A Story Inspired

Today, an incredibly beautiful and talented young lady turns twenty years old. I first met her shortly before she turned four--she caught my eye when I saw her bouncing down the aisle in my sacrament meeting. Twice. I next saw her dancing circles around my mom and some guy in the foyer.

I married the guy. :)

But I saw her first.

Someday, I'm going to write a picture book about the love a stepmom can have for a child. The kind of love that doesn't lessen the love either of her parents feel for her; it's just another person who loves her. It's called I Saw You First. It's funny to me how sometimes the title of a story comes to me first. For this one, I have the title and the first couple of lines. It's going to be a poem I turn into a book. Rhyming and all that. Which, in large part, is why it's not written yet.

I receive story inspirations in different ways. Sometimes, an entire plot will sit down in my mind and not move until I write it down. Other times, like the above situation, it's the title that hits me first, but with a meaning I can't set aside. And, occasionally, a character will come to me with a story so powerful it can't be ignored. Though I doubt we've ever talked about it, I'm sure every writer has similar experiences. I don't know anyone who is always inspired the same way for every story they write.

It's my firm belief that the Lord speaks to each of us in ways He knows we will hear. The inspiration I receive at different times is what will actually impact me in those moments--and, as I stated before, it's not always the same thing. He knows me. And He speaks to me, but not the same way He speaks to you.

How are you inspired?

Staying True

by Cheri Chesley

The other night, I car-pooled up to our church building with a couple of other ladies for the Relief Society broadcast. That doesn't seem like a big deal, but in my new area our ward building is 30 miles away, and I wasn't going to be able to go unless I got a ride. While driving, we chatted about this and that, and then one of them said, "Aren't you a writer? That's what I heard."

Like most authors, I love and hate that question. Love it because, yes, I am a writer and I adore it. Hate it because I am not a fan of talking about myself. But it did steer the conversation to books, specifically MY books. As it happens, she's an avid YA fantasy reader, and purchased a copy of my book that night. (it doesn't always turn out that way, but it was pretty cool)

In our conversation, I tried to express to her how vital writing is to my well being. It's not just something I love; it truly loves me back. Kind of like a form of therapy, I guess, where I get almost as much out of it as I pour into it. It's become pretty clear in recent months that if I don't write I'm a miserable person--and not that much fun to be around. I've said it before: Writing keeps me sane. There's irony there--giving credence to the voices in my head keeps me sane. Um, really?

Yes.

The conference broadcast inspired me. Doing what makes me happy. Staying true to my ideals and my values. Keeping my sacred covenants. All of these things are in harmony with my writing. Remembering my value. Harmony again.

It's a pity the drive home took so long, because had I been able to rush straight to my computer I probably would have written into the night. As it was, by the time I got home and got my girls back from their grandpa's house it was past bedtime and we had church in the morning. :)

Today, though, is a new day! And I'm going to polish and shine up chapter 12 to make it beautiful.

The Least Likely Places

by Cheri Chesley

My daughter--this beautiful creature here--and I were out for a drive Friday and, of course, talking. Really, because getting my kids to stop talking is quite the feat. :) My big van doesn't have a working radio, so we had to (gasp) communicate.

One of her favorite movies right now is How to Train Your Dragon. I tell you this because one of her favorite lines is one Gobber says: "Trolls exist; they steal your socks. But only the left ones. What's up with that?" The first few times I heard that line, I laughed. But now, I'm pretty over it. It got us thinking, though.

Why just left socks? And, if it's trolls stealing your socks, why haven't we seen them?

So we started brain storming. And now, it looks like we're going to write a book together. I'm excited. It's not going to be a long book--maybe it will just be a picture book--but we've solved the mystery of the missing socks.

Her best friend right now is the daughter of my friend who has cancer. My daughter has chosen to name the main character in the book after her friend. How cute is that?

Where do you want to be as an author?

                                                   

                                                                        By Trina Boice
                                                                     www.boicebox.com

You've seen him in the movie The Secret and he's appeared on more than 1,000 radio and TV shows in nearly every major market worldwide, including Oprah, Larry King Live, 20/20 and The Today Show.

As an author, he's sold over 115 million books and holds a world record for having seven books on the New York Times Best Seller list at the same time.  He's also one of the world's most successful speakers and travels the globe, sharing his inspiring message with huge audiences.

