The fifth “I” in storytelling: An interview with myself

As I celebrate my third anniversary of writing for the Armenian Weekly, I thought it might be fun to turn the tables and interview myself about something readers often wonder: How does Victoria’s Voice come to life? When former Armenian Weekly editors Khatchig Mouradian and Pauline Getzoyan invited me to insert my voice and perspective into the newspaper and consider writing a column, I naively — and enthusiastically — answered,, “YES!” Then I scratched my head and let in that pesky little voice: “What do I have to offer?” Three years and many columns later, I’m still discovering the answer. Regular readers know I enjoy constructing authentic stories and scenarios with people I’d love to meet, hoping to foster trust and admiration through genuine storytelling that resonates deeply. But what does that actually look like behind the scenes? And where do those ideas come from? Time to interview myself! Q: Describe your writing process. Is there soft music, coffee in a special mug, wine, a lucky rabbit’s foot, maybe a dog? Or do you work from an outline, or create as you go? A: Aside from the wine and rabbit’s foot, there has been all of it! I am a morning writer — not 5 a.m. crazy-early morning, more like 9 a.m. regular morning — and I am quite disciplined in my approach. I start thinking about the next month’s column topic about two minutes after I submit the previous month’s article. That way, by the time I actually sit down to write, it comes pouring out of me. I usually start with an outline, and the content often feels as if it writes itself. At the risk of sounding too dramatic, I have felt an invisible force connecting my brain to my busy fingers typing away on the keyboard. More on that to come! Q: Did you take creative writing classes or have any formal training? A: Aside from podcasts and webinars, I have had no formal training in the space of creative writing; however, lots in storytelling. My career has focused on leadership, marketing, sales and fund development. The persuasive writing and storytelling skills I developed likely influenced my success as a writer. I am also an avid reader, taking in about a book a week, which has organically led me to read and write informal reviews. It even inspired me to create a Facebook book club about 15 years ago, before it became trendy on Instagram and TikTok. Although reading and writing require different skills, they share one common denominator: a love of storytelling. Over time, I began to understand that loving a story isn't enough. I also needed to understand what makes a story resonate with someone else. That lesson came into focus when I had the honor of giving a TEDx Talk in 2019. Q: You’ve been told by regular readers that your writing voice and column stand out. Style can be challenging to pinpoint or define, but do you have a guiding principle you follow? A: Great question, and the answer is YES! By far, one of my most worthwhile storytelling experiences was giving a TEDx Talk. After two years of receiving rejection letters from several TED organizers, I invested in a coach whose formula has served me time and time again, especially when writing Victoria’s Voice. Unlike what many people think, a successful TEDx Talk isn't about being a slick keynote speaker. It's about delivering an authentic “big idea.” My coach, Tamsen Webster, introduced me to a framework built around four “I’s,” a useful way to think about what makes a talk worth an audience’s time. A strong message needs to make people care, understand and see something differently, not simply deliver information. The four I’s are: Interesting: A story, question, surprise, tension, emotion or unexpected idea makes the audience want to keep listening or reading. Informative: The story gives the audience useful knowledge, insight, evidence or a new framework. Individual: Your experience, voice, perspective, story, expertise or vulnerability gives the talk something no one else could deliver in quite the same way. Innovative: The idea doesn't have to be entirely new. It might be an unexpected connection, perspective, interpretation or approach that helps someone see something familiar in a different light. I find these four I’s particularly useful when writing about Armenian history and culture. There are so many stories worth telling, but how can I tell one in a way that captures someone's attention, teaches them something they didn't know, reflects my own connection to the subject and leaves them thinking about it long after they've finished reading? The four I’s help me answer those questions. But they don't quite answer the one I find most intriguing. Q: Where do the ideas come from? A: This is my favorite question so far! I want to add a fifth “I” to the list: Intervention. I recently discussed this with fellow columnist Stepan Piligian, who writes a weekly column — four times as often as I do! There can only be one answer, and for both of us, it is by the grace of God, by Divine Intervention. Now, I realize that not everyone will share this belief, and that's okay. But I have come to believe that while I can be disciplined about my writing, research my subject, and work to shape a compelling story, I can't always explain where the original idea comes from. A prayer from the blessing of my debut novel, Who She Left Behind, has stayed with me. At a sacred book blessing in October 2023, Der Mikael Der Kosrofian prayed: “Lord God, Omnipotent and Almighty, giver of all goodness and prosperity, You are a forgiving Lord, and we turn to you for strength. Guide Victoria to continue to be an example for women of all ages. Bless this book, O Lord, Who She Left Behind, and inspire those who will read the untold stories of the brave and resilient women who became the pillars of reconstructed communities after the Armenian Genocide. Lord Jesus, from the abundance of your mercy, enrich Victoria and safeguard her; inspire her to author new works.” Those final words, “inspire her to author new works,” mean even more to me now. I don't pretend to know where every idea originates, but I do know that I often begin with a question, a curiosity or a desire to tell a story — and sometimes the answer seems to arrive in a way I hadn't anticipated. Perhaps that is why I think of the fifth “I” as Divine Intervention. Let me give you two examples. Of the four I’s, the first two, finding Armenian cultural topics that are interesting and informative, are relatively simple. Finding one that I can personally connect with for the third “I,” Individual, narrows the options. But the fourth “I,” Innovative, is where the fun begins. How can I approach a subject in a way that might capture a new audience, deepen a connection or prompt someone to say, “Aha! I never thought about it that way”? For my May 2024 column commemorating Mother’s Day, I imagined sitting down to dinner with Karen Jeppe, the Danish humanitarian who devoted her life to helping Armenians and rescuing survivors of the Armenian Genocide. I created a dinner dialogue, pairing appetizers, a main course, coffee and dessert with the weight of our imagined conversation. Why a dinner? Because I wanted readers to do more than learn about a remarkable woman. I wanted them to feel as though they were sitting across the table from her, discovering the person behind the extraordinary humanitarian work. The challenge was to find a way to bring her story to life that felt both intimate and meaningful. Then came another idea. To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in July 2026, I imagined a child finding a message in a bottle at Ellis Island. Through that discovery, I could tell a story about immigrants, their hopes for a new life, and their appreciation for Lady Liberty. Both ideas required imagination and work to bring them to life. But what fascinates me is that moment when an ordinary subject suddenly presents an unexpected possibility —- when the pieces seem to come together, and I can see a story that wasn't there for me a moment earlier. Is that simply the creative process? Perhaps. Is it experience, intuition, preparation and all the things I've learned along the way? Certainly, those play a part. But I also believe there is room for something more. For me, the four I’s help shape the story. The fifth “I” reminds me to remain open to the inspiration behind it. And that brings me back to the question I asked myself when I was first invited to write for the Armenian Weekly: What do I have to offer? I have my experiences, my curiosity, my love of reading and storytelling and a deep desire to preserve the stories of our Armenian heritage. I have learned to trust my voice, even when I don't have all the answers. And I have faith that sometimes, when I sit down at my keyboard, the inspiration that follows is not mine alone. Three years later, I'm still asking questions, still searching for stories and still wondering what might come next. Maybe that's the beauty of storytelling. We don't always know where a story will lead us. We simply have to be willing to listen when it calls. And if a little Divine Intervention helps along the way? I'll take it!

The fifth “I” in storytelling: An interview with myself

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Victoria Atamian Waterman

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This story is FREE for you...

Victoria Atamian Waterman

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