New Content On Creator's Corner: Creativity & Storytelling Muse (August 9, 2107)

Rachel Ward and Richard Chamberlain in "The Thorn Birds" (Credit: ABC)

 Best Content Uses Current & Past Life Stories:
Honoring Tom Comerford, R.I.P. 

(Story of the Month: August 2017)

Tom Comerford. I was in shock, depressed, and lost after the death of my mother. Tom was a District Manager for the State of New Jersey's Division of Youth & Family Services. He hired me to provide payments to all the foster care parents in the huge district. He helped me get back on my feet mentally, emotionally, and financially; and that job led to meeting my best friend who has been in my life for 37 years. Continue reading . . .

Access more content about this best practice of using past and current life experiences as storytelling content to attract and engage your audience, readers, clients, and customers.

Dare to shine, be generous, and love this life.

Valerie







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CREATOR'S CORNER is dedicated to sharing ideas that come to mind after reading and selecting articles for The Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine (as the editor/curator) that may be useful in a professional or personal capacity. Interest in creativity and storytelling as content for usage in arts & entertainment, media communications, marketing and advertising, and as lifestyle choices for businesses, projects and services (groups that have a way of life that may or may not be included in their brand identity), can be relevant to anyone anywhere in the world covering a variety of professions. 

Rave Reviews (Thanks Everyone!)

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE ABILITY TO SHARE AND CREATE INTERESTING AND MOTIVATING STORIES USING CONTENT AND MEDIA FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES, plus to review the past and move into NEW creative storytelling experiences and relationships.

These reviews cover film & television professionals with whom I have worked as an originator, creator, developer and producer of stories; live, streaming and podcast interviews conducted on my Blog Talk Radio channel; interviews printed in the arts section of a newspaper serving Orange County, NY, and by website design clients. 

Here we go...

"I have worked with Val on two projects now, and each time I have been blown away by Val's connection with and dedication to the material. She was an integral part of the development of each project and brings her heart and soul into the creation of any project she works on. This has made her an absolute joy to work with, and a person whose friendship, vision and creativity I cherish. I highly recommend Val as a solo contractor, team member and content creator, and would work with her again in a heartbeat!"
-- Sameera Steward, Producer, Constellations Entertainment

"Valerie Michele is an innovative, professional and strongly driven individual with a sound grounding in business strategy, and the flexibility to consider new ideas. Valerie trusts concepts born from genuine talent and works well with her business partners to create the best possible solution for the project."
-- Jacob Larch, Writer/Editor/Script Doctor

"Our team was lucky to find Val a few months ago and she has been a wonderful asset ever since. She is driven and optimistic, and her personality has helped to fuel the rest of our crew. She has also been instrumental in finding us some key players who have been essential in moving our projects forward. I would recommend Val to anyone in need of a dedicated team player or a truly amazing friend. Thanks again, Val, for all your hard work!"
-- Sarah L. Taylor, Creator/Writer/Producer, "Blood Lines"

"...the interview with Luciana Souza was incredible. I loved the dialogue on parenting, grief, spiritual practices, music..."
-- Claire Milam, Spiritual Coach

"Fantastic job."
-- Barbara Sobel, Sobel Promotions

"Beautiful music, wonderful conversation, all around inspiring and energizing program. Thank you!"
-- JD Flaten, Publicist, Media Owls

"Thank you!!! I had a great time being on your show!!! -- Georgie Porgie, A Billboard Magazine Top 10 Dance/Club Artist of the Decade

"You have been doing an amazing job with your interviews/shows. I'm so impressed with what you've done."
-- Paddy Noonan, Founding Partner & Musician, IMRadio

"Wow!" Val. The radio show was so amazing! Thanks so much!
-- Tonya Marie Faris, Songwriter, song featured as a healing dedication

- "Excellent and informative interviews. I enjoyed the show very much. Joel Juan Qui is a beautiful expression of healing through his education and music. Val and Barry, great show!
-- Daniel Zazueta

 

"Val, thank you for posting the great [audio] interview with Linda and Jacqui at our show opening . . . I'm glad your interview got into some of the more contemplative and spiritual aspects of why we do what we do."

