Why is my writing becoming more political? 😤 (Updated)

My first book Fire was about a rock band struggling with the pressures of sudden fame. Although I touched on a few dicey topics back then, it was nothing compared to subjects I've dealt with in my last few books. As time moves on, my subject matter tends to get more controversial. 

My motivation for becoming more political in my writing isn't because it is trendy or because I feel it might capture some attention. Like most topics brought into my books (which include racism, government corruption, Big Pharma, and more) I feel passionate about their impact on society. It's the subjects that I have strong views on that creep into my writing.

As a writer, I've always felt that what I do is observe the world and then express what I see. I think now, more than ever, it's important to create art that makes people think. It's not that I want to change anyone's opinions. I hope that through my writing, I can provoke new ideas, and perhaps some people will look at things from another perspective.

My latest few books have become political and the protagonist, Jorge Hernandez, has fascinating opinions on politics. The ironic thing is that he's a criminal, and therefore, his views are vastly different from the status quo. I have to admit that they certainly give you food for thought. And with everything going on in the world today, maybe that's not such a bad thing.

How to make your book stand out on social media 💻 (Updated)

Sometimes you have to be very creative when promoting your book. Depending on the subject matter, your resources, and the expected audience, you might want to consider various methods to capture some attention. Although the media is probably the best way to get noticed, it's sometimes easier said than done. Taking out ads, purchasing bookmarks (although I find this a great form of marketing), and giving away books in hopes of getting reviews can get very expensive.

The beauty of social media is that it's free. Sure, you can pay extra for ads, but that isn't necessary, and if you choose to do so, it's inexpensive. However, for today, let's focus on the free stuff, and I will throw a few ideas at you on ways to show off your book!

First of all, I'm not an expert. I'm just giving you advice from my own experience as an author. Most of what I do is just experiment and see what works. Here are a few things I do:

- Share images of the cover with quotes from the book. This quote could be a jarring comment by a character, a line that stands out, or even a portion of the synopsis. Essentially, you want to give the reader an idea of what they are in for if they get your book. 😉

- Share an image of a review. This shows potential readers what other people are saying about your book.

- Share a blog or YouTube video where you talk about your book. People want to learn why your book stands out.

- Share some images of your most recent newspaper articles (as well as the links) discussing the book.

- Take pictures of your books in various settings; someone reading it, you holding a copy, an animal staring at it with interest. Use your imagination. This is great for Instagram users.

- Answer people's questions. This could be inquiries about your book or a writing question. 

- Announce when your books are in local libraries, bookstores, etc. If you can, take a picture too.

- If you have an upcoming book signing, interview, etc, highlight this on your social media and build excitement about the event.

These are just a few ideas off the top of my head. Sometimes new authors may find themselves overwhelmed and unsure of what to do, so I hope this is helpful. 

Make sure to reply to people who take the time to comment on or share your posts. Last but not least, try to be consistent with social media. If you are too busy to post every day, you can usually find tools online to schedule ahead. 

Social media should be fun and interactive...so be cool! 😎

Why you should take criticism with a grain of salt 🙉 (Updated)

Criticism. We hate that word: especially when it's against us. It feels like an attack. It feels like a kick in the gut. It feels like a put-down. But is it?

To a degree, it is our egos that get involved. Is it any of your business what other people think of you? Why do their opinions matter in the first place? Why do you care?

For writers or any artists, criticism can feel very personal. I know because I've been one of those overly sensitive artists who has dealt with insults about my writing. The truth is that it gets easier as time goes on. It's just someone's opinion. Not everyone is going to like you. Not everyone will appreciate or understand the message you are attempting to send through your work. It doesn't matter who you are or what you do because criticism is a part of life.

I always feel bad when people tell me they want to start a book, but they seem apprehensive because they lack confidence in their abilities. Sometimes self-criticism can be even more dangerous than when other people are dishing out to us. After all, for their words to affect us, first, we must believe them. So wouldn't that mean that a part of us must carry some self-doubt?

Think about it.

Do you need a website? 💻 (Updated)

If you're an author, I recommend you have a website. If you're a creative of any kind and want to get your work 'out there', I strongly suggest you have a website so people can find you.

The beauty of a website is that it is a place where people can learn all about you; your work, the latest news, how to connect to your social media, how to sign up for your newsletter, etc. It depends on what you wish to put on your site. The bottom line is that you need all your information put together in one place.

