instead of weapons. It allowed them to flex their muscles and show off how tough they were, but in a way that left them alive to better themselves and compete again another day. “The old school BBoys said that they were [so] busy practicing for the next battle that they did not have time to do criminal activities.”

He speaks about one struggling student whose family would not let their boy anywhere near counseling. But they were happy to let Jerry teach him breakdancing and that helped the boy develop the supports he needed and the self-regulation skills to cope better at school.

Jerry cites new understanding of the therapeutic power of play. “The experts in the field of therapy are pointing out that dance, art and play are effective tools for dealing with trauma. That is where the healing happens.”

Twenty of the Most Confused Grammatical Terms

September 5, 2025 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

We love English. Twenty percent of the world’s population speaks it, with about 400 million native speakers and 1.5 billion learning it as a second language. English blends and borrows words from many cultures and languages. It’s a linguistic melting pot.

English is fascinating! But let’s face it—it’s also really complicated. English is one of the languages with the most complex grammatical structures. And when you throw in spelling . . . well, English can be rough to nail down.

But no worries! We’ve collected a list of some of the most confused grammatical terms in the English language. If you learn these, you’ll be speaking and writing English better in no time.

A lot, Alot, Allot

A lot is an adverb that means “much” or “frequent.”

I go to the gym a lot.

That is a lot of ice cream.

Alot is not a word. Don’t write it.

Allot is a verb that means “to distribute” or “to assign a portion.”

I will allot half of the posters to my business partner to hang up.

After her speech, Dimitria will allot ten minutes for questions.

Affect, Effect

This one is tricky, but the main rule is affect is used as a verb and effect is used as a noun.

The new machinery will affect the productivity of the plant.

The effect of the lights is stunning.

Among, Between

Among is used for relationships of three or more items. Between is used for relationships of only two items.

I can’t choose which among all my shoes to wear.

I often stand between the stop sign and the fire hydrant when waiting for the bus.

Assure, Ensure, Insure

All three of these words are verbs that mean “to make sure.” Though some of their definitions cross over, there are a few rules of thumb you can remember that will help you place the correct word in the right context.

Assure removes doubt and suspense from someone’s mind. Ensure can be replaced with guarantee. And insure is mainly used for financial risk. Refer to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary for more examples and definitions.

I assure my pets I will be home no later than 3:00.

David ensures he has next week off work.

Gemma will need to insure her new car.

Complement, Compliment

Complement means “to complete.” Compliment means “to say something nice to or about someone.”

Her red heels complement her shade of lipstick.

Jane complimented Michael on his choice of tie for the evening.

Every day, Everyday

Every day is a noun or adverb. Everyday is an adjective and is used only before a noun.

Erika teaches yoga classes every day.

Erika’s everyday yoga classes will keep you invigorated.

Farther, Further

Farther refers to literal distances. Further means “more.”

Jenna runs farther than Jared every time they jog.

The team decided they needed to discuss the concept further.

Fewer, Less

If you can count it, use fewer. If you can’t count it, use less.

The fewer pets you own, the less hair you’ll find on the floor.

The less flour Halley uses in the mix, the fewer pancakes she’ll be able to make.

In to, Into

Into refers to movement and is attached to a noun. When separated with a space, the in and to in in to are normally attached to other parts of the sentence than to each other. For example, in the phrase “call in to order food,” call in and to order go together more than in and to.

Chloe stepped into the car.

Please sign in to your computer.

Its, It’s

Its is a possessive pronoun showing ownership. It’s is a contraction meaning “it is.”

The dog lazily gnawed at its bone.

Kiana assures Luz that it’s happening sooner than she would think.

I.E., E.G.

I.E. means “in other words.” E.G. means “for example.”

When decorating my home, I prefer to use earth tones (e.g., greens, browns, and tans).

When decorating my home, I prefer to use earth tones (i.e., warm and muted

shades found in nature).

Lay, Lie

Lay can be replaced with “place.” Lie can be replaced with “recline.”

After a long day, Noah wants only to lie in his bed.

I lay six eggs in the carton.

Like, Such as

Like is used to give a comparison. Such as is used for specific examples.

I have read many novels like Dracula, Twilight, and Carmilla. (This sentence implies that the reader has read novels similar to these but not necessarily these novels.)

I have read many novels, such as Dracula, Twilight, and Carmilla. (This sentence implies that the reader has read these specific novels.)

Lose, Loose

These words are mainly mixed up because they are spelled so similarly. Loose is something that is not tight. Lose means “to be deprived of.”

I lose my keys constantly.