-- Karl Leitzel, "Far & Near Horizons" Group Exhibition World Tour from the International Plein Air Painters (IPAP) and Landscape Artists International (LAI), Founder of LAI

"I was glad to meet you at Musikfest, and later, thrilled with the wonderful job you did. You are an excellent writer, photographer, and interviewer all rolled into one: quite a combination."

-- Ann Whipple, Publicist, Musikfest

 

"Thank you for your great interview. You did a great job." @ The 110th Anniversary of Downing Park

-- Jean McGrane, City Manager of the City of Newburgh, NY

"Thank you so much for all the space and time you took with the article. The interview is great and Mystique did a great job with the photos. Can't thank you enough. You should also know that several people have already phoned me to say they read and enjoyed the article."

-- Mary Ann G. Neuman, Photographer, "Somebody's Sister" Series

“Your organization of materials, attention to detail and intelligent approach is unique, refreshing and MUCH appreciated. It makes all the difference!”
-- Don Devine, President, Devine Design

"Wow, the interview went really well. I enjoyed hearing the artist's responses, and found out a little bit more about each artist I had not known before. Thank you for all your support!"

-- Virginia Walsh, Director, Ann Street Gallery

"I'm finally home and have been meaning to call and THANK YOU for the wonderful feature you did on me."

-- Judi Silvano, Jazz Vocalist/Composer/Producer/Educator

"You are (as they say): "No joke". I thank you for lending your genius to the mass of positive good going on in the city of Newburgh right now. The article helped to give wonderful insight into who I am as a candidate for city council."

-- Marge Bell, Owner, Newburgh Artisans and 2007 & City Council in Newburgh, NY

"What a treat to have you with us and conduct such a powerful interview. Thank you for posting the live interview! I've added it to my blog so others can listen and find your site . . . What a wonderful job you do."

-- Linda Richichi, Tour Director, "Far & Near Horizons" Group Exhibition World Tour and Plein Air Painter

"I just wanted to say thank you ever so much for the fabulous job on the article! It was an absolute pleasure to see such a great spread and the company so well represented. I appreciate your efforts and hard work!"

-- Stacey Hawkins, President and CEO, Time Savor Gourmet, LLC

"Val, thanks so much--what a wonderful job."

-- Brian Burke, Owner, Downing Film Center

"You need to clone yourself -- doing a great job covering so many events and really focusing on the personalities behind them!"

-- C. Kippy Boyle, Divisional Manager, San Francisco International Gift Fair

 

"Your new Web site looks and FEELS great--open, inviting and very informative."

-- Eleanora Amendolara, Sacred Center

 

"The pleasure has been ours . . . I was singing your praises last night while showing off the website and clicked on your site to show people who you are . . . I am very happy!"

-- Sharron Miller, Executive and Artistic Director, Sharron Miller's Academy for the Performing Arts

 

“You have an extraordinary company! The level of work you do is very, very high---"over my head" for design work, innovation & concepts, etc.-- a very different area of our industry than I'm in! But you truly have a great and exciting company!”

-- Marc Frankel, President, Hudson Valley Mac

Creator's Corner: Original Creativity & Storytelling Content Roundup for 2016

NOTE: Creator's Corner is now being published on Wordpress, so you can access and read all of the columns (past and future) easily at one location. Click Here.

IT'S TIME FOR AN UPDATED ROUND-UP OF  CREATOR'S CORNER FOR EASIER ACCESS TO THE CREATIVITY COACHING CONTENT HERE with a brief excerpt and link to each one (March 2016 to December 2016)--in the spirit of "Everything we need for creativity & storytelling success is within our grasp." Of course it may not be everything we need, however; between Creator's Corner and the Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine, there is a hearty helping.

