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Writer

Tips for the Creative Parent

March 3, 2023 By Tristi Pinkston 2 Comments

As parents, we want the very best for our children, and we devote a certain amount of time each day to seeing they have what they need. As children of God ourselves, we also feel the heavenly pull to “create something that did not exist before,” as Dieter F. Uchtdorf reminds us. Creation is a godly attribute, and our participation in the arts is pleasing to our Father in Heaven.

The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that to everything there is a season, and we may feel that our endeavors need to wait until our children are older. I certainly felt that way when I began my family, but then I was strongly prompted not to ignore my desire to write. It wasn’t easy, but as I learned to juggle my schedule, I was able to balance motherhood and a stay-at-home career, which proved to be necessary as the economy fluctuated.

Perhaps my experiences can be of use as you seek time to explore your creativity while also raising your family. My thoughts are geared toward writing, but they can be adapted to any artistic endeavor.

A young mother writes on her computer while balancing a baby on her lap.
A young mother writes on her computer while balancing a baby on her lap.

Preparing Meals and Snacks

While it’s best to prepare foods from scratch when possible, there are times when that’s just not reasonable or feasible. Simple breakfasts like cold cereal will do in a pinch (there are varieties with less sugar). You can also do cheese, crackers, carrot sticks, and lunch meat for lunch. I do try to prepare “actual dinners,” as my daughter puts it, and I do make breakfast and lunch, but on days when I’m seriously writing, I let mealtimes become more casual. Some ideas:

a. Keep yogurt in your fridge for a quick snack for you or the kids. Yogurt and a banana make a great breakfast, too.

b. Take a loaf of bread and make it into a whole stack of sandwiches. Then slide the sandwiches back into the bread sack. When someone needs a sandwich, they can just grab one out of the fridge.

c. Designate one crisper in your fridge to be a “snack drawer.” Fill it up with apples, cheese sticks, yogurt, etc. When your children want a snack, tell them to go get something out of the “snack drawer.” You can do the same thing in your cupboard. Make a basket with pretzels, raisins, crackers, etc. and have that be the special “snack basket.” You can take sandwich bags, break the packages down into serving sizes, and you’re your children they can have one so they don’t run off with the whole box.

d. Make meals ahead of time and stick them in the freezer.

e. When I buy a large package of meat, I like to cook it all up, divide it, and then freeze it. That way, when I go to use it, I just warm it through instead of having to both defrost and cook it.

f. Make tomorrow’s dinner while you’re making tonight’s. Cover it and put it in the fridge, then just throw it in the oven tomorrow night.

g. Teach your older children how to make sandwiches, warm up soup, prepare drinks, etc. They get a sense of pride in their accomplishments when they are allowed to help make a meal.

These are all things you can either direct from your desk or will help you spend less time in the kitchen, which equals more time at the computer.

Entertaining the Troops

a. There are many questionable streaming services and we need to make careful viewing choices, but there are some wonderful programs that are fun and educational. My kids have learned a lot from shows like CyberChase, Reading Rainbow, Sesame Street, The Magic School Bus, and the like. We also love Veggie Tales, which is based on Bible stories. There’s nothing wrong with turning on the TV and letting your kids watch a positive show while you write—keeping everything in balance, of course.

b. Get some paper and crayons and let your kids “write” a book of their own while you’re working.

c. Ask older children to read to the younger ones.

Simplifying Housework

a. I have to leave my desk and walk around periodically, so while I’m up, I’ll change out the laundry and put in a load of dishes. Usually by the time I’m done doing that, I’ll be ready to get back to work.

b. The happiest children are the ones who feel they are valuable in their homes and who have a sense of purpose. When you teach your children to do chores, you are helping them to feel needed. Of course, keep the chores age-appropriate so they aren’t unfair and don’t become overwhelming, and work alongside the child. As you team up to turn a half-hour job into a ten-minute job (freeing up twenty minutes), you’re also drawing closer together.

c. Reevaluate your thinking about housework. Are there ways you could simplify your routines? Can you put up with toys scattered across the floor for a little while so you can finish your chapter? Is it necessary to have your dishes perfectly stacked all the time? When you’re on a roll with your book, it’s okay to let some things slide until you’re done and catch up later.

