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Inspiration

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.

The Child’s Bath by Mary Cassat

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.  

The Scream by Edvard Munch

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.

A headshot of Cathy Witbeck

Cathy Witbeck

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

    Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Fine Art, Writing Tagged With: art, Creativity, Inspiration

    Called to Create: Interview with New Host Connie Sokol

    March 10, 2022 By Rachelle Christensen Leave a Comment

    I am excited to introduce the new host of LDSPMA’s podcast Called to Create, Connie Sokol. Connie is a bestselling author, a national speaker, a media personality, and a program founder. She is a regular contributor on the top-rated lifestyle show Studio Five with Brooke Walker. She hosts Disciple Thought Leaders Retreats which teach women how to be influential writers, speakers, and media personalities. She is also the mother of seven.

    —-

    RACHELLE: The podcast’s name is Called to Create. Can you tell us what that means?

    CONNIE: Yes, we chose the title Called to Create because it resonates with creative people. There was discussion and prayer about what it could be that would reach the audience, which includes speakers, writers, musicians, publishers, and people trying to express the gospel through creative abilities. 

    RACHELLE: You definitely nailed the title. How did you get into media?

    CONNIE: I feel like Heavenly Father has plugged me in and out of experiences. I started speaking for the Church Education System. I was doing Education Week and Especially for Youth. One thing led to another, and I started doing professional speaking on the side. I had seven kids, so I would do a little bit at a time. 

    Then Bonneville Communications KSL approached me and asked me to be a host of a women’s radio show. You know that phrase, “Start as you mean to go on”? That was poignant for me. I was going to have another baby, and I said, “I cannot do every day from three to six, but I can give you two days a week from noon to three, because I’m a mom.” 

    They ended up having three hosts do one schedule for the week so we could all put our families first. And it was beautiful. The radio show kicked this off for me in a big way, and then I was invited to do TV with Brooke Walker. I’ve been doing that for 16 years now. I sort of fell into it, but I was looking for opportunities for the Lord to use me.

    It’s not a talk at you podcast. It’s very much like you’re sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a conversation with people who are extraordinary.

    RACHELLE: You’re a best-selling award-winning author, you’ve written 18 books, you do TV and podcasting, and you’re a media personality. How does that impact your ability to interview the guests on Called to Create? 

    CONNIE: I see profoundly how Heavenly Father has placed me in different situations so that when I’m interviewing these guests—like Lisa Valentine Clark, Al Carraway, The Jets—I’m able to connect. I understand what it takes to publish a book. I’ve done traditional publishing and self-publishing. I’ve had an agent. I have all these different experiences that the Lord has plugged me in and out of, just enough to be able to connect. 

    That’s one of the things I love about this podcast. It’s not a talk at you podcast. It’s very much like you’re sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a conversation with people who are extraordinary. They’re showing us by their process how they made it happen. My experience really helps me to go deep, fast. Through shared experiences we can laugh and learn together and have juicy, enriching conversations.

    RACHELLE: We are lucky to have you. Tell us how you connected with LDSPMA?

    CONNIE: Well, I’ve had my own podcast. We’re coming up on 180 episodes, and it’s been great. I’ve had wonderful guests on there, like New York Times bestselling authors. Then at the beginning of last year, I had this feeling like I needed to do more with my podcast. But it was already going well, and I didn’t understand what it meant. 

    A few months later, the thought of LDSPMA resonated, and I was like, I wonder if they have a podcast? When I asked, it just so happened that their original host, who had done a great job, was leaving and they were looking for a new host. 

    I contacted them and we immediately connected. We had the same vision, of getting this out and increasing the reach, and it’s been incredible already. We put 14 episodes in the can within two and a half months. It was unbelievable. The miracles fell into place.

    RACHELLE: Can you tell us what’s your favorite part of the podcast process?

    CONNIE: We have a beautiful team, and we laugh, and we have all these incredibly talented volunteers. We’re all volunteers. We’re just doing this for Him. So that’s a really fun piece. 

    But I think the guests have been incredible—the things that they’ve shared from their heart, the way they’ve shared the gospel in unexpected ways. I’m interviewing The Jets, and they’re talking about a Book of Mormon with Boy George; and then Al Caraway and how when she first came on the scene she was so passionate about the gospel, and then people just shredded her, and she really had to get tight with Heavenly Father. Moments like that where one minute you’re laughing, and one minute you’re crying. 

    It’s just the most wonderful experience and blessing to peek into the lives of these amazing people, and I am bettered by every single interview that I have done.

    If you have felt called to share His message through your creative abilities, this is the podcast for you.