Yet despite all of his success, Jack Canfield has never forgotten what it was like to be a school teacher, struggling to get his first book out.  For that reason, he's full of great insights and advice for any author, speaker or entrepreneur - regardless of whether you're just at the idea stage, recently published for the first time, or already an advanced marketer.

On October 14th you can attend a FREE teleconference with Jack Canfield and learn from the pro!   He promises to help you discover:
*  What to do if you need to make money within 30 - 60 days
*  Two mindsets you need to create a best-selling book
*  How to find someone to sponsor your book
*  The "bypass marketing" strategy that made Chicken Soup a big hit
*  How to systematically create word-of-mouth marketing for your book
*  How to get started as a public speaker
*  How to use the Laws of Attraction with your book writing and marketing

The host of this special event for writers is Steve Harrison, who is an EXCELLENT marketing guru for writers and publishers.  I've attended several of his teleseminars and receive his e-newsletter.   Writers need to become marketers too if they want to truly become successful in this industry.

To register for this FREE 90-minute teleseminar, go to www.JackCanfieldTeleseminar.com or call 1-800-989-1400 extension 784.    I'll be there!

Visions of farm accidents

For those who didn't know, in addition to being a writer, I'm also an EMT in my hometown. The last week of every month we have training where we learn new skills or review things we know (and quarterly we also have pass-offs of all our skills and the drugs we carry so we can stay current on them). Tonight we were told we were working with the fire department--which usually means we're doing car extrication practice. We work with the guys on the fire department a lot--anytime there's a car accident dispatch calls both departments out together. If there's a structure fire (house, barn, etc), the ambulance goes out to the scene to monitor the firemen between their runs into the house to rip out ceilings and douse flames. And sometimes we even end up treating people who live in the house--but usually we're just badgering the firemen to wait until their blood pressure comes back to a normal range, and forcing them to drink more electrolytes. =)

Tonight, however, we drove out to some farms and learned about extricating people from accidents with tractors and balers and other large equipment. I still couldn't tell you what all of the machines are called, but I got a crash course on what could go wrong on farm equipment. One of the EMTs and her husband--who runs a farm--got some volunteers to get bloodied (with fake blood) up as victims, and put together some fake bodies to take the place of victims who probably wouldn't survive the accidents (no actual people were harmed in the scenarios, though several were really cold from lying on the ground, and any number of clothes were damaged beyond repair).

We went through each scenario discussing what the EMTs injury concerns would be, what the firemen could do to help us, to extricate the patients and solve problems while we cared for the patient. After it was all over, I heard one of the EMTs saying to Lindsey, who put it all together, "Wow, you must have a really twisted brain to come up with all of those situations." I kept the fact that I had been wondering about how I could use one of the scenarios in a story to myself. She didn't need to know how seriously twisted I was, after all.

After Jeff told us that he and three other farmers stood around the baling machine that morning discussion how someone might have an accident with it and not end up dead, I realized farms are a magnet for danger. I could write a real horrific suspense story on one of those places!

Okay, now to the point of all of this (besides the fact that it was just plain fascinating). EMTs have to learn new skills and keep their current skills up to date. In the same way, I need to keep my writing skills honed, and learn new ones all the time. I read Lisa Mangum's new book The Golden Spiral this week and she said in her acknowledgments that in writing her second book, she learned every new book is different. They have to be treated like a different book because what works for one doesn't work for the next one.

Just because I've been to ten or eleven conferences now doesn't mean I've learned everything there is to learn about writing (I learned plenty at the LUW spring workshop last weekend). This is an ongoing process and I can't afford to become comfortable with the same kinds of skills that I've used in the past.

What worked for my first couple of books isn't going to be enough for the next one, and though I can use the skills I've already learned, I need to keep improving, keep searching for better ways to work my craft, better ways to express myself, new and unique ways to kill people off (If there are so many on a farm, just imagine where else you could find a few!).

Happy Mother's Day!

By Trina Boice

 http://www.boicebox.com/

The first word my 4th son learned when he was about one year old was "Mama".   He didn't say another word until he was two.  I felt like the most important person in the world to be given such an honor.  Moms are usually the ones who teach us to speak and to read.  While I hope my children will remember the many times I read books to them when they were little, the reality is that what they do remember are the many times I fell asleep trying to read to them because I was utterly exhausted!  Not until then did I fully appreciate my own mother.