Stella has a loose tooth.

Peak, Peek, Pique

These words can be confusing because they are all pronounced the same. But they each have different meanings. Peak is the “top or apex of something.” Peek is “to take a quick glance.” And pique is “to excite or irritate.”

Did you see the snow at the peak of the mountain?

Jill peeked around the corner.

That topic always piques my interest.

That, Which

These words are used pretty interchangeably in speech and writing, but here is the correct grammatical rule: Use that if information that follows is important and should not be taken out of the sentence. Use which if the information that follows can be taken out without changing the meaning of the sentence.

The peach that is sitting on the end of the table is Gabe’s.

My favorite fruit, which is a peach, is sitting at the end of the table.

Their, There, They’re

These are common words in English and are often confused because they are all pronounced the same. Here’s the difference in their meaning: Their is a possessive pronoun showing that more than one person or thing owns something. There is the opposite of here. (You can remember that because they are almost spelled the same.) They’re is a contraction for “they are.”

The new car is their blue Subaru.

You won’t find the blue ball over there.

They’re as tall as my sister.

Than, Then

Here’s another set of words that gets confused because they are often pronounced the same way. Then is linked to a sequence, normally “if . . . then” or “first . . . then.” Than is used for comparisons.

If you think you can beat me, then give it your best shot.

Peter is faster than Sam.

To, Too

These words are pronounced the same way and almost spelled the same way too! The difference is that too means “also” or “an excessive amount,” while to is used in every other instance. We won’t list those because there are a lot of them.

Vanilla Coke is my go-to drink.

Do you want to come to my house a quarter to one?

Annelise is wearing red too.

That is too much ice cream to eat in one sitting.

Your, You’re

These words are pronounced the same but have different usages. Your is a possessive pronoun showing that you own something. You’re is a contraction meaning “you are.”

You’re going to your grandmother’s tomorrow after lunch.

Your sweater you’re wearing obviously shrunk in the dryer.

The examples above are just some of the many grammatical terms that are commonly confused in the English language. But now you have a succinct list to look back on if you get confused. Keep practicing your grammar, and with the help of this tip, you’ll be a grammar master in no time!

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.

Supporting Your Community Theater

August 22, 2025 By Tristi Pinkston Leave a Comment

I grew up back in the day when the Church was still producing road shows and stage plays (yes, that does date me). As a ten-year-old, I was cast as the doctor’s daughter in our stake’s rendition of Carol Lynn Pearson’s The Order Is Love, and I got to be onstage for every large group musical number. I had no lines and they could just as easily have done without me, but that didn’t matter—I was thrilled to be involved.

That’s when I was first bitten by the theater bug, but I wouldn’t get another chance to perform until years later when my family and I moved to our current home in Montpelier, Idaho. On a whim, I auditioned for The Music Man and was cast as Alma Hix, a principal pick-a-little lady. My two sons joined me—Benjamin as Marcellus Washburn, and Joseph as the sheriff. We had such a great experience during that production. I’m now volunteering as the chair of the Bear Lake Arts Council and have participated in several more plays with my sons. We were even joined once by my husband, who played Dr. Einstein in our performance of Arsenic and Old Lace.

L-R: Benjamin Pinkston, Tristi Pinkston, and Joseph Pinkston on the set of The Music Man.

I participate in the theater not only because it’s super fun and it gives me a chance to share something special with my family, but also because I believe in the arts. Things that are beautiful and uplifting feed our souls, and the theater reaches us through all the senses. Whether it’s a huge Broadway production with famous actors or a humble community endeavor operating on a shoestring budget, there’s something about the theater that’s simply magical.

Every community program depends on the involvement of the locals to stay afloat, and a theater program is no different. Through my participation with the Bear Lake Arts Council, I’ve seen how an enthusiastic audience can make all the difference. Here are some ways you can support the theater in your own community and help keep the magic alive.

Audition

Maybe you’ve had a lot of stage experience, or maybe you don’t feel as though you’re talentedenough to perform, but regardless of your skills, come on down and participate Maybe you’ve had a lot of stage experience, or maybe you don’t feel as though you’re talented. It’s worth the investment of your time, and if you’re new to the stage, the director will work with you until you’re confident in what you’re doing. Being in a play is an experience like no other—you will have opportunities to bond with your fellow actors and make friends for life, and that’s worth the time spent.

Donate

Many community theaters are nonprofit organizations or operate on a small budget. Every little bit matters, and that donation is tax deductible!

