From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #601 Reply-To: aml-list Sender: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk aml-list-digest Monday, February 4 2002 Volume 01 : Number 601 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 18:31:00 -0800 From: "Susan Kroupa" Subject: [AML] Re: Stephen KING, _On Writing_ > I'm just reading Steven King's _On Writing_, a combination autobiography and > writing manual. I have always disliked King's novels, but this is one > excellent book. He's a dang good writer. Sender: owner-aml-list@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: aml-list I _loved_ ON WRITING and it made me a Stephen King fan even though I'm not interested in much of his fiction! > He says that plotting is not particularly useful to a writer, because stories > have a mind of their own. "Stories are relics," he writes on page 163, "part > of an undiscovered pre-existing world. The writer's job is to use the tools in > his or her toolbox to get as much of each one out of the ground intact as > possible. . . . . No matter how good you are, no matter how much experience > you have, it's probably impossible to get the entire fossil out of the ground > without a few breaks and losses. . ." He calls plotting a "jackhammer" among > these tools because it messes up the emergence of the story. "Plot is,I think, > the good writer's last resort and the dullard's first choice. The story which > reuslts from it is apt to feel artificial and labored." There was so much good advice for writers in that book. I loved the part where he describes his "muse" as a grumpy, gnarled man who won't even give him the time of day if he (King) doesn't keep regular hours at his keyboard. > So far, I have a handful of published books on the market, all nonfiction > (though not big sellers--very niche). I'm playing with the idea of writing some > more nonfiction to see if royalties can smooth the way to try to emerge some > fiction. I'd love to see some fiction from you, Cathy! > > Back to Steven King--he says you should at least write 1000 words a day, every > day (I guess we Mormons would skip Sundays). That's only four pages at 250 > words a page. Hey that's doable, no? Yes!! I've found that my tendency toward writer's block increases in direct proportion to the days I don't sit down to write. Sue - -------- "The Niman Project" now out in the sff.net anthology BONES OF THE WORLD - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 19:13:18 -0700 From: "Nan McCulloch" Subject: Re: [AML] Bad Personal News Your son's health should be the priority. There should be no ostracism whatsoever. One of the finest church leaders that I know came home from his mission early, because of a health problem. There is no better husband, father or church leader. This isn't a case of-- pull yourself up by the boot straps. Good luck supporting your son during his illness. Nan McCulloch - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 18:10:18 -0800 From: "Jerry Tyner" Subject: RE: [AML] Dynamic Relationships with God I have a picture similar to this in my den/computer room. It is an = Arnold Freeburg (sp) of the resurrected Christ after he has appeared to = the Nephites and Lamanites. The way a contact I had on my mission = described this picture (his son was a Bishop in Great Falls, Montana but = he wasn't a member): "This is how I see Jesus Christ - as a man's man." = When Kathy had it matted and mounted in a frame for my birthday her = girlfriend had to beat people off so they wouldn't steal it. Jerry Tyner Orange County, Calif. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 17:34:06 -0700 From: "Clark Goble" Subject: RE: [AML] Apocalyptic Thrillers ___ R. W. ___ | Such genocidal furies must have seemed alien to the readers | of 1830; they are all too familiar to us today. ___ Actually, despite recent events in Germany (WWII), Ruwanda (mid-90's), Cambodia (70's) and so forth, I think that they were *more* familiar to the people of the 19th century. Consider the various tribes that were wiped out. Not just in the United States, but around the world various sorts of genocide were rather common. It's just that back then they didn't care like we do today. For instance take the case of the Pontiac revolution when American/British troops used biological weapons to nearly wipe out those tribes. Not only did is work beyond their wildest dreams, but the smallpox got out of hand and took out large numbers of Sioux and Plains Indians and decimated tribes from California to Alaska. Similar events took place among the Spaniards and so forth. Indeed many Caribbean islands had lost their indigenous populations by the mid-19th century as I understand. I think worry about genocide is valid, however the closest parallels to the current situation were when we were on the other side. . . Remember that Pontiac, in the war, had conquered basically every British position west of Niagra before the advent of a bio-war. Even with the British victory the Indian successes scared the British into banning settlement west of the Appalachians. Of course that then led to some of the pressures leading to the American Revolution. Further while we think of the destruction of whole cities as only capturing the popular imagination this