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Latter-day Saint

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Mattea Gygi

February 5, 2022 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

Mattea Gygi is currently a student at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and serves on the LDSPMA Student Chapter on campus.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

I currently write for TechBuzz news, a Utah Tech online newspaper. I write about emerging and growing tech companies in Utah.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I love words and the way they can be used to teach others. Words have helped me expand my view of the world and I hope to create content that also expands minds and encourages learning.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

My career has been insanely short as I am still in college, but a highlight of my career was creating, planning, and writing a series of articles about Polynesian entrepreneurs and founders in Utah tech.

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

Simple is elegant.

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

Writing is hard, so I applaud you. I am not very experienced, but I have learned that there are many people in this field HAPPY to mentor and help you along the way—so find them and let them take you far.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

I love words, as I said earlier, and working with words and trying to arrange them in the best possible outcome makes me happy and is very satisfying to me.

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

I love food and have found food to be a great motivator and defeater of writer’s block.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

I love that my publication focuses on unbiased, true news. We write to inform, not to persuade, and I think that kind of writing is really needed in the tech space. If anything, we are positive in our portrayal of businesses, but overall we always tell the truth.

Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: BYU, Latter-day Saint, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDS writers, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, LDSPMA student chapter, Mattea Gygi, TechBuzz

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Victor La Vanway!

August 21, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

Books:
Bones in The Sand: The Extraterrestrial Connection to Earth
Grandpa’s Collection of Mostly True Tales
Painting: Emergency Landing Monochrome Acrylic (black, gray, white, 33 x 27 inches)

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

All that is the world around me, as well as a third grade classmate and friend, Robert Smith, who taught me how to draw with pencil and perspective. Our teacher, Mrs. Stevens, taught us how to think and write. The Old and New Testaments ignited my child imagination to real things beyond my sight but within the grasp of diligent, devoted practice.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I think my highlight is my collection of mostly true tales written for my children and grandchildren. The collection is humorous, serious, occasionally sad, imaginative, and edifying. It draws readers into experiences descriptive of earth life as adventurous, joyful, real, and astonishing. With faith in God, it’s an embraceable challenge.

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

Find a better way to . . . Never give up. Rewrite.

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

The advice I received above and would add, “God gave you talent, so don’t submit to discouragement.”

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

The scriptures, the unfolding mysteries of Heavenly Father’s Kingdom, and people.

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

I am a convert to the restored gospel and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My experience confirms the principles of Christ’s doctrine. Psalm 1:2-3 and Doctrine and Covenants 46:8-9 tells of comfort and encouragement and instructs me in personal responsibility as steward of blessings and talents. Jesus Christ is the Ultimate Artist. If any person strives humbly and diligently, following His example, we may eventually achieve His stature and creative skills as joint-heirs with Him. Presently, I enjoy the wonder of discovery and the familiar patterns of practice.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

In my literary efforts, I have tried to lead readers to a consciousness of Heavenly Father and His plan for His children. Reserved for them are things “eye has not seen, nor ear heard.” All things are spiritual unto Him, but many things are exciting, cosmic, physical, mathematical, and scientific wonders as well, hinted at in his word, the scriptures. My motive is to point readers to things that will help them find love, joy, and eternal riches by devoting their lives to becoming the divine creatures Father counseled us to become and to glimpse the mysteries of our Father’s Kingdom.

Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Author, Bones in the Sand, Emergency Landing painting, Grandpa's Collection of Mostly True Tales, Latter-day Saint, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDS author, LDS painter, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Mormon, The Extraterrestrial Connection to Earth, Victor La Vanway

Member Spotlight: Elizabeth Hubbard!

August 7, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

  • Fight On! World War II and Cold War Experiences of Lt. Commander John R. “Jack” Hubbard USNR
  • The Search Never Ends: Musings of John R. “Jack” Hubbard
  • Adventures With A Historian: The Life and Times of John R. “Jack” Hubbard

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

It was an accident. I spent many years proofreading books my father wrote. In 2011, in an effort to maintain my sanity while recovering from major surgery, I worked side by side with my dad as he put his brother’s memoirs, letters, and notes into a manuscript for publication. I began by fact-checking everything I could because I quickly realized that my uncle’s story was as much a global history lesson as it was his personal story. I conducted extensive research to answer questions that arose during the compilation of the manuscript, then incorporated my findings into the book.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

The highlight has been the encouragement and assistance received from David McCullough, Congressman Michael Burgess, and the University of Southern California.