Come See the Show

The ticket you purchase will help fund the next production. Plus, it’s absolutely thrilling for the cast to look down from the stage and see rows and rows of friendly faces. Empty chairs have quite the opposite effect.

Be an Active Audience

Laugh at the funny parts, cheer at the victories, and clap for the songs. It gives the actors extra adrenaline and makes the performance even better. I’ve experienced both sides of the coin—performing for a quiet audience and performing for an interactive audience—and the difference is astonishing. Show the actors your appreciation for their hard work!

Spread the Word

Tell your friends and neighbors to come see the play too. The best advertising is word of mouth, after all. Even if circumstances prevent you from attending yourself, you can help ensure that everyone knows it’s taking place.

Give Feedback

Let the theater program know how much you appreciated their hard work and dedication. If you feel the production could have been improved, tell the director and offer concrete and supportive ideas. Keep in mind that in most cases, the crew and cast are volunteers who have donated their time and talents to the community.

Become a Volunteer Yourself

There are many ways to get involved, even if you have no desire to act. You can volunteer to help build sets, sew costumes, do hair and makeup, bake concession items, take tickets, run the concession booth, or clean up the auditorium after the audience leaves. A successful theater experience is made up of many moving parts, and you can lend a hand in many different ways.

No matter which of these options you choose—or perhaps you’ll find a way to help that’s not included on this list—your involvement is appreciated, and it’s invaluable. It does come with a caution, though: you might get bitten by the theater bug too!

Simple Online Marketing for Creators

August 8, 2025 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

Many of us feel called to create, whether that’s writing books, launching podcasts, building businesses, or coaching others. But there’s one challenge that shows up across all of these efforts: “I love what I do… I just wish I could get it into more people’s hands without burning out.”

Sound familiar?

You may feel like you’re doing everything—such as selling, marketing, emailing, networking, creating, and more—but still struggling to get consistent sales or clients. Let’s break down a simple sales and marketing system that works while you sleep so you can focus more on your vision and less on the hustle.

Most creators think they have a marketing problem. In reality, they have a systems problem. They’re doing the work—showing up on social media and getting the word out—but serving their audience feels random, reactive, and exhausting.

What they’re missing is a repeatable path that takes a stranger from “just found you” to “bought from you” in a way that’s consistent and not dependent on the creators being online 24/7.

The Simple 3-Part System to Attract, Convert, and Deliver to More Buyers

This system works whether you’re a coach, author, podcaster, or small-business owner. It’s built on three simple principles—attract, convert, and deliver.

Attract Your Ideal Buyer or Client

This is where you stop relying on random content creation and start using intentional value content plus lead magnets (or reader magnets).

Action Steps:

Create a simple free resource (lead magnet) that solves a specific problem or creates curiosity.
Offer this freebie in your posts, bio, email signature, or podcast outro.
Use 3–4 social media content topic pillars to keep posting consistently at least weekly without overwhelm (e.g. content pillars like stories, tips, behind-the-scenes, and Q&As).

Stop creating content for content’s sake. Start offering value content that earns attention from your ideal buyer or client.

Convert Attention into Buyers

Fish can be sneaky, nibbling the bait without taking the hook. An experienced fisherman can sense the right moment to set the hook so the fish doesn’t swim away. Once someone opts into your email list for your freebie offers, it’s time to build trust through your emails and invite them to buy from you without seeming pushy. This is where many people drop the ball. Failing to follow through on these leads means missing valuable opportunities to gain a new customer.

You need a simple email nurture plus offer sequence, which is 4 – 10 emails (minimum) set up within your preferred email marketing CRM service.

Welcome + What to Expect

The purpose is to set the tone, build trust, and open the loop. It’s the handshake before the sale. You’re laying down the rules of engagement.

Example content:

Hey [Subscriber],

Welcome to the Creator’s Community Email Newsletter. I’m excited you’re here! Over the next few days, I’m going to send you a few short emails that will help you learn about our community and how we support one another. You can expect real stories and strategies with zero fluff.

This first email is not the place to pitch. You’re warming up your reader. An open loop equals curiosity. Curiosity hooks them into opening the next email, and the next one, until BOOM! Your email open rate starts to skyrocket.

Your Story

The purpose of telling your story is to build emotional connection, establish authority, and create context. This is an “I was where you are” moment, the bridge between you and your consumer. Tell them where you started. Share a relatable example, and then tell them your solution.

People don’t buy information. They buy transformation. Your story gives them a reason to believe that you have all the solutions to their problems. No trust? No sale.

