More to Learn -- Guest Blogger Rebecca Carlson

You all know the Parable of the Talents. In the story, the master of the household distributes his money among three servants, then goes on a long trip. When the master comes back, two of the servants have doubled their master's investment. They used the talents he gave them to earn more, so now they each have twice as much as they had to begin with. The third servant went and buried his talent, maybe to make sure he wouldn't lose it. The servants who earned more talents are praised and rewarded, while the one who buried his talent is cast out.

In terms of writing, this means that if God has given me some talent, He expects me to double my ability through my own efforts. Maybe I have an ear for dialog, a solid sense of setting, and the ability to create charming and sympathetic characters, but I still need to learn to evoke powerful emotions, tell a strong story, and convey my ideas clearly. I'm sure there are other things I could learn that I haven't even got words for yet.

The great thing is, this means that no matter where I am now, I can learn more! I can get better! Talents are talents, whether granted or earned, and the only way I will lose them is by burying them up and not using them.
--Rebecca Carlson

Do not disturb (I'm reading)

Just picked up this book today and I'm excited to read it. It was written by James Dashner, an lds author. Wish I could give you a review, but instead I will give you the blurb from the book and then retreat into my happy place to read.

"When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is blank.

But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as anyone can remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Ever night, for just as long, they've closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the Maze after dark."

Tell me that doesn't sound awesome! I'm excited. Okay, time to read. :)

To My Grown-up Child

My hands were busy through the day

I didn't have much time to play

The little games you asked me to.

I didn't have much time for you.

I'd wash your clothes, I'd sew and cook,

But when you'd bring your picture book

and ask me to share your fun

I'd say: "A little later, hon."

I'd tuck you in all safe at night

And hear you prayers, turn out the light,

Then tiptoe softly to the door

I wish I'd stay a minute more.

For life is short, the years rush past

A little child grows up so fast.

No longer standing at your side

With precious secrets to confide.

The picture books are put away.

There are no longer games to play.

No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear

That all belongs to yesteryear.

My hands, once busy, now are still

The days are long and hard to fill.

I wish I could go back and do

The little things you asked me to.

(Author unknown)

Mucky muck Pick me up

Overworked and Underpaid: The life of a writer.

Endless days and sleepless nights are put into creating the very words in a book it takes you only a few mere hours to read.

Writers are seriously under appreciated. Most movies are made from books. Movies make millions. Authors.... don't. Even for the movies that aren't taken from the premise of a book still needs writers to create the story, the words the actors speak... and yet, who gets the credit? The actors.

When is the last time you picked up a movie based on who wrote it? Uh huh. And when was the last time you saw a movie because of who was acting in it? I see.

Okay, so I'm sure acting takes a lot of hard work... I'm not saying it doesn't. Still, there would be no story for them to act, no words for them to speak without writers. And from what I hear the movie industry treats their writers pretty darn bad.

SO! If we write not for the money... or the respect... or the fame... that will *surely* come with our next big sell (if we can just get past the 835 rejections beforehand!) then WHY do we write?

I've been thinking about this a lot lately as I've been struggling with "writer's doubt." I write because it centers me. I know who I am when I'm writing. It connects me to my inner-self, my soul. I feel at home with a pencil in my hand. Whether I'm writing a poem, a novel, a research paper, or in my journal... it doesn't matter. For some reason putting words down on paper (or into the computer) makes me happy.

If I could just forget the rest of the world, maybe I could stay that way!

Why do YOU write?

Guest Blogger--Melissa Mitchell Again

Best Quotes of the Week
Here are the top 3 quotes at my house this week:
#3-courtesy of my two-year-old
She is sitting on the stairs with my father-in-law, just jabbering away. He has no clue what she is saying, but nods his head, and saying 'uh-huh' at what seems like appropriate moments.
I tell her, "Grandpa has no idea what you're saying."
She says, "NO MAMA! I not talking a YOU. I talking a GRANDPA." Wow, I guess that's the end of that.
#2-courtesy of my five-year-old
Our friend's sister passed away, leaving behind four young children. We were talking about this, and my daughter chimed in: "But mom, you can't die! If you died, then Daddy would have to do all the cleaning all by himself!"
Well, it's good to know that I'd be missed
#1-my darling husband
Although we are both incredibly sleep-deprived, I am also an insomniac. I just can't get my mind to relax at night, and I will lay there for hours and hours, my mind racing. The only thing that has been helping me is ambien, which I don't take with a newborn that will need a feeding in the middle of the night. Last night he told me, "You're just not tired enough." I said, "So insomnia isn't a real condition, people just aren't tired enough?" He said, "Yes, if people were tired enough, they would fall asleep."
I wanted to call the news. Why are we wasting all this time and money on sleep clinics, centers for sleep disorders, scientific research, etc? The answer has been staring us in the face all along:we're just not tired enough. I think he should write a book and make millions. I even have some ideas for future books:
*Hey fat people, put down the cupcake
and
*Depressed people, have you heard of PMA? Positive Mental Attitude?
I had no idea I was living with a genius.

Given a Chance, They Can Do Anything

A friend of mine recently sent me this video. Some of you may have already seen it, but I wanted to share it for those of you who may not have. It touched a special place in my heart because I have a 15 year old son with autism. I've spent years fighting with the schools to let him be involved in the "normal" activities that are given to other students, only to be met with much friction and negativity. No one believed that Joshua was capable of great things--except his mom and dad. We didn't give up.

Today he is in a Special-Ed class for most of the day, but participates in all the activities with his peers. He was even on the home coming decorating committee and did a fantastic job. AND, he's loved by the students there. They all go out of their way to make him feel like he is special and that he belongs.