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

It is better to push back a release date than not verify that your facts are accurate, your grammar is correct, and your typos have been eliminated. Don’t be afraid to include photos, illustrations, maps, etc. if they add interest and/or understanding to the story but don’t use them just to fill up space.

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

If you are writing nonfiction, make sure you document all sources and give credit where credit is due. Don’t be afraid to make cold calls to obtain more information and understanding.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

I’m inspired by looking at the mountain of source materials in cardboard boxes that sits in my office. To me, it’s too valuable to throw into the dumpster.

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

I was surprised at the reaction of immediate and extended family members. Deep feelings ranging from anger and resentment to awe and wonder arose from the four corners of the world. As a result, we took out certain sections, deleted some names, and re-worded embarrassing or compromising sections to protect the innocent without compromising the integrity of the story.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

We were able to make the Amazon Best Sellers list without using profanity to tell war and espionage stories.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

http://www.punaluudata.com

Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Amazon, Amazon Best Sellers, Author, book, Cold War, Congressman Michael Burgess, David McCullough, Elizabeth Hubbard, Fight On, Historian, Latter-day Saint, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDS, LDS author, LDS writers, LDSPMA, nonfiction, University of Southern California, USNR, war memoirs, World War II

Member Spotlight: Jen Brewer!

July 10, 2021 By jbrewer Leave a Comment

Jen Brewer lives in Rochester, Minnesota.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

The Bench – a parable that follows a young mother through her journey of finding and fulfilling her personal purpose.
Lazy Hydroponics online course – a course that teaches people how to build and grow a hydroponic garden in their home.
Be the Chocolate Chip – a short book geared toward the youth to teach how to not ‘melt’ in the oven of the world.
Stop Dieting and Start Losing Weight for Good – a book sharing principles of health and how to build a toolbox of actions to create a healthy life.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I have always loved writing and teaching. I have a book constantly swirling around inside my head. I love to speak and see light bulbs come on as someone grasps a new concept or understands an old story in a new light.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Seeing a book make its way from my head, through the various stages of writing and editing, to come out in a finalized format. It’s so surreal to hold one of my books in my hands for the first time.

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

To be true to my story. To take advice but not lose my essence in the creative process.

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

Go for it! The world needs YOUR story, told through YOUR eyes. It’s easy to get intimidated by all of the already published authors out there, but you have a unique voice to share.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Seeing the power of God makes my words more than they ever could be. When I get in the zone and become more of a faucet for God’s inspiration, I feel a complete oneness with the Spirit. It’s such a cool feeling.

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

It’s a constant roller coaster. I can be completely in the groove one day and hit a major creative wall the next. I am definitely a work in progress!

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

I have fused my nutrition education with my creative pursuits and have jumped into the world of humanitarian work. All of the profits from my books or courses go directly to fund humanitarian projects. I have loved giving a voice to forgotten communities around the world by telling their stories.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

http://www.jenbrewer.com

Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Author, Be the Chocolate Chip, books, humanitarian work, Jen Brewer, Latter-day Saint, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, Lazy Hydroponics, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, service, Stop Dieting and Start Losing Weight for Good, The Bench, Writer

Member Spotlight: Tiffany Thomas!

June 26, 2021 By Trina Boice 1 Comment

Tiffany Thomas lives in Houston, Texas.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

I am a blogger. My blog is called “Saving Talents.” Part of the blog’s purpose is to provide free daily devotionals for children that go along with the “Come, Follow Me” program. I also blog about anything that could be useful for someone trying to live a Christ-centered life, which ranges from words of inspiration to finances to recipes. I also have Crohn’s disease, so sometimes I write about dealing with chronic illness.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I began homeschooling my children and wanted something about the gospel I could teach them. A month after beginning, “Come Follow Me” was announced, I knew that would be the perfect fit. I saw so many other parents feeling overwhelmed with the responsibility of it, though, so I decided to offer my content for free for others to use.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I love hearing from other parents about how the devotionals have made a difference in their home. It’s so rewarding to feel like I am helping not only my own children, but other children as well.

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

“You can’t please everyone.” Everyone has different tastes and preferences about what they read or use or see. Sometimes, that feedback is helpful, but other times, that feedback is simply an opinion that may or may not fit with your goals. It’s okay to choose to not apply someone’s input about work.