Organizing Your Time

a. I like to assign certain tasks to certain days of the week. For instance, while I was a Cub Scout leader, Wednesday was Scout Day. After lunch, I’d sit down and review what I needed to do to prepare for the meeting at 4:30. I wasn’t writing during this time, or grocery shopping, or anything else. After the boys left, I’d look at the next week’s meeting. I’d do ahead-of-time prep work, and I’d put needed items on my shopping list. Then I didn’t have to think about it again until the next Wednesday. When I was a representative for a local direct sales company, Tuesday was my prep day for that. Look at your life – are there tasks you can isolate to one day a week?

b. Create an errand day. I used to run out and do errands several times a week, and I found I was away from home a lot. Now I designate an errand day. This usually coordinates with payday. I’ll pay the bills, and then I’ll go out and do my grocery shopping, trip to the post office, etc. all at once. It makes for about a two or three-hour trip, but it’s better for me to get it done and over with.

In each of these things, seek the guidance of the Spirit. You will be directed to fun activities for your children and ways to delegate and organize. You’ll find that you’re prompted to know when your children need you most and it’s time to put down your project, and you’ll be led in how to meet their needs most effectively. The Lord will bless your sincere desires to serve Him both as a parent and as a light to others by means of your art.   

A headshot of Tristi Pinkston.

About the Contributor

Tristi Pinkston is the mother of four, the wife of one, the author of one hundred and seventy-five, and the editor of oodles. She serves as the chairman of the board for the Bear Lake Arts Council and participates enthusiastically (if not with utmost skill) in their theatrical productions. She is currently the editor-in-chief for the resource library here on the LDSPMA website. You can learn more about her on her website.

    Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Creativity, Faith & Mindset, Productivity, Writing Tagged With: LDS author, parenting, time management, Writer

    Channeling Your Inner Voice

    February 17, 2023 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

    A person writes in their journal.

    Okay, I’ll admit it: I love NBC’s The Voice. It might be because of the amazing talent that presents itself on stage each week. It might be because of Adam Levine. Either way, if it’s on, I find myself dropping everything and listening. I can’t sing for the life of me, but I can imagine what those contestants must be feeling as they get on stage, hoping that one of the judges will pick their voice.

    As a writer, each time you send out a query, it is your own personal The Voice audition. Readers, agents, and publishers all want the same thing—a book they connect to and can’t put down. Most often, that means a book with voice. You’ve read it on agent page after agent page: “I’m looking for a fresh, unique voice.” “I love a totally original, hilarious voice.” “I want to represent stories that have an emphasis on voice-driven narratives.” “I love strong voices.” All those quotes are from actual agents who are currently seeking clients. The bottom line? It’s all about VOICE!

    What Is Voice?

    Let’s look at four distinctions that can help you figure out what voice is, how to find it, and how to mold it for the purposes of your book.

    Style: To be clear, style and voice are not the same thing, although they often influence each other. Style, as the dictionary puts it, is a “distinctive manner of expression.” It relates more to your words, the syntax you choose and reject, the way you compose your sentences, and the order in which you string the sentences together. Style (and, consequently, voice) can be short and to the point or long and flowing, flowery or blunt, conversational or formal. The audience to which you are writing helps determine the style. A gunslinging Western will likely have a much different style than a YA vampire romance.

    Voice: Voice, on the other hand, is the unique point of view through which you see the world. There are many ways to qualify that sentence—and debate it. Is it your quirky personality inadvertently coming through? Or is it a deliberate lens you apply to a particular story? For example, you, through your narrator, might frame everything from a skeptical or cynical point of view. Or you might see everything through a lens of hopefulness, a viewpoint that will come out in the narration—expressed, of course, in the style (the words and word relationships you choose). There may be a combination of whimsy or humor or stoicism or pragmaticism or a million other permutations that flavor your personal paradigm and the lens your narrator uses. To avoid a semantics debate and focus on what’s useful, know that either view of voice (the deliberate lens or the inadvertent personality leak) will get you where you want—just focus on those unique points of view that create a colorful narrative.