I BEGAN WRITING CREATOR'S CORNER IN AN INFLUENCER, COACHING, INSPIRATIONAL CAPACITY to share original ideas and solutions for you to consider based on my own thoughts and experiences inspired by the curated content in the Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine. Due to my work and volunteer schedule, Creator's Corner columns will not be as plentiful as in the past, but I will be posting new content as space clears to do so. Cheers! 

 

Creator's Corner Round-up (March-December 2016)
 

Best Visual Content = Storytelling Solutions via A&E Professionals - December 24, 2016 | Stage32 (One of my favorite websites) invites its members to select 10 films that we would take with us if we knew we were going to be stranded on a desert island.

Lies & Storytelling: Strange Bedfellows in Shades of Gray) - August 14, 2016 | Liar! Who hasn't had to enter into an almost daily relationship with lies in our political climate today as we countdown to choosing our next president of the United States of America (#45). . . .

Best Storytelling Has Sensory Empathy (or It's Important To Engage the Senses) - July 27, 2016 | I had the responsibility of creating visual content (publications, packaging, and safer sex advertising campaings) to help save the lives of men, women, and children at-risk for HIV/AIDS during the fours years that I worked at Gay Men's Health Crisis, Inc. in New York City . . .  

Get Up to Speed On Quality Do-It-Yourself Storytelling (On a Low Budget) - June 25, 2016 | In our world in which content is king/queen and we must use vital creativity and storytelling mojo, and provide it in ways that engage, inspire and energize our fellow humans, what can we do to achieve quality . . .

Best Storytelling is Copied, Stolen Content? (or The Lighter Shade of Led Zeppellin) - June 5, 2016 | Breakout from traditional approaches and models despite potential flack that you might receive from doubters or critics who aren't as courageous, and/or fear conflict or change.

The Joy Is in the Story Journey (or Mission Impossible) - May 18, 2016 | What really kept me on the edge of my seat wasn't the mission getting accomplished or the end (though I was happy to get the payoff): it was everything that occurred prior to actually accomplishing it.

**YOUR TOP STORY**Best Story Content Grounded In Our Past & Current Life - May 4, 2016 | Lisa Sanderson's dad taught the creative writing elective, and he drilled into our heads the following regarding story content: Write about what you know, what you are . . .

Conflict Has Creative Value. Learn How To Use It. - April 19, 2016 | Creative breakthroughs often occur as the result of conflict in many aspects of the human experience. I feel like screaming again because conflict and contrast commands attention. They SHOUT and we. . .

Here Comes Play-Doh - April 6, 2016 | Certainly it's easy to see that Play-Doh can be used as content to attract and communicate with children in your particular business, project or service, but what about with adults? Many of us are familiar with Play-Doh because . . .

Sacred Geometry, Visual Storytelling Content: One of Top Four Creative Trends 2016 - March 27, 2016 | Sigils are sacred geometry symbol forms that the ancients considered to be the marks of angels, deities, and other powerful entities; they are archetype conduits that merge science, creativity and spirituality.

Card Decks and The Mystic or Visionary Persona - March 25, 2016 | Create a card deck as visual content to inform, educate, inspire, attract, promote, aesthetic (purely as art for arts sake ), or for fun and play to help achieve your goal or purpose.

MAY YOU DISCOVER MORE CREATIVE ideas and storytelling support now (and in the future)  

Dare to shine, be generous, and love this life.

Valerie 

 
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Top Visitors/Countries (Last 7 Days)

1) United States
2) Germany 
3) France
4) India
5) Romania

Creator's Corner: Conflict Has Creative Value. Learn How To Use It.

NOTE: Creator's Corner is now being published on Wordpress, so you can access and read all of the columns (past and future) easily at one location. Click Here.

