Ann Narcisian Videan's Blog, page 19

#4 Writing Tip: Captivate with Storytelling Content

Can you tell where I conducted this signing for my first, published fictional story? First one to comment below, gets a $10 gift card from this hot spot.

How can you truly captivate the readers of your blog, presentation, or book? With so many rampant messages vying for everyone’s attention at every turn, you need proven techniques to blast your message through—like storytelling.

One of the best ways involves content rife with storytelling. Content must tell something interesting, real and relatable. Even in business, stories serve to attach a customer to you emotionally. Simply, they hit home.

As a novelist, and avid movie fan, I adore stories. They’ve been a part of my life since I was a small child, starting when my Mom read the magical book The Secret Garden and chilling North To Freedom to my brothers and I. I became a constant reader in high school, especially of historical romances like Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, and…well…anything written by Jane Austin. As I grew older and started appreciating movies with amazing special effects like Star Wars, sci-fi and fantasy became my favorite genre(s). Those continue as my favorites today. Yes, I am a total LOTR and Harry Potter fan girl, and I stand proud.

I self-published my first novel in 2011 and, although it wasn’t written to fit my favorite genre, Rhythms & Muse culminated a life dream for me—along with its soundtrack of five original songs I wrote and performed. Today, I am full-force into writing a young-adult fantasy adventure: the Delfaerune Rhapsody trilogy. This focus on stories and writing led me to my current career in which I help authors and visionary entrepreneurs share their messages through relatable stories, available technology, and creative word of mouth marketing.

So, see what I did there? You’ll note my own tale included the six basic elements in a story:

Introduction: “As a novelist…adore stories.”
Initiating incident: “They’ve been a part…to my brothers and I.”
Rising action: “I became an avid reader…and proud of it.”
Climax: “I self-published…wrote and performed.”
Falling action: “Today, I am…trilogy.”
Dénouement/Conclusion: This focus…and word of mouth.

I bet you found that:

You connected more to the story section of this blog entry than the instruction part.
You formed mental pictures, which captured your imagination and helped you relate to me.
You got the sense that I really enjoy what I do and might actually be pretty good at it. (Well, I’ve been doing it long enough, I’d better be.)

That’s what you want your content to do. Engage!

So, what other ideas can you share about making content captivating? What techniques to you use?

P.S. If you want training to help create your stories, consider contacting my friend and associate Andrea Beaulieu, who specializes in performance coaching with a big emphasis on storytelling.

#3 Writing tip: Develop your book or content idea

Before you can write anything—a book, a Web page, an article, a post—you must create a concept to intrigue readers, emotionally grips them, and keep them reading. “The idea” serves as the foundation for your content.

Suffering from a lack of inspiration or imagination? Here are my tips for getting started:

Picture your audience

Treat this as THE starting point, always. Don’t start to write anything without knowing the exact reader you want to reach with your message/story. Picture one person in your mind: their look, their economic level, their interests, their need (as addressed in your writing). You may even want to give them a family, a background and a pet. The better you know this reader, the better your writing will flow.

Brainstorm

Begin by jotting ideas by yourself, create an outline, use stream-of-consciousness writing until “the idea” hits you.
Ask a friend to join you in bouncing ideas around. This happens nicely over a cup of tea.
Seek advice from a professional to help you with a strategy session. Although, my Videan Unlimited Marketing Strategy Session descriptions are geared to marketing rather than just writing, looking through them might help you see how strategy help can move you toward an idea.

Participate in blogs/listservs 

You don’t have to come up with the idea yourself, you know. We build networks for a reason. Use them! A couple of my favorite places to find writing inspiration and ask questions of other authors include:

Writers’ associations, or a group like my ALWAYS writer’s tribe
FictionThatSells on Yahoo Groups
The Technorati Web site. This is where to find other pertinent blogs on topics relating to what you’re writing.

Other ways to inspire ideas

Listen to music.
Look at artwork or photographs.
Take a walk or do something away from “idea generating” for a while.
Read others’ writing.

