Tag Archives: Videan

Authors, generate outrageous readership-building ideas, ALWAYS

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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

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

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

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 select your Dark Fae name, 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

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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

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

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

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?

Catchy writing requires a fresh reader who is not YOU

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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.)

P1000845

@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?

Find your Dark Fae name

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Delfaerune Rhapsody antagonist Mikk Stone. Can you guess what rock star's name played muse for my antagonist's identity? Comment below.

Delfaerune Rhapsody antagonist Mikk Stone. Can you guess what rock star’s name played muse for my antagonist’s identity? Comment below.

For my pending Song of the Ocarina novel, I picked Dark Fae character names based on famous, and even some burned-out, rock and rollers. Think long hair, studded black leathers, tattoos and piercings.

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, my first name starts with A, so my Dark Fae first name is Jett.
My last name starts with V, so my so my Dark Fae surname is Rotten.
That makes me Jett Rotten.

GUYS GALS SURNAME
A       Motorhead

B       Bowie

C       Davyd Lee

D       Vynce

E       Jym

F       Skidd

G       Iggie

H       Mikk

I        Ronney

J       Keyth

K       Stevinn

L       Blackie

M      Chrys

N       Alyiss

O       Myke

P       Kert

Q       Eddy

R       Black

S       Axyl

T       Ozzy

U       Iron

V       Chryss

W      Elvish

X       Def

Y       Phyl

Z       Motley

 A       Jett

B       Nikki

C       Phair

D       Rhiki

E       Byorc

F       Siouxsie

G       Thyn Lizzy

H       Indigo

I        Boney

J       Jewyl

K       Sherr

L       Zola

M      Runaway

N       Janys

O       Inez

P       Tyna

Q       Mad Donna

R       Jhoan

S       Lyz

T       Cass

U       Exene

V       Chryssie

W      Shinayde

X       Queen

Y       Alanys

Z       Motley

 A       Morryson

B       Joplyn

C       Hendryx

D       Moon

E       Lawless

F       Winehouse

G       Crue

H       Pretender

I        Hynde

J       Osbourne

K       Banshee

L       Maiden

M      Kreeper

N       Wild

O       Whitesnake

P       Cyclone

Q       Guns

R       Thorne

S       Ness

T       Leeroth

U       Sabbath

V       Rotten

W      Distortion

X       Ratt

Y       Sixx

Z       Poison

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

Help create Roshambo hand symbols for NZ fae characters

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Image courtesy of Kittikun Atsawintarangkul at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of Kittikun Atsawintarangkul at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

OK, friends, I could use your help again with content for my Song of the Ocarina novel. My heroine Lark has two bodyguards, Leif and Sonny, who Roshambo to decide who must carry Lark’s shopping packages. They each smack their palm twice and, on the third beat, open into a representative hand symbol. What symbols/hand gestures would these Noble Fae use?

In the U.S. we use these:

  • Rock (breaks scissors) with fist
  • Paper (covers rock) with flat palm
  • Scissors (cuts paper) with middle and index fingers extended like a peace sign

Consider:

  • My characters reside within the country of Zealynd (on a different plane, but the same geographical location as New Zealand in the human realm).
  • The fae are attuned to nature, magic, and animals.
  • They are influenced by the Maori culture.

So, maybe my fae could use fern leaves, daggers and stones? Or something more creative? What can you suggest?

In the comments below, suggest a set of symbols and hand gestures for my fae to use for this game in the realm of Delfaerune. If I use your suggestion, I’ll include your name in the Acknowledgements page of my published novel. 🙂

New music to enlighten and inspire

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41dj1GBoOvL._SL500_AA280_ I’m so thrilled for my dear friend Andrea Beaulieu, who just released this heartfelt song, “One Heart, One Mind” with Richard Palalay. Andrea wrote the lyrics and sings the lovely melody within the arrangement composed by Richard.

Honestly, this beautiful song will lighten your day. You can get it from Andrea, Amazon, or  through the iTunes store.

Mikk Stone, Reveal #4

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Can you tell from John Taylor's partial image Mikk is the story's antagonist?

Can you tell from John Taylor‘s partial image Mikk is the story’s antagonist?

Reveal #4: Mikk’s band of troublemakers stole forbidden magical spellbooks from the Delfaerune leadership, and their misuse is unbalancing the worlds.

All of Mother Earth’s realms—including humans, fae and “extinct” animals like the moa, dragons and phoenix—become endangered by Mikk’s attempt to use dark spells.

The Dark Fae plans unfold in Song of the Ocarina — the first book in my young-adult fantasy adventure series — due out in late 2013.

Watch for more character image reveals this week of Mikk here in my blog, and also in my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.

Back to Reveal #3                                          To Reveal #5

Mikk Stone, Reveal #3

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Reveal #3: Mikk always carries drumsticks, and uses them to control Eddy, his dragon “familiar.”

Eddy's hiding behind this partial image of Mikk by John Taylor.

Eddy hides behind Mikk in this partial image by John Taylor.

Eddy is a young silver dragon who takes battle direction from Mikk, who uses his drumsticks like conductor batons. In his direction, Mikk also incorporates legendary human rock-star moves like the windmill guitar strum, the runway strut, and others.

The Dark Fae antagonist’s story begins to unfold in Song of the Ocarina — the first book in my young-adult fantasy adventure series — due out in late 2013.

Watch for more character image reveals this week of Mikk here in my blog, and also in my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.

Back to Reveal #2                                          To Reveal #4

Mikk Stone, Reveal #2

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Reveal #2: Mikk is a drummer who loves to party. He uses his drumsticks as conductor batons to direct… something very unusual.

Mikk's drumsticks are always nearby. Illustration by John Taylor.

Mikk’s drumsticks are always tucked in a pocket. Illustration by John Taylor.

He and his rebel Dark Fae buddies stole magical tools controlled by the Noble Fae, and experiment with them to get what they want, even if the consequences lead to the breakdown of their own world.

His best friend, Axyl Thorne, is Delfaerune’s most famous—and handsome singer/songwriter.

His story begins to unfold in Song of the Ocarina — the first book in my young-adult fantasy adventure series — due out in late 2013.

Watch for more character image reveals this week of Mikk here in my blog, and also in my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.

Back to Reveal #1                                          Reveal #3