Spiritual prompt: Doctrine and Covenants 1:24—God speaks to us in our own language so we can understand. Good communication requires us to know who we are speaking to and how to speak in a way they can understand.

11/03/2025

This scripture reminds me of my mission to the Caribbean islands, where I shared it often. I used to explain it by asking, “If you were caught speeding and the person who pulled you over was the ice cream man, would you listen to him?” Most people would say, “Of course not, the ice cream man doesn’t have that kind of authority.” To me, this illustrates that even when we’re right about something, it’s important to communicate through proper channels and with credibility.

The same principle applies in other situations as well. What we say can be true, but how we say it and the authority or understanding behind it often carry more weight. If I were lost in a corn maze, I’d rather take directions from someone holding a map than from someone who “has a feeling” about which way to go. Even if the person without the map happened to be right, I’d still have more trust in the one who can clearly show the way.

Professional prompt: How does knowing your audience affect your writing?

11/04/2025

Depending on who I am talking to, I will speak differently. It’s much like the way we use everyday speech. We don’t talk to our grandmother the same way we do to our high school friends, yet both are authentic representations of ourselves. I used to think that changing how we speak depending on our audience was a form of manipulation, but I’ve come to understand it as a form of expression. It’s about communicating our thoughts in a way the other person can receive and relate to.

Something I often tell the class of young women I mentor is that we are all at different stages of knowledge. You don’t teach a kindergartner trigonometry for a reason; they aren’t ready for it. When I share complex gospel principles or ideas, I simplify them so that my young women can engage with and understand what I’m teaching. Too much information can be overwhelming for some, while others may crave more depth and detail.

Every person we talk to is looking for something different, whether they’re seeking entertainment, understanding, or guidance. The way I communicate with each of them will naturally vary based on what they need and how they can best receive it.

Professional prompt: Why is professional writing important? Looking through the syllabus, what do you anticipate gaining from this class?

11/05/2025

Professional writing covers many areas of both entertainment and education. Professional writers are the ones who teach, inspire, and entertain us through their words. There are many different styles of writing depending on the audience and the purpose behind the message. It's important to have the skills necessary to be a professional writer so you can communicate clearly and effectively. I fear that some writing is done to showcase a person's knowledge, when in actuality, they should be showcasing information itself instead of making it too dull or overwhelming to take in. 

For this class, I want to learn how to make my writing more engaging and enhance my storytelling skills. I take pride in my creativity, and I want to write in a way that captures attention and reflects my personal sense of what is engaging. Through this class, I anticipate becoming more organized in my writing process and making a more intentional effort to demonstrate that my work is what I claim it to be: creative, entertaining, and a strong display of storytelling skill.

Student’s choice: What is the suspension of disbelief? How far can you go with it?

11/06/2025

The suspension of disbelief refers to the audience’s willingness to accept elements that may not be realistic within the context of a story. It’s the point where the audience says, “Okay, I’ll go along with this,” as long as the story still makes sense and feels consistent. It’s about how far you can push imagination before something becomes unbelievable, confusing, or just plain silly.

For example, imagine a story about a loving mother who wants her child to learn how to swim. It would break the audience’s suspension of disbelief if she suddenly threw the child into the water, because that contradicts what we know about her character. However, if the story establishes that the mother was cruel or manipulative, her actions might be shocking but still believable.

You can stretch the suspension of disbelief as far as you want, as long as you’ve clearly set the rules of your world and the behaviors of your characters. In a fantasy realm, a dragon flying overhead is natural and exciting. But in a gritty 1980s New York crime drama, that same dragon would make the audience immediately disconnect. On the other hand, dragons fit perfectly in 1990s London in the Harry Potter universe because that world had already established its own rules.

Ultimately, the suspension of disbelief depends on the story’s internal logic. As long as the world and its characters feel consistent, the audience will happily follow wherever the story takes them.

Student’s choice: What makes a good follow-up/sequel to a story?