    Character voice vs. author voice: Since voice springs from deep within the author, it will influence, often at a subconscious level, the characters’ voices. That being said, it is important to note that an author’s voice and a character’s voice can be different. Your character does not need to talk like you do. Well-drawn characters will have their own personalities, as well as their own unique worldviews, but your point of view on life will influence how that unique character expresses his or her unique point of view (yes, dizzying)! For instance, no two authors will give the same voice to a thirties-something, dark-haired female accountant who loves sushi.

    The angle: Another way to look at the lens or point of view is to call it an angle. This is easiest to grasp in terms of nonfiction. In nonfiction, the fresh angle or lens through which you look at your material is often more overt than in fiction. If you are writing about the health of the body, for example, are you looking at it with a humorous, entertaining, thought-provoking lens, or with a more scientific approach? Or are you focusing on the facts and the applicable changes one could make to his or her health? Your agenda—your purpose for writing—will largely affect your approach to the material and your choice of style. This combination of style and approach/angle can make for “a new voice.”

    A good fiction example is The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. She takes a much-covered topic in fiction—slavery—but examines it through the eyes of early female abolitionists who were also early feminists. The exploration of the connection between abolitionism and feminism (and slavery as it applies to the body and mind) is a fresh angle, and the character POV lens through which the story is told is also unique. Even more exciting, Sue Monk Kidd has a distinctive author voice that permeates all her books, even though the voice of each character is highly differentiated from all others she’s written (I call it her “quiet-power-poetic-wisdom” voice, and it is recognizable through her writing style but also her world views that emerge from each book). Her books would be great to study if you’re trying to understand the ins and outs of voice. Watch for patterns in her authorial “voice” (across her fiction and nonfiction) and then note how she uses fresh angles to create a compelling and original voice for each character and book.

    How Do You Find Your Voice?

    Embrace What Makes You Extraordinary.
    Part of finding your voice entails learning to appreciate your individuality. “We are all, each and every one, unique in the Universe. And that uniqueness makes us valuable” (James A. Owen, Drawing Out the Dragons). James has it right. The more you come to understand that, the closer you get to understanding your voice and how to use it most effectively. There are many talented authors out there, and sometimes, as you read an amazing book or story, you may feel that spark of longing to create something just as moving for someone else. Too often, we think the only way to do that is to sound like the author who inspired us. But as much as an author speaks to your heart and mind and soul, remember: the world already has that voice. What it doesn’t have yet is your voice. Get to know yourself—pay closer attention to what engages your curiosity, intellect, passions, and so on. Have others tell you what interesting, quirky, endearing, and annoying qualities they notice in you. Write down snippets of thought you have about the world around you.

    Discover Your World.
    Your voice is shaped by what you know and what you experience, so get out and learn. I don’t mean that you need to move to Fiji or climb K2 (unless you want to, of course). But visit the world around you, from museums and plays to natural wonders and sports events. Take a class. Try an activity totally outside your comfort zone. If you typically spend the weekend tailgating, attend the opera—and vice versa. If you get the chance, live in another state or country, even for a short while. Volunteer. Travel. Serve. Study. Work. Play. In short, live. Exploring—and challenging—your views and experiences will expand your voice and allow you to tune in to others’ views vicariously, enabling you to write characters with their own unique voices.

    Read.
    Read history, travel, psychology, mythology, economics, business, biography—read anything and everything. Reading not only expands your world but your knowledge about the world. Learn to look at things differently, and then experiment with showing that in your writing. Find authors you love and study them. What do you admire about their voices? Are you drawn to humor? Maybe there is a natural comedian in you just waiting to get out. Do you love the probing, expansive qualities of deep nonfiction? If you love it, it is probably because there is some of it inside of you.