Somewhere along my life's journey, I received a strong message that stuck in my gut for a very long time: "Do not discuss religion or politics in mixed company (or in any social or business settings) because you are asking for trouble." I was taught that discussing these topics will create great conflict that will destroy friendships and potentially make me a persona non grata in professional circles that can lead to isolation, and perhaps even dismissal (though that reason would never be cited as the true reason).

Yes, I have seen the damage in other people's lives; but not in my own. Sure, conversations have become heated, but I always took the approach that we can agree to disagree because--well, there are so many other things that I often like about people with whom I have a difference of belief or opinion. I learned to value the whole person, and not divorce myself from relationships because of a strong contrast. My oldest friend is a Republican (and always has been). Another dear friend is an atheist.

Image: Bernie Sanders, Credit: Reuters

Column Inspiration:
  Americans Skeptical Of God But Believe Heaven Is Real, Somehow (vocativ.com)

Perhaps, our relationships would be rather dull and bland without the challenges.

Conflict and Contrast Are Creative Goldmines

As a creative professional and healing artist, I was taught to value conflict and contrast as vital creative tools: contrast in colors, contrast in textures, contrast in lighting, contrast in perspective, contrast in camera angles, contrast in point-of-view, and contrast in characters to create the conflicts necessary for telling an engaging story. Conflict and contrast are CREATIVE tools and principles.

Rebellion Meets Divinity (Andrew Saunders)

Column Inspiration:
Top Designers On The Next Decade's Visual Trends (marketingmagazine.co.uk)

Actually, spirituality and mindfulness is trending (and spiritual practices include religions), and it's viewed as a creative trend in this and the next decade (see Creator's Corner on Sacred Geometry); yet, the content in the articles cited that inspired this Creator's Corner are examples of even more contrast and contradiction. One includes research citing that Millennials are disengaging from religion and spirituality. Another cites that Americans do not believe in God, but somehow believe that Heaven is real. The third article might seem like an oxymoron: it explores the concept and practice of Imaginative Conservatism.

The story of good and evil, of strength and weakness, of love and hate, of beauty and ugliness . . . neither can exist without the other . . . out of their groupings creativeness is born. --John Steinbeck

Creative breakthroughs often occur as the result of conflict in many aspects of the human experience. I feel like screaming again because conflict and contrast commands attention. They SHOUT and we all pay attention. The content then engages us for short or long periods of time depending on our interests, desires, emotions, and needs.

Creative Strategy

1) Become students of conflict and contrast from a creative arts perspective (Although this article is geared toward children becoming arts students, we adults can become students again for our own growth and sustainability now and in the future). Learn as much as we can about the use and value of conflict and contrast. Watching films and television with an eye for identifying their use in these mediums (and their success or failure from which we can learn lessons) can only help to shake off our antiquated negative attachments to them. Immersing ourselves in them helps to shape-shift our relationship from enemies to allies.

2) Share what we discover as part of our content offerings, or use these new allies in content strategy, content marketing, marketing strategy, songwriting, storytelling, or even to become more comfortable in our own psyches and skins with their value to attract, reach, impact and inspire others as creative professionals, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, content curators, coaches, mentors, etc. through the variety of communications and media we use as calling cards and other enduring connection platforms in our careers or missions. 

3) Read content sources in the April 20, 2016 edition of the Creativity & Spirituality Magazine that include elements of conflict and contrast through color, dance, innovation, and challenging preconceived or learned concepts that inhibit our creativity. Plus read the Creator's Corner column: How to Work Well and Play with "The Others" To Succeed.