I'm not an expert on websites. My first site was free and created by a friend. Since that time, I've moved on to get a domain name and a site that I threw together myself. It's not elaborate, but it works. It's simple and contains information on my books, interviews, articles I've written, and a little about me. Again, nothing fancy, but it serves the purpose.

I think it's also important to note that websites should be simple. People go to sites to find out basic information, and if you're an author, that could be to find a list of your books, learn who you are, check out your interviews, and social media. If your site is cluttered, confusing, or lacks the information people want, it's counterproductive. You need your information easily accessible. 

If you aren't super techy and a little intimidated by creating your website, I'd recommend you ask around for someone locally who can help you. Large website hosts and designers aren't as personal, especially if you aren't familiar with tech lingo, or new to this world. They can intimidate you more and not necessarily be looking out for your best interest, whereas a smaller business may take the time to explain anything that confuses you and help you out. 

Why we need more strong female characters 💪🏼 (Updated)

It should be a given that we need strong female characters in our books and television shows. And to be honest, I've seen an improvement in this area since first writing this article, but are we there yet? 

It's disappointing that I still see a few cringe-worthy examples. I recently caught part of a soap opera where a woman talked about how she 'found happiness' with a new man in her life, which suggested that she couldn't be or wasn't happy before he appeared. In the same show, a woman played the whole eye-lash-batting, I-don't-like-you-but-I-do game that caused me to roll my eyes.

That was a fail. Women don't need to play games or feel less valuable when they're single, and TV shows that perpetuate this scenario need to refresh their storylines and remember it's 2022.

Not to suggest that my female characters are always strong. They have their weak moments, just as we all have but for the most part, I like to think that they are powerful, independent, and self-reliant. Paige Noël-Hernandez and Jolene Silva from my Hernandez series are excellent examples. Physically and mentally, these women can take on any situation fearlessly; no hand-holding or white knight is required.

One of the things that I think is important to mention is that I'm not just talking about adults when I insist on strong female characters. My series has a young girl, Maria Hernandez, who demonstrates a great deal of strength. I think we sometimes forget that young girls are learning how to be young women in our society, and it is important that they aren't taught to take a weak position to get attention or be accepted. Maria tends to stand her ground, and although she can get a little out of hand sometimes, for the most part, she demonstrates a strong, confident child who's an independent thinker and fearless by nature. She is smart, articulate, and bold.

I don't tend to write about the 'damsels in distress', and I'm certainly not writing a fairy tale scenario where the prince swoops up on his white horse...I will leave that book for someone else. 😒

Why do I make YouTube videos? 📹 (Updated)

If you are a writer and have a new book, should you do a YouTube video? What if you are a more seasoned author; should you dip your toes into the world of YouTube or run the other way?

Many people choose to run the other way because it is scary. Recording a video (and worse still, playing it back to watch yourself) isn't always an experience that people look forward to trying. I promise you that it's usually not that bad, and sometimes it can be a huge confidence booster.

I started to do YouTube videos a couple of years ago with much reluctance. To be honest, I was terrified. I wasn't exactly excited about watching myself talking on video. It reminded me of those days of public speaking in high school that made me want to hide under my desk. I did recognize that it was important to my overall goal. I gave it a shot. I now have over 200 videos on my channel.

The beauty of recording a video is that you don't have to post it. You can take the time to get comfortable with speaking to a camera. You must adequately explain your topic (notes help), and of course, you have to stop finding fault with your appearance. These are probably the three things that make most people hesitant. We live in such an overproduced world when it comes to 'reality' television and even YouTube videos that we often forget that we don't have to look, sound, or be perfect to record a video. If you sound, look and seem too perfect, it might make you slightly less relatable to your audience.

Of course, you should make some effort. Don't roll out of bed, not comb your hair, and ramble on for 20 minutes without making a point either. Show your best side. Fix your hair. Throw on some makeup if you're into it. Tidy up the space you'll be recording your video. Find some decent lighting (I don't always do this). Tell everyone in the house to not make any noise because the camera catches everything. 

So why did I start doing YouTube videos? I wanted my audience and potential audience to learn about me. I didn't want to be the anonymous face behind the books or the mysterious author that no one knows. I wanted people to learn about me, why I was writing about the topics I chose, explain my books to people who wanted to get more of a sense of what they were about, and answer some of my most asked questions from new authors or people interested in my writing.

Most important of all, I believe that YouTube videos are about connection. It was important for me to connect with people, especially those interested in my writing. I don't do videos because I want to be an internet star or gain followers. I have them available as another option for readers to learn about me, my books, and my thoughts as a writer. The beauty of YouTube is that you never know who is watching.