    Write.
    Author Sarah Beard (Porcelain Keys) said, “I think I found my voice about halfway through my second round of revisions on my first novel.” I’ve also heard it said that you have to write four or five novels before you find your voice. And then there are people who just have a natural voice right out of the gate. No matter what camp you fall into, you will never find your voice unless you’re writing. If you’re struggling to find it in your story—or simply to recognize it—try some writing prompts. There are dozens of books and sites out there that will give you ideas for pushing your creativity from its comfort zone. This is the space where insights are most often born. (Do them with a friend and compare how your voices—your unique points of view—differ.)

    Finding your voice might be one of the hardest things you have to do as a writer, but don’t make it harder than it needs to be. The most effective way to kill your voice might be by trying to make it something it isn’t. Be yourself. It’s your voice; set it free!

    Do This Now

    Read what you’ve written and ask, “Does that sound like me?” If there are places where the answer is no, then fix them. Next, pay attention to how you talk. Are there certain things you say that are just you? I can’t hear the words “I know, right?” without thinking of my oldest daughter. If you need to, record yourself. If you still can’t hear your own unique vocabulary, ask others what they hear in your voice.

    Do a free write. One of the best ways to find your voice is by not holding it back. Just let yourself write and see what comes out. Don’t try to correct yourself. Don’t think; just write. A lot of times, your first try just may be your best work.

    Love your story and your subject matter. Chances are, you can tell the authors you gravitate toward really like (or care about) what they’re writing. There is a certain enthusiasm in their writing, and it reflects in every word. This doesn’t mean you have to write only about butterflies and rainbows. Maybe you get a thrill out of scaring your audience. Maybe you love the workings of the human mind. Maybe you’re a history nut. Even hard, scary, painful things in life need to be explored with conviction and passion. Write about what you love, or what you care deeply about, and your inner truth, joy, and purpose—your true voice—will manifest itself.

    (Written by Sabine Berlin with Heidi Brockbank and Angela Eschler. Reposted with permission from Eschler Editing.)

    Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Creativity, Faith & Mindset, Writing Tagged With: blog, LDS, LDS author, Writer

    LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Spanky Ward

    October 2, 2021 By Spencer Skeen Leave a Comment

    Spanky Ward currently lives in Holladay, Utah.

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

    I’ve written the feature films Riot (Dolph Lundgren), Ruling of the Heart, and Christmas Break-In (Danny Glover, Denise Richards). I’ve also written, produced, and directed the feature films Hello, I Love You and The Santa Box, as well as over seventy short films and commercials.

    I also recently self-published my first children’s book called Charlie’s Long Journey, available on Amazon.com.

    I have other films, novels, and children’s books in the works.

    What inspired you to become a creator of media?

    I’ve always loved TV, movies—anything that sparks my imagination, but writing didn’t hit me until college. I started out with commercials, then movies and now novels and children’s books. I’m excited to explore more forms of writing in the future.

    What has been the highlight of your career so far?

    Definitely writing, producing and directing my movie The Santa Box. It was my first bigger budget film, and it has already won five awards and just sold to the UK, Japan, Australia, and South Africa, with more territories on the way.

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

    If you feel that God’s given you a talent, then develop it and use it to its fullest potential, no matter how difficult things get or the size or number of roadblocks in your way.

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

    If you have the talent needed to succeed, then never give up.

    What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

    The anticipation of seeing an audience react to my work.

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

    That my goal in life is to tell great stories that are entertaining for everyone.

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

    I’ve had a chance to make some heartfelt family friendly movies over the years.

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

    http://www.facebook.com/spankyward

    Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Charlie's Long Journey, children's book, Christmas Break-In, developing talents, Director, feature films, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Producer, Riot, Ruling of the Heart, short films, Spanky Ward, The Santa Box, Writer

    LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Bonnie K. T. Dillabough

    September 11, 2021 By Trina Boice 2 Comments

    Bonnie K.T. Dillabough currently lives in Richland, Washington.