MAY YOU DISCOVER MORE CREATIVE ideas and storytelling support now (and in the future) by exploring the Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine, and previous Creator's Corner columns: How To Work (And Play) Well With "The Others" To Succeed; Best Visual Content = Storytelling Solutions via A&E Professionals, Lies & Storytelling: Strange Bedfellows in Shades of Gray; Best Storytelling Has Sensory Empathy (or It's Important to Engage the Senses), Get Up To Speed On Quality Do-It-Yourself Storytelling: On a Low Budget, Best Storytelling is Copied, Stolen Content? (or The Lighter Shade of Led Zeppellin), The Joy is in the Story Journey (or Mission Impossible), Best Story Content Grounded In Our Past & Current Life; Conflict Has Creative Value, Learn How To Use It; Card Decks & the Mystic or Visionary Persona, Here Comes Play-Doh, and Sacred Geometry–Visual Storytelling Content: One Of Top Four Creative Trends 2016.

Dare to shine, be generous, and love this life.

Valerie

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Creator's Corner is dedicated to sharing ideas that come to mind after reading and selecting articles for The Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine (as the editor) that may be useful in a professional or personal capacity. Interest in creativity and spirituality as content, for usage in arts & entertainment, and as lifestyle choices for businesses, projects and services (groups that have a way of life that may or may not be included in their brand identity), can be relevant to anyone anywhere in the world covering a variety of professions.

TOP CONTENT | Creator's Corner: Best Story Content Grounded In Our Past & Current Life

NOTE: Creator's Corner is now being published on Wordpress, so you can access and read all of the columns (past and future) easily at one location. Click Here.

I ATTENDED ONE OF THE FIRST "alternate" high schools in the United States in New Jersey. The Team School was innovative and unique at that time because the students, teachers, and parents worked together to determine the courses, type of government to address conflicts and issues, and handled the daily operations. The mornings were dedicated to academic courses necessary for college preparation, and the afternoon courses were electives taught by parents who were professionals in their chosen fields.

LISA SANDERSON'S DAD TAUGHT the creative writing elective, and he drilled into our heads the following regarding story content: Write about what you know, what you are experiencing in your own home environments and communities. You will never go wrong with paying attention to what often goes unnoticed, and how these events and relationships affect you and those around you. 

Nick Lupi and Jimmy Nice, of Spit Syndicate. 
Image Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald. Photo: Nic Walker

Column Inspiration:
"Boho Sydney: Mapping Our Creative Clusters"

MR. SANDERSON TAUGHT US TO PAY attention and mine for gold in our own hearts, thoughts (and those of others), and locations grounded in our daily experiences of life. 

I CHOSE THESE TWO ARTICLES BECAUSE they remind me that there's so much value in the wealth of content in my past and current communities that I used to take for granted before taking Mr. Sanderson's class. As a storyteller, screenwriter, film producer, healing artist, content specialist (and award-winning writer/blogger, editor, art director, and marketing specialist) I know from past experience and successes that unlike Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, I don't have to travel to realize that "there's no place like home" for stories and other content.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE FLASH FICTION STORY, Back Up The Truck, is inspired by a domestic violence true story from my childhood. Many of us grew up in a war zone of domestic violence that impacted our lives in those moments and beyond.

ONE DAY MY BEST FRIEND WHO LIVED next door came running to my house to get my help. His "uncle" was beating his mother and we needed to find a way to distract him. First, we tried to physically pull Uncle Charlie off his mom, but he was too strong. So, we decided to distract him by taking as much of his clothing as possible from his room, putting the clothes into a pile in the backyard, and soaking the clothes with liter fluid to create a bonfire. We then ran back into the house and started yelling "Fire!" It worked!

THE SHORT STORY "GIFTS" is also inspired by a true story about a highly-anticipated first date gone wrong and what happens as a result.

Image Credit: Medium.com

Column Inspiration:
 "Living On The Edge Is A Creative Place To Be"

Creative Strategy: How I See Using This Story

1) USE THIS FLASH FICTION STORY in an anti-domestic violence campaign focusing on how it impacts children. Create a number of story scenarios to drive home this point to attract and engage audience stakeholders.