Tell us your favorite ways to generate ideas.

Coffee CommuniTea: Pegasus Coffee House, Bainbridge Island, WA

Today’s Cup o’ Tea

Pegasus Coffee House

A favorite of Jackie Nagel, owner of

business coaching/consulting firm Synnovatia, San Pedro, CA,

who recommended this choice spot.

……………………

Perks (what I really like!)

“The beautiful, nurturing environment and the incredibly good-tasting coffee.”

Photo complements of the Pegasus Coffee House Web site.

Share a cuppa (the stories)

“My first experience with Pegasus Coffee House was when I was still living in Washington State. I arrived early for the ferry to take me to downtown Seattle. With the little bit of extra time I had, I discovered this incredible coffee house shrouded in [Virginia Creeper, which looks a whole lot like] English Ivy.”

History: The Pegasus opened its doors on May 1, 1980. It’s Web site description says it’s “friendly, lively, casual and a bit funky and bohemian.

“The building was formerly home to Anderson Hardware store and its trademark bricks were salvaged from the Port Blakely Mill incinerator.

“Some use it as an office, some as a living room, but it’s always been a hub for information and the arts. The walls play host to local artists works and there’s live coffee house music every week.”

What’s Brewing (coffee, tea, food)

“Love, Love, Love their coffee! Although we moved from the area in 2001, we still order their coffee online. There’s no bitter aftertaste like some of the better-known coffee brews/beans.”

They also offer tasty treats like:

Greens and soup
Sandwiches
Dinner, with available beer, wine and cocktails
Desserts

The Grind (what I would change)

“Wish they were local!”

Percolation Factor (the activity/environment/energy/service)

“The people always remember my name when I call in to place my order. It’s nice to be remembered.”

Per the Web site, Pegasus also offers:

Free wi-fi
Music on Friday and Saturday nights, with a distinct preference for folk and country flavors
A 20-person private event room available for parties, or business meetings
An outdoor terrace
A “Fresh Connections” blog

The Grounds (location)

131 Parfitt Way S.W.

Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

206-842-6725

Tea Times (hours)

M–Th.,  Su.: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

F.–Sa.: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Yelp rating: 3.5 stars (49 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!

Coffee CommuniTea: Pink Spot Coffee and Ice Cream, Phoenix, AZ

Today’s Cup o’ Tea

Pink Spot Coffee and Ice Cream

Watch, in the coming months, for a new patio renovation to allow more outdoor seating at Pink Spot.
©2012 ANVidean

Perks (what I really like!)

Uh … coffee, tea AND ice cream! What’s not to love?
Fresh food, made to order, and inexpensive.
The “chill” environment
Free wi-fi
The staff provides input on everything they do, from ice cream flavors to sandwich types.

Share a cuppa (the stories)

When the space next to their healthy, organic Zpizza location opened up four years ago, former attorney Julie Kossak and hi-tech sales exec Mark Wheeler got excited to bring something unique to the downtown Phoenix Willo District where they live and work. The husband and wife team considering what type of place was missing in the neighborhood and decided it was ice cream. Oh, and what goes great with ice cream all day long? Coffee! And, what do people need with their coffee? Yummy food!

The name originated with their daughter’s love of the color, and represented the fun, happy ambiance they hoped to create. Vîola! Pink Spot was born.

My ALWAYS authors tribe met at Pink Spot this month for a lively discussion about Deep Point of View: Eduardo Cervino, Raleigh Pinsky, Andrea Beaulieu, Erana Leiken, Ann Videan, and Kris Tualla.
(Thanks to our attentive barista for taking the photo.)

What’s Brewing (coffee, tea, food)

Ice cream and frozen yogurt

– Hand made from Karen Kreamery especially for Pink Spot, the gourmet, super premium (16% butterfat) ice cream includes 16 standards like chocolate, mint chip and coffee. But you can also go adventurous with a few unique rotating flavors like pear and Gorgonzola, or lavender.
Tea, and coffee roasted locally and specifically for Pink Spot by Coffee Roasters of Arizona
Breakfast and brunch available all day long

– Made-to-order egg sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and fresh baked goods

– Greek yogurt and granola parfaits

– Vegetarian breakfast/lunch offerings and five delicious made-to-order

– Now, don’t forget the special pizza next door, either.