    RACHELLE: What will audience members get from listening to this podcast?

    CONNIE: So much. I think tools might be your biggest surprise. We make sure they give takeaways so that you’ll come away with something every podcast to help on your creative journey. What are some of the how-tos? How did they get started in the speaking business? When you hear a show tool, you will just be blown away. You will want to jump out of your chair and become a speaker.

    But it’s these tools, these takeaways, these tips that you can start putting into your life regardless of what genre you’re in. You can apply them and start seeing the difference. You’re going to get great stuff.

    RACHELLE: For people who don’t listen to many podcasts or don’t think they have the time, what would be a reason to check this one out?

    CONNIE: Because it will impact your life. If you have felt called to share His message through your creative abilities, this is the podcast for you, even if you don’t listen to any other podcast. If you have felt a rumble, if you felt called to speak or write a book, or to do something in social media, or to be a musician or an artist or whatever, this will help you on your creative journey for Him. 

    This is all about: How do we apply the gospel? How do we navigate the intersection of faith, creativity, and professional skill? How do we make those hard choices that keep us on the straight and narrow to do what we came here to do? That’s the difference in this podcast. It is part devotional, part scripture, part life experience, part kitchen table chat. You’re getting all the things in one podcast.

    RACHELLE: Connie, what is one thing that you feel Called to Create?

    CONNIE: As you know, I help women with the Disciple Thought Leadership Retreats to do this very thing, so they can get in and make it happen. But beyond that and my family, it’s this podcast. 

    I really do feel “called to create” with this wonderful team. We feel so strongly about Elder Bednar’s invitation to sweep the earth as with a flood on media, particularly social media. 

    We yearn to help every person who feels called to be able to get their message out, to be distinct and different and articulate, to have the tools and the inspiration. And when they’re like, “I’m so done,” like in Alma when they talk about “when our hearts were depressed and we were ready to turn back,” right? They listen to this podcast, they listen to an episode, and they’ll be like, I can do this. I can keep going. I get what He wants me to do, and I’ll just take the next right step. That’s what we hope.

    —-

    Fabulous. I love that. This is such a treat. I am really glad that we got to know Connie Sokol a little bit better today. We are so fortunate to have her, I am so excited for the podcast this new season, so everybody listen in. We have a lot of great information in store for you.

    Author Profile

    Rachelle J. Christensen is the award-winning author of over 20 books, a mother of 5, and organizer of 75+ chickens raised annually by her family. Rachelle enjoys online marketing and harnessing the power of social media. She has worked with a multi-million dollar worldwide company, publishers, and dozens of authors, including New York Times bestseller David Farland and celebrity Merrill Osmond.

    Rachelle carves out writing time in between home-schooling kids and her work as a writing and marketing coach for authors. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Music.

      Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Faith & Mindset, Gospel Principles, Member Spotlight, Podcasting & Speaking Tagged With: creative people, developing talents, Inspiration, interviews, podcasting

      Member Spotlight: Brittany Passmore!

      April 10, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

      This week’s member spotlight is Brittany Passmore from Logan, Utah!

      What inspired you to become a writer/musician/publisher/creative in media?

      In high school, I read The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (finished by Brandon Sanderson). I was so moved by the journey I’d gone on in this fictional world that I knew I had to have a career involved with fiction. I went to college hoping to improve my writing skills and ended up falling in love with editing. Someday, I hope I can share my love of writing with the world too, but I’m really passionate about helping other writers refine their writing and accomplish their publishing dreams.

      What has been the highlight of your career so far?

      I’ve loved seeing how the authors I work with grow through the various phases of revising and editing. It’s amazing to see how not only their stories but their writing skills can completely transform for the better from manuscript to manuscript with just a little guidance!

      What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative work?

      I think the best advice I’ve been given has actually been in the example of one of my professors at BYU, Matt Baker. He was always so kind and generous in the way he interacted with others. But also so careful in how he carried out his responsibilities so that he truly gave his best work. I think that combination of attributes is what makes others trust and respect you and helps you find satisfaction in your daily work.

      What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

      If you want to be an editor, you need to be willing to really study and learn about language. I started out thinking I knew a lot about writing and grammar (and I did, to an extent), but I quickly learned that you need to be humble enough to know that you have a lot to learn and you need to train yourself to always double check yourself so you don’t add your own errors to another’s work.

      What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

      My family is a big inspiration for me right now. My husband is still in school, so I’m taking a big role in helping to provide for us. When I think of my little boy, Parker (who is almost two!), I just want to work harder to give him everything I can. But I’m also really inspired by Christ’s example of service. When I think about how I’m really providing a service for others and not just trying to make money, I look at my daily work in a better way and find true joy in helping others in their creative writing.