So what gift could we possibly give to our mothers who have sacrificed and given so much?  One of the most luxurious treats a mom can receive is a hot bubble bath with soft music playing in the background, candle light, a piece of decadent chocolate, and a good book to read while soaking in the tub. It's even more relaxing if she knows the kids are being taken care of and the dishes are done. (Hint, Hint)  Oh yeah, and flowers!

What a mom REALLY wants for Mother's Day is to know that her children are good and that they're going to contribute to making the world a better place. All mothers want to leave a legacy of love. You can show your mom that her love will continue long after she's gone by the way you treat other people and the earth. 

Words are powerful things.  The words that leave your mouth reveal your character and values.  Make sure they include "I love you" and "Thank you" today.  For a little inspiration as you write your Mother's Day card, check out the following web sites:
http://www.mothersdaypoems.info/
www.dayformothers.com/mothers-day-poems/index.html
http://www.mothersdaycelebration.com/
www.poemsforfree.com/mothersdaypoems.html

Have a wonderful day!

Writing "An Angel"

By Christine Thackeray

My latest project is due to hit bookstores in the next few weeks. It's a story about a mom who is asked to stand in for a weary angel for just one day. After flitting around doing what angels do all day, the mom flops in bed exhausted. She expects some great fanfare, but what she gets instead is much more valuable.

Like all projects "Could You Be an Angel" had an interesting beginning. It started with preparing an Enrichment Night. My RS counselor was impressed by Jeffrey R. Holland's talk of angels and wanted to do an angel-themed evening. We got a musical number, a craft, nice refreshments and a speaker, but there was something missing. I wasn't sure what.

As luck would have it, my sisters (I have seven) had planned our first ever sister's retreat about that same time. With three hours to kill on the plane, I took out a pad and pencil and worked the entire time on building this idea. The hardest part was figuring out what guardian angels actually do. I finally decided they mostly nugde and whisper, right at the moment you need it most.

My sister Julia is an incredible poet in her own right and helped me clean up my meter. Then I posted it on line where a few friends added their two cents. At last it was ready, and I copied it on scrolls tied with gold ribbon.

When the night of Enrichment came (now RS Meeting), my musical number canceled due to a cold and the craft person bugged out. I was sure the whole night would be a disaster. We had the angel food cake and strawberries, our keynote speaker and then I stood to deliver this poem.

As I spoke the room was silent and with my last word, I could tell it had really touched some people. It turned out to be a wonderful evening, and I felt the women left revitalized and ready to serve. Afterward, I put the poem away and didn't think about it for a while. Then a woman in my writing group suggested I submit it for publication and here it is.

It's awesome that the final product is inexpensive as a greeting card and can be used for a visiting teaching gift, mother's day card or simply something you give to anyone. It is written to be general enough for any audience, so you can even share it with your non-LDS friends.

Writing for generations yet unborn

By Trina Boice

http://www.boicebox.com/

 

Want to put your writing skills to REALLY good use?  How about writing an autobiography for your grandchildren to read?  What...they're not even born yet?  Great!  That'll give you even more time to work on it!  How about writing your grandmother's autobiography or one for Uncle Alvin?  While your fiction manuscript may be brilliant, your family history is priceless. 

Here on our blog we don't usually endorse products, but this is a good one and it's FREE, so I thought I'd share it with you!  Here's the link: http://mail.google.com/mail/?hl=en&tab=wm#inbox/12753f4643888d73

Roots Magic is offering a free download for their genealogy software!  Here's a description of what their program can help you do (and no, I get absolutely no kickback for recommending their product):

Easy to learn and use:  RootsMagic Essentials' friendly screens and menus allow even the most inexperienced computer novice to get up-and running quickly. Navigation is a breeze with both pedigree and family views, and RootsMagic Essentials lets you view and edit every piece of information about a person from a single, easy-to-use screen.

Unlimited capacity:  Enter an unlimited number of facts, notes, sources, and multimedia items to each person and family.

Flexibility: RootsMagic Essentials makes it easy to track multiple relationships such as adoptions, foster parents, and more.

Find People Quickly: Easily find and edit anyone in your file. The RootsMagic Explorer lets you type a person's name to quickly jump to the person, or find people with an easy-to-use criteria search screen.

Multimedia Support: Add photographs, sound bites, and video clips to bring your family history to life. Then have RootsMagic Essentials include your photographs in your printed reports.

Reports Galore:  RootsMagic Essentials makes it easy to publish and share your family history. Create and print dozens of reports, charts, and lists.