2) USE THE STORY IN A RAW, EDGY marketing campaign about childhood friendships that survive traumatic situations and endure the test of time that leads to happiness in some form--a product, event, fine arts project, or service they share (an antithesis to the traditional "Hallmark" variety content). My friend and I had to instantaneously come up with an intelligent, creative and practical solution under intense stress. The physical approach failed, so we quickly moved on to save his mom from that attack. We worked together to accomplish it. We were both about 11-years-old. 

THERE'S A LARGER MESSAGE in these stories for us: If two 11-year-old children are capable of these types of creative and practical solutions under this kind of duress, then certainly we can (or can learn how to) access these qualities within ourselves.

THIS STORY IS JUST ONE IN A SLATE that are either already written as short stories (some written under strict time constraints as the creative structure model) that are to become short film scripts or expanded into larger formats for film, television and theater.

MAY YOU DISCOVER MORE CREATIVE ideas and spiritual support now (and in the future) by exploring the Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine, and previous Creator's Corner columns:  How To Work (And Play) Well With "The Others" To Succeed; Best Visual Content = Storytelling Solutions via A&E Professionals, Lies & Storytelling: Strange Bedfellows in Shades of Gray; Best Storytelling Has Sensory Empathy (or It's Important to Engage the Senses), Get Up To Speed On Quality Do-It-Yourself Storytelling: On a Low Budget, Best Storytelling is Copied, Stolen Content? (or The Lighter Shade of Led Zeppellin), The Joy is in the Story Journey (or Mission Impossible), Best Story Content Grounded In Our Past & Current Life; Conflict Has Creative Value, Learn How To Use It; Card Decks & the Mystic or Visionary Persona, Here Comes Play-Doh, and Sacred Geometry–Visual Storytelling Content: One Of Top Four Creative Trends 2016.

Dare to shine, be generous, and love this life.

Valerie







Original Publication Date: May 4, 2016

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CREATOR'S CORNER is dedicated to sharing ideas that come to mind after reading and selecting articles for The Creativity & Storytelling Magazine (as the editor) that may be useful in a professional or personal capacity. Interest in creativity and spirituality as content for usage in arts & entertainment, media communications, marketing and advertising, and as lifestyle choices for businesses, projects and services (groups that have a way of life that may or may not be included in their brand identity), can be relevant to anyone anywhere in the world covering a variety of professions.

Creator's Corner: Best Visual Content = Storytelling Solutions via A&E Professionals

NOTE: Creator's Corner is now being published on Wordpress, so you can access and read all of the columns (past and future) easily at one location. Click Here.

STAGE 32 (ONE OF MY FAVORITE WEBSITES) INVITES IT'S MEMBERS TO SELECT 10 FILMS THAT WE WOULD TAKE WITH US IF WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO BE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND. I don't know what criteria you would use to select the stories to watch over and over and over again, but the ones I chose impacted me on an emotional, mental or spiritual basis; introduced me to a new world or perspective; or simply fueled my imagination into high gear.

THE DESERT ISLAND MOVIES. The movies I picked are: The Red Balloon (My Top Pick is the original 1956 version), and the rest in no particular order: Harvey, Being There, Jesus Christ Superstar, Ingmar Bergman's Trilogy (Through A Glass Darkly, Winter Light & The Silence), Topper, Life is Beautiful, West Side Story, Chocolat & A Christmas Carol.

                     

A red balloon with a life of it's own follows a little boy
around the streets of Paris.

WHO HASN'T BEEN SEDUCED BY A FILM OR TV PROGRAM? Consider one that completely engaged you--and with binge watching original programming content today, how can anyone one of us deny the fact that arts and entertainment professionals (screenwriters, directors, actors, cinematographers, producers, showrunners, etc.) are often masters of storytelling. Therefore, it makes perfect, logical sense for us to listen to what they have to say to help us become much better at it.