century, it actually has been around for quite some time. Leaving the Book of Mormon and the destructions of prior to the coming of Christ, remember that such earthquakes and volcanoes are rather common. Just this last week we saw something similar in Congo. The story of Pompey was very well known. I think that these sorts of fears have always been with us and always will. Even the height of apocalyptic film making and literature - the Mad Max like stories of the 80's - can be found in much older stories. The idea of losing technology and regressing is quite common. Once again this element is found in the Book of Mormon with the story frequently portraying a conflict of people with some technology (Nephites) against a group who regressed into savagery (Lamanites). The Hermetic movement, which many believe was quite influential on Joseph Smith, saw the society of the Renaissance as a fallen society from a formerly more advanced society. (Usually either Adam or Egypt) The Atlantis myth is an excellent and more popularly known story of such a fall and destruction of an advanced society. These myths remain with us still with those claiming "alien" visitations to the Egyptians to explain pyramids and so forth. (Although admittedly they aren't taken as seriously) These stories may make a comeback with terrorists rather than superpowers as the instigating factor. Of course Tom Clancy had terrorists doing this 10 years ago in _The Sum of All Fears_ (now a movie with Ben Affleck). James Cameron had Arnold Swartzenegger battling terrorists attempting to nuke a US city in _True Lies_. Even going back to the 60's James Bond battled terrorists planning on detonating a nuclear device in London in _Moonraker_. (Obviously the plot of the movie was completely different) - -- Clark Goble --- clark@lextek.com ----------------------------- - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 02 Feb 2002 13:49:43 -0700 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] Play at Little Brown Theater Is it as funny as the Three Men books by Jerome? barbara hume At 09:49 AM 2/1/02, you wrote: >While we're on drama, come and see "The Passing of the Third Floor Back" by >Jerome Jerome, done by a graduate group from BYU, held at the Little Brown >Theatre, 239 S. Main in Springville, 7:30 on Thurs. Fri, Sat, Mon., this >weekend and next. We're seeing it tonight. Marilyn Brown - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2002 19:38:37 -0500 From: Richard Johnson Subject: Re: [AML] Life in Mormon Culture At 08:09 AM 2/1/2002 -0700, you wrote: > > >Clark Goble wrote: > >> ___ Thom ___ >> | I cornered a few of them afterwards and they shared a few >> | stories about other LDS friends who had sincerely asked >> | them, "How can you be a Democrat and a good Mormon?" >> | That is an example of Mormon culture that some people >> | think is the same as religion. >> ___ >> >Widen this to US culture, I would agree with you. I found the same >sentiment among the California Saints. > >Thom Duncan > Taint so out her in the Southeast, which is interesting because this area in desperately conservative, but two of the three Stake Presidents under which I served in the High Council were Democrats.(11 years) At least one third of the high Council most of the time I served were not only Democrats, but liberal ones. I would argue with much about which many have called Mormon culture because it is so "western U.S.", but unfortunately some of the Utah silliness is beginning to migrate here. I wonder how it would be if no-one out here went "back there" for college? Richard B. Johnson Husband, Father, Grandfather, Puppeteer, Playwright, Writer, Director, Actor, Thingmaker, Mormon, Person, Fool I sometimes think that the last persona is the most important http://www2.gasou.edu/commarts/puppet/ Georgia Southern University Puppet Theatre - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2002 01:29:11 +0000 From: "Andrew Hall" Subject: [AML] HALE, "The Singles Ward" (Daily Herald, Deseret News, SL Tribune) "The Singles Ward" Review by Eric D. Snider for The Daily Herald If you got your Family Home Evening group together one Monday night and made a little "movie," except you got dozens of your friends to help out, found some editing and sound equipment, and made the thing last 102 minutes, you'd have "The Singles Ward." There are very few jokes in it that the average Mormon with a sense of humor couldn't come up with on his own, and most of the performances are nothing beyond what your friends could muster. That's not to say it's a bad movie, although it's certainly not a very good one. Its amateurishness is sometimes endearing, but other times, the over-the-top performances ruin what might have been passable jokes. (This occurs mostly among the one-scene characters, who exist only to provide punch lines and who apparently thought, incorrectly, that bigger was better.) The central character, who also talks to the camera Ferris Bueller-style, is Jonathan Jordan (Will Swenson), a 27-year-old stand-up comedian who got married while still at BYU but whose wife subsequently left him. Now he's single and inactive and resistent to change, though he finds the church's efforts to reactivate him more amusing than annoying. ("I'm a spy who joined the other