Articles

Pitching to Agents

April 19, 2024 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

As a pitch and query editor at Eschler Editing, I know that in-person pitching can inspire fear in the most stoic of individuals. If pitching to an agent or editor gives you the heebie-jeebies, take comfort that you’re not alone, and then take a deep breath and get ready to shake it off. Because if you prepare, you don’t need to fear!

Up first, writing the pitch. Well in advance of the actual event, you should know the guidelines for your pitch—the duration of the session, the length of the pitch, and so on. Those are the parameters within which you’ll work.

In this article, we’re going to talk about writing and preparing a pitch that you’d deliver in person to an agent or editor in a 10-minute pitch session. Elevator pitches, one-line pitches, Twitter pitches, and other types of pitches can follow this same formula. See below for hints on tweaking for those formats.

So, Let’s Build Your Pitch!

Step One. Write down the following:

Title
Genre
Setting (where)
Protagonist (who)
Main Conflict (what)

Books are about someone. And they have stakes. You want to include both in your pitch.

Try to:

Evoke some emotion
Make your character stand out
Tell more about your genre without really saying it
Use as few words as possible

Step Two. Write down one vivid detail that makes any of the above elements in Step One different from everything else out there.

This is about making your story different. Think “Who, What, Where, and Why Should I Care?” It’s this last part that you’re focusing on here. Why should an agent care about your setting, protagonist, or main conflict? What makes them different?

Agents/editors read a lot of slush. They hear a lot of pitches at conferences. Why is yours special? That’s what you’re aiming to say here.

Step Three. Answer three questions:

What is the barrier between the main character (MC) and what he or she wants?
Who is the villain? What is the BIGGEST thing the villain is keeping from the MC that prevents the MC from overcoming the conflict?
Does the MC have any special abilities (doesn’t have to be paranormal) that MUST be mentioned?

Answering these questions helps identify the uniqueness of your character and the inherent stakes in your plot. Both are essential to a pitch, no matter its length.

Step Four. Write down three “big” words—evocative words—that relate to your story.

You’re only going to use one of these, and you’re going to put it in the last sentence of your pitch. It’s essentially your curve ball—the thing that makes an agent/editor say, “I need to read your full, stat.”

Step Five. Set a timer for 5 minutes and write:

A one-paragraph pitch for your novel using the information you’ve collected in steps 1–4. In the last sentence, use one of your three “big” words to finish the pitch. This is a cliffhanger pitch. You’re not giving a synopsis of the book. You’re dangling a carrot, enticing the agent or editor to ask for more.

It’s important to note here that the pitch should be about 5 sentences, or about 125 words.

Putting It into Practice—the Example

We’re going to write a pitch based on the movie How to Train Your Dragon, following the steps above.

One sentence from steps one and two: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (title) takes place on the island of Berk, where fifteen-year-old Hiccup (who) lives with his tribe of bloodthirsty Vikings—but he can’t bear to deliver the fatal blow to a dragon (something interesting/unique/vivid—and to make it even better, it’s the conflict).

Three sentences that convey the conflict and stakes from the three questions you answered in step three: Hiccup wants to impress his dad (the “wall”)—the tribe’s chief (more conflict)—with his dragon-slaying talents, so he enrolls in dragon training (bigger “wall”). Every morning he wields a mace and shield while sneaking off in the afternoons to play with the Night Fury he’s befriended. Eventually his weapons are replaced with games as he learns that dragons aren’t the monsters he’s been brought up to believe (minefield of conflict).

A final sentence from step four that has your “big word” and cliffhanger curve ball: Using his quirky sense of loyalty, Hiccup has one shot to prove himself and set a new course for the future of the entire tribe.

That’s it. Something you can easily memorize and recite in a couple of minutes. Make it snappy. Push yourself to write some awesome sentences. And stop at a point that makes the agent or editor have to know more.

Now’s the time to edit your pitch for length if you’re preparing an elevator pitch, a one-line pitch, or a Twitter pitch. See if you can take out the three middle sentences, leaving just your first and last. You might need to do some tweaking, combining, or rearranging. But at least you’ll have a base from which to work. Remember, all pitches should convey a unique MC who has a unique conflict with high stakes.

Step Six. Practice.

Practice in front of the mirror. In the car on the way to work. With a friend at critique group. Over the phone to your mom. Practice. Practice. Practice. You’re going to practice the pitch so much that you’ll have it memorized—which is the goal.

Whew! You’ve written and practiced your pitch.

Next, you’ll prepare for the actual session.

