Ann Narcisian Videan's Blog, page 14

Music connects leaders to success

I just ran across a New York Times Sunday Review article asking, “Is Music the Key to Success?” It inspired me in this time of decline in music education in the United States.

My daughter Codi singing in the Arizona Regional choir last year. Can’t wait to see how she succeeds.   Photo: ©2013 ANVidean

The Oct. 12, 2013, article by Joanne Lipman, interviewed a number of highly successful people, who all made a connection between their music training and their professional achievements beyond the math-music association.

Like whom? How about:

Paul Allen (billionaire co-founder of Microsoft), guitar
Woody Allen, clarinet
Alan Greenspan (former Federal Reserve chairman), clarinet and saxophone
Bruce Kovner (hedge fund billionaire), piano
Andrea Mitchell (NBC), violinist
Larry Page, (co-founder of Google), saxophone
Condoleeza Rice, piano
Chuck Todd  (NBC chief White House correspondent), French horn
Paula Zahn, cello

“Many high achievers told me music opened up the pathways to creative thinking. And their experiences suggest that music training sharpens other qualities: Collaboration. The ability to listen. A way of thinking that weaves together disparate ideas. The power to focus on the present and the future simultaneously,” the article said.

The article included a funny quote or two from Woody Allen, and some very cool connections between music and real life. If is definitely worth a read.

What other information have you run across that proves the importance of music in our country’s educational programs?

……………..

Play on!

Ann Narcisian Videan

Write • Edit • Self-publish • Word-of-mouth

“One Heart, One Mind” video

My lovely, creative and talented friend, Andrea Beaulieu. I’m so proud of her and grateful to call her friend. Photo: courtesy of Scratch Pastries barista 2012

 

Treat yourself to a five minute break that will completely refresh your day.

All you need to do is enjoy this stunning new “One Heart, One Mind” video and song by my friend Andrea Beaulieu.

Ahh!

Coffee CommuniTea: Bergies Coffee Roast House – Gilbert, AZ

Photo: @2013 ANVidean

Today’s Cup o’ Tea

Bergies Coffee Roast House

Gilbert, AZ

Share a cuppa (stories about the owner, building, history, name)

More than two years ago, when I met my friend Cherie Scott for tea here, she suggested I write a positive blog about coffee and tea shops. The idea for “Coffee CommuniTea” started brewing at Bergies!

Perks (what I really like!)

Its location. Brothers Brian and Bruce Bergeson opened the doors to Bergie’s in Gilbert’s historic Heritage District in early 2009. It earned a New Times “Best of Phoenix” award that year.

I enjoyed the comfy seating in intimate rooms.
Photo: @2013 CScott

Cottage environment with comfy, private sections
Two shady patios
Knowledgeable baristas
Delicious tea. Even though the menu focuses on coffee, I was pleasantly surprised at the knowledge of the barista who helped Cherie and I on our return visit. She introduced me to a special “Celebration” blend of teas, which was fruity and delightful when brewed later at home.

What’s Brewing (coffee, tea, food)

Quality coffee, custom roasted by the brothers themselves
A limited number of teas
Online ordering available
Pastries and desserts

Bergies’ front patio.
Photo: @2013 ANVidean

The Grind (what I would change)

Our visit was delightful. Why it’s taken me so long to feature this charming place, I’m not sure. But, I highly recommend you check it out.

Percolation Factor (activity/ environment/energy/service)

Local musicians on Saturday evenings
The brothers chat every Tuesday from 11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. on “Culinary Confessions” on AM Radio 1440

What’s not to love?
Photo: ©2013 CScott

The Grounds (location)

East side of Gilbert Road, between Elliott and Guadalupe roads, next to Joe’s Real BBQ.

309 N. Gilbert Road

Gilbert, AZ 85234

480-497-3913

bergies309@hotmail.com

http://www.bergiescoffee.com/

Tea Times (hours)

M–Th:  6 a.m.–5 p.m.