side," he says. "I know all their tactics.") As befitting real life, he starts getting involved in the singles ward activities due to his interest in a girl. She is Cammie (Connie Young), a pretty, headstrong gal who thinks Jonathan makes jokes to cover up his real feelings. Jonathan is also egged on, patiently, by his pals: Franklin Planner enthusiast Eldon (Daryn Tufts), urban legend-spouting Dallen (Kirby Heybourne) and all- around good guy Hyrum (Michael Birkeland). Most of the humor is derived from the sights and sounds of an LDS singles ward in Utah. It is generally broad- side-of-the-barn stuff; you've made a lot of the same observations yourself, probably. It does win points, though, for being first to put those observations in a movie. Jokes about LDS life are one thing when you're whispering them in the back of Sunday School class; there's something delightful about seeing them on the big screen, even if they're not exactly original. The film, written by Kurt Hale and John Moyer and directed by Hale, boasts numerous celebrity cameos. There's Lavell Edwards, Danny Ainge, Steve Young, Johnny Biscuit and Richard Dutcher (the man behind "God's Army" and "Brigham City"), among others. Nearly every single one is wasted. Rather than having the famous person show up and do something funny, most of them just show up -- the cameo IS the joke. Dutcher's bit stands alone as clever and amusing, though his presence in "The Singles Ward" is sort of like a student filmmaker inviting Alfred Hitchcock to the set. There's a definite sense of fun within the large cast; everyone involved clearly had a good time. But there's also a definite sense that Hale and Moyer wanted to cram in every LDS culture-related joke they could think of, often at the expense of the story and characters. They make fun of uptight people who get upset over, for example, the missionary-on-the-toilet scene in "God's Army." But later, one of the main characters gets uptight in exactly the same way, overreacting to jokes Jonathan makes at the expense of Mormons -- only now, we're supposed to agree with her. "The Singles Ward" wants it both ways, where jokes about our culture are OK, and where they're also a sign of apostasy. Comedy is tricky business, and this one's too slapdash and undisciplined to make it work. Grade: C- Rated PG for ... I don't know, thematic elements or something. There's nothing even resembling profanity, but there is some drinking and smoking. 1 hr., 42 min. Copyright Eric D. Snider. 'Singles Ward' a fluffy disappointment By Jeff Vice Deseret News movie critic THE SINGLES WARD =97** =97 Will Swenson, Connie Young, Daryn Tufts, Kirby Heyborne, Michael Birkeland, Gretchen Whalley, Sedra Santos, Robert Swenson, Lincoln Hoppe, Wally Joyner; rated PG (mild vulgarity, brief violence) A word of advice to the makers of "The Singles Ward": Celebrity cameos do not automatically equal laughs. And neither do cliches, no matter how "inside" they are. Unfortunately, this locally produced romantic comedy, which aims itself squarely at the LDS audience, too often leans on both when the going gets tough =97 and neither are actually funny enough to prop up this flimsy piece of fluff. What is particularly disheartening is that such a move seems to suggest the filmmakers didn't really have enough confidence in their story. Of course, it is based on an extremely creaky premise =97 disaffected Mormon rediscovers his faith when he finds love with a straight-laced churchgoer. Still, one thing does save this LDS comedy from being completely excruciating =97 the appeal of the fresh- faced cast, led by Will Swenson as a stand-up comedian named Jonathan Jordan. The lovelorn twentysomething comic is divorced, a marriage that ended badly when his convert-wife decided that the LDS life wasn't for her. So since then, Jonathan has become slightly embittered toward the LDS Church, even rebuffing all efforts at fellowship. That might come to an end rather quickly, though. Despite his reservations, he finds himself attracted to Cammie (Connie Young), the activities director for the LDS singles ward. Things get off to a rocky start =97 thanks to a lie he told her during their first encounter =97 but the two seeming opposites quickly become inseparable. However, their burgeoning relationship may be put to the test when Cammie receives her mission call just as Jonathan is offered a six-week gig. Co-writer/director Kurt Hale (grandson of local theater legend Ruth Hale) has the unfortunate tendency to linger long after each joke's punchline, and the score (by Cody Hale) is so strident you can practically hear a wah-wah sound telling the audience when to laugh. To their credit, the cast members do their best to make this work. Swenson and Young have a natural, unforced chemistry (though sometimes his range is strained by the more dramatic material). Even better are supporting cast members, especially Daryn Tufts, Kirby Heyborne and Michael Birkeland, who play Jonathan's faithful next-door neighbors =97 and who might have served as the focus for a more interesting, funnier movie. The cameos, on the other hand, are decidedly mixed bag. While the appearance by LDS filmmaker Richard Dutcher (making fun of his hit "God's Army") is amusing enough, the others are either unsuccessful (bits involving local sports heroes Danny Ainge, Steve Young and Wally Joyner) or downright irritating (those with TV weatherman Mitch English and computer pitchman Super Dell). "The Singles Ward" is rated PG for some mildly suggestive talk, brief violence (automotive mayhem) and a scene of helium inhalation. Running time: 102 minutes. 