Preparing for the Live Session—a Few Tips

Level the playing field. An agent or editor doesn’t hold the key to your entire future happiness or your self-esteem. You weren’t hoping to marry everybody you ever had a date with, and finding the right agent is just the same. You’re both just looking for a good fit. Remember, the agent or editor is just a person. You’re a person. The agent/editor likes watching reruns of Seinfeld. So do you! Shake off the rejection anxiety.
Play to win. Research the agent. Know what the agent is looking for, what the agent has sold, and so on. You’ve written, memorized, and practiced your pitch. You’ve got this.
Act like the star player. Basically, this is a “fake it till you make it” statement. I’m telling you to pretend. Nervous? Pretend you’re not. Act confident. Act happy and friendly. Smile. Ask them how they are. If they’re enjoying the conference. Act calm, cool, and collected. Act like you’re exactly who they want writing books for them—because you are!
Leave time at the end for the agent or editor to talk. Realistically, introducing yourself, settling into the pitch, and pitching should take 3-4 minutes. In a 10-minute session, that leaves plenty of time for you and the agent/editor to talk more about your work.

While a request for the full manuscript is nice, it shouldn’t be your only goal. If you can get an agent or editor to give you feedback about your pitch—which is really feedback about your book—that’s a win.

Now, go write your pitch!

Elana Johnson

USA Today Bestselling Author, Top 10 Kindle Unlimited All-Star Author, and #1 Bestselling Author on Nook and Apple Books, Elana Johnson writes clean and wholesome contemporary romance, usually set on the beach or within the vicinity of the beach. Unfortunately, she lives in a landlocked state and must travel to the beach to get her fix, which her husband gladly accompanies her to do a few times each year.

She also writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance as Liz Isaacson and sweet romantic women’s fiction as Jessie Newton, and all of her books are part of the Feel-Good Fiction Books brand.

This article appears courtesy of Eschler Editing.

Making Connections at a Photoshoot

March 21, 2024 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

Early on in my photography business journey, my subjects usually gave me stiff, unnatural-looking smiles. I had to reflect: what was I doing wrong? I knew telling them to smile or asking them to say “cookie” wasn’t the answer. There had to be a better way.

I read articles, watched videos, and learned how other photographers got natural smiles that made the clients love their photos.

Making connections and staying positive at the session were key. Keeping the photoshoot light and happy would, in turn, make the photos, and the subjects in them, light and happy. Putting down your subject or making them feel awkward would be the opposite of what to do to get the natural smiles that everyone is hoping for.

Individual Photos

Taking the extra step—which is usually just a quick text or two—of asking my client about my subject’s interests makes a huge difference. It’s like going into a photoshoot with 20/20 vision instead of going in blind.

So when I get to the shoot and ask 12-year-old Billy about his crush, Sally, he’ll wonder how I know that information, cringe at the question, but smile anyway because he’s thinking about her now. That natural smile now makes Mom happy. It replaces the awkward “there’s-a-camera-in-my-face” feeling.

Maybe Dad has a certain hobby. Asking him about it and letting him talk for a moment can really break the ice and make him more comfortable.

Maybe 16-year-old Janie is self-conscious about the way she looks in photos. A quick “Wow! You look beautiful!” as you’re sighting through the viewfinder and taking her photos can really bring out that real, natural smile that everyone, even Janie, is looking for. Doing this at the beginning of the session can also build her confidence for the rest of the shoot.

A session with an uncooperative 4-year-old who would look so cute if he could just put his hands in his pockets, rather than his mouth, could sound something like this: “Okay, but I don’t think John has pockets.” To which he replies, “Yes, I do!” And then he promptly sinks them in his pockets all on his own. When his hands come back out, try a quick, “I’m not sure your pockets are deep enough to hold your hands in there.” He’ll put them right back in to prove to you that they are.

Group Photos

After posing everyone, I’ll ask the whole group to do a couple of quick, amusing tasks and then look at me.

For example, I will say, while taking photos, “Okay, everyone, look at the person who is the best at video games.”

click click

“Now look at Mom.”

click click click

“Now look at the youngest.”

click click click

“Now look at me.”

Now they’ll all be looking at the camera and click, click, click, I’ve got my photo. Sometimes I have clients who are so serious about getting the task done that they won’t smile while they’re looking at me. I’ll say, “What’s wrong? Is there a monkey on my head?” Then the smiles and laughter ensue.

Knock-knock jokes are pretty universal. You tell one, then they tell one. Natural smiles usually happen at these moments too.

Get creative and try different things. Keep conversations open. Be interested in what they like and whatever they want to talk about. Staying positive and keeping the shoot light and happy is ideal for a satisfactory session.