Professional Looking Sources: Our unique SourceWizard writes and manages sources and citations for you. Built-in templates based on Evidence Explained make citing your sources as easy as "filling in the blanks".

Power Tools:  RootsMagic Essentials includes tools which make it a snap to clean up your data. Potential problem lists, sophisticated merge techniques, date and soundex calculators are just the start.

Unicode Support:  Don't limit yourself to a genealogy program that can't handle international character sets. RootsMagic Essentials' Unicode support means you aren't limited in the characters you can enter.

Compatibility:  Import directly from Family Tree Maker, PAF, Legacy, Family Origins. Plus RootsMagic Essentials has full GEDCOM 5.5 support for both import and export.

FamilySearch Certified: RootsMagic Essentials bridges the gap between your personal family history data and the New FamilySearch internet site. RootsMagic is also the first software certified to reserve and request LDS temple ordinances. You can find, reserve, and track needed ordinances from the comfort of your own home.

Enjoy!

Help for Haiti

By Trina Boice
http://www.boicebox.com/

Here at the Writing Fortress, our hearts are heavy because of the recent deaths and destruction in Haiti.


Today's blog is a little bit different.
I'm the National Director of Marketing for a company that manufactures and distributes the best water filters in the world.  (Shameless plug for Multi-Pure Corporation!)  During the past three weeks I have had many conversations with organizations all over the world who are racing to give aid to the people of Haiti. It has been heart-breaking and inspiring to learn about how so many are working hard to bring relief to those who are suffering.

My company, Multi-Pure, has been sending hundreds of emergency water filters to Haiti in the last three weeks in the suitcases of volunteers we have identified who are traveling to the country with several different relief organizations, followed by a very large shipment of thousands of specially-designed filters for Haiti.  www.multipureusa.com/tboice

We feel very grateful to have such an important product to offer to people who are struggling with the very basics of survival. Clean water is one of the very first concerns in a disaster. We're proud to be able to contribute a tool that can make such an important difference in people's lives.

If you are traveling to Haiti soon and would like to include some of our emergency filters in your suitcase for delivery, please contact me to make arrangements. I encourage you to make monetary donations to some of the organizations that are functioning at full speed on Haitian soil already, such as UNICEF, Red Cross, LDS Humanitarian, Hope for Haiti, and AMURT.

Besides simply donating money, most people want to know what else they can do to help.  Use your writing skills!   Write letters to companies to see if they are helping out and thank them when they say yes.  Write to organizations who want to help but might not have all of the resources and help them connect with others who can offer their assistance: there are companies with supplies that need funding for shipping.   There are willing doctors and nurses who need airfare.  You can be a literary force for good!  It is easy to feel overwhelmed when faced with such a devastating disaster, but there is much good one person can do.
Our prayers are filling the heaven-ward skies on behalf of the Haitian people. Hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight.

- Trina -

The Sauntering Society

By TRINA BOICE

"It is a great art to saunter."  So wrote Henry David Thoreau over 100 years ago.  He used to saunter four hours a day, explaining that the origins of the term "saunter" comes from the Middle Ages, when wandering pilgrims would beg for alms to finance their journey to “la Saint Terre,” the Holy Land. Such people became known as saint-terrers, or saunterers.  I've known some people who consider a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing. 

I remember the first time I learned of Henry David Thoreau and read his famous "Walden."  I had just graduated from college and was recovering from a car accident, stuck in bed with hours upon hours to read.  I was intrigued with his quest to discover the greater meaning of life and I admired his commitment to simplify his life by living off the land in quiet contemplation.  He built a tiny 1 room "house" where he LIVED for 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, and 1 day.  If I weren't so addicted to ice cream and movies I would do the same.

I tried to imagine myself next to him on his adventure and wondered if I'd even be able to withstand the solitude. I wondered if I would be creative enough to keep myself entertained and inspired or if my brain would start to hurt after the first day of attempting prolonged deep thought.

Some consider Thoreau to have been a hermit, although he sauntered into town and visited with friends every few days. Now that my days are filled with never-ending tasks and sounds, I envy Thoreau's stillness. Oh, to have time to sit and think in perfect silence! Unexpectedly this autumn, I found myself in beautiful Concord, sauntering around Walden! A business trip took me to Boson, only a stone's throw from Thoreau's beloved pond.  It was almost dusk, but my husband and I were determined to saunter.
 