The Grind (what I would change)

I have one tiny issue with the noise level if you’re planning to have a meeting or serious conversation there. But, overall, the location is delightful.

It’s definitely a comfy, party environment.
©2012 ANVidean

Percolation Factor (the activity/environment/energy/service)

Great place for:

Meetings
Tutoring
Parties (especially build-your-own sundae types of gatherings)
Showers

The Grounds (location)

49 W. Thomas Rd.

Phoenix, AZ 85013

602.265.3889

Tea Times (hours)

M–F: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sa.–Su.: 8 a.m.to 10 p.m.

Yelp rating: 4 stars (77 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!

What’s your faerie name?

Today, I was thinking about character naming. Honestly, I’m not that good at names. So, in dealing with this challenge of mine, I discovered a fascinating and fun site. It’s a name-generating Web page substituting your name for a fairy’s.

Here’s mine … “Gossamer Moonglow. She is a messenger of the moon goddess. She lives in spiderwebbed wonderlands and insect grottoes. She is only seen in the light of a full moon. She wears dresses made of cobwebs and gossamer and has bright blue butterfly wings.”

Ah-h-h, I like that.

Most people envision fairies like this: tiny, cute and winged. [As expertly illustrated by Mark Pate. (www.markpate.com)]

That name did serve as a source of inspiration, but doesn’t necessarily fit the mood for my books. You see, the fae in my Delfaerune Rhapsody young-adult-fiction, trilogy in-progress do not fit the mold of your typical fairy. Mine, in the Celtic fae tradition, look more like elves: they grow extremely tall; embrace glamour (magic), not wings, to fly; and,  therefore, require unusual names.

So, in the first book of my series, “The Song of the Ocarina,” I’ve given my Dark Fae monikers which emulate bad-boy rockers like Mikk, Axyl and Janys. My Noble Fae have natural names like Fern, Glenn and Whillo. Key characters also use Maori surnames, as my setting is Queenstown, New Zealand.

I’m looking for more inspiration. So, might you visit the and come back here to share your name and description? Pretty please?

Breaking Benjamin, Linkin Park, Ten Years and Brahms inspire novel-in-progress

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

" target="_blank">Image courtesy of Renjith Krishnan/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Music and word lovers, join me in the journey where music enhances fiction! If you have a favorite artist/song and would like to see it potentially worked into my novel-in-progress, comment here with the artist name, song title and a bit about its style/genre/lyrics.

I’m mentioning inspiring artist’s songs in The Song of the Ocarina. It’s one of the elements readers liked most about my first novel Rhythms & Muse. (“Look Inside”–even just its first and second pages–on Amazon and you’ll see how songs play into and enhance the plot.)

Allow me to share a few songs mentioned in Ocarina, the first book in my Delfaerune Rhapsody young-adult series. (It’s a trilogy about 7′-tall, wingless, Celtic Fae saving the world in New Zealand.)

• Linkin Park’s “Papercut” relates to a moment when Lark, the heroine, feels a loss of identity.

• Lark, also the faerie realm’s musical prodigy, plays Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” on the piano in her bedroom after returning to the faerie realm from the human world.

• When Noel, the hero, sides with his estranged Dark Fae family, Breaking Benjamin’s “Crawl” will inspire the mood.

• Uncle D’s “True Kiwi Way”is a little New Zealand ditty mentioned when Lark meets her kiwi “familiar.”

• Lark’s Noble Fae sister sings 10 Years’s “Through The Iris”  with her Dark Fae boyfriend.

• Brahms’s “Lullaby” is the first song Lark plays on the ancient magical zither when she holds it again for the first time in three years.

Steampunk music. Really? Yeppers.

Steam Powered Giraffe logo.

Creativity with goggles,

from Steam Powered Giraffe.