Katie Gee

Katie Gee is a portrait and commercial photographer based in Utah County. High school seniors and families are her primary clientele. Her love of photography sparked as she started taking pictures of her five kids. Anything that has to do with nature is high on her priority list, so natural light outdoor sessions are her preference. Any hikeable mountain where there’s a view at the top isn’t off limits either.

A Conversation with Reyna Aburto

March 8, 2024 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

Connie Sokol hosted Sister Reyna Aburto on the Called to Create podcast to discuss the beautiful ways the Lord works in our lives. Reyna shared how her experiences have shaped her and given her the personal strength to create.

Emigrating to the US wasn’t easy for Sister Aburto. Reyna said, “I think that the key when we go through those hard times is to just live one day at a time…do one little thing at a time. And I think that’s what I try to do, just concentrate on one little thing, line by line, precept by precept.” [4:40–5:10]

Connie agreed and said, “[W]e can feel like we’re constantly learning and in this limbo of.…I don’t know if this is what the Lord exactly wants me to do. When we feel uncertain so much of the time, …we have to draw on those gospel basics whether we realize them or not… Sometimes we negate that this experience is exactly what we need in order to more effectively share what the Lord wants us to share.” [5:18–5:38 and 13:20–13:33]

They then talked about how important it is to have a community of people to strengthen us. Sister Eubank was part of Reyna’s community when Reyna was serving as the second counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency. Reyna was writing her general conference address and expressed to Sister Eubank that she was trying to sound like other women who had spoken in general conference.

Sister Eubank told her, “You don’t need to sound like them. You need to find your own voice. The Lord wants you to have your own voice.”

Reyna knew Sister Eubank was right. She didn’t need to sound like anyone else. [17:45–18:03]

Reyna went on to say, “We just need to find and develop and increase those gifts that we have been given… And we all have them even if we want to be humble and not…acknowledge them…[W]e also have been given experiences that have shaped us, that give us empathy towards other people. So let’s just use those things that the Lord has given us… I think that if we are trying to glorify our Father in Heaven and our Savior, they will allow us to grow and to learn even more.” [18:11–18:55]

Reyna and Connie stressed how important it is to support others as well. Reyna said, “Life is worth living. And…we need to just rally around each other and to try to support each other… Every interaction that we have with a human being is an opportunity to build a bridge, to connect, to support, to listen, to love, and we have those opportunities every day of our life.” [26:48–27:16]

Connie and Reyna then talked about the importance of vulnerability in creativity. Reyna said, “When we have gone through hard experiences and we are trying to decide if we want to be vulnerable or not, we all have a different pace. And we should not force ourselves to be vulnerable. We need to be ready.” [20:35–20:50]

Connie and Reyna discussed how the Lord helps us heal through hard experiences. Connie said, “He always is layered. And in the process of you going through these experiences, He gives you opportunities to serve, which helps you heal from those experiences, and then share so that other people can heal from those experiences. The way the Lord works is so gorgeous.” [27:25–27:56]

In a Relief Society lesson in Connie’s ward, the sisters openly discussed Sister Aburto’s talk “Thru Cloud and Sunshine, Lord, Abide with Me” (October 2019). Connie said, “We were able to open up and connect, and hearts were knitted together in love, just like the scriptures say, because we were able to get real about those experiences and stories in a way that really hadn’t been done on that level yet.” [28:13–28:54]

Connie said to “Keep showing up, [and] keep taking the next right step.” [6:00–6:03] Connie then asked Sister Aburto if there are any tips she’d share for showing up during hard experiences.

Reyna said, “I think that prayer is very important… Every day of our life. Because we never know what is gonna come our way… We can start our day with a prayer asking Heavenly Father to protect us and to help us create that day in a way that is pleasing for Him. And then we can also have a prayer in our heart as we go through our days… But also, I think that looking at every experience that we have as a learning experience, even when things don’t go the way we expected. We should not look at them as failures. We should look at them as a learning experience, something that you’re learning that is preparing you for something else… We are always preparing for something else. It doesn’t matter how hard a situation is or an experience is, we can always learn from that and it will always make us stronger.” [29:58–32:32]

Connie said, “It’s in the daily doing. And it’s the living. The experiences that we’re having and seeing the beauty of it and seeing the purpose in it that then we can turn around and we can channel that and utilize it for good… It’s preparing you to be a more effective instrument…. You’re doing this for him! And it doesn’t matter what part you are, what step you are on that journey, …he’s gonna use it for good. So you don’t have to stress that, you just have to keep showing up for him.” [33:42–35:05]

Finally, Reyna shared some questions to help creatives learn from their tough experiences. She asked, “What am I learning from this? How is this going to help me in the future? How can I get closer to God with this experience? How can I connect with others? How can I use this experience to fill my heart with empathy toward other people?”