2002 Deseret News Publishing Company 'Singles Ward': LDS Amateur Show Friday, February 1, 2002 BY SEAN P. MEANS THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The Singles Ward Not rated, but probably PG for mild sensuality and language; 102 minutes. 1 star (out of four) What hath Richard Dutcher wrought? Dutcher, the writer-director-star of "God's Army" and "Brigham City," is the trailblazer of LDS Cinema. Dutcher's movies -- and his success in self-distribution, slowly building word-of-mouth with LDS members across the country -- was sure to encourage others to follow suit. "The Other Side of Heaven" did, and was a qualified success financially and critically. The latest attempt, the LDS comedy "The Singles Ward," is everything Dutcher managed to avoid: It is parochial, accessible to a chosen few, standoffish to everyone else, and smugly suggests that a superior moral tone is more important than filmmaking skill. Our hero, Jonathan Jordan (Will Swenson), is a BYU- educated stand-up comic who married young and divorced young. Jonathan's divorce soured his view of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints -- and his attitude doesn't improve when he attends a singles-only ward, where he encounters chirpy mate-seeking Mormons. Then he spots the prettiest woman in the ward, Cammie (Connie Young), who -- in Doris Day/Rock Hudson tradition -- hates, likes, hates and loves him. Co-writers Kurt Hale (who also directed) and John E. Moyer make references so obscure (even to LDS members), from the Eight-Cow Woman to Preference dances, that the movie should include subtitles. And their caustic attitude toward community life within the LDS Church is at odds with the spiritual celebration they mean their movie to be. Often the inside references (calling them "jokes" would be charitable) are delivered, like an elbow to the ribs, by Utah celebrities appearing in cameos -- like single-until-38 quarterback Steve Young quoting Brigham Young's admonishment that "if you're 25 years old and unmarried, you're a menace to society." Most of the cameos elicit little more than a "Hey, that's (fill in the blank)" response, though you could make a parlor game of choosing the most annoying local celebrity. (Utah Jazz spokes-baldy Johnny Biscuit is a contender, but not enough to top the grand champion of irritation, computer huckster "Super"=20 Dell Schanze.) The movie's one truly funny moment is also the most telling: When Jonathan's ward friends watch "God's Army" on DVD, Dutcher himself appears, declining an invitation to join them because "those toilet scenes are kind of offensive." You know "The Singles Ward" is in trouble when it cannibalizes a movie genre that has barely gotten off the ground. It's tempting to go easy on "The Singles Ward," since it's a local production. But when you must pay the same $7 that gets you into "A Beautiful Mind" or "The Lord of the Rings," amateur hour is over. Copyright 2002, The Salt Lake Tribune _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 19:44:40 -0600 From: lajackson@juno.com Subject: [AML] Missionaries Returning Home (was: Bad Personal News) I have sent a more detailed and personal note directly to the Tyners, but this information may be of general interest to the list, if Jonathan allows. A missionary returning home with medical problems happens to be one area where Life in Mormon Culture collides head-on with reality. The stake president, the mission president, and the Missionary Department will make the decision. A medical leave of absence is for short-term problems that can usually be resolved within 30 days. A medical release is for medical problems that will take longer to resolve. If the problem can be medically resolved after a medical release, the missionary will usually be allowed to return to service. It is not the end of a mission. In many circumstances, he may even return to a different mission than the one he originally came from. A missionary on a leave of absence is considered to be on his mission and is still counting time toward the two-year call, even though he is at home trying to get better. A medical release "stops the clock" while the problem is being resolved. The time is not counted toward the two years. When he is again certified medically able to serve, his time continues again from when he was medically released. The decision will depend primarily on how long they believe it will take to get him medically able to serve. A missionary will often get better medical resources at home than in the mission field. As concerned as his mission president may be, he is not really equipped to handle serious medical problems. It is very traumatic when a missionary returns home. Many missionaries return due to unworthiness, and when a worthy one returns because of a genuine medical problem, the members are skeptical. Ignore the members. Most don't have a clue about any of this. If you ask, your stake president and