Markers indicate the location where Thoreau's "home" stood, overlooking the pond he made immortal with his words.  For a brief moment in time, life was simple.  We walked and walked, taking in every breath of crisp, Fall air. 

 Ducks swam by.  The wind kissed our chilled cheeks.  The fallen leaves crunched under our feet.  It was perfect.

According to my family's pedigree chart, Ralph Waldo Emmerson and I are related.  Until I visited Concord, I never realized that the Walden property was actually owned by Ralph Waldo Emmerson's father.  I suddenly felt an even greater connection to this place.  Ralph and Henry were not only contemporaries, but good friends who shared a love for this very spot on earth.  Oh, to be a fly on the wall of Thoreau's home when Emmerson came to visit him!  Both inspiring writers found comfort and wisdom in nature and stillness...a reminder to me to turn off the TV and free my mind on a long walk outside.  

Thoreau says it best..."So we saunter toward the Holy Land; till one day the sun shall shine more brightly than ever he has done, shall perchance shine into our minds and hearts, and light up our whole lives with a great awakening light, so warm and serene and golden as on a bank-side in autumn."

The Shameless Plug

By Trina Boice

Alrighty! Time for the shameless plug! I have a new book that just hit store shelves last week! Woohoo! Happy Dance!   Pour the sparkling cider!  Hooray Cedar Fort Books!

While releasing a new book is extremely exciting for any author, it’s also a bit of an awkward time for us. We’re so thrilled about our little creation that we feel like screaming hallelujah at the top of our lungs and telling anyone who walks within 200 feet of us every last detail about the writing/publishing process that led us to this climax. At the same time, we also feel hesitant to open our mouths, because we’re afraid we’ll come off as obnoxious salesmen and "vomit" our happy news to people who really don't care.

Writing a book is very much like giving birth.  It's a long, exhausting process and one filled with excitement, worry, elation, and fear.  And every minute is worth it when you see your new baby for the first time.  I can't decide which I like better: the creation process of actually writing a manuscript or finally being able to present my book to the world.  One thing I definitely love is having written something that will forever prove that I was here.   My children are my legacy, but so are the written words I leave behind. 

Shameless plug moment:  My newest book is entitled "Ready Resource for Relief Society."  It's meant to be a helpful tool for LDS members who teach Relief Society lessons in 2010.  The course of study for next year is the recently revised "Gospel Principles" manual.  Back to basics! 

You can find all 7 of my books at LDS bookstores online and in a neighborhood bookstore near you!  To read more about them, check out my author web site at: http://www.boicebox.com/
  

Research

By Christine Thackeray

Some people may wonder whether fiction requires research. I've found it does. In my first book I had to see if there was a real medical condition that would make someone sleep for long periods of time and wake up at random intervals. It turns out there was exactly such a condition called Klein Levine Syndrome and I had to change some of the specifics of my story to make it more plausible.

In my next visiting teaching adventure, due to come out in the spring, I had to look into Child Protective Service and find out how different states dealt with cases of neglect and abuse. Each state has different terminology and processes. In the end I used the most common terms, even though it wasn't exactly accurate for the state I imagined but since I never actually mention the state, it seemed the best way to go.

My current work in progress is a whole new experience. I'm writing a historical fiction piece which has required years of study. It covers King Herod and I thought I was well-versed about the events of his reign. Then my husband took me to Israel and I was amazed how different reality was from books. The first shook was to stop thinking in American sizes. You can see the Dead Sea from Jerusalem, so Jericho and Qumran which seemed world away are more like suburbs of that great city.

Another surprise was how refined their architecture was. I thought their buildings would be more primitive. After careful perusal of Masada, I've decided that slaves offset the advent of power tools, evening the playing field considerably.

Finally, research begats inspiration. I was a little stumped at a point in the story and after visiting the place in person, I received such clarity- I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and start writing.

Why I Write

By Christine Thackeray

A friend sent me an interesting essay. In it a woman said that she writes because she can't draw. Her brother is an artist and in her heart she felt a need to describe the beauties of the Northwest in the autumn so she penned gorgeous lines which I'm not even going to try to imitate.

I read that and thought, "Wow, that's not why I write at all."

I write because I love people. I love stories and passions that drive action. I love coming to new epiphanies and seeing life from new perspectives once those lessons have been digested. I love seeing the flow of life in miniature and feeling that every difficulty has purpose and perhaps, I'm a little too impatient to wait for reality so I make it up myself.

