Beth LaBuff has become a regular in the FaithWriters Weekly Writing Challenge, particularly known for her unique and often humorous poetry. Join interviewer, Lynda Schab, as she chats with Beth about her writing, poetry, and what's it's like to be a "Midwestern farm girl" living in the heart of Arizona.

LYNDA SCHAB: Tell us a little about yourself.

BETH LABUFF: I was the midwest farmer's daughter, born and raised in rural southwestern Iowa. I was blessed to live in a family where God's Word was taught and God was honored.  While still young, I realized my need of a Savior and accepted Christ's free gift of salvation.  

Learning to play the piano was my passion.  While still in high school, I started playing at our local church, plus accompanying our high school choir and playing for a few weddings and funerals.

After high school, I attended Emmaus Bible School in Oak Park, Illinois where I received a three-year diploma.  Shortly thereafter, I married Tilman LaBuff, a former missionary kid, born in Laos. Tilman grew up in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.  We lived in rural Iowa until moving to Arizona in 2004.

Besides our faith, music has also been a big part of our family life.  While my children were young, I gave piano lessons in our home.  The past four years, I had the privilege of being the music accompanist for our local school district.  With the graduation of our youngest from high school, I am no longer working at the school.

LYNDA: Have you always loved to write or did you fall in love with it gradually?

BETH: I was not a "writer from birth." In fact, writing was one thing I never wanted to do. J  My Mom has written a weekly newspaper column for a local paper since the 1960's. It's about life on and around the farm, called "The Rural Scene."  Every Sunday evening when I was growing up, she'd seclude herself in her office for two to three hours.  Seeing this, made writing seem like "homework" to me.   (My Mom has also entered a few of the writing challenges. Her name is Beverly Caviness.)

My own first experience with "writing" was playing The Dictionary Game with family during holidays. That is the game where a word is picked from the dictionary, and no one knows the meaning. Everyone makes up one definition for the word, and then everyone has to guess which definition is the correct one. However, my brother and I, we made up three or four definitions, writing as fast as we could, making them as funny as we could.  I didn't care if I won or lost. My goal was to make people laugh.

The FaithWriters Challenges were my first real experience with writing.  It has been my "writing school." I'm grateful for all I've learned.

LYNDA: Speaking of FaithWriters, you've been a member for about three years. How did you find the site and did you jump right into the Weekly Writing Challenge or ease into it?

BETH: I "met" Sue Dent on Shoutlife.com where she posted a beautiful poem she'd written.  When I commented on her poem, she mentioned a poet on FaithWriters who wrote amazing poetry, named Kenn Allan.  I started reading many of his poems. When the new quarter started, I entered the Beginner level (and now wish some of those early entries could be erased).  My second entry was a poem and, looking back, I realize the meter and syllables per line were way off. (I didn't know about any of the poetic elements at the time.) But that poem received "highly commended" in the Beginner level. From that time on, it's been a personal challenge to learn the craft of poetry.

During my early FaithWriters days, I received a lot of encouragement from Kenn Allan, and he posted many poetry writing tips on Shoutlife.  

LYNDA: Well, you must be a quick study because since then, you've placed many times in the Challenge. Tell us what the process is like for you. Do you tend to write to the topic immediately or mull it over for a few days first?

BETH: When the topic is announced on Thursday mornings, I start my research.  I write down every idea I can think of.  I use an online dictionary, encyclopedia, and rhyming dictionary to look for idioms, clichés, and rhyming words.  (In humorous poetry, I like using things, like clichés, that normally wouldn't be acceptable in prose writing.)  I also like to twist phrases and idioms.  

After two to three days, I usually have from four to eight pages of notes to draw my poem from.  I have a good idea of exactly where I want to go with the poem.   I estimate that I spend 15 or more hours on each poem I write.

LYNDA: Wow. That's dedication! LoL.

So what do you love so much about poetry? Have you also tried your hand at stories or articles? Do you find those more difficult to write?

BETH: After the first few Challenge entries, poetry was where I seemed to have the most success.  I enjoy writing narrative light verse.  Most of my poems give a nod to a Bible phrase or event.  I've written about a frog that was descended from the frogs of the Egyptian plagues (and he had his own personal plague), handwriting on the wall (of China), and a slug that went to an ant for wisdom, to mention a few.

Writing poetry is like a wrestling match, struggling with words, meter, rhyme, and story.  Once I have the basic structure/story line of a poem in place, I enjoy the wrestling part of finding the perfect word, thought, or rhyme.

I've not mastered the art of writing stories or articles…yet. J

LYNDA: Several of your Challenge pieces are soon to be published in various FaithWriters anthologies. Have you had any other work published?

BETH: The only writing I've had published has come from my work being in the FaithWriters Free Reprint section. Besides the FaithWriters eZine, I've had a poem, "The Christmas Goose" published in ithirstnw, also an eZine.  In addition, The Dahlart Texan newspaper requested permission to print my poem, Pride and Prejudice. The trainer for the Kentucky Derby winner, Mine That Bird, was from Dalhart, Texas. My poem is about a thoroughbred horse and a mule; cousins that run in a one-horse race.

LYNDA: Take a moment to brag on your family.

BETH: Tilman and I are parents to three wonderful adult kids.  

Shannon, our oldest, was an athlete. Besides playing HS basketball, she qualified to run in the Iowa High School state track and state cross-country meets. She is now married to her high school sweetheart, Nick Ernst. They have two adorable children. Jackson is three, and Ella, 20 months.

Shane, also an athlete, but due to a couple injuries wasn't able to play much in his later high school years.  He did play Georg Von Trapp, in The Sound of Music during his sophomore year of high school. Shane recently married.  He and his beautiful wife, Jennyfer, live and work in the Phoenix area.

Sherah, our youngest, is a freshman at the University of Arizona. While in high school, she qualified to sing in three all-state choirs, and once in the all-state jazz choir. She auditioned and is now in the Symphonic choir, the highest under-graduate choir at the university. She is in the pre-nursing program at the University of Arizona.

LYNDA: What are some things you like to do for fun?

BETH: We live in the high desert plains of Northern Arizona.  While the winters are nothing compared to the upper Midwest winters of Iowa, we do occasionally fall into single digits at night. Since I no longer live on the farm, harvesting firewood has become the closest outdoor "farm-type" experience here.  We get a permit to cut dead standing or dead-down wood in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. We go out in the fall and load up the pickup.

Living in Iowa, I never knew what a national park was.  Visiting the national and state parks in the area has also been something we've enjoyed while living here.

Other "hobbies" include scrapbooking, baking/cooking, and walking the dog. J

LYNDA: What aspirations do you have as a writer? Any short or long- term goals you're working towards?

BETH: My short-term goal is to continue to improve in writing poetry, and perhaps eventually polish up some of my poems and self-publish a book for my family . My long-term goal is to finally work at writing prose.

LYNDA: I've really enjoyed getting to know you better, Beth. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions. May God bless you as you as you strive towards your goals. And I'm sure we'll continue to see you in the Challenge Top Ten!