F–Sa:  6 a.m.– 8:30 p.m

Su:  7 a.m.–12 p.m.

Yelp rating: 4.5 stars from 63 reviews

……………………

I love connecting people and ideas, so I’ve been creating small villages my entire life. Really, what better places can writers and musicians find to create “village” than independent coffee/tea shops? I wrote most of my Rhythms & Muse novel and Delfaerune Rhapsody series-in-progress in coffee/tea venues, so it seemed natural to create this blog. Whether you came here to find a new favorite hangout, or suggest a spot not yet not posted, may you find Coffee CommuniTea exactly to your taste!

Authors, generate outrageous readership-building ideas, ALWAYS

Celestial Seasonings tea bags create this dress and its accessories. If you wore this, would people talk about it? Duh. So, what creative idea can you come up with to get people talking about your book? We’ll brainstorm ideas together at our next ALWAYS authors lunch. Photo: ©2013 ANVidean

Topic for our gathering:

“Marketing Outside The Book: Outrageous Ideas to Build Readership:” a brainstorming session

At our next authors’ Alliance for Literary Writers, Authors & Yabbering Scribes (ALWAYS) gathering in Tempe, AZ, I’ll lead a mini brainstorm to generate unique ideas to entice readers to buy your book. I’ve conducted thousands of hours of marketing strategy sessions with entrepreneurs and authors to generate “out-of-the-circle” ideas to make people want to chat you up. I assure you, you’ll leave the meeting with at least one powerful idea to use immediately.

- Ann

When:

Thurs., Sept. 12, 2013

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

(Due to a concentration of writers’ meetings the last week of each month, ALWAYS will meet now on second Thursdays.)

Where:

Tea Infusion

2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy # 1064

Tempe, AZ 85281-4927

(480) 967-1141

(I am taking suggestions for another meeting place at or near Tempe Marketplace.)

Cost:

A writing tip, and your own lunch.

RSVP:

PLEASE show the consideration of reserving your spot at the table by:

• RSVPing through the “Join” link on our Facebook Event page

or

• Contacting Ann Videan, avidean@videanunlimited.com

If you’ve RSVP’d, please SHOW UP. If you run into a conflict, please let me know BEFORE the event so I can make the necessary adjustments for the group meeting. Cheers!

…………………………………………………………….
ABOUT ALWAYS
• Need contacts to help your writing?

• Want advice about your writing?

• Like to hang with other cool writers?
The Alliance for Literary Writers, Authors & Yabbering Scribes (ALWAYS) is an informal group of established fiction and nonfiction writers in the Phoenix area who want to support each other’s work, share ideas and best practices, and just discuss writing topics. I’ve led this group since 2006.
Any established writer can connect with us online through our ALWAYS Facebook page, get listed in our directory of writers on our ALWAYS LinkedIn page, or you can meet with us in person at a lunch meeting. We’d love to have any experienced writer join us at our next meeting … anyone who spends a significant part of his/her week writing, and wants to rub elbows with other writers.

Find your Noble Fae name

Noel Stone, newly Noble Fae, musician, and sometime sheep shearer. Image by John Taylor. ©2013 VUPublishing

The Noble Fae, or “Goodies,” in my pending Song of the Ocarina novel, are based on geographical features and natural elements. If you were a character in my book, what name might you have? Use the chart below to select your good faerie name.

Use the first letter of your first name, for either a guy or a gal, then use the first letter of your last name. Example: As a gal with a first name starting  with A, my Noble Fae first name is Raindrop. My last name starts with V, so my so my Noble Fae surname is Islander. Hello, Raindrop Islander!

If you haven’t already, from my recent post, you can also , based on “bad boy” and “tough chick” rock stars.

Can you come up with a better Noble Fae name yourself? Please share.