Reyna then reminded creatives, “[U]se those experiences to make you a better person, to make you a better disciple of Christ, and to glorify God who is in heaven because of all the miracles that you’ve had in your life.” [32:35–33:00]

This article is based on the Called to Create podcast featured during Season 3, Episode 21. You can listen to the full episode here.

Reyna Aburto

Reyna Aburto was born in Nicaragua and studied Industrial Engineering there. She holds a degree in Computer Science from Utah Valley University and has worked in the language industry for more than 30 years. Reyna and her husband own a translation business. She has served as Relief Society General Presidency Second Counselor and as a member of the Primary General Board for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She currently serves on the Correlation Committee in Church Headquarters. She is the author of Reaching for the Savior (Acudamos al Salvador, in Spanish), and co-host of the Consecrating Your Life podcast (@consecratingpod) with her daughter Elena.

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

February 23, 2024 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

Previous Parts
How “Save the Cat” Can Save Your Story – Part One
How “Save the Cat” Can Save Your Story—Part Two

In my last article, we talked about Save the Cat’s “Transformation Machine.” In this article, we’ll learn about the next three plot beats that draw on your hero’s want while planting subtext about their emotional wound and true need. If you know your hero’s background, you can infuse the story with that rich resonance we want to create with our readers. Studies have shown that most readers will read about 25% of a story before giving up, so these next beats are all the more important. Resonance is the key to hooking your reader and keeping their interest.

The first three beats—Opening Image, Theme, and Set-up—established our world, the main characters, and the hero’s essential problem. Now it’s time for the plot to come crashing into the hero’s life in a very big way.

Beat 4: Catalyst

The Catalyst is a single-beat scene that hits around the 10% mark of your story. Think of this event like a bomb going off in your hero’s life—it’s unexpected (to them, though the reader may anticipate it), upsets everything, and can’t be ignored. If you can honestly say that the hero could ignore the Catalyst—you know, if he weren’t in the book you’re writing—then chances are good it’s not a sufficiently disruptive event. While the hero will spend the following few chapters debating what to do in response to the Catalyst, the truth is they have no choice but to act.

Pro Tip #1: Imagine your hero going about their day—same-old, same-old—when a bomb smashes their house to bits, leaving them alive, but suddenly living a very different life. That’s the kind of impact your Catalyst should have.

Beat 5: Debate

When writers feel like something is “off” with their manuscript, I always review the Catalyst and Debate. Getting these two beats wrong will mess with the book’s flow. In these cases, I find the Catalyst is almost never life-changing enough, and the Debate is never (I mean, never) long (or deep) enough.

The Debate should be 10% of your book!

If you’re writing a 100,000-word long book, the Debate alone will cost you 10,000 words. That’s a lot of words! My chapters tend to be 2,000 words long, so I’d need to write five chapters of Debate. That’s 10% of your story spent on boring stuff.

Or is it?

The Debate is only boring if you write it that way.

Imagine that Beat 4’s bomb lands on your hero’s house and everything goes up in flames. It’s a total loss.

Beat 5 asks, “What now?”

If (as is common for many writers when they first come to me) your answer is, “Then she moves in with her boyfriend, and it’s awesome, and they live happily ever after!” then, well, you have a problem. That’s not interesting, and it’s not real life.

The Debate beat allows you to lean into what you know about your hero and the internal journey you want to take them on.

In real life, if a bomb randomly blew up someone’s house, the victim wouldn’t stop talking about the event. They’d have a hard time working, sleeping, eating, or doing anything. Their mind would be on a constant loop of “A bomb just destroyed my house!”

First, they’d freak out a bit. (Understatement.) Then they’d call the fire department, police, and a friend—because where are they gonna sleep? And what will they wear/do/think? Everything they owned was just destroyed. (More freaking out.)

They’d talk to the police and insurance people. And talk to them again. The place where they spent their first night might not be where they want to stay long term, so they’ll talk to more people and make more arrangements.

They must pick through what’s left of their life, which will be so hard. Lean into that pain.

This is an opportunity to make a change. Maybe they work from home, so really, do they want to rebuild on the same lot? Or do they want to follow their lifelong dream of living and working in Belize? Do they even want to build another house? Maybe they want to move downtown into a trendy condo. The options are endless, challenging, and ultimately, revealing. They might even find themselves thankful for that bomb because the misfortune will allow them to fix everything that’s wrong with their life.

That hope, that belief that they’re in control and know what they’re doing is exactly where you want your hero to be as they Break into Two (Beat 6).

