Showing posts with label writer's life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writer's life. Show all posts

Sunday, July 25, 2021

I'm not my characters 🙀

Shortly after publishing my first book, Fire, in 2010, I was surprised when people started to inquire if the protagonist's story was based on my own life. This came as a bit of a surprise to me. It never would've crossed my mind that people would assume that my books were autobiographical, but apparently, that was a common belief. 

As it turns out, I didn't spend my 20s in a rock band, with two of my bandmates in love with me. I didn't become famous, and most of all, my life wasn't quite as exciting as that of my protagonist, Tarah. Although, my protagonist and I did indeed have similar physical traits (petit and blonde), and that's pretty well where our similarities ended. If anything, I was living vicariously through my characters while writing the book. 

I would later write about vampires in The Rock Star of Vampires, and Her Name is Mariah, which seemed to end any speculation that my characters were representative of my own life. After all, I'm pretty sure no one thinks that I'm a vampire. Of course, if there had been any uncertainty, I'm sure that ended when I started writing the Hernandez series, which centers on a man who used to be in the Mexican cartel. 

Then again, one never knows what people think.

In my opinion, it's never a great idea to write about your own life or that of others you know, even if the book is technically fiction. In the end, it becomes more autobiographical, and rather than following a character and telling their story, you're telling your own. I can understand why someone might want to do this, but I would warn that this brings things a little too close to home, making it more difficult to see both sides of a story. To write a good book, I think you have to show other perspectives, not just that of your protagonist. Also, you have to consider whether or not you want people to figure out it's about you. There are things you might not want to share and books, even fiction, are deeply personal when unraveling your characters. 

That's not to say that it's always a terrible idea. If you decide to write about characters based on you, my advice would be to distance yourself to get a broader view.  I would switch up some details just to make sure no one catches on.  😉




Monday, December 2, 2019

Why do you need a sharp book cover? 😉(Updated)

Book covers should symbolize the pages inside, but how much of an impact do they make? Do we judge a book by its cover?

I spend a lot of time thinking about my book covers and choosing the best option. Like everything else, I often overthink it, but in general, a cover must give an overall feel of the story inside. For example, many of my books have a dark, sinister vibe that is captured on the cover. These days, I write about criminals, so you wouldn't expect to find an image that is bright, cheery, and fun. It wouldn't make sense. It would be misleading and send the wrong message about the story and the characters involved.

Book covers should speak to their potential audience. To me, if something captivates them in the imagery, chances are it represents a curiosity about what may be in the pages. Much like a movie poster, a book cover should leave you with a sense of what to expect. Colors, the specific images, and the title create an impression and should cause the potential reader to be intrigued and want to sink into the pages.

A perfect example would be my Hernandez series. The protagonist is sinister, powerful, and dangerous. Both the covers in this article will show you the connection to this theme. I lean toward ominous imagery. I also have bright colors that are eye-catching and attractive against the black background. This is what captivates your audience.

In the end, each author has to decide which cover best represents their book while at the same time considering the marketing aspect and what will sell. It can be a difficult balance but is necessary when publishing a book.



Thursday, November 21, 2019

Should you read your own books? 😳 (Updated)

After revising, editing, and rereading your manuscript a million times before publishing, you might think the last thing you want to do is to pore over it again. However, there are many benefits to reading your book after its release.

Let's start by getting the negative stuff out of the way. One reason to curl up with your own book is to find errors. I'm not suggesting you 'proofread it' again, but take note if you notice anything that you might've missed during the editing process. Do you see something you should've added or could've taken out?

Of course, we're all a work in progress so reading your book also allows you an opportunity to see things you can improve. What would you do differently in the future?

At the same time, don't forget everything you've done right! What stands out about your book? Did you write snappy dialogue? Was there one particular scene that stood out? What grabs your attention? Try to see it through the reader's eyes. Don't be your worst critic but remember to pat yourself on the back for what you've done well.

And finally, why not read your book? You've worked hard, so why not snuggle up with a hot drink and get lost in the fantasy that you created.


Friday, October 26, 2018

Do writers need a high word count per day? 💻 (updated)

I often notice authors commenting on their word count per day, and there seems to be a certain amount of self-imposed stress to meet specific targets. But should they be worried at all?

I guess it's a matter of opinion. Word count has never been a concern to me, other than whether or not I had a reasonable amount of words when I finished a book. It's not something I think about each time I sit down to write, and I certainly don't check my word count per day - ever.

I do think we all need a way to measure ourselves when it comes to a successful day. I like to write a chapter with each sitting (note I said 'sitting' not per day. I firmly believe that it's best to do in one shot to keep momentum or train of thought) and with that, I'm happy. I don't feel like a failure if I don't reach a certain amount of words, and in my opinion, neither should you..