Value Bomb: Tip, Insight, Belief Shift

The purpose of this step is to deliver value, flip beliefs, and establish your way as the way. This is the content that causes your reader to think, “Wow, if the free stuff is this valuable, their paid content must be amazing!”

Most people offering a valuable service hold back. Don’t! Delivering high-quality content free of charge tells your reader that the paid content will have a significantly greater value.

Invitation to Buy Your Service or Book a Call

The purpose of this step is to make the ask. Pull the trigger. This is not a “sale”—it’s a prescription. You’re the doctor, and you have the cure for their problem. For example, you could say, “Click here to book a free 15-minute call.”

If you’ve done these steps correctly, this email will feel like the natural conclusion, not a hard pitch. Your job isn’t to convince—it’s to invite. Sales come from email follow-ups, not just first impressions, and email automation systems like Hubspot, Kit, or Active Campaign can do most of the heavy lifting.

Think of the email sequence like a movie. Email #1 is the trailer. It hooks attention. Email #2 gives backstory and builds depth. The climax comes in Email #3, delivering action and excitement. Email #4 is the satisfying resolution that promises a happily ever after.

Give people reasons to keep opening your emails, to trust you, and finally, to act.

That’s leverage. That’s how you hook your ideal buyers, turn strangers into superfans, and transform content into cash. Don’t overthink it, and stay consistent.

Include a call to action (CTA) in each email: “If this resonates, grab [the book/ program/call link] here.”

Deliver—Reel in Your Catch Without Snapping the Line

Our fisherman friend knows when to reel in faster and when to slow it down. Serve your buyers without snapping your line or burning out—which will prevent you from providing future satisfying customer experiences.

Now that you have buyers, how do you serve them without becoming the bottleneck?

Turn private coaching into group coaching programs to scale your business and get more of your time back. Group coaching resolves this by reducing the number of private coaching calls filling your calendar time slots.
Deliver more value to your buyers and keep them around longer by using some of your book value points and expanding them into online learning courses. Meaningful quotes from the book can be repurposed into an email message series.
Save time and deliver more to your audience by scheduling a content recording day. Create short video reels out of your long-form content and utilize calendars on social media platforms to schedule your content release in advance.

Once you set up some of the extra value delivery systems above, they will help you get more of your time back. If your business can’t grow without you working harder, it’s time to rethink how you deliver value to your buyers.

Why This Matters for Entrepreneurs, Coaches, Authors, and Creators

We strive to live with purpose. But it’s easy to confuse hard work with smart work. Putting in the effort should not come at the expense of our families, our health, or our true purpose.

This sales and marketing system isn’t about hustle. It’s about establishing routines to help you get more buyers, buy back your time, and optimize your business.

When your business or creative work is organized around systems and not stress, you can show up more consistently without the chaos and make more income without compromising. It’s not about working less—it’s about working with clarity and purpose. When you implement what I’ve laid out to attract, convert, and deliver, you’ll have something most entrepreneurs, coaches, and authors never build: a system that results in buyers or clients rather than burnout.

Jason Majoue

Jason Majoue is a Business Coach and Digital Marketing Agency owner who helps entrepreneurs, coaches, authors, and creators grow and scale their businesses with proven, repeatable strategies. With 10+ years of experience in business growth, offer creation, paid ads, SEO, sales funnels, AI, systems, email and social media, Jason has helped hundreds of clients increase revenue while simplifying their marketing. He provides strategic guidance through Private Coaching, Group Coaching, and Guided Online Business Courses, empowering purpose-driven entrepreneurs to build profitable, scalable businesses.

Creating When It’s Hard

July 25, 2025 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

It started off like any typical June day. I drove the one-hour commute to Salt Lake City, worked my eight-hour day proofreading planners, and drove two hours home in rush-hour traffic. By then, I wasn’t feeling too good. I called in sick the next day, put on a comforting movie, and prepared to spend the next two days just recovering from the first long months of a new job.

Halfway through the movie, my brother video-called me in a panic.

“It’s Dad,” he said. “He’s fallen. And he’s not breathing.”

Immediately, all my senses went on alert. I texted everyone in my family, trying to figure out what was going on and trying—but failing—to keep myself calm.

Less than thirty minutes later, my mother gave me the most devastating news of my life. “He’s gone. Dad just passed away.”

As creators, we feel driven to put our pen to paper, our brush to canvas, our fingers to our instruments, or to create in our chosen way. This passion drives us and is a part of our very natures.

But what do you do when everything comes crashing down?

That June day three years ago, my world fell apart. I’d experienced loss and grief before. I’d had grandparents and an uncle pass away, but losing my dad hit harder. I staggered, reeling from the loss. My dad was my biggest supporter. He believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. His laugh and his voice were my favorite sounds in the world.