especially your bishop will help you with ways of dealing with them. I have had personal experience with this, both in my priesthood callings and as a father. One of our sons had been out nearly six months when he came home on a medical release. We are just beginning to get the problem under control after over a year now. To this day, I still don't believe his mission president knows what was wrong with him. He was losing weight and strength. The doctors here quickly diagnosed his problem and began treatment. So far, we have avoided the need to operate. If he had stayed in his mission, where his problem was misdiagnosed, he may well have died. Our son came home around the same time as three others who returned less than honorably. Because of my calling, I knew the circumstances, but few of the members did. The heartbroken families certainly weren't going to say anything. And so it was a very, very sticky situation. And, to be perfectly honest, we weren't at all happy that our own son was coming home, either. It was tough to deal with. But, our son went to Church each week and sat with his family. The stake president asked him to go on exchanges with the missionaries in our ward, as his strength allowed. At first he was only able to go out once a week. Several months ago, he didn't go out at all because he was in the hospital, but he is home again and improving. The bishop asked him to speak in Church and to give an occasional prayer. For a while, he taught the Gospel Essentials class. I didn't take long for the members to see that he had come home for medical reasons, and not for any other reason at all. It took months, but they have become supportive. My wife and I spent a lot of time in prayer and consultation with our priesthood leaders. We do not know if our son will ever be well enough to return to the mission field, but we hope he will. Others with his medical condition have, but his disease is one that is controlled, not cured, using current medical knowledge. We had no idea at all there would be a problem when he left to serve. His complete medical examination didn't turn up anything (and shouldn't have). Stay close to the Lord. Be honest with and supportive of your son. Work through it together. Talk about it. At first, we spent a lot of time each Saturday discussing how we would respond to insensitive comments from unknowing members. They meant no harm, but we still had to take the time to deal with it, and so we did. Along with everything else is this miserable telestial world, this is one of the tougher tests. Listen to the spirit. He knows the answers and is willing to share. You'll still have to do the work, though. And a lot of people whom you will never know will be praying for your success. Larry Jackson ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 23:39:16 -0500 From: "Debra Brown" Subject: [AML] Fw: MN Olympic Commemorative CD Artists Shawn King and Peter Breinholt at Dillard's Saturday: Excel Entertainment News Release 1Feb02 US UT SLC A2 [MOD: Again, sorry for getting this out after the event...] Olympic Commemorative CD Artists Shawn King, with husband CNN's Larry King, and Peter Breinholt to appear at Dillard's Stores SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Singer Shawn Southwick King, along with her husband, CNN's Larry King, will be appearing this Saturday, February 2nd, at Dillard's Sandy location from 11am until noon, and then at the Dillard's Provo location at 1pm. The Kings will be mingling with the public and signing autographs in support of "Light Up the Land, A Commemorative CD of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games," on which Shawn performs. Her song, "Smile," is the classic Charlie Chaplin composition, and was produced and arranged by the legendary David Foster. It has been featured on her husband's CNN program, "Larry King Live." Well-known Utah musician, Peter Breinholt, who also appears on "Light Up the Land," will be appearing at the Ogden Dillard's from 11am until noon, and then at the Murray store from 1 to 2pm. Peter's song, "Jubilee," celebrates Utah's Olympic experience. The CD "Light Up the Land" is available in fine stores everywhere, both in Utah and across the country, including WalMart, Tower Records, and Sam's Club. Copies of the CD will available to working media for use or reference in stories. ### Source: Olympic Commemorative CD Artists Shawn King, with husband CNN's Larry King, and Peter Breinholt to appear at Dillard's Stores Excel Entertainment News Release 1Feb02 A2 >From Mormon-News: Mormon News and Events Forwarding is permitted as long as this footer is included Mormon News items may not be posted to the World Wide Web sites without permission. Please link to our pages instead. For more information see http://www.MormonsToday.com/ - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2002 09:13:25 -0800 From: jltyner@postoffice.pacbell.net Subject: Re: [AML] Bad Personal News (But Getting Better) First of all, I want to thank the many people on the AML list who have sent kind messages and shared experiences and advice with my husband and I, we are very touched and it's helped more than I can say. In the way of an update I spoke with my son's Mission President saturday night. What baffles him is how my son