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

    I wrote the Dimensional Alliance series, including The House on Infinity Loop, Infinity on Fire, and Mirrors of Infinity with the 4th book in the series coming out in November 2021: Ripples of Infinity. The eventual scope of the series will be about 15 books. My books are science-fiction that read like fantasy. Dragons and dwarves and fantastical creatures…high-tech, dimensional travel, and alien encounters—all of this and more.

    What inspired you to become a creator of media?

    I’ve been writing since my early years and spent 15 years in broadcast television, but I always wanted to write novels. An active life as a veteran, mother of 6 (now grandmother of 17 and counting), and life happened. Then one day, I had the joy of interviewing Mercedes Lackey. When I timidly remarked I had considered writing a novel, she said, “So put your butt in the chair and write!”
    I did. Two weeks before my 64th birthday, The House on Infinity Loop was published in 2018.

    What has been the highlight of your career so far?

    Probably the opportunity to interact with fans and potential fans of the books has been the highlight. I have one science fiction/fantasy convention under my belt (before Covid) and some author talks. One of the most fun highlights was being accosted in a local bookstore because someone recognized me. They were there to purchase my books and asked for me to sign them in the aisle of the store. I don’t think it had occurred to me that I would ever be recognized like that.

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

    Definitely to write and to associate with other writers, starting with NaNoWriMo just after getting the emphatic advice from Mercedes Lackey. Through groups such as The Alliance of Independent Authors and Aspiring Authors, I’ve had the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the publishing industry.
    These connections and the continuing education I have received have led me to realize that no author is an island. We do some of our best work as we help one another.

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

    Write. Seriously, I know that sounds over-simplistic, but unfortunately, it is too easy to get wrapped up in details that have nothing to do with telling your story. Get the story out of you before you worry about editing or anything else. Then get educated. There are so many traps laid for aspiring authors and most of them involve taking shortcuts. Do your due diligence. Join writing groups. Don’t fall for the wiles of those who only want your money. Get advice from people who are actually selling books and have a following. And don’t compromise your principles.

    What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

    Reading good writing for one thing. I’ve been re-reading favorite books in my genre to learn from those who have mastered the craft. People like Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, J.K. Rowling, and Brandon Mull. Their styles are all different, and yet, as I read their books, not as a fan but as a writer, I realize there are certain things they all have in common. I try to emulate the things that fit my style and avoid the things that don’t fit.

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

    I am what is known in the writing arena as a “pantser,” meaning I write by the seat of my pants. I don’t do outlines. But I still know where I’m going. I write the last chapter or scene in my book in the beginning. This gives me something to shoot for. Admittedly, by the time I get there, I often have to do some re-writing, but that’s ok. Knowing the end from the beginning has a lot to be said for it. Also, my writing is character-centric. I know my characters very well.

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

    The focus of my books is about how working together accomplishes so much more than working alone. Some of the values I try to teach as I entertain are the value of kindness, why judgmentalism is counter-productive, that there is a “creator of all things,” that science and belief are not opposites, the importance of family, the concept of redemption, and the idea that creation is much bigger than we can imagine.

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

    Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Author, Bonnie K. T. Dillabough, broadcast television, Dimensional Alliance, Fantasy, Infinity on Fire, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Ripples of Infinity, Sci-fi, Science Fiction, The House on Infinity Loop, Writer

    LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Monique Bucheger!

    July 31, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

    Monique Bucheger lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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

    My middle-grade fiction is called the Ginnie West Adventure series: 1) The Secret Sisters Club, 2) Trouble Bows West, 3) Simply West of Heaven, 4) Being West is Best, plus the story Popcorn; also see the boxed set of The Ginnie West Collection (books 1-3).

    I will be launching Change Rushes West this year with my co-author, Scoot Merritt, who is an author, artist, and horse whisperer—a needed resource for our series going forward. 🙂 I am also in two anthologies: Little Boy Blue: Hope After Miscarriage and Angels from the Realms of Story. Proceeds from each anthology are donated to help people.