Column Inspiration:

Shonda Rhimes' Rules of Work:
"Come Into My Office with a Solution, Not a Problem"

THE BUSINESS OF STORYTELLING. Now that those of us who provide strategy for and produce content are being challenged to inform, educate, persuade, inspire and entertain our audience (potential clients/customers and current ones) through storytelling, there is pressure to get up to speed FAST!

"Storytelling must be respected and evaluated as a valued component of growth hacking and ROI."

STORYTELLING MUST BE RESPECTED AND EVALUATED AS A VALUED COMPONENT OF GROWTH HACKING AND ROI. This is similar to filmmakers and original programming writers, studios, and streaming services who carefully craft what they create to recompense their investors and producers (they are first to get paid from the revenues).

Column Inspiration:

5 Storytelling Techniques for Business
From Former Actress Turned Entrepreneur

THE AUDIENCE OR USER AS THE STORYTELLER. What if you're just not feeling secure as a storyteller, or simply don't have the time, budget or interest to do-it-yourself? If you've been paying close attention, you know that practically every person on this planet is telling stories in a variety of formats and sharing them on the Internet via social media, or there are professional membership online groups like Stage32.  

Column Inspiration:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt On How to Unleash
the Creative Potential of the Internet

ARE YOU A CURATOR OR DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE? People are often extremely eager to share their existing content (in which case you act as a curator of nonprofessional content from the general public), or you can collaborate with professionals who will want to  contribute original content (for which you act more as a development executive) to expand their industry resume and portfolio. Either way, the storytelling solutions are available--and some of the best resources come from those in the storytelling industry itself.

MAY YOU DISCOVER MORE CREATIVE ideas and storytelling support now (and in the future) by exploring the Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine, and previous Creator's Corner columns: How To Work (And Play) Well With "The Others" To Succeed; Best Visual Content = Storytelling Solutions via A&E Professionals, Lies & Storytelling: Strange Bedfellows in Shades of Gray; Best Storytelling Has Sensory Empathy (or It's Important to Engage the Senses), Get Up To Speed On Quality Do-It-Yourself Storytelling: On a Low Budget, Best Storytelling is Copied, Stolen Content? (or The Lighter Shade of Led Zeppellin), The Joy is in the Story Journey (or Mission Impossible), Best Story Content Grounded In Our Past & Current Life; Conflict Has Creative Value, Learn How To Use It; Card Decks & the Mystic or Visionary Persona, Here Comes Play-Doh, and Sacred Geometry–Visual Storytelling Content: One Of Top Four Creative Trends 2016.

Dare to shine, be generous, and love this life.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Winter Solstice (belated), and New Year!

Valerie







************

CREATOR'S CORNER is dedicated to sharing ideas that come to mind after reading and selecting articles for The Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine (as the editor/curator) that may be useful in a professional or personal capacity. Interest in creativity and storytelling as content for usage in arts & entertainment, media communications, marketing and advertising, and as lifestyle choices for businesses, projects and services (groups that have a way of life that may or may not be included in their brand identity), can be relevant to anyone anywhere in the world covering a variety of professions. 

Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine (November 9, 2016)

"These topics are so bright, I just have to wear shades!

It's been touch-and-go with my plans to get out a new 'Zine while managing my "life on life's terms" these days; but I did give you a heads-up last month that I couldn't be certain what the publication schedule would be moving forward for "Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine" and The Healing Artist Studio Project blog.. 

As it has turned out, some space has cleared on this unusual and historic Election Day. I guess we all have our own beliefs about whether the campaigns used some of the best practices shared here . . . "
(Read More). 

"CREATIVITY & STORYTELLING 'ZINE" (TOP STORIES)

* Evaluating Storytelling: Where to Start?

* Content Marketing Examples From Top 10 Brands

* The Top 4 Mistakes That Make Business Leaders Awful Storytellers

* A Digital Dozen: 12 Traits Of The Truly Creative CMO

* Why the Marketing Industry Is So Obsessed with Creativity

* 5 Creative Habits Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Novelists

And More!