Pro Tip #2: If your Catalyst doesn’t yield this kind of life-altering dilemma, it’s not big enough or radical enough.

Pro Tip #3: Make a list of everything that needs to happen because of the Catalyst, then build your Debate. You’ll discover plenty of material to fill that 10% of your book, and it will inform Act 2 in powerful ways.

Pro Tip #4: If you’re writing a “Call to Adventure” story, the Debate can be a preparation beat—but should be no less demanding of your hero.

Beat 6: Break into Two

The Break into Two beat is a single scene showing your hero choosing to move into Act 2. The event should be physical and occur entirely of their own volition.

This shift from the set-up phase isn’t Harry Potter going to Hogwarts. It’s Harry running head-first into a brick column, believing it’s a magical gateway to wizarding school.

It’s not Katniss volunteering to be Tribute. It’s Katniss boarding the train from District 12 and stepping off into the completely different world of the Capitol.

A bold decision or action provides the perfect lead-in to Act 2—otherwise known as the Upside-Down World. But you’ll have to wait for the next installment to learn how to solve that whole “messy middle” business.

Here’s a hint: With Save the Cat, there’s no such thing as a “messy middle.”

Ali Cross

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

Find Ali at her website or @thealicross online.

Getting Started with Cosplay

February 9, 2024 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

I’m a major nerd and have been my whole life. Watching shows like the animated X–Men series in the nineties and collecting Pokémon cards in my youth formed my true self and strengthened my enthusiasm for all things nerdy. I first experienced what it was like to be fully immersed in geek culture at the Salt Lake Comic Convention (FanX) in 2013. I loved the smell of the boxes of comic books waiting to be perused, watching vendors sell beautiful prints of my favorite characters, and discovering random collectible items I didn’t need but had to have. I was thrilled to meet the celebrities I grew up watching in my beloved movies and shows. I loved the panels where fellow nerds analyzed different films and TV shows and theorized about future plotlines. I also enjoyed listening to creators share the behind-the-scenes process of how my favorite movies came to be. Three days of that, and I was in heaven.

And then there was the cosplay aspect. I wasn’t too well-versed in what cosplay was or its purpose, but seeing all the people dressed up as their favorite characters showed me that cosplay is pretty much whatever you want it to be.

I decided to dress up the following year. I brought out my old Princess Jasmine and Pocahontas costumes from Halloween to wear for the first two days. I created my Pocahontas necklace using clay. For the third day, I made a poor attempt at painting a Wolverine shirt. I used puffy paint instead of fabric paint, causing the shirt to be stiff. Cosplaying that year showcased my love for my fandoms and allowed me to express myself in ways I wouldn’t get to do on a day-to-day basis. I had been bitten by the cosplay bug.

From then on, my cosplay skills evolved. There are many skills I have yet to master, but the journey has taught me patience and an even greater appreciation for what goes on in costume and prop work for television and movies.

If you’re new to the world of cosplay and don’t know where to begin, here are some steps to help you get started.

Consider the Logistics

When I have my heart set on a character I want to cosplay, I think of the logistics of making it happen. I consider whether a costume will be feasible based on time, finances, skill set, and managing my responsibilities as a wife and mom. A few costume plans have fallen through the cracks in past years. I plan to go back to some of those ideas, and some I’ll let go. I also decide what materials will be needed to create all the pieces and how much they’ll cost. Then I consider when the convention will take place and calculate how far in advance I should start working on my cosplay.

Decide How You Will Assemble Your Costume

Buying a costume or most of the pieces from places like Amazon or Halloween stores is totally okay. Cosplay is made up of whatever components you feel work best for your budget and time. Is the wig available to buy online? Buy it! Often some pieces aren’t available to buy, so that’s when I dive into the process of making them.

Design Your Build

When I first decide I want to go all-in on a build, I draw the character and list all the components that will go into it from head to toe. I find as many reference pictures of the character as I can. I even look at photos of the figurine because a lot of times they’ll show the textures and a design I might want to incorporate into my costume. YouTube is my best friend for tutorials on how to create certain pieces. Looking at the costume plan can be very overwhelming. I recommend just starting with a small element, such as a piece of armor, or things you can buy online.