    What inspired you to become a creator of media?

    As a former foster mom to over 100 kids, I write books that empower and amuse kids. Adults resonate with my books as well. I deal with hard subjects such as alcoholism, child abuse, child abandonment, death of a parent, divorce, and blended families, all in an age-appropriate way.

    My books also deal with friendship, horses, country living, overcoming hard things, and finding joy in the journey of your life. Kids aged 8 to 108 realize they can change their own stars and that they can step into their own power to become the superheroes in their own lives.

    What has been the highlight of your career so far?

    The highlight has been meeting people who have shared with me that my series has helped them have courage and brought them peace and healing, and knowing my series has impacted people in a positive and meaningful way.

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

    Write books you want to read and be authentic. I want to impact lives in a positive, uplifting way, and my series does that. Also, write SOMEthing—you can always edit to perfection—you just can’t edit a blank page. Give yourself permission to write garbage if you need to—then FIX it. 🙂

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

    Write something you are passionate about. You don’t have to know everything to start, but starting will help you learn what you need to know.

    What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

    My series is a safe place to overcome hard things—and hopefully helps others to step out of their comfort zones like my characters do to help their lives become more meaningful.

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

    I love being a catalyst for empowering people. I am passionate about my published series as well as my two unpublished ones. I want to help people step into their courage—to be the person they know they can be. Usually the key person who holds us back is our self. Giving ourselves permission to be who we know we need to be is the first step to stepping into our own power. Allow yourself to BE that person.

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

    I write books that empower kids and adults. I champion kids in tough situations. I share my story of seven miscarriages and stillbirths in Little Boy Blue: Hope After Miscarriage. I lost a twenty-year-old son to a car accident and find parents in similar situations crossing my path. I always try to uplift them. I advocate for people to be heroes in their own lives—because sometimes you have to save yourself. I want to empower people to save themselves and other people they care about.

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

    Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Angels from the Realms of Story, Being West is Best, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, Little Boy Blue Hope After Miscarriage, middle-grade fiction, Monique Bucheger, Mormon, Scoot Merritt, Simply West of Heaven, superhero, The Ginnie West Adventure Series, The Secret Sisters Club, Trouble Blows West, Writer

    LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Shaun Stahle!

    July 24, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

    Shaun Stahle lives in Bountiful, Utah.

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

    I was a journalist for nearly 40 years, including 17 years at the Deseret News, where I wrote and edited the Church News section, writing about 1,000 articles, covering such events as temple dedications and travels of President Gordon B. Hinckley. I loved writing about the obscure acts of faith as well the 15-year-old girl who shrieked with joy when President Hinckley walked in front of her in Moscow as he entered the hall to speak with members in Russia.

    What inspired you to become a creator of media?

    I wanted to be an architect. An aptitude test in junior high school suggested I become an art critic. Somehow, Mother Nature veered me down the path of writing, much to my surprise. I remember talking with friends only weeks after our missions, telling them I’d have nothing to do with writing or newspapers… too hard, poor pay. Before I knew what was happening, I was receiving my journalism degree from BYU. As a reluctant writer, I find great joy in telling the unknown, obscure story.

    What has been the highlight of your career so far?

    I’m honored that I could be an eyewitness to meaningful moments, like the dedication of temples and Church history sites, to feel the energy and hear the testimonies of Church leaders when the cameras weren’t rolling, to stand outside the Boston temple on dedication day and look over the beautiful landscape and feel that the people who mingled on the grounds weren’t the only ones there. But I probably most prize working beside my father during my teenage years in his community newspaper where I learned the fine art of communication.

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

    “He who would cast a living line must sweat.”
    This simple quote was taped to the edge of my father’s wooden desk. How I was able to find it under so many piles and stacks of books and yellowing sheets of paper, I’m not sure. I don’t know if it’s what changed me but foretold my experience, that writing is hard, maybe harder than swinging a 75-pound sledgehammer to break concrete.