can be an excellent teacher, sing in front of a congregation, contact homeless people and place Book of Mormons with them, run the computers in the office, but has gut wrenching anxiety attacks on doorsteps, even though recently he was able to go out with the assistants and even add a few comments at the door, although he told the President he was shaking inside. But then the President told me he doesn't understand high math, but it's real. I gave him the Rainman analogy and he seemed to grasp that. He told me my son is a good man, he loves him and would welcome him back with open arms if he should feel the time comes when he might be ready to come back in the field. He said the mission field is not really the place to get medical treatment and he supports my son's decision. I told him if would tell my son this, it would go a long way toward helping him. It would also cement my son's loyalty, a thing not easily given, but once had a thing gotten for life. He said he would. I felt if I am so willing to be critical, I ought to be willing to be quick to praise as well. We did not get a chance to speak with our Bishop yesterday, but his wife spoke with me in Relief Society and offered her love and support. I probably misspoke when I said my Bishop called my son a covenant breaker as someone on the list gently reminded me. I just think this is a real shock to the Bishop even though we've tried to keep him appraised of the situation. But then, Bishops have a lot on their minds. I let the Relief Society know what was happening and both my husband and I got up in Testimony meeting. I was, shall we say, rather emotional. We received lots of hugs and encouraging words afterward. My son's Seminary Teacher approached us and offered his help and shared a story with us. When he was a missionary in Sweden he had a Swedish Companion who was reserved by nature anyway, and told him he couldn't bear to go tracting. So they prayed and figured out a more creative solution, they got permission and set up displays in shopping malls and placed more Book of Mormons than anyone else in the mission. And his companion could easily communicate with people in that atmosphere. A transfer split them up two months later and this Missionary's next companion said you're gonna tract or else. And the Elder took the or else option and went home. He wrote our friend and thanked him for the best two months of his mission. He told us, not for the first time, our son is one of his favorite students and he'll do anything to help him. He also understands the diabetic analogy I have made for a few people as a couple of his family members are diabetics. I also spoke with my Relief Society President saturday and she is an incredibly fine, compassionate person. She is also a nurse and understands the medical components of all this and is at work already getting us help. I have been going out in my garden lately since I am behind in my chores there and it's a place where I find peace, mull over and work out problems and often get writing ideas, dialogue coming freely. And let me tell you if you're frustrated, got some hostility to work out, go PRUNE something, you'll feel better afterwards. :) I wonder if there's a parody in there somewhere, (The touch of the Pruner's Hand)? My husband Jerry has been a rock through all this. As one might guess, I am the talker in the family. I am usually the one who handles appointments, customer service and the one who does not take guff from French Maitre'ds, (See Real Men Eat Quiche). But he is the one who assures me everything will be alright when I bury my face in his chest, quietly shedding tears. What is it Old Fezziwig said? I'll paraphrase, "What a difference it makes to travel the rough road of life with the right partner to help bear the burden!" What a lucky woman I am. Enough for now. Our son comes home friday, in time to see the Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics and order a pizza. I'll try and occasionally send progress reports. Who knows, I might have my son posting here before long as he's a fledgling writer and a good one too, but then I'm prejudiced. :) Again, I want to thank everyone for their kindness, their thoughts and prayers. We would not be able to do this without it, it adds such strength to us. Kathy Tyner, Orange County, CA - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 17:35:30 -0700 From: Russ Asplund Subject: RE: [AML] Stephen KING, _On Writing_ I thought that The Green Mile was one of the best Christ allegories I have either seen or read. Normally, I have shied away from King, horror not having much appeal for me--but The Green Mile changed my mind. It is interesting to not that _On Writing_ points out which books he wrote after confronting his problems with alchohol. Those defenitaly seem to have a different spirit to them than the earlier books. There is still darkness, but hope and redemption at least seem possible--which they didn't often in his early works. _On Writing_ was a fascinating and refreshingly honest book by an artist on how they create art, and how it effects them. I admired Steven King the man and artist much more after having read it. candesa Russell Asplund director of multimedia 801.426.5450 russa@candesa.