Put It All Together

To create my Death Metal Wonder Woman arm bracer, I first looked at the reference photo of the bracer I wanted to recreate. Then I patterned it by wrapping my arm in plastic wrap and then duct tape. I drew the design on the duct tape and cut myself out of the wrap. Utilize friends and family for help because you don’t want to hurt yourself! Then I cut out the duct tape wrap into separate design pieces, traced those onto cardstock, and cut those pieces out. I traced those pieces onto foam sheets and cut them out. I made a few adjustments and taped the foam pieces onto my arm to see if I liked the shape and look. Then I glued the pieces together to form the bracer to my arm using a heat gun. I then covered the whole segment in a thermoplastic material called Worbla, which is moldable when hot and sturdy when cooled. This material really helps to make the piece durable, especially when bumping into people at the convention. I added some details to bring out the design, then primed, sanded, painted, and shaded it. A lot easier said than done, but well worth it in the end!

Be Patient and Take Breaks

There have been many times when I was in tears or felt so stressed and frustrated when something wasn’t going my way. The best thing to do is to take a step back and either work on something else or just not work on the cosplay at all for a little bit. Starting on the costume well in advance will allow you the luxury of taking a rest. After giving myself a little break, I’m ready to try again and can look at the problem with fresh eyes.

Be True to Yourself

Cosplay has become a way of self-expression for me. It may seem weird to others, but when I learned not to care about what people thought of me and my fun hobbies, I started living my life and becoming my true self. I’ve also had opportunities to dress as characters for little girls’ princess parties or for charities. I feel truly delighted watching little kids’ faces light up when they see their favorite characters. I hope to teach my kids not to hide who they are as I did most of my life and to really embrace their passions!

Alyssa Caldwell

Alyssa Caldwell is originally from Charles Town, West Virginia, and now lives in Stansbury Park, Utah. She’s been a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loves crafting, dressing up, reading, sleeping, snacks, and all things Disney. She met her husband, Brett, at BYU-Idaho. They have three children.

Basic Whittling Techniques

January 12, 2024 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

Whittling vs. Woodcarving

Both whittling and woodcarving are distinct art forms in which the finished product is made of wood. Whittling requires a small, sharp blade and a piece of softwood. Woodcarving includes the whole universe of wood creations and incorporates various hand tools like gouges, skews, and chisels. Artists might also opt for rotating, handheld power tools with changeable burrs and a vacuum system to remove dust. Power carving tools work best with hardwoods like cherry, walnut, oak, and ebony.

Tools and Supplies

Many pocketknives come with a sheepsfoot blade that has a straight edge and a back that curves down to the tip. However, these knives can be difficult to hold while whittling and often are not strong enough to sustain a sharp edge. Whittling knives have longer, rounded handles for better control and fixed blades that retain their sharpness. I use a bench knife—those come in several shapes and sizes. You might wish to use a thumb guard to ensure you don’t cut yourself while carving. Carving gloves may also be helpful for beginners. Last, you will need a sharpening stone and leather strop to keep the blade honed.

Types of Wood

Whittling requires dry, soft, and even-grained wood like white pine, sugar pine, basswood, or aspen. Extremely soft woods such as balsa or tupelo can collapse under pressure from the blade. Also, they don’t take detail well and tend to fuzz when sanded. I prefer basswood, though I have whittled with random pieces of wood from crates, pallets, and tree branches. Avoid using green, uncured wood, which can warp or crack when drying. Basswood blanks are available from online suppliers, local cabinet shops, and stores specializing in woodworking supplies.

Planning and Design

Whittling Christmas ornaments and other decorations can be a fun and relaxing activity. Start with a small piece of wood about three to five inches long, and visualize your desired result. The design possibilities are endless. Woodworkers can carve anything from Santa Claus to bells, whistles, chains, sleighs, balls in cages, elves, animals, teddy bears, etc. You can find ideas in catalogs, on Pinterest, or in woodcarving magazines. Begin by using a pencil to mark the approximate size and dimensions of your design. Remove large portions of wood with a coping saw, then keep whittling until you achieve your desired result.

Basic Cuts and Techniques

When you give most people a piece of wood and a knife without instructions, they will often make a spear tip by pressing the blade against the wood and carving away from their body in an outward thrusting movement. Instead, you should hold the wood in your hand and make precise cuts using a squeezing motion with your fingers. Never pull or push the blade with your arm.

There are three basic cuts used in whittling:

Stop Cut – This cut demarcates where you want the opposing cuts to end. You can create this cut by repeatedly dragging the blade’s tip to carve straight or curving lines that indicate a difference in wood thickness. After, reposition the wood and make pull cuts toward the line by squeezing your hand to remove wood chips up to that point. Repeat this movement as often as you wish until you have cut to the desired depth. An alternate method is to make multiple V-cuts in opposite directions to create a valley or depression in the wood, then cut toward it. Do not try to remove large portions of wood with a single cut, as this could cause the piece to crack.
Pull Cut – You can make this cut by wearing a leather thumb guard and pulling the knife blade toward your thumb. Use a squeezing motion to remove wood chips or slices in a controlled manner.
Push Cut – To make this cut, face the blade of the knife away from you and use your thumb to push against the back of the blade and remove small pieces of wood in a forward motion. Again, you are pushing with your thumb, not your arm.