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

    Writers are lovers of life, with an ambition to know and do. Their souls are open and long for new thoughts and sensations. If you grow grumpy when you fail to express yourself in words, then you have potential. If not, you’d be better off swinging that sledgehammer.

    What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

    The sensation of doing good. Writing about people and historic events is a release of joy. I feel a spiritual connection to those I write about. Discovering the good in them, how they have sacrificed to make life better, is a thrill to discover, like finding gold in a stream. Sharing their experiences with the world amplifies my joy.

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

    It seems that thoughts and finding interesting perspectives on life and what is going on around me are constantly coming to mind. I’m slow to respond by writing. For me, there are two great challenges to the creative: sludge in the bloodstream that seems to cause my procrastination, and the feeling, or fear, that my writing will not match the greatness of the person or the event I’m describing.

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

    I feel that my God-given talent and purpose in life is to help others see what they are missing, to slow them down to recognize the value and contribution of an obscure person, or to take a moment to relish a seemingly insignificant moment in life. My writing over the years has the unspoken motive of unifying a community, to discover the goodness of life, to stir feelings of peace and contentment. I hope my creative juices have built communities of faith.

    Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Church history sites, dedication of temples, Desert News, Gordon B. Hinckley, journalist, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDS, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Mormon, Shaun Stahle, The Church News, Writer

    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: Steve Dunn Hanson!

    July 3, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

    Steve Dunn Hanson lives in Veradale, Washington.

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

    I have written articles for the Ensign and scripts for several Church Audiovisual Department leadership training videos. I also have published three nonfiction books, including Joy: The Other Side of Sorrow, 10 Principles of Love to Help You Parent Your Adult Children (co-authored), and Observations: The Book of Mormon. My published fiction books include The Mission, The Course of Fate trilogy (FIND, SHATTER, GATHER), and Sealed Up, the precursor to The Course of Fate series. In addition, I post my “cogitations,” poetry, and photography on my website.

    What inspired you to become a creator of media?

    President Spencer W. Kimball’s article in the July 1977 Ensign, “The Gospel Vision of the Arts,” spoke to my soul. Two statements he made particularly resonated with me: “Inspired Saints will write great books and novels and biographies and plays” and “Real craftsmanship, regardless of the skill involved, reflects real caring, and real caring reflects our attitude about ourselves, about our fellowmen, and about life.”

    What has been the highlight of your career so far?

    When people tell me after reading one of my books or articles or poems, that their lives have been affected, or that they see things now that they didn’t before, or that their love for the Savior has expanded, or that they have a new sense of peace and comfort, I rejoice in being an instrument, for that has been my intent. Those kind of responses are my highlights.

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

    Listen! Listen to your readers. Listen to those trying to help you. Listen to the Spirit.

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

    The same advice I was given: Listen! In addition, Read! Read! Read! That’s how you learn to write. And I’ll pass on a phrase I always use: “I write to be edited!” That’s another way of saying, “Be humble, seek advice, and listen.”

    What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

    My constant prayer is to write meaningfully and write that which will be of worth to my readers. Then I try to listen and go to work. I am not often disappointed.

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

    My dear friend and mentor, Kaye Terry Hanson, told me, “Writing is easy. Just dip your pen in your blood and write.” For me, writing is hard, painful, often frustrating, and disappointing . . . and it is the process to my inspiration. That’s why I write.

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

    My first book, The Mission, a fictional account of a young man on a full-time mission struggling to find himself, was published 34 years ago. Even after all this time, I am still approached by men who are grandfathers now and who said they read that book as young missionaries, and it changed their mission and their lives. That does not cease to be an emotional, gratifying experience for me.

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

    https://stevedunnhanson.com/

    Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Author, Ensign magazine, Joy The Other Side of Sorrow, Kaye Terry Hanson, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDS missionaries, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Observations The Book of Mormon, Principles of Love To Help you Parent Your Adult Children, Sealed Up, Steve Dunn Hanson, The Course of Fate trilogy, The Mission, Writer

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