Life is Beautiful

I am feeling solemn as I write this. Our ward has had another death—this time it was one of our Young Men. He was suffering from severe depression and it had only worsened the last 2 months. His mother did everything she could, including home schooling. He had actually begun to show a turn around.

During his funeral, our bishop encouraged every person present to enjoy life. The sound of a baby’s laugh. The smell of flowers. The warmth of an embrace. The joy of a smile. As he said this, I cried because this young man lost his chance to experience the joys of serving a mission, marrying in the temple, having a family and holding his babies as they are born, along with many more pleasures this life has to offer. But he is in a happier place.

On Sunday, the topic was on the Plan of Salvation. I am ever grateful for Christ’s love for me and how He sacrificed His life so that I can live with my Heavenly Father again.

In times of darkness, when all seems lost and impossible—remember to hold tight to the iron rod. We are truly loved and blessed by our Father in Heaven and never, ever are alone. If we could only view ourselves as He does, we would stand in awe every moment of the day.




To David

Shifting Balances

Lately I've been feeling as if something was wrong. Very wrong. I have been feeling stifled in just about everything I've been doing from cleaning my house to reading my scriptures to writing. Why is this?

I know that my priorities have all changed since Thanksgiving. Holidays, kids not going to school and vacation did that to me! I no longer read scriptures first thing after sending the kids off to school. I stopped practicing the music I lead for church as much as I should. I stopped keeping up with my household chores and was available for my kids only when they needed me. I wasn't happy! I spent most of my time doing things like editing, blogging, updating my FB, visiting everyone's blogs.

I have decided to press the 'reset' button and go back to the way I handled things before chaos snuck into my life.

I feel refreshed and even surprised that I had allowed my priorities to shift around to where the most important of things were at the bottom. For me this is the way it works best: Heavenly Father, Family, ME (writing, drawing, singing, dancing--whatever my hobbies are). I feel fulfilled and happy when I do it in this order.

How do you keep balance in your life and stick to it?

Contest!

Suzette and Bethany, two agented authors, are holding a contest! What are they doing? Five of us lucky writers could win a critique of the first five pages of our manuscript along with the ole query letter, and Bree Despain's autographed The Dark Divine! How cool is that?

What? Are you still hear reading? Zip on over there and check it out!

Good luck!!

;)

My Starving Book

I thought I would let my No Kiss post linger a while, but I feel I should write about my editing experiences.

I have written my first novel ever to be shorter than 200 pages! Can you believe that? I guess it wouldn't be considered a novel then, right? I feel it has a good, strong story line, the characters are rich and believable and their trials are oh so real. The problem is that after reading a how to edit book, I was so self-conscious about writing that I starved my book! It is the most skeletal story I've ever written!

Well, I submitted this poor thing to Scrawl (my awesome critique group of bestest friends ever) and they gave it back to me telling me exactly what I knew it needed--flesh on its bones. LOL!

I've gone over their comments, suggestions and edits and have jotted down notes and set aside my notepad for the time being. I have to admit this: I am scared of it! I am scared of the great unknown.

Sure I have received critiques in the past before and have done many rewrites and edits and so on and so forth (I have 7 other books I have completed) but none of them are starved and needing so much building. It will be a challenge. A huge one. Maybe. Maybe not. I only think it will be because this is my first time. But you know what? I am up for the task. I have total faith in my capability as a person and as a writer to get the job done and I know my Scrawl will never lead me astray. I only feel bad for any frustrations they may have felt of reading a 'half baked' book!

I would love it if you shared with me how you have personally honed up to the challenge of rewrites when/if your editors/critiquers required one. On top of that, what is your process to combing through the comments and applying them? (I know that sometimes interpreting them can be frustrating as well).

Aspiring Authors

I've been wanting to write about aspiring authors and what it takes to become one. From my experience alone, it is NOT an easy thing. We are starting something from our own volition. It is a love. A passion. Something that stirs deep down in the heart of our souls.

We are like foot soldiers in battle. The first to struggle to maintain our own stance. The first to be blown to pieces. The first to experience drudgery. The drudgery of others' nodding politely with a cynical smile as you tell them your dreams.

It takes a platoon of strength to move on from the nonbelievers and hold your head up high and say, "I can do it." We especially need this fortification when we see our first works off into our alpha readers' hands. The ones who whip out their little red pen and start marking up all of our mistakes. Eek! I know the first time we see the bloody mess, our hearts sink.

Oh no! You may think, I felt so moved, I felt so clear and so sure, how can it be?

I know the pain involved when I first see all the mark ups. But there is still hope. The more battle worn we are, the tougher our skins become and the red mess on our perfect white sheets will be our badge of courage. It will be our strength to better ourselves and soon, we will welcome it for we know what comes after when we apply the useful comments. A gleaming story ready for submission!

Sometimes the comments can be destructive from those who do not know what they are doing. Once I followed someone's advice against my better judgment. Well, as I learned, it took me far away from where I should have gone. I had to start from ground zero. I put my novel back to where I thought it should have been in the first place. It is much better now.

As writers, we need to maintain a balance of what we feel is right as we listen to our critiquers' comments, but not to get our hearts tangled in the mire of confusion of self doubt! Remember that no one knows your story better than you. What they mark up is only opinion. If it doesn't feel right and you feel torn, take it to the Lord in prayer and then make your decision.

Another thing that I have found myself doing--especially after reading a self-help book on writing--is editing as I write. I wrote a novel so tentatively that is threadbare because of it. It is so skeletal because the rules kept biting me with every word I wrote. It was very destructive and made me feel inadequate.

Remember to try to write your first draft for the FUN of it. Let it carry you to those daring, fun, carefree places. Try not to think how odd it sounds as you write out that scene. Let it come straight from the heart! When you are finished, put it away for a few weeks (about 4-6) before you edit it for your critiquers.

A wolf cub is still a wolf and more so if it runs with its pack than cowering in its den. Do not be afraid to interact with published authors and feel that they are better than you. They were once where you are now.

Yes, it is an admirable thing that they have realized their dreams. Do not let them intimidate you because they are where you want to be. Let them be an example to you. You will get there. Let us be strong together and encourage other aspiring authors because without aspiring authors, the writing world will surely die. Never give up and lose sight of your dreams.

I would LOVE to hear your experiences (good or bad--be honest!) as an aspiring author and how it was for you if you are now published. :)