And now I’d never get to hear them again.

I fell into a deep depression that summer. I didn’t even touch my writing projects, even though I had several I needed to work on. I could barely cook, much less create.

But throughout that experience and other hard experiences in my life, I have learned that there are ways you can help yourself create when life gets hard.

Take Care of Yourself

Creating is difficult when you don’t feel well—whether that’s physically, emotionally, or spiritually. When I’ve been depressed or severely ill, putting my pen to paper feels as daunting as climbing Mount Everest. You need to prioritize feeling well again.

For some of us, this may mean that we write or paint or compose purely emotional pieces that are healing for us. Steven Sharp Nelson spoke at LDSPMA two years ago about how Beethoven’s best pieces came right after he had suffered a major trial in his life. One example is the famous Symphony No. 9—Beethoven wrote it after he’d completely lost his hearing, and “Ode to Joy” is one of the most recognized pieces of music in the world. Sometimes getting the emotions out is how you take care of yourself.

But for some of us, creating when our hearts are aching is the biggest challenge in the universe. If you’re suffering and need a break from creativity, give yourself permission to focus on yourself. When you are well again, you can get back to creating.

Fill Up Your Creative Well

During the rest of that awful summer, I filled my days with reading. It soothed my soul to take comfort in other stories. I read more books that summer than I had in a long time, and it was healing. When I did finally attempt to write again, the words I had consumed fueled me.

Filling up your creative well looks different for different people. Writers might be reading a whole bunch of books—whether in their genre or outside of it. Artists may go to a museum or a craft fair to see what others have done. Musicians may spend all their time listening to new music or going to concerts. Whatever your medium is, spend time consuming it.

But also spend time doing things outside your medium. Watch some films with your family and analyze the story or appreciate the stunning effects. Go on a trip with some friends to experience things you’ve never done before—even if that trip is only as far as the local escape room. Try a meal you’ve never had before. Think outside the box. You might be surprised what ends up sparking an idea.

Talk to Other Creatives

Many creatives work in solitude. It can be part of the process or just part of the creative’s personality—I’ve met many writers and artists who identify as introverts. But even introverts need friends. I love attending conferences and meeting other writers and fellow creatives. It’s cathartic to talk through troublesome issues with people who get it. Other creatives can share their views and enrich how you see and interact with the world.

A great conference for any Latter-day Saint creator is, of course, the annual LDSPMA conference held in Orem, Utah. For me, this conference is an amazing opportunity to fill up my creative well and talk to other creatives. I always leave LDSPMA feeling spiritually edified and ready to create more.

But conferences can be expensive. Another great, yet inexpensive, way to talk to other creatives is to find fellow artistic friends in social media groups. Painters could paint together once a week or meet over lunch to discuss techniques. Musicians can ask for advice on composing from other musicians. Writers can do online writing sessions with other authors to help get words on the page. Finding other creatives helps you feel less alone in your journey and can help you heal when it is hard to create.

Go at Your Own Pace

You don’t have to write your novel in one day. Nor do you have to paint your whole painting in one sitting. While we’ve all seen images of the inspired creative frantically working through the night, many work very slowly on their projects. Some might only finish one painting in a year. Others might make one hundred in a year. Some authors take ten years to write one book. Others publish four a year.

It doesn’t matter how long it takes. Take breaks when you need to. Refill your creative well so you have more to give. Remember, creating is a journey, not a destination.

Give Yourself Grace

Above all, give yourself grace. King Benjamin says, “it is not requisite that [anyone] should run faster than [they have] strength” (Mosiah 4:27). Life is hard. It has been three years since my dad’s passing, and I still have days when it’s difficult to make breakfast, much less create. But as Father Lehi said, we are here to have joy (see 2 Nephi 2:25).

So, do what brings you joy. Sometimes that might mean that your writing gets put on hold as you spend time with your children, and their smiles bring you joy and help your heart heal. Sometimes that might mean you spend an entire summer on vacation and don’t get a single painting done, but your soul feels alive and rejuvenated. Sometimes that might mean you pick up a new hobby that doesn’t require as much creative power. Whatever it may be, remember that you are a creative—even when you aren’t creating. Give yourself time to heal.

And who knows? That time you spend caring for yourself, filling up your well, talking to other creatives, going at your own pace, and giving yourself grace may lead to your next masterpiece that impacts generations. You’ve got this. Just take it one day at a time.