GUYS
GALS
SURNAME

A  Baye

B  Forrest

C  Layke

D  O’Sean

E  River

F  Cliff

G  Dune

H  Guyser

I  Reefe

J  Volc

K  Sonny

L  Leif

M Arc

N  Branch

O  Steele

P  Bronze

Q  Eddy

R  Rock

S  Bridge

T  Sleet

U  Knyt

V  Legend

W Glenn

X  Stoney

Y  Noel

Z  Tundra

A  Raindrop

B  Val’ey

C  Dhay

D  B’rook

E  Lark

F  Delta

G  Fern

H  Mesa

I   Gaea

J  Summer

K  Meridian

L  Onyx

M Rayne

N  Tweet

O  Marigold

P  Penny

Q  Silver

R  Trea

S  Faye

T  Rosie

U  Daisy

V  Creeke

W  Twigette

X  Lillie

Y  Obsidiana

Z  Pehtala

A  Derrickson

B  Wattyr

C  Seasonaire

D  Vale

E  Moonegrove

F  Plantfrond

G  Rhodium

H  Hurricane

I  Ironspring

J  Tigerseye

K  Whirlwind

L  Woodside

M Rockforest

N  Broadgulf

O  Dewcove

P  Meadow

Q  Waterfall

R  Streamgurgle

S  Pondeglow

T  Windish

U  Pond

V  Islander

W Sandhill

X  Desertside

Y  Glowcave

Z  Beacher

Montezuma’s Castle: Living 100 feet up a cliff face

A word-of-mouth marketing example from the lens of Ann Narcisian Videan

to inspire your business tribe/village.

…………………………..

Montezuma’s Castle, just off I-17 south of Flagstaff, AZ. @2013 ANVidean

On the way back from Northern Arizona University, where my daughter took a college tour recently, she and I stopped to play tourist at Montezuma’s Castle.

The Native American ruin lies just over 30 minutes south of Flagstaff, and a short jaunt down a narrow road into the desert. You think you’re in the middle of nowhere when suddenly the Visitor’s Center parking lot looms ahead.

Hand-packed mud holds the walls together. ©2013 ANVidean

Another ruin, probably housing 100 people, in greater disrepair lies at the bottom of the elevated dwelling. ©2013 ANVidean

Along an easy 1/3-mile loop trail along Beaver Creek, you can witness how native Arizonans lived in a structure built 100 feet up in a cliff face. They made use of all the materials available to them: a natural cave, stones, soil, Arizona Sycamore trees, and nearby water to carve out an amazingly robust and protected life for themselves.

Humans are truly ingenious, are they not?

I totally suggest a visit, and a chat with the knowledgeable ranger staffing the center there.

What other impressive sights can you recommend in Arizona?

Author Publishing Options: 2 Starting Points

Writing Tip #11:

Two high-level considerations about traditional publishing vs. self-publishing

This article provides two initial decisions you must make to decide the best way to introduce your book into the market.

First,  know your manuscript and research possible publishers. Be clear what kinds of material potential publishers print. Does your story fit? Will you need an agent? (Some publishers will not consider your manuscript without one.) They also require you to follow very specific guidelines when submitting manuscripts and otherwise dealing with them.

Luckily, you can find out everything you need to know about the writing marketplace — not only for traditional and other publishers, but for magazine articles, greeting card companies, and more –  in the Writer’s Market publications available online, at libraries and in book stores.

If you do decide to pursue an agent and traditional publishing, check out individual agents, their histories, success rates and more at Agent Query. Writer’s Market provides a guide specific to literary agents, as well.

[image error]

I decided to self-publish my first novel partly because agents I approached didn’t have a good system for incorporating its music “soundtrack.”

Second, armed with the above information, decide if you want to publish traditionally or self-publish. Pros and cons:

Traditional:

You have a team so you don’t have to do it all yourself
Offers some financial support
Less ROI
Less control
You still do most of the marketing


Self:

You do it all yourself
Self-funded
More ROI
Nearly full control
You do all the marketing

P.S. The decision to publish traditionally or by yourself involves a lot of nuances and choices. If you need additional input, ask a question in the comments below to see what others suggest.

…………………..
Write on!