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2002 11:24:48 -0700 From: Kathy Fowkes Subject: [AML] Nonfiction How-to Books All my adult life I've focused on how to write fiction. Now I need to study how to write non-fiction. What are the best books out there for skill-development, tips and techniques for non-fiction book manuscripts? I have James Kilpatrick's _The Writer's Art_ which so far looks like a feast for any reader, regardless of reading or writing preference, but that's it. Those of you who write non-fiction, what are your favorite writing manuals? Thanks. Kathy Fowkes ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2002 12:39:20 -0700 From: Steve Subject: Re: [AML] Nonfiction How-to Books on 2/4/02 11:24 AM, Kathy Fowkes at kathy_f@juno.com wrote: > Those of you who write non-fiction, what are your favorite > writing manuals? Thanks. One of the best books for me personally was Kenneth Atchity's "A Writer's Time," which addresses both fiction and non-fiction. This was the book that first convinced me I could write something longer than a 3:30 minute song. Steve - -- skperry@mac.com http://www.stevenkappperry.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2002 14:44:13 -0700 From: "Gae Lyn Henderson" Subject: RE: [AML] Missionaries Returning Home There needs to be more written by LDS writers on this issue of someone coming home from a mission. I'm giving a paper on John Bennion's _Falling Toward Heaven_ at the AML meeting. Bennion's novel is about a missionary who indeed DOES act against the rules and what ensues. > It is very traumatic when a missionary returns home. Many missionaries > return due to unworthiness, and when a worthy one returns because of a > genuine medical problem, the members are skeptical. > > Ignore the members. What a sad commentary on the membership of the church! If someone comes home because he or she is judged "unworthy," then that is exactly when he or she needs the support and love of their home friends and family! What would Jesus do? I think we are at our worst when we ostracize and are "skeptical" of other members because of (mis)judgment. I didn't take long > for the members to see that he had come home for medical reasons, and not > for any other reason at all. It took months, but they have become > supportive. It is good that the members finally got a clue! But what a tragedy to have to deal with nonsupport and insensitive comments for months on end. Who do we think we are when we act like that? > > Along with everything else is this miserable telestial world, this is one > of the tougher tests. There is so much social pressure and stigma attached to not going on a mission or to coming home that it undoubtedly encourages dishonesty. How many young men go because they don't want to disappoint someone? And how does it feel to be figuratively "cast out" of Mormon culture when you don't go on the mission--perhaps because of some very private and personal problem--or perhaps, just because you were the most honest one in the interviews! (I recently heard a comment about the way missionaries in a certain mission agreed that some things were better not mentioned in the interviews. What about the one who doesn't get the benefit of the social deconstruction of absolute idealism?) And what are the destructive effects on a soul of being sent home unworthy? How does someone overcome that kind of castigation and public humiliation? After all, the soul of the sinning missionary is just as valuable as the soul of everyone that he or she was sent out to teach about religion. I think that kind of event absolutely changes the course of a life. If we truly acted as though we believed in repentance, the social stigma wouldn't be as devastating as it is often in practice. Gae Lyn Henderson> - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2002 14:34:36 -0700 From: "Paris Anderson" Subject: Re: [AML] Missionaries Returning Home Larry Jackson wrote: > It is very traumatic when a missionary returns home. This is a subject that is very near and dear to me heart. I came home from a mission early, and I know an early return from a mission is more traumatic than emerging from a coma, paralyzed and mute. It much easier to learn to walk and talk and read and wirte again, than it is to learn to love and accept yourself again. And then there's that little thing called God. When you've returned home from a mission early you feel (at least I did) that you've disappointed God somehow. I've found two ways of dealing with the pain, and one of them doesn't give you a hangover. In fact, it can be beneficial spiritually and physically. That's massage. I recommend the eastern types, such as Reiki, Shiatsu, Jin Shin, because of they have a more profound and long lasting effect. Things that caused your soul to boil in anguish suddenly don't matter very much--and if you're like me (my God have mercy on your soul) you'll probably forget what's been eating ya'. And if you don't have the money to get a massage pick up a book on T'ai Ch'i or Ch'i Gung. No one has to suffer. I'm really serious about--Larry--Kathy--Anyone Else--you can't imagine the anguish involved. And the solution is so simple . . . and it even feels good. Paris Anderson - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #601 ******************************