      What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

      I’m learning that my creative work goes a lot better when I keep my priorities balanced. For instance, I’m trying to be better about praying before I work to show the Lord that He is the most important aspect of my life and so I can have His spirit and strength to guide me.

      Tell us about your work!

      In my freelance editing service, I provide developmental editing, substantive editing, copyediting, proofreading, and manuscript evaluations for novelists, especially those writing in science fiction and fantasy genres. (If you’re confused about what these different kinds of editing are, just head over to my website; I explain the difference on my contact page!) Sometimes I blog about writing tips, too.

      What are the names of your books/products you’ve created?

      I have a freelance editing service called “Passmore Edits.”

      What is your website URL?

      https://brittanympassmore.wixsite.com/passmoreedits

      What are your social media URLs?

      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passmoreedits

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passmore_edits

      Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/passmoreedits

      Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/passmoreedits

      LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-passmore

      Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Freelance, Inspiration, Member Spotlight, Writer

      Seeking and Creating Praiseworthy Works

      April 7, 2021 By tfinch Leave a Comment

      By Ted Finch

      Our Thirteenth Article of Faith proclaims, “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” My original goal for this blog post was to share quotes from a handful of articles I’ve studied over the last few months that have had an impact on my growth as a creative person trying to figure out how to share my light through praiseworthy works.

      As I worked through several paragraphs, I started asking myself questions such as, “Why am I writing this?” and “Should I include this?” Finally, it dawned on me that I don’t need to write about what is in the articles themselves; rather, write about the idea that we have to work on our spiritual development and our artistic development in tandem. That is the moment the words started to flow.

      The Spiritual and Artistic in Tandem

      Artist James C. Christensen stressed the idea to many of his BYU students, “We cannot separate our spiritual development from our artistic development. We must work at both.” There is wonderful insight that comes when we involve God in our creative pursuits. Keeping our connection with the Spirit is key to receiving the guidance we need to grow spiritually and creatively. 

      Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that the “Spirit of Christ . . . is the medium of intelligence, that guides inventors, scientists, artists, composers, poets, authors . . . when they set their hands to do that which is for the benefit and blessing of their fellow men.”

      In 1995, President M. Russell Ballard stated at the Tuachan Mormon Arts Festival (later published in the July 1996 Ensign), “God’s purpose for the artist is to inspire. To give us visions of ourselves that we might not otherwise see, to make us better than we would have been.” 

      Think about that. Our purpose as creatives is to inspire ourselves and others to see the world differently—in a better way. We can be guided to create things that will benefit and bless the lives of others. 

      A hand holding out a candle. Sharing light, symbolic of creating and seeking praiseworthy works.
      A Call to Share Our Light

      In his speech, President Ballard stated, “This is the time, brothers and sisters to make our voices heard.” I think that call still rings true almost 21 years later. As we see more winds of commotion and confusion blow across the plains of the world, we must rise to the call to fill our quarters of the world with light and truth. 

      How do we do this? As creatives, we “express [ourselves] in universal symbols, images, sounds, and feelings.” We have the “unique opportunity to present [our] opinions, and perspectives on Eternity” through “universal symbols, images, sounds, and feelings” (Ballard, 1995).

      Now it’s time for you to discover how the Lord wants you to make your voice heard. It may be in the walls of your home, to your extended family, to your community, or to the world. You might share your praiseworthy stories, ideas, music, or other unique opinions from your perspective. Now is the time to share.

      Enjoy your journey. Bring others with you.

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Author’s Note: I linked articles I cited in the article and have included a few others below to help start you on your path of creative discovery.

      “The Sweep the Earth as a Flood” talk by Elder David A. Bednar
      “The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord” speech by President Boyd K. Packer
      “Seeking after the Good in Art, Drama, Film, and Literature” essay by Travis T. Anderson

      ———————————————————————————–

      Ted Finch is a husband, father, disciple, and storyteller. He loves stories through novels, poetry, and film. Ted loves baking bread, fishing, and spending time outdoors. He is also passionate about creating learning experiences for audiences around the world.

      Twitter – @tedthewriter

      Instagram – @tedthewriter

      Website – tedthewriter.wixsite.com/home

      Filed Under: Articles, Faith & Mindset, Gospel Principles Tagged With: Articles of Faith, Creating, Creative, Creativity, good works, Inspiration, LDSPMA, Mormon, Praiseworthy, praiseworthy works, Ted Finch

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