Creator's Corner Content Roundup: Best Creativity & Storytelling Is Within Our Grasp (March 2016 - August 2016)

NOTE: Creator's Corner is now being published on Wordpress, so you can access and read all of the columns (past and future) easily at one location. Click Here.

IT'S TIME FOR AN UPDATED ROUND-UP OF  CREATOR'S CORNER FOR EASIER ACCESS TO THE CREATIVITY COACHING CONTENT HERE with a brief excerpt and link to each one (March 2016 to August 2016)--in the spirit of "Everything we need for creativity & storytelling success is within our grasp." Of course it may not be everything we need, however; between Creator's Corner and the Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine, there is a hearty helping.


I BEGAN WRITING CREATOR'S CORNER IN AN INFLUENCER, COACHING, INSPIRATIONAL CAPACITY to share original ideas and solutions for you to consider based on my own thoughts and experiences inspired by the curated content in the Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine. Due to my work and volunteer schedule, Creator's Corner columns will not be as plentiful as in the past, but I will be posting new content as space clears to do so. Cheers! 

 

Creator's Corner Round-up (March-August 2016)
 

Lies & Storytelling: Strange Bedfellows in Shades of Gray) - August 14, 2016 | Liar! Who hasn't had to enter into an almost daily relationship with lies in our political climate today as we countdown to choosing our next president of the United States of America (#45). . . .

Best Storytelling Has Sensory Empathy (or It's Important To Engage the Senses) - July 27, 2016 | I had the responsibility of creating visual content (publications, packaging, and safer sex advertising campaings) to help save the lives of men, women, and children at-risk for HIV/AIDS during the fours years that I worked at Gay Men's Health Crisis, Inc. in New York City . . .  

Get Up to Speed On Quality Do-It-Yourself Storytelling (On a Low Budget) - June 25, 2016 | In our world in which content is king/queen and we must use vital creativity and storytelling mojo, and provide it in ways that engage, inspire and energize our fellow humans, what can we do to achieve quality . . .

Best Storytelling is Copied, Stolen Content? (or The Lighter Shade of Led Zeppellin) - June 5, 2016 | Breakout from traditional approaches and models despite potential flack that you might receive from doubters or critics who aren't as courageous, and/or fear conflict or change.

The Joy Is in the Story Journey (or Mission Impossible) - May 18, 2016 | What really kept me on the edge of my seat wasn't the mission getting accomplished or the end (though I was happy to get the payoff): it was everything that occurred prior to actually accomplishing it.

**YOUR TOP STORY**Best Story Content Grounded In Our Past & Current Life - May 4, 2016 | Lisa Sanderson's dad taught the creative writing elective, and he drilled into our heads the following regarding story content: Write about what you know, what you are . . .

Conflict Has Creative Value. Learn How To Use It. - April 19, 2016 | Creative breakthroughs often occur as the result of conflict in many aspects of the human experience. I feel like screaming again because conflict and contrast commands attention. They SHOUT and we. . .

Here Comes Play-Doh - April 6, 2016 | Certainly it's easy to see that Play-Doh can be used as content to attract and communicate with children in your particular business, project or service, but what about with adults? Many of us are familiar with Play-Doh because . . .

Sacred Geometry, Visual Storytelling Content: One of Top Four Creative Trends 2016 - March 27, 2016 | Sigils are sacred geometry symbol forms that the ancients considered to be the marks of angels, deities, and other powerful entities; they are archetype conduits that merge science, creativity and spirituality.

Card Decks and The Mystic or Visionary Persona - March 25, 2016 | Create a card deck as visual content to inform, educate, inspire, attract, promote, aesthetic (purely as art for arts sake ), or for fun and play to help achieve your goal or purpose.

MAY YOU DISCOVER MORE CREATIVE ideas and storytelling support now (and in the future)  

Dare to shine, be generous, and love this life.

Valerie 

 
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