KaTrina Jackson

KaTrina Jackson loves penguins, cross-stitching, chocolate, and piano music, and spends much of each day trying to fit those loves in around her jobs as a freelance editor and as a project manager for Eschler Editing. She graduated with a degree in editing and publishing from Brigham Young University because she couldn’t get enough stories in her life. She’s also a member of three different writing groups, attends and teaches at multiple writing conferences yearly, volunteers with LDSPMA and has since 2021, and is currently working on publishing her first novel. When she’s not writing, editing, or reading, she can be found practicing yoga, teaching piano lessons or performing with her husband, or watching Disney movies while working on a cross-stitch project. She and her husband live in Olathe, Kansas.

A Conversation with Jon Heder

July 11, 2025 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

Most people know Jon Heder as the hilariously awkward character Napoleon Dynamite, but landing that iconic role was just the beginning of his successful career. Beyond acting, he is a producer, filmmaker, animator, speaker, husband, and father of four children. He received the MTV Movie Award for Best Musical Performance and Breakthrough Male Performance for his role in Napoleon Dynamite. Since then, he has appeared in or lent his voice to several films, including Just Like Heaven, The Benchwarmers, Monster House, Blades of Glory, Walt Before Mickey, and many more. In an LDSPMA podcast interview with Connie Sokol, Jon discusses his creative journey from theater camp to Hollywood fame and the values and lessons that shaped his craft.

Jon’s passion for acting began in childhood when his family participated in the Children’s Educational Theater summer camp. He recalls, “The CET was a big thing in our house. We would learn about various aspects of theater and perform plays. My siblings were the stars, especially my older brother, who was always the lead.” Despite enjoying the spotlight, Jon admits he had not yet developed “the chops” to project himself with confidence.

But everything changed when Jon and his identical twin brother, Dan, discovered their dad’s video camera, prompting them to explore video production. Creating and starring in home videos helped Jon overcome his anxiety about acting by allowing him to step outside himself. By college, he’d enrolled in animation and filmmaking classes, which opened the door to on-screen acting. He recalls, “I was in a production class where we had to produce a short film. They needed an actor for a story called Amazing Grace about a goofy guy who wanted to become a daredevil stuntman. It was like, ‘Oh, Jon could be goofy and stupid. Let’s put him in there.’”

One of his classmates, Jared Hess, noticed Jon’s performance in the film and asked for feedback on a script he had written called Peluca. Jon shares, “I knew a little about Jared and had seen one or maybe two of his other projects. I thought he had a very keen eye, a creative mind, and a specific point of view. I loved the script. I was like, ‘Oh, this is my style; this is my jam.’ So when he approached me, I was like, ‘Yeah, this makes sense.’”

Jon and Jared workshopped the Peluca character, Seth, into Napoleon Dynamite by blending their visions and collaborating on how Napoleon looked, dressed, spoke, and moved. They received funding for the feature-length film from a friend’s brother, who wanted to make a movie about “some kid in Idaho.” When Jared’s wife asked, “Jon, what do you think about getting a perm?” Jon recalls the suggestion as “almost the final nail in the good coffin.”

The experience on set felt like a throwback to summer camp, where everyone from the cast to the crew was there because they genuinely loved the project. Jon says, “There were no egos or crazy, weird experiences. It was just making the film and having the time of our lives.” He didn’t feel too much pressure because the set was similar to those he’d worked on while making student films. No one thought anyone would actually see the movie, let alone that it would become such a big hit.

The film debuted at Sundance, and everything changed for Jon. He says, “After the screening, I was getting wined and dined by agencies and management companies.” As he completed his last year at BYU, he began receiving offers and audition invitations. He thought, “Well, I can always fall back on animation if this doesn’t work out.” However, the movie began to gain more buzz, and by the end of 2004, he was fully committed to acting.

Jon was rapidly becoming a public figure, and he recognized the whirlwind of opportunities that came with it. “I saw the beginning of the rest of my life, even though I didn’t know exactly how that would be spelled out.”

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jon knew the industry’s pitfalls. “I knew it had its ups and downs, its goods and bads,” he reflects. While acknowledging that any profession can test one’s faith and that some LDS actors have struggled to maintain their standards, Jon took responsibility for his choices. His testimony was solid, and he was determined to keep it that way. He put on his “coat of armor” to protect himself from tempting offers and difficult situations. Unlike missionaries with handbooks spelling out dos and don’ts, Heder had to create his own guidelines, relying on scriptures and church principles to guide his decisions.