I write because I have vivid dreams and more vivid imaginings. I write because I want to experience the past with the muscles and flesh on, not simply the bones that historians leave behind. I write because I want to reach to the future or maybe even change it a little.

And if I didn't write I would still dream and dance in my mind, but the moment I turned from those thoughts, they'd be gone forever. So I write to keep the crazy wonderful musings of mind alive just a little longer.

So my question to you is... Why so you write?

The Thrill of Literary Adventures

by Trina Boice

Happy Columbus Day tomorrow!  (October 12, 2009)  I know, it's not the biggest holiday in this country, lacking such things as beloved Columbus Day carols, festive decorations and traditional meals to commemorate the day, but it is definitely worth celebrating.  The story of Christopher Columbus is inspiring, as that great man's historic voyage teaches us to explore, search, and dream big.

We often discover new horizons while aiming for something completely different.  Christopher Columbus never did accomplish his original goal - to find a western ocean route to Asia.  Instead, he achieved something even greater - he ushered in a new era in world history by opening up the Americas to exploration.  What great book do you dream of writing?

Sometimes when we're writing we visualize something specific, only to be led into a completely different direction. It's almost as if the writing itself carries us on the journey, navigating the project without our control.  Have you ever written something, only to go back later to read it and thought to yourself "Wow, I wrote that?"

Like Christopher's plea to Queen Isabella, writers need to find a publisher who will fund their great literary adventure and believe in their project.  The purse strings direct the writing voyage, but the author's passion and persistance will ultimately determine the success.

Several years ago I stood at the very site where Christopher Columbus and the Queen of Spain discussed his ambitious project.  I tried to imagine the conversation and hear the emotional supplication.   Together, the dreamer and the monarch were able to change history.  So it is with writing - an author and a publisher can create something magical together.  In your search for a literary partner, look for a publisher who shares your passion and can visualize your dream.  A happy working relationship with your editor and publisher can make all the difference in your adventure.

So, in honor of Columbus Day, dream big.  Think big.  Imagine the impossible.  And enjoy the journey!

How Do You Create?

By Christine Thackeray

I'm a mother of seven great kids and discovered early on that there was a definite correlation between the way my kids were potty trained and how they learned to read. My oldest struggled with both. My second son fought against the whole idea on both fronts. Then my daughter decided she was done with diapers at 11 months and was fluent at reading by the time she started kindergarten.

Well, you get the idea. I do believe that certain skill sets can clue us in to brain patterns when it comes to other activities. One such pairing might be in the way we prepare "talks" or presentations and the way we write novels.

I've noticed that some people write out every word and then stick exactly to their script without deviation. Others write a lose outline and stick closely to it while still others write out one thing and then when they get up there go off on a separate tangent completely.

As writers that may clue us into what works for our brain type. I remember sitting through one writing class on mapping and calendaring out your novel. I thought at the time that would be my answer to simplifying the writing process and quickly bought a calendar and began writing down fictional events. After hours of writing, scribbling and tearing complete pages out and throwing them across the room, I realized that technique may not be the best for me.

Personally, I do the research, write an outline and then write wherever the characters take me, knowing the basic overview but trying to be true to their personal motivations without manipulating them too much. (Can you tell I'm the loose outline type.)

My other friend plots in her head down to the detail, writes her chapters out perfectly the first time and then plots again. She is more like the person that writes out every word of their talk.

It's a nice guilt-lifter to know that we can each create differently and it may even help the emerging writer to have a better idea how to proceed if they look at the way they create other things and use the techniques that they know work.

Words Worth Writing

By Trina Boice


Just a few months ago, President Obama signed legislation officially establishing September 11 as a federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.

In a moment our country changed forever. This weekend we honor those who fell on that tragic day, however, our gratitude for this country can easily extend into more than just one government-sanctioned day.

If you love to write, then you'll really love this simple project where your words will truly be meaningful..."Thoughts and Wishes for Our Troops" is a service project sponsored by the United Way here in my city, as well as others nationwide. You can bring together your office, school, social group or family to assemble cards, notes or banners to send to service men and women to thank them for their service. Your loving words of encouragement will mean more to them than any novel they could read.

Gather your cards and letters and then mail them to:
United Way of Southern Nevada
1660 East Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV 89119

I know that freedom doesn't come for free and I truly appreciate all of those in the military, police force, fire departments and other First Responders who work hard every day to make our country safe.

God does bless America and He does it through you and me.