Finishing

When you finish whittling, the piece will bear cut marks and small ridges from the knife blade. Though the result isn’t perfectly smooth, I prefer this rough look because it indicates that the piece has been hand-whittled. Of course, you may use sandpaper to smooth out these telltale signs.

Once you finish creating an ornament or decoration, you’ll want to devise a way to hang it if required. Find the balance point and drill a 3/16 inch hole about 1/4 inch deep and fill it with wood glue. Then, cut a piece of twine or decorative cord to an inch long, double it, and place the ends in the hole with the glue. In a few hours, the loop will dry and can be attached to a hook for hanging.

Add color, definition, and depth by painting your decoration. Depending on the design, you might need to paint in stages, allowing each layer to dry before applying more paint. After the paint is dry, you may apply a brown wash. Rub off the excess wash to mute the colors underneath, create depth, and add an antiqued look. Finally, spray with a fast-drying clear lacquer to protect the finish.

As in most creative endeavors, some people are unable to visualize the end result or simply have no desire to create art in the first place. Some may feel that whittling is a hobby they just can’t do. Even if you fall into one of these categories, we all have gifts to share. Those gifts differ greatly across the range of interests and activities in which we all participate.

Bob Manning

Bob Manning was raised in northern Utah. As a teenager, he worked in his family’s orchards growing cherries, peaches, and apricots. He began whittling after seeing someone carve a “ball in a cage” from a piece of broom handle. Bob wore out a couple of pocketknives before purchasing a fixed blade whittling knife. He first decided to try whittling ornaments when his friend invited him to an annual Christmas ornament party, and later continued to create whimsical ornaments for family and friends.

Selecting the Right Song for the Right Time

December 28, 2023 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

As a musician or music leader, choosing music is an exciting and daunting task. You know you can’t please everyone, but that’s no reason not to try your best. The right song or song grouping can be the linchpin that holds a meeting together and makes a good gathering great, but selecting something inappropriate can have the opposite effect.

So, what factors should you consider? They might vary depending on your situation, but here are a few.

Doctrine, Doctrine, Doctrine

When determining whether a song is appropriate for a church meeting, you should always consider the question, “Is this song completely doctrinally correct?” Songs from official Church publications, such as the hymnbook or Church magazines, have already been vetted for doctrinal soundness. Doctrine is taught frequently by prophets and leaders and is confirmed by the united voice of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency. It is not hidden in obscure corners or given by a solitary voice.

This means that when you bring in an original work or a hymn from another Christian tradition, you must be careful. Some deviations are small, some more major, but any deviation from the truth can drive out the Spirit. When you read or listen to the lyrics of a song, pay close attention to how it makes you feel. If there’s something off, it might be the Spirit’s prompting.

For example, there is a lovely Christian hymn called “Holy, Holy, Holy” that is widely used in other churches. While the song is mostly doctrinally sound, its refrain highlights the doctrine of the Trinity, that God is one being Who manifests as three different people. The lyrics say, “God in three persons, blessed Trinity.” Without some adaptation, this would not be appropriate for a church meeting. When the Tabernacle Choir performs this song, they use the alternate version, “God in Thy glory through eternity.”

Consider a popular “feel-good” song like “This Little Light of Mine.” It has a general message about being a good example, but it could just as easily be sung in a secular setting. If being a good example is your topic, consider other hymns, such as “Come, Follow Me” or “The Lord Is My Light.” These focus on the example of the Savior and would be more appropriate for a church meeting.

Find the Focus

When choosing a song for a church setting, ask yourself, “Will this song put the focus on the Savior?” Music that is too showy or that draws too much attention to the technical aspects of the song can detract from the message of the meeting. Perform with genuine emotion without doing anything to draw extra attention to yourself.

The Savior saw beauty in simple things. In Matthew 6:28-29, He says, “And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” King Solomon had riches and a mighty empire. He built opulent palaces and buildings and wore the finest clothing. The Savior says, however, that the simple lily possesses a simple, humble beauty that surpasses all the pomp of King Solomon. It would be good to remember this principle in the music we perform as well.