Being a young adult at the time, Jon was flooded with scripts for “raunchy, R-rated teenage and college-age comedies.” He made his values clear to his agents, explaining what content and scenes he wouldn’t perform. He found a lot of respect from people in the industry by being upfront about his values and asking a series of questions to decide whether a project was worth his time: “What is the purpose of this film? What is the purpose of this character? What is it trying to say? Is it worth saying?”

Jon employed this approach when he met with Judd Apatow, a big name in the industry whose comedy films were gaining success. Apatow offered Jon a role in his new movie, The 40-Year-Old Virgin. After meeting to discuss the project, Apatow learned about Jon’s faith and recognized that it probably wouldn’t be a good fit given the film’s content.

This scenario played out with other directors and producers. Creative meetings were filled with mutual respect and excitement, but ultimately, Jon declined the roles, with the directors asking, “Man, are you sure?”

James Gunn, director of Marvel movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, offered Jon a role in a smaller film he was working on. Jon recalls, “I loved the script and thought it was a really fun project, but there was one scene that made me uncomfortable.” Respectful of Gunn’s vision, Jon asked if he’d consider altering it. Gunn declined, opting to keep it as is. “He was a really cool guy and very respectful,” Jon says of their cordial parting. For Jon, choosing roles is about following his gut and staying true to his values.

When asked if he felt pigeonholed by his iconic role, Jon says that while it is hard at times to be thought of only as Napoleon, his life is bookended by the film. He adds, “It’s a really great feeling when you know you’ve come out of the gate with something so impactful and strong.” He and the cast embark on tours for Napoleon Dynamite, where they sit for question-and-answer forums and attend movie screenings for major fans. “We love the film. It has this ageless quality. If we didn’t love the film, [the constant references] would really stink.” Still, he sometimes has to work harder to do a different character or bring out a different side of himself.

When people ask Jon where he’s been or what he’s up to, he advises them to look a little harder. “I’m still doing movies quite often, but you have to search streaming channels like Netflix or Hulu.”

Jon’s gospel-principled approach to selecting roles has kept him grounded and helped him maintain his integrity in Hollywood. Rather than chasing every opportunity that comes his way, he considers the stories he’s telling and the messages behind his projects to ensure his work resonates with audiences and his values. He continues to expand his repertoire by taking on various projects, including voice acting in animated films and developing new roles that challenge him as an artist.

He embraces his iconic status and the nostalgia that comes with Napoleon Dynamite. The film has also given him a platform to connect with fans, who often express how deeply the movie impacted their lives, cheered them when they were down, and gave them a good laugh with their families. You can find him on Instagram @hederjon. He also has an email, but he’s not going to share it with everyone. Geez Louise.

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

Understanding Life by Studying the Craft

June 27, 2025 By Kami Pehrson Leave a Comment

In my master’s program in English and creative writing, I took a class called “Studying the Craft.” The coursework explored how elements of dramatic narrative create tension and reveal a character’s inner conflicts. By learning the mechanics of plot and character development, I discovered parallels to our earthly journeys.

Here are five storytelling insights that can help us understand life.

1. Themes Shape Our Perspectives

We can interpret our life stories by reflecting on how external experiences reshape our internal perspectives. Tracing the connections between our challenges and growth helps us find purpose in our suffering, transform limiting beliefs, deepen spiritual understanding, and strengthen our connection to our Creator.

In Les Misérables, Victor Hugo’s main character, Jean Valjean, is a convict embittered by years of unjust imprisonment. His foil, Inspector Javert, relentlessly pursues Valjean, driven by a strict sense of justice. In contrast, a saintly bishop, representing the story’s moral archetype, forgives Valjean for stealing silver candlesticks and offers him mercy. This act helps Valjean feel God’s love and serves as his catalyst for transformation. Applying the themes of mercy and justice to his story deepens Valjean’s understanding of Christ’s atonement and grace.

Similarly, we can recognize eternal truths by looking beneath the surface to find the themes in our lives. Our trials often contain lessons for spiritual growth. People who enter our lives may serve as instruments of divine instruction. Even ordinary experiences can reveal extraordinary spiritual teachings when approached with faithful contemplation and an open heart.

2. Everyone Has a Growth Arc

Like our favorite literary characters, our motivations drive our actions and shape our personalities. We can’t fairly judge a person unless we read their complete story.

Take, for instance, Jane Austen’s Emma. If we, by chance, turn to the page where Emma advises Harriet to refuse Robert Martin’s marriage proposal, we might dismiss Emma as snobbish, pushy, and selfish. And while there’s truth to this view, we don’t understand the whole picture. Emma is also bright, witty, a devoted daughter, imaginative (sometimes overly so), a doting aunt, and a philanthropist, though her privileged upbringing makes her naive to the world’s complexities beyond her small social circle.