Ann Narcisian Videan

Write • Edit • Self-publish • Word-of-mouth

Star Spangled Banner, Madison Rising – Today’s Video Pick

Okay, this Star Spangled Banner cover by Madison Rising video is cool. Just had to share. Go, America!

Bald eagle above a friend’s cabin on Coeur d’Alene Lake in Idaho. @2007 ANVidean

Why not share a cool patriotic video with us in the comments…

Secrets to choosing the perfect book marketing, ALWAYS

You’ve written and published your book. Now you must sell it. But how?

At the next authors’ Alliance for Literary Writers, Authors & Yabbering Scribes (ALWAYS) gathering, we’ll discuss this overwhelming topic with best-selling author and publicity guru Raleigh Pinskey.

Standing in front of shelves lined with myriad Celestial Seasonings teas is very similar to standing in front of shelves (or Web pages) filled with book publicity options.
Which do you choose to get the best bang for your book?
Photo: @2013 ANVidean

When:

Thurs. Aug. 15, 2013

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Where:

Tea Infusion

2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy.

Tempe, AZ 85281-4927

(480) 967-1141

Cost:

A writing tip, and your own lunch.

RSVP:

PLEASE show the consideration of reserving your spot at the table by RSVPing through the “Join” link on our Facebook page or contacting Ann Videan, avidean@videanunlimited.com.

If you’ve RSVP’d, PLEASE show up. If you run into a conflict later, please let me know before the event so I can make the necessary adjustments for the group. Cheers!

…………………………………………………………….

ABOUT ALWAYS
• Need contacts to help your writing?

• Want advice about your writing?

• Like to hang with other cool writers?
The Alliance for Literary Writers, Authors & Yabbering Scribes (ALWAYS) is an informal group of established fiction and nonfiction writers in the Phoenix area who want to support each other’s work, share ideas and best practices, and just discuss writing topics. I’ve led this group since 2006.
Any established writer can connect with us online through our ALWAYS Facebook page, get listed in our directory of writers on our ALWAYS LinkedIn page, or you can meet with us in person at a lunch meeting. We’d love to have any experienced writer join us at our next meeting … anyone who spends a significant part of his/her week writing, and wants to rub elbows with other writers.

Catchy writing requires a fresh reader who is not YOU

Writing tip #10:

Catchy writing requires a fresh reader who is not YOU

I don’t care if you wrote 27 books, publish multiple corporate newsletters every month, or even edit others’ words. You cannot edit your own writing.

NO EXCEPTIONS! (Yes, that’s me stepping up on my soapbox and yelling.)

@2011 CEVidean

Fresh eyes, peeps. That’s what it’s all about.

When you write, your brain repeatedly works through  messages the same way, and tends to gloss over words, phrases and ideas already “set” in your mind. It’s a subjective process. Someone else — and, preferably, a number of someone elses — can take a look at those same words, phrases and ideas and see something completely different. They provide a fresh, objective viewpoint.

Two quick examples:

• Writing a 68-page, four color, tabloid RealTime news magazine for computer resellers every two weeks required at least five sets of eyes on our team. Invariably, the designers would see mistakes the writer/editors missed, and vice versa.

• The professional editor of my initial Rhythms & Muse manuscript pointed out that I did not include any current-day scenes with my hero anywhere in the first half of the book. What? I couldn’t belief my oversight. Her input contributed to creating a much more complete, seamless, self-published novel, and helped make it interesting enough to rate almost all 5-star reviews on Amazon.

Sources of “other eyes,” though your #1 choice should always involve a professional editor:

A co-worker in your marketing department
Several fellow authors or editors (beta readers)
A critique partner or group
NOT solely your mother or good friends, even if they are avid readers.

OK, so did I make my point? You are not your own best editor!!!

Thank you. (I can step down off my soapbox now.]

Write on!

Ann Narcisian Videan

Write • Edit • Self-publish • Word-of-mouth

P.S.  How do you get input on your writing?