Why Contradictions are Cool! 😎 (Updated)

Contradictions are fun! Something is fascinating about a character with vast contradictions in their personality because it's completely unexpected and catches the reader (or viewer, if it's something on television) off guard. And isn't that what we want? To be surprised?

I tend to use contradictions and quirks a lot in my writing because I feel it adds a little something extra to the characters. Although to tell you the truth, I don't overthink it either because it comes along naturally. Each character tends to have unique personalities that encompass fascinating contradictions.

As an example, my character Diego Silva is very dapper and sophisticated. So it's surprising that his weapon of choice is a baseball bat. If you read my Hernandez series, you will see Diego bring out the baseball bat on more than one occasion. 

Another example would be Paige Noël-Hernandez, who is considered one of the best assassins in the world...who meditates. She also used to have a self-help site online. Contradictions like this are neat. It shows contrast in the characters. 

Contradictions make characters seem more realistic, fun, and interesting. And let's face it, we all have the contradictions that make us unique. What are yours?

Do your characters have quirks? 🤭 (Updated)

Quirks are odd behaviors or habits that people develop, and as it turns out, characters are no different. Most of the quirks that my characters demonstrate aren't planned but pop up in the story and stick.

What makes quirks fun is that they usually tell you something about the character. For example, many quirks that I use in my books seem to be associated with nervous or anxious behavior. I have one character that twitches and jerks a lot, especially when he's uneasy, whereas another character (who's bilingual) switches back to his native tongue when very upset.

What I love about quirks is that it makes a character more three-dimensional. This is especially true when the character regularly demonstrates the behavior. As I mentioned in the earlier examples, two of my characters tend to react in specific ways when presented with stress. This becomes consistent throughout the books to the point that you begin to expect it in the same circumstances.

Of course, not all quirks connect to emotions. A quirk could be someone not wanting the food on their plate to touch or refusing to drink out of a blue glass. One of my characters, for example, has a lime tree in his condo. He's obsessive about it and treats it almost like a child that needs constant care. That might also be considered a quirk. Then again...maybe that's just weird.

What are some of the quirks you've noticed with your favorite characters?

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 authors should challenge themselves 🤓 (Updated)

Let's face it; it's easy to fall into the comfort zone and not want to get back out again. It's human nature to want to feel comfortable and to be in control, but is it good for us?

I think we know the answer to that question.

As a writer, I've traveled out of my comfort zone many times. Sometimes it is topics that make me uneasy; other times it's something like self-promotion or social media that has made me anxious. Of course, this is normal. When we aren't familiar with something, we become nervous, fearing that we will make fools of ourselves or do or say something wrong. In reality, we are on a learning curve. Not only does it help with your end goals as a writer, but it also builds confidence.

One of the biggest challenges I've had as a writer early on is doing interviews. The first few times I've done them, I felt a bit dumbfound and not always sure what to say. I've had one journalist bite my head off because I wasn't giving her a 'good quote'. I didn't have media training and attempted to answer questions to the best of my ability. 

Since that time, I started a YouTube channel. It wasn't something I did casually. I was terrified at first, but it turned out to be a great decision. Not only did it help me build confidence, but it also forced me to express myself better. I needed to be able to articulate what I wanted to say about my writing and books. A couple of hundred videos later, I now love recording for my channel, and readers have the opportunity to learn about me and my books. 

I've also dealt with writing topics that have challenged me. Believe it or not, I've never been in a cartel, never sold drugs, never been in politics, never been an assassin, never been a vampire or a rock star, and yet, these are all topics that I've covered in my books. Not only have I done the research, but I've also paid attention to the world around me; the news, documentaries, films, webinars, books...there are many sources of information out there and many trails away from just the facts to more personal experiences. We have to put ourselves in many shoes when writing and give it fair consideration, and that sometimes is a challenge in itself.

Authors are faced with many challenges that aren't even related to writing itself. Marketing, media, government forms, and technology are just a few things that might come along your path. But aren't challenges a part of any career? 

Why do I need a newsletter? 🗞 (Updated)

When I first started publishing books, I didn't have a newsletter. The idea of even creating one felt like one more thing that I didn't have time for, and so, I put it off. Eventually, I realized that this was an important tool for getting information to my readers.

So, do you need a newsletter? If you're a writer and have published anything, even a blog, I'd suggest you consider it. If people are interested in your work, they want to keep up-to-date. Direct contact allows you to communicate with fans about what's the latest and the greatest regarding your work. ☺️

One of the mistakes creators make is assuming that if someone is interested in their work, they will automatically check their website, go on their Facebook page, or other social media accounts to keep up to date. Unfortunately, even if people have the best intentions, we live in a fast-paced world, and everyone is busy. So as much as someone might love to read your latest blog about your frustrations with publishers or how you've finished a new book, it might not be on the forefront of their mind either. A newsletter lands in their mailbox and is there whenever they have time to read it. 

So what should you put in a newsletter? Everything! Links to your latest interviews, blogs, new books, images of your latest cover, the synopsis for your novel, YouTube videos you posted, reviews, links to your social media: anything relevant to your writing career. These are some things off the top of my head, so chances are you will have much more creative ideas to make your newsletter come alive.

I also believe that newsletters should be short, sweet, and to the point. If you feel the need to write a longer newsletter, however, be sure to put your main points in bold print to catch the reader's eye in case they are skimming it. Sometimes these key points might make the difference between someone deleting or saving it to read later.

How often should you send a newsletter? There is a school of thought that you should be consistent and weekly, but I think it depends on what you're doing. I try to avoid sending them more than once a month unless a lot of stuff is going on in a short period (this tends to happen the week that a book is published) because people also get pissed off if their mailbox is full. I've unsubscribed to emails that interested me because I was tired of my mailbox being loaded to the brim every day. Also, don't be spammy or push your product too much because that turns people off and causes them to hit the unsubscribe button - and fast!

Are you ready to start your newsletter? Check out MailChimp as an example of free newsletters. There are others available that you can find with a quick Google search.

Remember that people sign up for your newsletter to keep posted. So be consistent and most of all, show gratitude for their loyalty. A simple 'thanks for your support' goes a long way. 😄

Sign up for my monthly newsletter! 

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.