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

Find a circle of support. Blogging is an extremely difficult and competitive field. Not only are you writing, but you also have to learn the technology and keep up with changing social media and search engines in order to have success. Having a pod or group of other bloggers who aren’t competitive and are willing to help one another makes all the difference.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Honestly, it’s the gospel and my testimony. I see on a daily basis how much better my life is because of the knowledge I have about Heavenly Father and His love for me. My relationship with the Savior has lightened many burdens, and I want to pass that on to others who may also be struggling with the burdens that come with this life.

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

Blogging is so much more work than just sitting down and writing an article. I have learned so much about data analysis, graphic design, and more. It has forced me to leave my comfort zone and be diligent in my efforts if I want to reach as many people as possible.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

Being a blogger lets me reach a variety of people all around the world that I normally wouldn’t come in contact with. Not only do the devotionals help other young parents bring the gospel into their children’s lives in deliberate ways, but I also can help those who are looking for ways to follow the Savior more closely. Whether that’s in their personal development or their struggles with a chronic illness diagnosis or parenting or homeschooling, hopefully, my experiences have helped ease the path for others who are in similar circumstances.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

https://savingtalents.com/

Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: blog, blogger, blogging, children, Come Follow Me program, families, gospel of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saint, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Saving Talents blog, Tiffany Thomas

Member Spotlight: Oakli Van Meter!

June 19, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

I’m currently working on a book series, so I haven’t published yet, but I do have a blog that I try to write on! I started it by suggestion from a professor at BYU and it’s been on and off but I’m hoping to focus on it and build it up in the future!

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

My dad is an author (Jason F. Wright who’s most known for his New York Times best-selling book Christmas Jars), and I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing. I used to read 3 books on a weekend during high school. Life’s a little busier now, but I still love reading and creating media.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

My career is just getting started since I just graduated last year. One thing I’ve done that was so fun is live editing a book my dad wrote live. So he wrote the book live for fans to watch and I edited live as he wrote. It was a fun experience and definitely challenged me with all those people watching!

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

Prioritize what matters most. There have been times in my life where I haven’t been able to enjoy reading and writing as much as others. And that’s okay. As long as the most important things come first. But your creativity is important, too.

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

One thing that has really helped me is reading books about writing. As both a writer and an editor, this has helped immensely in honing my craft. My favorite by far is, Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. As a writer, it’s helped me write better and as an editor, it’s helped me edit better. I’ve learned how to give better feedback about the story and the content.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Music. I find a lot of inspiration and ideas in the lyrics of music. I love to listen to music while writing, too.

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

Everyone is different. I love listening to music while I write and some people may find it distracting. I don’t write in long chunks—mostly for lack of time. If I get 20-30 minutes in, that’s awesome for me. It takes forever, but writing is more of a side thing for me right now, so it works out perfectly.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

When I’m editing, I try to focus on the good things someone did. I don’t love giving critiques, so I try to focus more on the good and mention the critiques more lightly. I hope that has made the people I’ve worked with feel good.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

http://www.wiseoleoak-wordpress.com

Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: BYU, Christmas Jars, Jason F. Wright, Jessica Brody, Latter-day Saint, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDS, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Oakli Van Meter, Save the Cat Writes a Novel, Writer

Member Spotlight: Karlene Browning!

June 12, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

Karlene Browning lives in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

As a typesetter, editor, and formatter, I’ve worked on many books over the years, including HE DID DELIVER ME FROM BONDAGE by Colleen C. Harrison, a best-selling LDS 12-step recovery book; PIECE OF SKY by Ann Hunter, a middle-grade fairy tale retelling; and many more. As I recently returned to the publishing scene, I’ve released OMEGA ALPHA and LIFE IN THE PIT by Kristen Landon, and LIFELIKE by Sheila A. Nielson (a 14th annual Whitney Award finalist).

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

Since I learned to read at age 4, I’ve been fascinated with stories. I love words, I love stories. I was about 12 when I realized that people wrote books, and thought, maybe, I could write one too! I haven’t published a novel yet, but I’m still thinking about it. In the meantime, I play with words and story every day—reading, editing, typesetting, formatting, design, and marketing. I love taking a manuscript and making it shine!

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

That’s like asking which is your favorite child! I am very proud of my work with Hearthaven Publishing, getting the message of recovery through Jesus Christ out to the Latter-day Saint community. Their first book, HE DID DELIVER ME FROM BONDAGE, has sold over 200,000 copies. Another huge highlight is my most recent release, LIFELIKE, which is a Whitney finalist! There was much jumping and screaming and exaltation when that was announced.