The problem is that if you set your sights on a specific amount of words per day, what could end up happening is it can become your focus more than the actual writing itself. It also might end up being too wordy, and you'll have to edit a bunch out later on. Also, a lot of words don't necessarily mean it's going to be pure gold. 

The bottom line is that I don't like to see any writer put stress on themselves to meet some crazy target because it actually can make writing feel more like work than a project that they love. And if that's the case, what's the point?


Friday, September 28, 2018

Start your book with a bang! The importance of chapter one 🤩(Updated)

Chapter one is your chance to grab readers by the throat and make them want more!

We see it all the time in television show pilots. It's up to that original episode to captivate its audience and make them come back for another week. Something has to shake things up to create an interest with the viewer, and books are no different. 

So what do people want to see? It depends. Some people are drawn in by action, adventure, drama, violence, and sex. Others might be intrigued by characters, unexpected events, or perhaps the protagonist is going through something that connects with the audience. The main point is that the start of anything, whether it be a movie, book, or television show, must make the reader or viewer want more.

I always say that chapter one should start in the middle of something relevant to the rest of the story. And the Devil Will Laugh begins with the protagonist and his associate are visiting the (soon to be) editor of a newspaper. Their goal is to sway him to write articles in favor of himself and the political candidate he is backing. Meanwhile across town, the protagonist's wife is murdering the current editor, who didn't go with his wishes. This ties in with the rest of the book because violence and media manipulation are a huge part of the story. Also, this is in the middle of an action. I didn't start chapter one with the characters discussing their plan to bully the media or the protagonist having breakfast before leaving the house. I jump right into the action.  

Catching a reader's attention is very important. With so many other books, the Internet, and of course, Netflix as ways to be entertained, readers can easily pass up on your novel and move on to something else. Instead, give them a reason to not put your book down.




Saturday, September 22, 2018

How Do I Start my Book? 📚 (Updated)

I will admit that there is a lot of time and effort involved in writing a book. However once broken down into small, manageable tasks, it isn't so bad. Of course, it also has to be something you enjoy, or you'll be stuck with writer's block, find excuses not to work on it, or probably toss it aside altogether.

So let's begin!

Your tenth-grade creative writing teacher probably told you to outline everything before you start writing, but I disagree. For me, this would never work. There has to be a certain amount of spontaneity involved to keep things fresh and exciting. If you can easily plot out the chapters and figure out the ending before getting past chapter one, chances are your reader will too. Remember, readers are very savvy and automatically try to figure things out as soon as they pick up a book. If you have no idea what's going to happen until you're typing it, chances are they will be just as surprised.

Not to say you shouldn't jot down ideas, but I wouldn't bother organizing right away. You can picture specific scenes, conversations, events and know they will fit in somewhere; you don't have to know just where yet. You should follow the natural flow of the story and consider the characters. How will each action affect them? What is their unique path or struggle? How does it fit in with the rest of the story?

Of course, I'm talking about fiction, but what about non-fiction? Are the rules the same?

I'd probably have an outline for something that falls under the non-fiction category but with room to breathe. You want to see how the book flows and which angle it takes. Make sure it is factual, and be ready to list any sources you might be using. Remember, you don't want to get sued.

Regardless of what you write, the first draft should be fun. Editing is another story. Let's not go there today. ☺️





Thursday, September 20, 2018

Why do authors bug the shit out of you for a review! 🙄 (Updated)

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not shy to ask for a book review. It doesn't have to be a long review. It doesn't have to have a lot of detail. It just should reflect what the reader thought of the book. A simple 'I enjoyed this book' would be sufficient.

And it's not about ego. Authors don't chase down reviews to feel good about themselves but because it gives new and potential readers some insight into what kind of books they write. I can say whatever I wish in my YouTube videos but sometimes what people want is an outside party's point of view. What kind of book is it? Was it a fast read? Did it keep you hanging on? Was it exciting? Did it leave you wanting more?

Not that authors don't appreciate positive comments outside of reviews. We love them!! Unfortunately, people who aren't familiar with us or our work might be skeptical. Many readers stick with the tried and true authors, the ones everyone is raving about online and whoever is on Oprah's reading list, and that's understandable, but it makes our job finding readers challenging.

A review can make a difference. I know I've certainly hesitated to purchase a product (especially online) unless I could compare reviews to see what other people think. And if you're an indie author like me, it can help make you stand out from the crowd.


Saturday, September 15, 2018

Why do we love the anti-hero? 🔪 (Updated)

Oh, those bad boys and girls! Don't we love them?