Inviting the Spirit

When truth is spoken or sung, the Holy Ghost can be present to testify of that truth. When selecting music, ask yourself if the song is presenting doctrinal truths that the Spirit can confirm. Songs should not only be selected to elicit strong emotions, but should also strive to underscore the message of the rest of the meeting. Work closely with local leaders to coordinate your efforts and invite the Holy Ghost to participate in the selection process. If you are set apart with a musical calling, you have access to the keys you need to accomplish your work. This means that you are entitled to revelation about the musical decisions you make. Do not discount the power of the spiritual gifts you are given in the scope of your calling, even if you have never held this calling before.

Clear, Competent Writing

Not every song text needs to be a Shakespearean masterpiece, but there are certain aspects of the craft that should be present so the writing does not detract from the message. For example, hymn texts have a set meter, which is a pattern of the number of syllables per line. A hymn with an 8 6 8 6 meter will have eight syllables in the first line, six syllables in the second line, and so on. Many hymn texts will also follow a rhyme scheme, which means that the last words in certain lines will rhyme with each other according to a pattern. Selecting texts that have employed sound poetic principles can help the message shine through and be more memorable for the listener.

The Right Song at the Right Time

A song you choose one time for a church meeting might not be the best choice in another time and place. Seek the gift of discernment to know what message the Lord wants His children to hear and how that message should be presented. Study the options and the guidelines out in your mind as the scriptures direct, and then choose with confidence, knowing that the Lord will magnify your efforts as you strive to serve Him through music.

Michael D. Young

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

Art Can Make You a Better Writer

December 15, 2023 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

I am a visual learner. Images help me remember and understand things more thoroughly. Art has helped me become a better writer as well. Here are four ways to harness the creative power of art in your writing.

Turn to Art for Mental Respite

Art can inspire creativity by activating the part of your brain that is responsible for contemplation and daydreaming. Your brain isn’t designed to stay in work mode constantly. Giving your mind a break from structured assignments allows it to relax—it’s like a brain vacation. When my kids were small, they once sent me to my room for a time-out. It made for the best day ever! Sometimes your brain just needs a break.

Reflect on Art to Inspire Your Writing

Slow down and take time to analyze artwork or an interesting photo. Give yourself a moment to ponder about the details and reflect on your impressions. Doing this can lead to new ideas and give you insights that will spark your writing.

A painting called Pirates by Ned Young, an artist from Brigham City, Utah, hangs on our living room wall. It depicts two young boys standing atop a haystack next to a barn. One boy holds a sword and wears an eye patch, while the other boy looks through a telescope. Beside them, a skull-and-crossbones flag waves on a pole. When I look at that painting, it takes me to a place in my childhood. I can smell the hay. I can feel the summer heat. It makes me wonder if cats live in the barn. Are the boys looking for a place to hide treasure, or are they escaping from hungry cannibals? I get all these impressions from a watercolor painted in Utah.

Art isn’t just displayed in galleries—it’s all around us. You can find artistry in the way leaves overlap and create interesting compositions. Cloud formations are one of my favorite works of art. Look closely at a spider web or ripple patterns in the water. Find music in the sounds around you. Our Father in Heaven is the ultimate artist.

If you make art appreciation part of your life, your observation skills will grow. Your ability to write accurate descriptions will improve as you increase your awareness of the world around you.

Cultivate Empathy through Art

Elevating your awareness of the creativity around you can increase empathy toward others. As you pay more attention to the subjects in art and how they are portrayed, you may notice details that evoke an emotional response. For example, The Child’s Bath by Mary Cassat holds a special place in my heart because it depicts a woman bathing a toddler, and it elicits feelings of comfort, love, and contentment.

On the flip side, The Scream by Edvard Munch also reminds me of motherhood, particularly when my kids haven’t picked up their Legos, and I step on one.

Find Story Ideas in Art

When you ask questions about what you’re seeing and why the artist portrayed the image in the way they did, it can kickstart your creativity. You can explore even further by inserting yourself into the picture and asking questions from a new perspective. What made the artist choose this subject? If you were the person in the painting, why are you in that setting? What is your story? Engage your senses as you ask these questions. What might you taste, smell, or hear in this situation? Use your enhanced focus to sharpen the way you write your descriptions.

Take the opportunity for an art break, whether it’s enjoying a painting, a sculpture, or the intrinsic beauty of nature. Art will stimulate your mind, boost your creativity, and help you become a better writer.

Cathy Witbeck

Cathy Witbeck is a Canadian-born author-illustrator transplanted to the USA. She remembers writing and drawing ever since she could pick up a pencil. She did an especially lovely piece of artwork on the side of the septic tank with house paint at a very young age. Perhaps that’s when it was discovered that she was gifted, or maybe it’s why she was sent to the USA.
She has five grown kids and one grown husband. When she isn’t writing and illustrating, she is chasing after grandkids intent on making their own artwork.