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

Don’t ever tell yourself you can’t do something because you don’t know how. We have Google now. You can always learn how to do something. The more you use a tool or skill, the better you become. Also, a recent piece of advice that I use daily: “When one can see no future, all one can do is the next right thing.” – Pabbie from Frozen II

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

If you want to do something, keep learning and keep practicing. Network with people you know. Don’t be afraid to tell friends and family what you’re doing. Your excitement for what you do will inspire them—and they’ll tell others. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to establish yourself as a professional in any field—it’s how I got (still get) 95% of my work.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

I can see the end of the project from the beginning, in all it’s shining glory. That view keeps me going.

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

Book people are my people. I can talk with them for hours about books, authors, and other book-related things. It’s networking with others who love books that keeps my creative process going.

You can find tips on the creative process on my “About” page on my website at: https://inksplasher.com/meet-inksplasher/

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

I love doing workshops and presentations about creating and publishing books. I love sharing what I’ve learned over the past 40 years and encouraging others to keep trying, celebrating their successes. Years ago, author Josi S. Kilpack told me that I was the best book cheerleader ever and that has remained one of my most treasured compliments.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

http://inksplasher.com/

Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: book design, book formatting, books, editors, Hearthaven Publishing, Josi S. Kilpack, Karlene Browning, Latter-day Saint, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDS, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Lifelike, publisher, Sheila A. Nielson, typesetting, Whitney Award, writers

Showing Versus Telling to Write Compelling Dialogue

June 2, 2021 By Emma Heggem Leave a Comment

By Emma Heggem   

To write a good conversation, you first need to be picky about what conversations make it into your book. A conversation that doesn’t affect the story, no matter how dynamic, realistic, and well-written, will feel like an unnecessary aside. Dialogue takes up a lot more space than narrating a conversation would. It needs to earn that space by showing readers something important. Characters need to learn valuable information through the conversation, whether that’s the password to their bank account or the state of another human being’s emotions. The things that are talked about must change the story or the character by being known.

There are some things that come across particularly well by being shown to readers in a conversation. One example is relationships. Readers don’t like to be told about a relationship between two characters. They want to feel the connection for themselves, which means that it is very important to show relationships and show them changing over the course of the book. Downtime or relationship-changing moments for characters, including dialogue, can help readers feel the bond between the characters and be invested in the relationship. This is true whether the relationship is improving or declining. Inter-character conflict is just as important to show as characters falling in love.

Decisions can also work well as dialogue conversations. Inner monologues can get tiring to read and can drift into angst or get repetitive. Real people mull over the same thing again and again when making a decision, but characters need to avoid boring their readers. One way to show them pondering a decision without sitting inside their head and going in circles is to have them talk their decision through with another person. This pushes them forward and forces them to move through each part of the decision and then move on. When the character weighing the decision gets bogged down, their friends or listeners can express the same frustration the readers will be feeling and cut them off.

Another excellent use of dialogue is to provide the reader with an active and dynamic account of events that your point-of-view character wasn’t present for. This can help tone down unnecessary telling in your novel. The characters who were present can retell the story, be asked questions, and even be unreliable when it suits your needs. That’s much more interesting than a factual summary of important events.

Speaking of things your point-of-view character doesn’t know, dialogue is a great way to show readers the emotional state of your other characters without necessarily cluing your POV character in. Is one of your characters keeping a huge secret? Is a side character madly in love with your oblivious main character? By showing the conversations directly to the reader, you allow the reader to pick up on things that the point-of-view character doesn’t notice. This can help fill in the blanks and explain complex side-character motivations without having to switch POV.

As with most forms of showing, dialogue takes up more time and space than narration does. Choosing which conversations to show your readers is a very important step towards making sure that the conversation will be compelling. Don’t waste time with dialogue that isn’t going to strengthen your story. Focus on the moments that readers truly need to hear (read) about and you will end up having a much easier time keeping them interested and invested.

Happy writing!

———————————————————————————————

Emma Heggem is the managing editor with Future House Publishing. She specializes in content editing sci-fi and fantasy novels. She has worked with authors from around the world to prepare their manuscripts for publication. When she’s not editing, she attends writers conferences to take pitches, give critiques, and talk to aspiring writers about the mysterious world of publishing. Emma graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English language and a minor in editing.

Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Writing Tagged With: blog, compelling dialogue, Emma Heggem, how to write characters, how to write dialogue, Latter-day Saint, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDS, LDS author, LDS authors, LDS writers, LDSPMA

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