Okay, now for the video. Get out your tissues, ladies. You're going to need them.

Fame Vs. Success

I went with my cousin last night to see "Fame". I was a little disappointed in the storyline. They had so many characters and plots going on that they never really developed any of them fully. But the message of the movie was great.

There was one part at the end where a girl talks about the meaning of success. I have to paraprase here, but it was something about success is waking up in the morning and being excited to do what you love, it's have a group of friends that share your dream, it's working hard towards and being happy at what you accomplish.

That resonated with me. Right now, I've been letting the job I hate be the only thing I see. I haven't allowed myself to write and be happy. So I haven't been feeling success...until the last couple of days. I am pitching a children's book of mine to an agent at the online writer's conference I signed up for. I've been rewriting the story and reworking the pitch, and for the first time in awhile I do feel like a success. I'm doing it, I'm writing and I'm working towards my goal. It does light up my world, and I let myself forget that. I focused on the fact that I had been rejected by agents and that I had to get a real job that I don't like at all. I focused on the negative and I didn't let writing lift me up. I was a failure because I wasn't allowing my self to be happy during the lowpoints. I'm starting to feel that all change. I can't guarantee that I won't go back to that dark place, but hopefully next time I'll recognize it sooner and pull myself out faster.

I actually have two questions for you today. What do you think success is? Oh, and what do you think of my 100 word pitch? LOL! I definately need feedback. Keep in mind it can only be 100 words and mine is at 98. Would it get your attention? Here it is:

Imagine enjoying a gondola ride in your backyard, having chariot races on your sidewalk, or building the Tower of Pisa out of pepperoni pizza. When Drake’s mother gets sick their family comes up with an Imagination Vacation to Italy. Their wildest imaginations are realized as they encounter excitement around every corner.
Imagination Vacation to Italy is a picture book for school aged children designed to help them use their imaginations to visit the world. The book could be marketed to parents and teachers with an accompanying website where an exchange of imaginative ideas could take place.

Thanks for all your help!!

Awed Inspiration

I've been mulling over a few ways on how to relate writing in conjunction with the General Relief Society Meeting on September 26th. So many wonderful things were mentioned that left me breathless.

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society General President, said that the reason for Relief Society is to teach us our responsibility in womanhood and motherhood in the Lord's plan. We can help and organize works when and where needed to build stronger sisters!

Silvia H. Allred, First Counselor, mentioned that we can enrich homes and strengthen lives and bond friendships with everyone we meet.

Barbara Thompson, Second Counselor, felt strongly how we should stand for truth and righteousness. To let our voices be heard as sisters in Zion.

President Henry B. Eyring expressed in awe the charity that fills every sister in the Relief Society. He wants us to cherish and watch for one another.

Every single one of their gentle teachings urges us to become better daughters of our Heavenly Father as it applies to our everyday lives. I feel with all of my heart, that every one of those principles mentioned above, can be just as easily applied to our writing.

We build stronger sisters with our writing. We enrich homes with our writing. We let our voices be heard with our writing. We cherish and watch for one another with our writing.

I am very grateful to be part of the Lord's plan and for the opportunity be be a part of Mormon Mommy Writers. It humbles me that I would be taken under their wing to share my experiences as well as my testimony in so many small ways. I look forward to the day when I become a published author so that I can spread my joy in the wonderful ways of fiction as our Christine just has!

"Never suppress a generous thought."
Can anyone tell me who quoted that and what does it mean to you?

Finding the Time

These days the mormon mommy is over-worked and over-stressed. With schedules packed full of preschool co-op, volunteering at the school, cleaning, shopping, scrapbooking, service projects, callings, reading scriptures, exercise, writing in journals, hubby time and on and on.... how do we ever find time (and, more specifically, a certain time every day) to write?

While we are all at different stages in life, with little kids or grown ones, we all have busy schedules with deadlines to meet. In this economy many of us have "other" jobs to help with supporting the family. These are busy, busy times.

There is always something in my life that has DEADLINE written across it. There is always some pressing issue that takes precedence over my writing goals. I am not an organized person that follows a schedule every day. I just try to get everything done that needs to be done, and so my writing time often gets pushed aside. I know it's said you have to make time to write... but how do YOU do that?

Please share with me some tips that have worked for you. How do you make time for writing amidst all of the chaos of life?

How to Become a Super Star

Recently I was feeling a bit unnerved and unsatisfied with my blogging, Facebook and twitter efforts. I was feeling that people could not relate to me. It felt as though all my efforts seemed for not. People dismissed my efforts as "too much". Taking the easy road was safer and easier. I was getting discouraged because my goal wasn't to turn people off of self progression and improvement. It was to inspire others and motivate them to be come better. My idea was that if a 33 year old woman with 5 kids+1 on the way can stay at home (living off 1 income in California) home school, run an efficient home, write books and be creative then you can too! Our possibilities are endless.

I spoke to my Guru Life Coach Father and wise sister about the matter. They said that when someone calls you "CRAZY" or "You are soooo LUCKY {like I am not sacrificing the fancy cars, vacations, large home, eating out, kids in a zillion activities, kudos from a boss or paycheck, being able to run errands all of the time (AKA spending money) etc., etc., etc.} they are really saying that you are a super star. I sacrifice a heck of a lot to stay home and even more to home school. I am not lucky!!! I make it happen and each and everyone can make our goals and dreams happen. We can all be super stars. It takes three things:

1. COURAGE
2. PERSEVERANCE
3. SACRIFICE