Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts

Saturday, September 8, 2018

How do I get ideas for my books? 💭 (Updated)

I cover a lot of topics in my books. It's never just one specific area that I focus on, but you can find a whole assortment of thoughts, ideas, struggles, and conversations that contribute to each novel. Sometimes within one chapter. 😄

People often ask me where I get these ideas. It's kind of a complicated question to answer. I find inspiration from different areas, including everyday life, what I see on the news, documentaries, books, and even comments people have made at some point in my life. There is a whole swirl of crazy activity in my brain, and I'm never quite sure how it will land on the page but somehow it always comes together.

I guess it's what stands out to me. If a topic or comment is grabbing my attention, I will work with it. If something is on my mind, it might land on the pages of a book. It's usually not based on my life, but more likely something I've noticed. 

Plots come to me all the time. Usually when I'm working out (especially when listening to music) is when I get my strongest ideas. I will often visualize a scene and rush to jot down notes. It may not make sense at the time, but it will when I sit down to write it.

Speaking of characters, they take the wheel when it comes to storylines. Each has its district personalities, experiences, and issues that float to the surface, which is something else you must always keep in mind. After all, where would we be without characters?

It can be a magical experience.


Thursday, September 6, 2018

How music has become my co-writer 🎼 (Updated)

I often talk about how each of my books has a 'soundtrack' that inspired me during the writing process. These aren't songs that I select but more like the other way around. I often wonder why specific music grabs me during the writing process and won't let go until the book is finished. Not that I don't like or listen to these songs after that point, but they are no longer in the forefront of my mind.

It started with my first book, Fire. Of course, it made sense since that music was prevalent since the book was about the music industry. However, this pattern continued. One example is with We're All Animals. While writing this book, I couldn't get Pink Floyd's music out of my head. The funny part was that I hadn't been a big fan until that point. Suddenly, I was listening to their music non-stop. It was a powerful force while writing the first book in the Hernandez series

It's actually to the point where hearing certain songs will automatically make me think of the chapter in one of my books that it inspired. I guess it's no different than how most people connect certain music to periods of their lives, memorable moments, or an emotion. Except, of course, those are real things and not made-up people in a story. 😊

The fascinating thing about the process is that the topic of a song is often different from the scene I see in my imagination. For example, a song could sound very seductive but inspire a murder scene in my book or....well, vice versa. 🙄 It happens. There's something about certain songs that has the power to pull a story from a dark place in my mind. I'm not sure what causes it, but it works for me. 


Wednesday, September 5, 2018

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.




Monday, September 3, 2018

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.



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?


Should you be a writer? ✍🏼 (Updated)

One of the most common questions I get from people is whether or not they should become a writer. For me, it's difficult to answer that question because it's not for me to say. How passionate are you about writing? Do you have the time to put into it? Are you willing to learn the craft? Why do you want to be a writer?

For some people, the idea never leaves the thought process, and for others, they jump right in and start writing. If you're thinking about it more than doing it, your heart may not be into it. Writing requires a lot of time and dedication, so if you aren't truly inspired, then chances are, it may not be for you. And hey, there's nothing wrong with that! 

Then again, not everyone has to write a book either. Some people are more inclined to work on a blog, while others might want to write in a journal, create poetry or even come up with songs. It depends on your style and interest. For me, I can't imagine ever writing a short story. I also can't envision writing a song or poem. I'm not interested in all the research required to write a non-fiction book, but fiction? Now that's my baby!

Of course, you have to also look at why you're doing it. If your only interest is writing a best seller and becoming rich and world-famous, you might want to change your plan. Not to say that this isn't possible, but it rarely happens overnight. Writing books is like starting a business. You probably will put a lot of work into it before you start seeing results as you slowly build an audience. Then again, if you're writing because you can't imagine not writing, then you are probably on the right path.

As I said, writing can take many forms. You don't necessarily have to write a book, but if you want to, then don't overthink it. Just do it. 


What is a 3 dimensional character and why do we need them? 🤔 (Updated)

I recently watched a show where a young actress was showing her outrage. Interestingly, she appeared the same as when she was sad or happy. The point is that her acting wasn't very three-dimensional. It fell flat.

Sometimes characters in books can also fall flat, so writers must be vigilant. There should be depth to characters. They should demonstrate a vast array of emotions and reactions, and most of all, readers should be able to see their many layers. Just like real people, (hopefully) characters have to have complexity because that is, after all, human nature. Sometimes we don't even understand ourselves, and characters are pretty much the same way. That's all part of the human struggle, and it's necessary for growth; whether it's your own life or a character's development, it matters.

I certainly make great efforts to show the many sides of each of my characters. For example, as much as Jorge Hernandez (the protagonist in the Hernandez series) is generally a very tough, alpha male, who can be abrupt, direct, and occasionally cruel, he also has a soft side when with family and especially his wife. He has much inner turmoil stemming from his childhood. Jorge fears being a bad father and worries about the future. For this reason, when asked to describe his character, I find it a bit difficult because there's no simple answer. Then again, when describing most people that I know, I run into the same problem.

Characters should grow throughout a book or series. It is fun to see where they will go and what will happen. You know, kind of like real life. Well, sometimes.


Sunday, September 2, 2018

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. 😒



Friday, May 29, 2015

Why overly structured writing doesn't work 💻 (Updated)

Growing up, I was told that a writer had to have a well-constructed plan created before starting a book. You needed to create characters and have them figured out well in advance. You needed to know all the details before writing the first chapter. And you needed to know the ending before you started.

I think this is wrong. Overly structured writing, much like an overly structured life, doesn’t work. It’s awkward, it is uncomfortable, and it’s not fun. The characters create themselves, as do their storylines, and really, that’s what makes the entire process magical and exciting. If your imagination is allowed to run wild, it can go to many exciting places. 

I often say that attempting to force your characters to be or act a certain way steals something from the creative process. It's similar to forcing your children to be something they are not. If Billy Jr. hates hockey, he's not going to become an NHL star, and even if he does, it's not going to end well if his heart isn't into it. You can't play God with characters, but you can let them lead the way. That makes the best storytelling of all. 





Canadian author Mima is known for her complicated and diverse characters, a dark style and for never shying away from controversial topics. To request an interview or if you are interested in doing a book review, please send requests here



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