Music.
Steampunk with a back story.
Coolest graphics ever, even including a comic book.
Videos.
A card game.

How can you not love these San Diego creatives?!

The robot band members:

The Spine (David Michael Bennett)
Rabbit (Bunny Bennett)
The Jon (Jonathan Michael Sprague)

Their human assistants/band members:

Michael Phillip Reed, the “One Man Band”
Sam Luke, drummer
Steve Negrete, sound engineer

Learn more. (I promise weirdness and inspiration.)

Web site: http://www.steampoweredgiraffe.com/in...
Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/SpineRaptor

So, what do you think of them?

Call for delicious vegetarian dishes for young-adult fiction book

A community garden in Highlands Ranch, CO. In its beautiful surroundings with the Rocky Mountains in the distance, I could see this garden tended by faeries. ©2012 ANVidean

The lanky, wingless, Celtic-based Noble Fae in my Lark’s Tale* novel may just end up as vegetarians. So, in a banquet scene currently in the works I want to describe a number of succulently mouthwatering vegetarian dishes. But, being of Armenian heritage where meat is a serious staple, I am at a loss.

Can you share a vegetarian recipe worthy of a serving to the political leaders of Delfaerune (my realm of both Noble and Dark Fae)? Just a dish you consider luscious.

In your comment, please provide the full recipe, and include a description or even a few adjectives about the prepared dish which make it worthy to serve to dignitaries. Cheers!

– Ann

* Lark’s Tale is a working title for my young adult fantasy romance, the first book in my Delfaerune Rhapsody trilogy. I’m leaning toward the actual title The Song of the Ocarina. (The heroine must learn to master spells using an ancient ocarina to evoke a balance the human and faerie realms.) What do you think?

#2 Writing Tip: Use your book cover as a profile picture

Rhythms & Muse’s back cover. You want to click on it so you can read it, don’t you? I’ll let you watch my Facebook page at Ann Narcisian Videan for the front cover to appear in a few days, or check it out at www.tinyurl.com/ANVamazon.

Change your profile picture to your book cover.

Twice a month I meet with a group of established Phoenix, AZ-area writers in my Alliance of Literary Writers, Authors and Yabbering Scribes (ALWAYS) “tribe.” We share writing tips, ideas and resources, which I pass along to you.

The authors attending our May 22, 2012, gathering came up with a number of great ideas, which I will parse out in the near future, but Eduardo Cervino shared a real winner, an easy way to gain a bit more visibility.

He suggested authors change their profile photo to their book cover every once in a while on their social media sites. You know when you see the same image over and over, you tend to ignore it? A change in scenery can pique interest and entice your friends and followers to actually click on your little image to see it in better detail, especially a book cover.

Just make sure you offer valuable information next to the photo, such as a photo description in Facebook which includes your Web site address.

Thank you, Ed! I’m going to do this whenever I’m running a special promotion or on the  verge of a big book event.

Do you have a savvy writing tip to share for authors or freelancers? Please post a comment. (And, don’t forget to ALWAYS write!)

Walk Off The Earth, Gotye cover: Today’s Pick

I blame these guys (my musical kids) for keeping me up on the latest hot music.

For creative writing inspiration, my nearly adult children introduced me to Belgian-Australian multi-instrumental musician and singer-songwriter Gotye (go-tee-yay) a couple of weeks ago. His video “Somebody That I Used To Know” is a new favorite of mine.

Now, I’m even more inspired by a cover of the song by Walk Off The Earth (WOTE) performed by all five band members on one guitar. This Ontario, Canada-based indie band formed in 2006 has built a huge fan base by making creative low-budget music videos of covers and originals, without record labels, booking agents or management. The band did recently earn a recording contract with Columbia Records.

Also, you’ll be intrigued by the intricate, eye-popping cardboard set featured in WOTE’s cover of “Little Boxes.” This 1963 Pete Seeger hit was written by folk singer-songwriter and political activist Malvina Reynolds.

Whose music inspires you, for writing or otherwise?