When we understand her character within the context of Regency England, with its emphasis on advantageous marriages, we can judge her actions with more empathy. Through her struggles, Emma recognizes flaws in her thinking and evolves. She becomes the woman Jane Austen intended her to be—humble, open to wise counsel, and striving to improve.

This literary growth mirrors our own lives. We are here to learn from experience, but it’s up to us to change. Austen didn’t want a static heroine. Likewise, God wants us to learn, grow, change, and expand our perspectives continually.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our character development that we forget others are in the middle of their own arcs. Recognizing this truth reminds us not to condemn people for their actions. Emma wounded many people on her journey to become a better person. Similarly, we will hurt others on our paths to become more Christlike. We hope for their forgiveness, just as we extend grace and love to those who might harm us along the way.

3. Conflict Makes Our Stories Interesting

A story where nothing bad happens to the main character would have no purpose. As we read in the scriptures, all things must have opposition (see 2 Nephi 2:11). Without darkness, we can’t appreciate light; without defeats, we can’t understand triumphs. Suffering gives our existence meaning. This knowledge doesn’t make the hard times easy. However, we can endure them well, learn from them, and view them as essential parts of our journey. Often, the most challenging chapters lead to the most significant change.

Consider the choice faced by Hercules as he stood at a crossroads. In the story, a goddess representing Vice entices him with comfort and pleasure while a goddess representing Virtue offers him a life of challenge and struggle. Hercules chooses the second path because he knows he is destined for greatness.

Instead of blaming God, we might ask who we will become by conquering our trials. We can trust that the divine Author knows our story’s details intimately. He understands our motivations, the purpose behind our afflictions, and the lessons we will learn through each plot twist. Then, after the crisis has passed, we can look around for others we can serve.

4. All Is Never Lost

There comes a time in every story—and in life—when it seems like giving up is the only option. The protagonist alienates their friends, makes countless mistakes, and fails in some significant way. But these challenging moments aren’t meant to be avoided—they’re meant to be experienced. The beautiful truth of narratives and life is that things always get better.

For example, when Jane Eyre leaves Mr. Rochester and Thornfield Hall, she is alone, penniless, and on the brink of starvation. The reader fears there is no hope for her. She might have remained safe if she had stayed to marry Mr. Rochester despite his attic-bound wife, but she would have sacrificed her sense of self, her independence, and her moral integrity.

These challenging moments are catalysts. They force characters—and people—to find reserves of strength they didn’t know they possessed. Jane’s hardship was not a punishment, but a means to discover her true character, establish her moral compass, and ultimately return to Mr. Rochester as his equal.

We will all face similar moments when hope seems distant and the path is unclear. But we can always turn the page. President Nelson’s repeated counsel to “Let God Prevail,” “Hear Him,” and “Think Celestial” reminds us that we’re part of a larger narrative. Each day is a fresh chapter waiting to be written. When darkness approaches, we can turn to our divine Creator for mercy, comfort, and peace because He knows the next plot beat and is carefully guiding us back to Him.

5. Find Symbolism in Experiences

Symbols convey meanings that extend beyond their literal representations, helping readers connect with the story on a deeper level. They convey truths, help us remember essential concepts, and enrich our spiritual insight. By recognizing and interpreting the symbols in our lives, we will gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world.

In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne suffers the injustices of Puritan society. For the sin of committing adultery, religious authorities force her to wear a scarlet letter A as a public symbol of shame. Hester adopts this symbol by elaborately embroidering the A onto her clothing and dressing her child in red even after the law no longer requires her to do so. She reclaims her identity by transforming the emblem of shame into one of goodness and strength.

By carefully examining our experiences, we reveal the meanings of symbols in our own lives. Often, symbols can only be understood retrospectively as we revisit our lives, pray, and ponder God’s messages to us. He promises that if we approach Him with humility and faith, He will strengthen our weaknesses. Like Hester Prynne, we are imperfect beings marked by sin, but no symbol of shame is beyond redemption. We can grow stronger and overcome our challenges by acknowledging the lessons we’ve learned.

The art of storytelling echoes the truths of human existence. Elements that shape our favorite stories are the same forces that form our lives. The gospel of Jesus Christ assures us that no conflict is insurmountable and no failure is final. We are not static characters, but protagonists in an eternal work. Every day, we write and rewrite our stories with courage, humility, and trust in the divine Author, who sees the whole arc of our potential.

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.