Writing in 5 minutes

Several years ago I read a blog about writing. I don't remember who's blog or much that I read that day. (I know. It must have really been amazing!) But I do remember doing some writing exercisers. Now, I've never taken a creative writing class and any bit of writing I've mostly learned through trial and error. I also don't feel like I have a lot of time to do writing exercisers. So I was skeptical about this exercise. However, this one only takes 5 minutes! And after trying it, I was utterly amazed with myself!

So let me tell you a little about this exercise. I will show you two words, which you may look at for 30 seconds, and you sit and write anything that comes to mind at the first glance. You have five minutes to complete the assignment. It doesn't have to be a full story. Just start writing. Don't let your pencil (or fingers) come off the paper (or keyboard.) Try to write for a solid 5 minutes. Push yourself and see how much you can do in 5 minutes. You'll be amazed.

There are a couple of things, though. You need to use the first word shown you as the first word of your writing. The second word needs to appear in the first sentence.

So, are you read?

Get set...

(Remember you only have 30 seconds.)

Look...

Fire

&

Chair

Now write and let me know how it goes! Good luck and have fun!

If you want to do this again, go here and there's another set of words.

Inspiration or Plagiarism

By Christine Thackeray

A few days ago I was driving around in the convertible with my youngest. I LOVE summer and was feeling the freedom of no school, open afternoons and general abandon. As we passed the police station sipping soda's and not really in the mood to go home just yet, we noticed the little old community thrift shop. It's run by volunteers and only open from noon to four so I've never walked in the door, but Will and I decided to hop out of the car and give it a try.

The store was once a pre-WWII home. Its front door is made of plywood. We pulled it open, not sure what to expect inside when a smile exploded across my face. The front hall was overflowing with books, floor to ceiling, literally. My nine year old continued into the main store and found a pair of shorts, a cool t-shirt and a bag of bendable dinosaurs, but I didn't make it past the racks and racks of thick, juicy volumes of every genre. I left with an armful of historicals- most published in the seventies and eighties. I wanted to add more color to my writing and was hoping to pick up some brilliant phrases.

In one book it said that a red cloud of dust clung to the horses' hooves and trailed behind like a dragging scarf. Another spoke of the wide plains around them with little mounds of basalt cresting about the flat terrain like fish at sea. The last spoke of two stallions fighting in South Africa, partly in anger and partly in play. The horseman didn't break them up because they were stallions that knew when to stop. Mares, he thought, were a whole different matter. When they fight, they often injure or even kill each other. (Aren't people the same way?)

Later that night I told my husband how delighted I was with each find. I've been struggling with that first scene in my Herod book and I think having stallions fighting and using the mare line would be a brilliant way to begin, symbolically foreshadowing the issues with Salome, Herod's wives and mother-in-law all leading to various executions. As I spoke, my husband turned to me and asked how I could do that without breaking copyright. Wasn't it plagiarism? I laughed and told him that it was far closer to inspiration. But the line is important to understand and not to cross.

About ten years ago Nora Roberts accused bestselling romance author Janet Daley of plagiarism. She said, "In none of the known cases was the copying one or two phrases. It was, particularly in the case of Notorious, several entire scenes and passages. It was not an isolated case, but a chronic one, spanning years and involving thirteen books." Sadly, cases like this are not uncommon. Many of the accused claim the stress of deadlines and personal problems as the cause but it is clearly stealing.

One the other hand, there are a number of phrase books on the market that give you various descriptive phrases of body parts, facial expressions, landscapes, clothing, etc from different works. They are a great resource and often when writing they simply encourage you to think of textures or the shape of teeth- things outside the realm of your average modifiers to brighten your writing.

Lately, I've chosen to create my own phrase book. I added "One Note" to my computer, an awesome MS application which allows you to categorize information. As I read rich descriptors or original verb/noun combinations, I've begun copying them down and categorizing them for later use as the examples above. My hope is not to merely repeat them but to become more adept at mimicking their depth and beauty like painting the classics and then using similar brushstrokes to create your own masterpiece.

Of course, the concern is losing your own voice and becoming instead a patchwork quilt of other writers- that would be just ugly. Sort of like the disconnected historian who simply quotes source after source without ever tying it together. Michael Evquen de Montaigne put it this way, "The bees pillage the flowers here and there, but they make honey of them which is all their own." It's my hope that through pausing and appreciating writing, I'll be able to make my own more sweet.

Do you do this too?