There's just something about the rebellion and going against the grain character that we love. Perhaps it is the fact that these characters sometimes do what we wish we could in real life? Is it because we get a small thrill about 'sticking it to the man'? Is there something attractive or sexy about the character that thumbs their nose at the world? What is the draw to this kind of character?

As children, most of us learned that there were 'good' and 'bad' guys in life. The 'good guys' could be trusted. The 'bad guys' should be avoided. It was overly simplified. Bad guys always had mustaches and looked shady, while good guys wore a suit or a 'respectable' uniform (and I don't mean the one from when you flipped burgers in college).

If life teaches us anything, it's that the lines in the sand aren't always so clear. Maybe the religious figure from your youth turned out to be a pedophile, or you witnessed a cop beat the crap out of an innocent citizen. Whatever it was, you may now have a slight aversion to what you once viewed as the 'good guy' and find yourself slightly intrigued by the 'bad guy', therefore making you drawn to characters who don't exactly play by the rules.

Of course, I could be overanalyzing. Maybe we just like watching bombs blowing up everywhere and some devilish character pushing the button. What do you think? Why do you love the antihero (assuming you do)? Maybe the answer might surprise you.


Friday, September 14, 2018

The Curse of Chapter Two! ✌🏼(Updated)

For some reason, I often have issues writing chapter two. I guess it's because there is so much drama in chapter one that it seems to kind of fall flat in comparison. Also, I'm responsible for setting up the story and introducing the characters in the first couple of chapters, and in the second chapter, I have to find a way to finish pulling it all together. 

At least, that's what I try to tell myself.

In honesty, since recording this specific YouTube video talking about the issue, I've been going out of my way to make chapter two as dynamic as the first chapter. But for some reason, I still find it hard to get on track, very much in the same way as I have difficulty getting on track before my first cup of coffee. Or maybe my second cup of coffee. It's just an awkward chapter for me, but maybe it's a personal thing. 

Is there a curse of chapter two? Maybe it's simply just a challenge. 


Thursday, September 13, 2018

Why it's important to see through the character's eyes 👁 (Updated)

One of the aspects I like best about writing has been getting inside a character's head. I love being able to see things from their eyes. I want to understand where they are coming from and how much previous experiences affect their decisions. Human nature is fascinating. 

With characters, you have no choice but to understand and appreciate their journey. This is probably the biggest lesson I've learned from writing and one that I apply to my everyday life. When I started writing as a teenager, this was the main reason it appealed to me. I felt people didn't understand each other and that through characters, we could all open our eyes a little wider and perhaps show some compassion toward one another.

Fast forward to years later, and I think this lesson is even more relevant than ever. When we look at our world today, we see a strong disconnect, a lot of judgment, and even more so, a vast divide. One of the beautiful things about the characters I write about is that they come from many different backgrounds and experiences, and I make great efforts to show how this relates to their current situations.

Interestingly enough, real life isn't that much different if we take the time to investigate.





Sunday, September 9, 2018

Do we judge women writers differently? 👩🏼 (Updated)

Female writers. Lots of us out there. I'm just wondering if many women writers are conscious of whether or not their book comes across as being too feminine? Do women worry about covers that look too girly, or do they avoid topics that suggest wedding bells, hearts, and flowers? Is there a concern about making the male characters 'too soft' or not making their female characters strong enough? Do women writers worry that they aren't taken as seriously as men in the writing world?

I've noticed some comments in the media that have suggested that women writers sometimes feel not taken as seriously as their male counterparts, especially if they write romance or anything too 'fluffy and frilly'. Having said that, the romance genre is actually vastly popular, so this shouldn't be the case, and yet, I've heard it is.  

I tend to write about darker topics such as rock stars, gangsters, and vampires. Most of which probably have a more masculine vibe but regardless, I am very conscious of my potential audience when I'm picking out a cover. I know women will grab a book with a masculine cover but men, on the other hand, are less likely to go for anything that looks too 'girly'. It's unfortunate that we even need to have this discussion, but chances are things aren't going to change anytime soon. 

And so, when I pick out my covers, I think about this kind of thing. When I'm writing my synopsis, I think about this kind of thing. When I create my characters, I think about this kind of thing. I like to believe that all my books are potentially appealing to men and women. 

I make sure all my characters are strong because I don't like weak characters, regardless of their sex. Nothing is appealing about a male or female protagonist that whines, cries, and complains all the time (God knows we have enough of those people in the real world, why read about them too? 🤭) or is simply too soft. Honestly, I don't think this appeals to anyone. A confident character in books with interesting, thought-provoking storylines is appealing to men and women readers. 

The truth is that I often feel that as a women writer, I might be judged, and therefore, maybe work a bit harder to show that I can play with the boys. No one could ever accuse me of having 'girly' books, but even if I did, I wouldn't be ashamed of it. No female writer should be.